I quit drinking and have experienced no discernable benefit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried going to the gym?

I work out daily. Avid runner plus weight training. There's been no adjustments to my workout routine so I don't consider it a variable that would impact anything.

Maybe that's the problem, the workout has to adjust as well. More weights, less cardio.

Well, I'm already quite slender. I'm not trying to lose weight. Based on the hype though, I expected to start wasting away, and you can never be too rich or too thin so I was excited. That may actually be the reason why though- I have very low body fat and I've felt the lack of calories from drinking- I became hungry in the evenings whereas I didn't before. From the responses here, it seems like you only lose weight if you have weight to lose.

Wait so you quit drinking because you have an eating disorder? Well, swapping and co-addictions are common. Most “quite slender” people don’t look forward to “wasting away” unless they’re anorexix.

Too thin ages you just like alcohol does, and if you’re upset because your empty alcohol calories help you not eat food- so you’re now tempted to eat food when not drinking alcohol, you should see a therapist. I’m not being mean, I suffered from anorexia in my teens and was hospitalized for 6 weeks. Also don’t drink because I know that I’m an addictive type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried going to the gym?

I work out daily. Avid runner plus weight training. There's been no adjustments to my workout routine so I don't consider it a variable that would impact anything.

Maybe that's the problem, the workout has to adjust as well. More weights, less cardio.

Well, I'm already quite slender. I'm not trying to lose weight. Based on the hype though, I expected to start wasting away, and you can never be too rich or too thin so I was excited. That may actually be the reason why though- I have very low body fat and I've felt the lack of calories from drinking- I became hungry in the evenings whereas I didn't before. From the responses here, it seems like you only lose weight if you have weight to lose.

Wait so you quit drinking because you have an eating disorder? Well, swapping and co-addictions are common. Most “quite slender” people don’t look forward to “wasting away” unless they’re anorexix.

Too thin ages you just like alcohol does, and if you’re upset because your empty alcohol calories help you not eat food- so you’re now tempted to eat food when not drinking alcohol, you should see a therapist. I’m not being mean, I suffered from anorexia in my teens and was hospitalized for 6 weeks. Also don’t drink because I know that I’m an addictive type.

Lol no. I quit drinking because I'm on a preventative medication that is tough on the liver. I don't want take any risks with my liver. I'm not anorexic and never have been, I'm one of those skinny people that is asked how I can eat so much and stay thin. But I was like, hey, if quitting drinking can make me look even better, I'll take it. Sorry about your past health issues and wishing you peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My question is that if you have spent decades drinking heavily every day, how much cancer risk does quitting provide? Isn't the damage to the DNA already done?

Also, what about continuing to smoke weed? That's has risks, no?

OP here. I think not drinking reduces oxidative stress which may arrest the growth of malignant cells. I do buy into the reduction in cancer risk although I think it may be exaggerated in popular media.

[Anonymous]

Drinking a glass of wine a few nights a week and maybe two occasionally presents a health risk insofar as these are extra calories. Extra calories, at a population level, contribute to all sorts of poor outcomes. You will, as an individual, essentially eliminate the increased risk of cancer vs the studies if you drink this wine with food and water, drink it slowly, keep it to wine (vs higher proof stuff), and drink it at least a few hours before bed.

Like it or not, the habitual bourbon night cap is likely a pretty big contributor to certain cancers. These are being consumed later at night, without other food and drink, and have a higher concentration of alcohol hitting soft tissue.

These studies the surgeon general is citing didn’t suddenly eliminate basic chemistry and biology. (For example, if you put a glass of wine in a gallon of water, drank the gallon of water you’d still have the calories, but you’d have 0 increased risk of other adverse effects). Use your head.

The biggest health threat from multiple glasses of wine a week is the calories. The rest of it can be pretty well mitigated with behavior. High proof liquors, especially straight, need to be consumed very sparingly. They have the calories + a range of other risks that are
difficult to reduce.

In terms of immediate health impact, I’m curious if the OP wears a health tracker…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried going to the gym?

I work out daily. Avid runner plus weight training. There's been no adjustments to my workout routine so I don't consider it a variable that would impact anything.

Maybe that's the problem, the workout has to adjust as well. More weights, less cardio.

Well, I'm already quite slender. I'm not trying to lose weight. Based on the hype though, I expected to start wasting away, and you can never be too rich or too thin so I was excited. That may actually be the reason why though- I have very low body fat and I've felt the lack of calories from drinking- I became hungry in the evenings whereas I didn't before. From the responses here, it seems like you only lose weight if you have weight to lose.

Wait so you quit drinking because you have an eating disorder? Well, swapping and co-addictions are common. Most “quite slender” people don’t look forward to “wasting away” unless they’re anorexix.

Too thin ages you just like alcohol does, and if you’re upset because your empty alcohol calories help you not eat food- so you’re now tempted to eat food when not drinking alcohol, you should see a therapist. I’m not being mean, I suffered from anorexia in my teens and was hospitalized for 6 weeks. Also don’t drink because I know that I’m an addictive type.

Lol no. I quit drinking because I'm on a preventative medication that is tough on the liver. I don't want take any risks with my liver. I'm not anorexic and never have been, I'm one of those skinny people that is asked how I can eat so much and stay thin. But I was like, hey, if quitting drinking can make me look even better, I'll take it. Sorry about your past health issues and wishing you peace.

Why do you think being too thin makes you “look better”? Especially as you age, you will look much older.

You’re already thin without much effort. Your thought process is a bit disordered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never did either.

I eat healthy and always have exercised 6 days a week.

Giving up drinking made no difference.

