Quitting Drinking....

So I've been a vetran drinker, a good canadian kid for pretty much my whole adult life. Other than a sober 21 days last january (did that to win a bet), a day rarely passes when i don't have 2 or 3 drinks minimum and get maybe not smashed can't talk drunk, but definitely low inhibition/can't drive drunk at least once a week.

All this changed on New Year's Day. One of the most hungover days of the year for many of us, i was at a 5 * hotel tucked in the mountains with my girlfriend that i paid a fortune for and was hungover until 7 pm. Part of my lovely hangover (which happened the last 4 or 5 times i got smashed) was puking that included blood.

So my girl and i decided to not drink in January at all and she urged me to go to my doctor, who told me that not only had i wrecked my stomach lining, but my kidney function is down to about 60%. No drinking for 1 month, doctors orders, and then more tests.

Every cloud has a silver lining right? Well this whole thing has spurned me to get back to the gym (go once a day now) and eat right (whole foods only, nothing processed and limiting my caloric intake to about 2000-2300/day). I've gained 30 pounds since May, mostly due to drinking, and am about 40 pounds overweight overall. Though i'm one of those people that can gain or lose 5 pounds but you can't tell because of my frame.

So, what this has also done is motivated me to make some real goals and stick to them. The first of course is shedding the 40 extra pounds i'm lugging around (i'm 5'11" and currently weigh 220). My goal is to be at 185 by June 30. Also, i want to have single digit bodyfat % by my 30th birthday, on Nov 5, 2010.

This brings me to the point of my post. I am seriously considering giving up drinking for good, even though it's been such a big part of my life. Has anyone on here successfully done so? I wouldn't say i was/am an alcoholic, but i would definitely be truthful in saying i had a drinking problem.

Some concerns:

Boredom during social occasions, a drink's always a good crutch
Work. I drink with clients fairly often
Being annoyed/short tempered with drunk friends even though i was totally 'that guy'


Any thoughts? stories? feel free to razz me too

 

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well, good luck on your process man, ive had some cousins that went that way and ended up not drinking for life....

 

Been there, sort of. My problems were more legal than health related. I still drink, but barely. It takes time and often more than one attempt. I'm married with 2 kids and I'll be 30 in September of this year. Once I had kids, I grew up, the drinking went away when the responsibillities of fatherhood came along.

I'm not saying go get your girl knocked up, but......maybe it's time to re-evaluate your life.

 

Good for you ! I never had such issues, but had friends who did. For you my friend I feel it's the only way. My friend who quit found that it took very little time to adjust, but is so much happier, and healthier. I am certain your true friends will understand and support you. I might have a few beers once and a while, maybe a twelve in a year, and could stop all together and would not miss it. Be strong and move forward.

 

I have had my own issues in the past that I struggled with although it wasnt with drinking. It took one day that led to two days and so forth and so on. It takes a support system that helps you cope rather than contributes to the issue. It make seperating yourself from those "friends". Its a struggle but before you know it that one day will be one hundred and soon you will ask yourself why you ever did that to yourself. I have been away from everything for almost 2 years now so I can relate. You have friends here so continue to reach out to them as you are. Stay focused on your goal and DO NOT look backwards in your life. We all have demons and challenges put before us. Its the ones that accept that challenge like a huge hill your gonna climb that make it over the top. Stay strong and stay focused. You will make it to the top.

 

Elias, I sent you a PM!

 

????? I AM LOST ?????.....











J/k GOOD LUCK WITH IT!!!!

 

My best advice is for you to do what you feel is right for you. I quit drinking and doing drugs for 4 years after a long string of bad black out episodes and poor decisions... Lost a bunch of weight, got myself in the best shape I've been in since high school, dated several beautiful women, went to some AA meetings here and there, bought a house, and got engaged. After giving it a lot of thought and discussing things with my finace (now wife), examining my past, why I drank like I did, and where I am now, I decided that I'd give drinking a shot again as long as I stayed away from drugs and kept things under control. So far, it has worked for me. I'm in a completely different place than I was back then, and don't drink like I did at all.

I don't want to bash AA, if you choose to do that kinda thing, because I believe that it works for a lot of people that really need help. In AA, they will do everything they can to convince you that you hit the ground running as soon as you start take that first drink, but I had to find out for myself, and it hasn't been the case for me at all. I'm glad that I took the time off, and I learned a lot, but I'm also glad that I can drink responsibly and enjoy a glass of wine with my wife over dinner. Good luck to you in whatever you choose, just remember who you're doing it for.

 

That's pretty much my story. Sometimes, you just need to grow up.

 

Guys, i'm blown away. Thanks so much for the stories and support.

What TacoCo said really strikes a chord with me. i am sure i can reach a different point in my view and use of alcohol sometime down the road but there is a long period of learning i'm prepared for.

 

Exactly... college only lasts for 4 years, well at least for most of us

You've already taken a step in the right direction. Good luck to you man.

