The benefits of giving up alcohol

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31 contributors in last 30 days

Sigh Jun 2020 2:09pm, 11 Jun 2020 6,600 posts	0 Sigh Early on for me, it was a big part of my weight loss efforts. I would remind myself that it was futile to consume empty calories and undo all my hard work. That mentality worked for me, and it still does to a large extent. My weight still fluctuates, but by a much smaller margin, and its' manageable. Alcohol has always meant excessive weight gain for me, as well as joint pain, feeling crap in the morning, lousy days, bad runs, etc etc.
Big_G Jun 2020 2:10pm, 11 Jun 2020 37 posts	0 Big_G LindsD, same here now. If someone offers me a drink, I just say ‘I don’t drink’. I just don’t think of myself as a drinker any more.
LindsD Jun 2020 2:10pm, 11 Jun 2020 37,752 posts	0 LindsD Why not, McG? Isn't that as good a reason as any?
LindsD Jun 2020 2:10pm, 11 Jun 2020 37,753 posts	0 LindsD It helped for me that I started a new job a couple of years after giving up, so no one there expects me to drink at work things.
Diogenes Jun 2020 2:11pm, 11 Jun 2020 49,713 posts	0 Diogenes I’m still someone who wants to be able to have a drink when I fancy one. I also want to be a complete abstained. I suspect I shall fail in both goals.
McGoohan Jun 2020 2:13pm, 11 Jun 2020 45,702 posts	0 McGoohan I think because the motivation for streaking 'feels a bit wrong' to me - sorry for the vagueness. Rather than doing something for its own sake, it's done instead for a more arbitrary OCD related cause. Just speaking for me of course. Anyone else - whatever gets you through the night...
WA Jun 2020 2:20pm, 11 Jun 2020 7,016 posts	0 WA I suspect I am like many on here in that there is no such thing as just one drink so I need to abstain. I'm finding it hard to think of myself as a long term non-drinker though. So today I'm not going to drink and not think too much about tomorrow.
Sigh Jun 2020 2:22pm, 11 Jun 2020 6,601 posts	0 Sigh @WA, yes, once I started on alcohol, that's all I would drink until bedtime - usually going up in %ABV as the night wore on.
LindsD Jun 2020 2:42pm, 11 Jun 2020 37,755 posts	0 LindsD I get that, McG, but I do think that that stubborn streak thing can be helpful for some people.
McGoohan Jun 2020 2:45pm, 11 Jun 2020 45,704 posts	0 McGoohan Yes, I wouldn't want to put anyone else off by any means

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! :-)

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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