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The benefits of giving up alcohol

3 lurkers | 280 watchers

31 contributors in last 30 days

LindsD Jan 2017 11:58am, 5 Jan 2017 14,400 posts	0 LindsD Ditto me. I finally gave up for good on 1 Jan 2014. I have found this thread a fantastic source of support.
g1ngerrevolution Jan 2017 11:59am, 5 Jan 2017 141 posts	0 g1ngerrevolution "Do I drink too much" was both educational and motivational. All sorts of alarm bells were going off when they described the professional holding down a steady job, slowly drinking themselves into liver disease - with no warning until it was too late. Last year I noted down drinking days: the score was 170 drinking (~195 not). If each 'drinking' day was only a unit or two, I wouldn't be concerned, it was always ~many~. I've got a half iron man in July. That's the first target. Benefits: Sleep better. Lose weight. Cheaper. Healthier. Convenient. Training is better.
LindsD Jan 2017 12:03pm, 5 Jan 2017 14,401 posts	0 LindsD Benefits continued: no shame. no memory loss. no apologising for something you wish you hadn't done. no ruined Sundays.
sjude Jan 2017 12:21pm, 5 Jan 2017 136 posts	0 sjude I've just this minute finished watching 'do I drink too much'. It says it all really. Ooh I'm feeling quite excited to chuck this. Got my healthier drinks at the ready.....tea pigs being a favourite. My brother stopped 2 years ago. I've managed a month at a time. But anytime I start drinking again is with a bang. Think I have more hungover..unable to drive or do anything weekends than not last year. I've entered Glencoe Marathon...yikes. Never ran a marathon only 10ks. But walked whw many times so at least I know the route 😂😂😂
sjude Jan 2017 12:22pm, 5 Jan 2017 137 posts	0 sjude LindsD ditto to all your benefits. Maybe I'll be able to hang on to friends! 😠
LindsD Jan 2017 1:36pm, 5 Jan 2017 14,405 posts	0 LindsD Yes, that too
Scorge Jan 2017 1:47pm, 5 Jan 2017 330 posts	0 Scorge welcome sjude, the positives of staying off it will keep you right if you ever have doubts! just over two years here, and never felt sharper in the mind and more distant from how I used to be. odaat
HappyG(rrr) Jan 2017 3:39pm, 5 Jan 2017 26,242 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) WHW race next sjude! Glencoe marathon looks brill though. Best of luck. And just keep pinging in here with all your thoughts and stories. I had to remind myself a couple of times over hols that while £2 was a lot to pay for a posh fizzy bottle of interesting juice, it was way less than a bottle of even inferior wine and actually less than sometimes just a single bottle of beer, of which I'd happily have consumed half a dozen or more. And £2 is a lot for a coke in a bar, but my gosh, how much cheaper is it than wine, beer and spirits in the pub?! People must spend £50 or more on a round for half a dozen folk nowadays! I'm going to watch that programme. Just for a bit of positive affirmation! I'm lucky, none of my family really drink much any more. My sis and I were the big ones and now she's Muslim and I'm teetotal! My other sis and her hubby (parents of a 3 year old, non-drivers) fairly enjoyed slugging down the wine though. Not too worried about them though, think it's quite occasional. Keep on keeping on everyone. G
The Jogger Jan 2017 5:26pm, 5 Jan 2017 1,139 posts	0 The Jogger Welcome sjude, you reminded me of my drinking days, one was too many and one hundred was not enough. I could never stop at one, as they say, it's the first one that does the damage. Your life will improve so much without the drink and you will never regret it, unlike some of the things you might of regretted when drinking. Good luck and stick with the winners.
Bez-head Jan 2017 7:51pm, 5 Jan 2017 4,621 posts	0 Bez-head Would 've gone pub tonight but did a 4 mile canter instead. That's a benefit- hope I can keep this going

About This Thread

Maintained by HappyG(rrr)

Looks as though this thread has become popular again, here in 2010 (it's now 2024, and it started in 2008, so I think "ever popular" might be more apt! :-)

G )

Good Luck everyone.

A recent plea for those struggling to "reach out" as they say in US of A!

"Anyone not feeling strong and confident, please shout out. Or fmail. Or any other comms that works. Don't drink alcohol when you don't want to, for lack of someone to talk to. Pick up the phone, not the bottle."

Some acronyms, in case people use them:
JFT - Just for today
ODAAT - One day at a time
KIS - Keep it simple
TBOGUA - The Benefits Of Giving Up Alcohol (the title of this thread!)

New feature: article/blog of the month (period may change randomly!) Swittle's wonderful 14,611 days blog: (see links below)

Linking Joopsy's 17 year blog too, cos it's awesome!

There is a GREAT article summarising some of the benefits, to save you having to trawl through the thread (includes links to helpful apps and other resources).

And a great list of Alternative Drinks started by the lovely LindsD:

Please add to these articles and make them as valuable as possible! Thanks! :-)

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And one from way back when...
Dirt Monkey's brilliant blog on TBOGUA too - go try this...

Rebel has recommended a couple of good books:
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by Catherine Gray

The Alcohol Experiment: 30 Days to Take Control, Cut Down or Give Up For Good
by Annie Grace

A great response from a health professional in Ireland responding to a question from a Guardian reader about why the warnings on alcoholic drinks that are coming in:

theguardian.com

"Alcohol is responsible for at least 1,000 cancer cases every year in Ireland, with one in eight breast cancer cases arising from alcohol use. Even one to two drinks per day increases the risk of developing cancer, and that risk is the same whether those drinks are wine, spirits or beer. Unfortunately, there is a very low level of public awareness that alcohol has been classed as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. That is why Ireland has passed legislation that provides for health information labels on alcohol products, including warnings about cancer, liver disease and the danger of drinking in pregnancy. It is unsurprising that the alcohol industry, which promotes its products with carefully crafted myths of good times for all, is objecting to the mandatory provision of facts (Anger brews in Italy over Ireland’s plans for alcohol health warnings, 12 January).
Dr Sheila Gilheany
CEO, Alcohol Action Ireland
"

And the all important fabulous services:
Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline (FREE) 0800 9177 650
help@aamail.org

Al Anon
020 7403 0888

medal

Contact TBOGUA medal

We're adding in our own Fetch offer of one to one contact too, for anyone who doesn't want to post in the thread for whatever reason. Please feel free to fmail ANY of the names listed below.

- - - -
HappyG(rrr)
( Oscar the grouch RIP )
mrs shanksi
Derby Tup
iaincr
Love Lettuce
DocM
LindsD
GeneHunt59
GregP