 

i threw up blood up once. but i thought it was the mexican beer tecate, while in mexico. i dont remembering throwing up but woke up with dark black red purple brown stuff on the bed. will never drink tecate again....

i've been drinking around a 12 pack a day for quite a whlie now. i know i cant do this forever, and i know i have a really bad drinking problem.

 

Hey man first of all congrats on your goals set! I work and manage a GNC and know quite a bit about nutrition. I am not a super star fitness guru as I too enjoy drinking as well. My new years res has been to cut it out for the most part except special occasions like st pattys and friends bdays or what not. Just do not drink every day or every weekend like I used too. If you need any help or advice on nutrition just let me know and I will be happy to help out

 

Elias:

It sounds to me that your on a road to some self discovery, and for that I congradulate you. To many times a man may go his whole life and not GET IT
and not realize the things that are truly important to you I/E your health and with out it, how quickly your perspective's changes. Take one day at a time because it's my belief you really only have control of the here and now and don't beat your self up to badly when things dont go just the way you want them to. Ask for help because as you see here we all have had our fare share of the roller coaster we call life!! There will always be ups and downs it just depends on how you go about dealing with it. Don't waist time because thats the last thing that is afforded to us! Stay strong true and focused and good things will come your way!!

Paul.

 

You're puking up blood and you have Doctors telling you that you're damaging your body. Nobody on an internet board will be able to provide any more compelling reason to quit than those. It sounds like you've used the motivation to stop drinking for now, which is fantastic.

What you have to ask yourself is this: Is drinking with clients and having something to hold in your hand at parties worth risking further damage to your body? Is it worth dying younger than you otherwise would?

I used to drink more than I do now. I didn't have any traumatic experience like you did. I just decided that it wasn't worth the hangovers, extra calories, extra money and occasional embarrassment. I've found that messing with drunks at parties is about as much fun as drinking anyway.

I am in no position to tell you to stop drinking, for sure, but it sounds like drinking for you could seriously damage your health. If I were you I'd quit while I was ahead.

Good luck with it. Let us know how the additional tests turn out.

 

Its interesting to me after reading b/c I just finished the alcohol program part of my course. I commend you for wanting to make the change in your life. Just from my life experience I have seen the effects of alcoholism in someones life and would hate to see the end results happen to you. Not saying you are an alcoholic. Having a drink every now and then is not a bad thing but unfortunately for some people it is their fix and going back to it can be there downfall. There are also numerous medical conditions that can result from drinking too much and to me its just not worth the risk. I'll pray for you in your decisions. Good luck.

Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on these...

Liver Disease: Avg adult can oxidize one drink per hour. Chronic heavy alcohol use can also cause buildup of triglycerides or tatty tissues in the liver impairing its capacity to metabolize alcohol. Hepatitis or inflammation of the liver tissue may occur from excessive intake and may lead to cirrhosis of the liver which involves formation of scarring tissue so that it can no longer eliminate ethanol from the body. Alcoholic hepatitis can be reversible if drinking is stopped.

Alcoholic cirrhosis: Scarring of the liver in 10-20% of heavy drinkers. May require a liver transplant. A reverse tolerance effect occurs may occur in heavy chronic drinkers due to reduced capacity for metabolizing alcohol consumed.

Brain diseases: Thiamine deficiencies are seen in up to 80% of alcoholics and can cause severe neurological problems such as seen in Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome.

Wernike's encephalopathy: Sever deficiency in vitamin B1 and is marked by rapid onset of headaches, double vision, abnormal eye movements, tingline sensations and numbness, muscular incoordiantion, stupor and brain hemorrhage.

Korsakoff's psychosis: B1 deficiencies results in irreversible brain damage, hallucinations, loss of short term memory, and fabrications of stories to fill in black out gaps.

Can show signs of improvement in brain structure and functioning within a year of quitting.

 

First off I commend you and your girl for recognizing that there is a problem.Every situation is different and I wish you well in finding the solution that fits.

I stopped drinking in February of '04 when I made a commitment to quitting chewing tobacco.I don't know if I was a heavy drinker but I loved beer and in my day certainly put away a pile.I am the father of three and drinking was slowly starting to not work.I'm a shift worker and spent my days off at home with my babies.Being hungover wasn't an option and I owed it to them to be on the ball as much as possible.

I certainly missed it and sometimes didn't attend occassions that would be heavy on the drink.My buddies all respected what I was doing and the spin-off was saving a PILE of money.My weekends are consumed with family now so the idea of drinking in excess just isn't appealling.

My kids are a little older now and just this Christmas I decided to start having a few Beers again.I actually see it as an opportunity to teach my kids about drinking responsibly and I'm really enjoying the social aspect of having a couple of Pops with my friends.

As I said,I admire you for wanting a healthier lifestyle.........Do what's right for you.Thre's been some excellent advice here,people want you to do well.

 

You can do it -- congrats on your decision.. TW will be here to support you!