Same. I stopped my 4-5 night a week drink or every so often two habit about 18 months ago. Zero benefits. No weight loss. Blood pressure the same. I will still have a drink or two on Friday nights, but giving up that drinking only made me think, as a recent empty nester, "well, there's just one more thing gone from my life that I enjoyed." I mentioned to my husband that I miss having a glass of wine with dinner when we go out. He berated me, saying "you don't need alcohol to have fun." I agreed, but reminded him that food and drink in fact is one of life's enjoyments. Done in moderation, it's a nice thing. Not having it anymore is just one less thing to enjoy in life.

Why did you give up drinking? The only problem with one drink a night is expense.

I hit post-menopause, and even though I make sure to get very healthy foods and exercise every single day, combining a long run 6 days a week with weight training and pilates an additional 3 days a week, the weight just started piling on. I hate the way it makes me feel. Plus, all these news stories just started making me paranoid. So I figured cutting out all those alcohol calories would help physically and mentally. Neither is true. I just feel more depressed.

Something is wrong with you if you eat well, exercise rigourously every single day, dont drink and you are still gaining weight.

No there is nothing wrong with her, she is in menopause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised about this waking up to pee thing. Do most people do that? I’m mid 40s and drink 5-10 drinks/week. I don’t typically wake up to pee and haven’t ever noticed a connection between drinking & the occasional times when I do. (Except the 2-3 occasions/year where I have more than I should at a wedding or similar and wake up feeling dehydrated/hungover/having to pee... but I always assumed that’s because I had more liquid than usual, not alcohol per se.)

Post 40 I wake up to pee at 2 am every night, unless I drink wine. I guess I'm dehydrated just enough to make it through the whole night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of feel the same, OP. I don’t drink much during the work week but probably go to at least one happy hour (2-3 drinks) and have 3-4 drinks on each of Friday and Saturday. I’ve stopped doing that this month and haven’t noticed any discernible benefit either. I will probably go back to my normal pattern next month.

If you're a woman, this is a lot of drinking. The benefit might be not getting breast cancer someday.

Well, stopping that has decreased her risk by just under 2% so yay her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised about this waking up to pee thing. Do most people do that? I’m mid 40s and drink 5-10 drinks/week. I don’t typically wake up to pee and haven’t ever noticed a connection between drinking & the occasional times when I do. (Except the 2-3 occasions/year where I have more than I should at a wedding or similar and wake up feeling dehydrated/hungover/having to pee... but I always assumed that’s because I had more liquid than usual, not alcohol per se.)

I wake up to pee 1-3 times a night - no matter alcohol consumption. Having children trained me to do that and I am a light sleeper so the discomfort of needing to pee keeps me up if I don’t just go. I also drink way too much water from the hours of 4pm-9pm. I try to remember to drink less water in the evening, but I get thirsty with dinner and I typically workout mid-day/mid-afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of feel the same, OP. I don’t drink much during the work week but probably go to at least one happy hour (2-3 drinks) and have 3-4 drinks on each of Friday and Saturday. I’ve stopped doing that this month and haven’t noticed any discernible benefit either. I will probably go back to my normal pattern next month.

If you're a woman, this is a lot of drinking. The benefit might be not getting breast cancer someday.

Well, stopping that has decreased her risk by just under 2% so yay her.

Under 2% on something that was *at most* a lifetime chance of 40% (assuming alcohol presents a risk of developing any cancer), which means cutting out alcohol would reduce chance of cancer 0.08%

It’s not nothing, but it’s also probably much lower than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is that if you have spent decades drinking heavily every day, how much cancer risk does quitting provide? Isn't the damage to the DNA already done?

Also, what about continuing to smoke weed? That's has risks, no?

OP here. I think not drinking reduces oxidative stress which may arrest the growth of malignant cells. I do buy into the reduction in cancer risk although I think it may be exaggerated in popular media.

You do t understand how cancer is caused. It’s a complex process. We don’t ever know everything about it. But for things like some exposures the risk is always there after the exposure. For some, it’s transient:

[Anonymous]

We have long known that processed meat - bacon, sausage, pepperoni, as well as red meat is a carcinogen and it has been recognized as such and due to the industry you never ever hear about avoiding it on a regular basis whereas right now, huge alcohol is the devil message everywhere.

[Anonymous]

OP, you're not alone. I stopped having a beer or glass of wine daily (now have maybe two per weekend).

Expected improved sleep, skin, something, but after a year, no discernable differences. Weight has always been fine, so no change there either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL if I lost a lb a week from quitting drinking I’d be underweight fast.

I quit because it made me terribly anxious the next day. It made me puffy and bloated in the face. It made me sad sometimes while drinking. It made me foggy headed and unable to see my exH”s alcoholism and how I was enabling him.

Do you, OP. But your singular short term experience doesn’t reflect that of all people who quit drinking. For me it’s been a game changer.

Alcohol is super lowbrow/low vibration. Alcohol sober is so trendy out west (where I live) and I freaking love it. We have recognized how it ages us and keeps us inside getting fat and anxious, vs out experiencing the world at large.

I don’t hang with drinkers.

Teetotalers are so unbearable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL if I lost a lb a week from quitting drinking I’d be underweight fast.

I quit because it made me terribly anxious the next day. It made me puffy and bloated in the face. It made me sad sometimes while drinking. It made me foggy headed and unable to see my exH”s alcoholism and how I was enabling him.

Do you, OP. But your singular short term experience doesn’t reflect that of all people who quit drinking. For me it’s been a game changer.

Alcohol is super lowbrow/low vibration. Alcohol sober is so trendy out west (where I live) and I freaking love it. We have recognized how it ages us and keeps us inside getting fat and anxious, vs out experiencing the world at large.

I don’t hang with drinkers.

Teetotalers are so unbearable.

lol...some are.