The benefits of giving up alcohol

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32 contributors in last 30 days

Fenland (Fenners) Runner Jan 2017 9:09am, 12 Jan 2017 11,075 posts	0 Fenland (Fenners) Runner Baby steps. Dry Tuesday and Wednesday. Don't plan on drinking today.
HappyG(rrr) Jan 2017 9:32am, 12 Jan 2017 26,275 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Good one FR. G
Fenland (Fenners) Runner Jan 2017 9:53am, 12 Jan 2017 11,076 posts	0 Fenland (Fenners) Runner Thanks HappyG. I'm the fattest I've ever been and that is due to increased appetite due to drinking. I'd guess my calorific intake in the evenings has halved. Just got to keep that vision of what 1lb of fat looks like compared to 1lb of muscle.
HappyG(rrr) Jan 2017 10:38am, 12 Jan 2017 26,277 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) I can't actually remember what snacking when drinking alcohol was like, but I still get an urge to snack even as a non drinker. It's an association thing coffee + cake, biscuit or choc fizzy drink watching sport + crisps, nuts or other savoury snacks watching movies + all snacks (ice cream, pop corn, sweets) reading a book + sweets (this was a thing as a kid) even nowadays, on computer and/or listening to music + something to nibble The only places I now miss the flavour of an alco drink is a nice meal out and having a really flavoursome taste of wine. (I now sniff other people's wine!) And watching sport and having a savoury drink, it would be nice if it could be one of the yummy lagers or ales that exist. But not enough to want to touch alcohol. If they could just make those nice drinks alco free it would be awesome. But alco free wines are horrendous. And only a couple of the alco free beers are ok, but none are really yummy. To avoid putting on weight I'm trying to snack on healthier things like veg as sticks. But I'm not doing very well! G
g1ngerrevolution Jan 2017 11:27am, 12 Jan 2017 163 posts	0 g1ngerrevolution Anyone else suffer from sugar cravings after a few days non-drinking? Is it just because my calorific intake has dropped? I should buy shares in whichever company makes Magnums. Not helping the weight loss :-/
Diogenes Jan 2017 11:53am, 12 Jan 2017 19,926 posts	0 Diogenes 9/11 in 2017. Chose to drink prosecco with Mrs D. Today I choose not to drink.
LindsD Jan 2017 12:16pm, 12 Jan 2017 14,589 posts	0 LindsD Always been a snacker. No real change since giving up, but less binge eating late at night.
HappyG(rrr) Jan 2017 2:28pm, 12 Jan 2017 26,278 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Too long ago for me to remember g1nger! But could be a dopamine/serotonin thing? Effectively a "cold turkey" effect? Withdrawal of one type of stimulus (alcohol), partially offset by replacement with another (sugar)? Think it's unlikely to be a direct calorie response, because alcohol is a more complex carbohydrate that takes time to break down into sugar (and then stored as fat if it's not used.) Someone can correct my chemistry here if I've got that wrong. G
g1ngerrevolution Jan 2017 2:37pm, 12 Jan 2017 168 posts	0 g1ngerrevolution Could be close to the mark. I recall a similar comfort eating in a response to nicotine craving when I stopped soming - although there was a heavier chemical dependency in that situation.
The Jogger Jan 2017 7:37pm, 12 Jan 2017 1,144 posts	0 The Jogger When Igave up the drink a fw years ago now, I was advised to eat chocolate, as your body craves the sugar it was used to in the alcohol, so G has it about right.

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! :-)

G

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