Beauty & Style Boozeless Months

[EagleMan87]

Haven't had a booze free weekend in at least five years. Drink fairly regularly during the week as well. Nothing like coming home from work and cracking an ice cold beer.

I know exactly what you mean.

Except cider>beer, at least in this weather.

 

[Jackfrost]

When I tore my knee I went through a stage where I used to drink every night except Tuesday. Monday was a flow on from the weekend, watching the boys play Wed indoor cricket, Thurs family dinner. Those 3 nights would be 6-8 beers with every second Friday off so that Thursday I'd have about 1/2 bottle of Turkey as well. Friday was 2-3 beers at work then 7/8 bottle Turkey, Sat back on the Turkey or down the pub and Sunday 6 pack and leftover Turkey.
Suffice to say I blew out to 89.9kg although our 3 week Thailand wedding holiday helped there. I also returned elevated liver counts in my work health assessment.

Overnight I went to only Fri-Sunday drinking but still drinking almost a bottle of Turkey or 15 beers a night. Since then I've gradually gone to Sat-Sun and 8-12 beers a night and train hard the remaining 6 days so I don't feel guilty one bit. I now sit at <70kg and finished the C2S half marathon in 85 mins the previous 2 years and my health assessment now come back top in all categories.

What is my point? I don't know really. Maybe it's that you are better off moderating your drinking and forming long term habits rather than a token month you are going to hate

 

[Big Bryza]

It's a tough one. I must say I go through phases when I go off it and other times when I drink like mad. Had about 6 weeks off in November recovering from an operation and felt so good for it. From mid December to now I've drank a lot most weekends. Being recently single after a long term relationship has played a big part in this as I'm heading out and partying a lot more. I hate hangovers but love having a few beers and a night out with the boys. In saying that once summer is over I'll be more inclined to have a few weeks off the booze. I'm a fitness fanatic and drinking definitely hinders that.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

To the OP, yes, I've tried it and it is fantastic: I had a similar experience to you with regard to all of the benefits that it brings. I am a classic binger, I don't ever drink during the week as in having one or two but on a weekend can drink a lot. My friends are the same so it is great to have a month off and try and do different things with them rather than meeting them always revolving around alcohol. I also find that it makes me realise I am not dependant on it. After xmas is the best time to do it as that is undoubtedly the heaviest time drinking for me every year. A month off it, then I find I don't go back to the same heavy levels again until xmas as the body gets used to doing without. It depends what sort of a drinker you are but for me taking a month off alcohol after a heavy drinking period a great thing to do for a number of reasons.

 

[Plugger35]

If I counted up all the days I don't drink during the year I'd probably have a boozeless month, maybe even two.

 

[Dazb86]

If I counted up all the days I don't drink during the year I'd probably have a boozeless month, maybe even two.

Must be the umpires fault.

 

[Norwegian Blue]

No interest in giving up for a month. I did, however, recently give up during the week. I went from a few glasses of wine with beer chasers every single night of the week - more on weekends - to a loose rule of "no drinking on a work night" unless there's a specific reason to.

Friday and Saturday's are still full on.

 

[kickazz]

I did it a number of years ago now. It was totally off my own bat, no one else did it, etc.

I chose May, and stupidly found out that it had five weekends that year.

It was ok - I can enjoy myself without drinking and all of that. The weird thing was when friends got all shirty about it. "I'll get you a pot of light" - as if I was not drinking because I was driving or something. Having to repeatedly explain there was nothing wrong with me and that I just didn't want to drink booze was a bit of a slight on our (i.e. circle of friends) culture I think.

When midnight came around on 31st May, I was thinking I would crack a beer or wine to celebrate - but I honestly didn't feel like one. In fact it wasn't until the 3rd of June that I had another drink.

The main reason I did it was not for health (physical/mental) or anything like that. It was just a little personal test to see if had the discipline in me.

 

[Djcjdees]

Isn't it funny how people have their achilles heel with substances. Cigarettes and Weed, I can take or leave. Never had a huge problem getting off one or the other. Barely any withdrawals at all. But Alcohol, I just get this huge urge that comes over me when I get home from work to relax with a drink. I'll literally stress out about it if there's no booze in the house.

Reminds me of Withnail and I. "There must, and shall be booze!"

 

[The_Reaper]

Two weeks through one.

Wouldn't be able to do it if I had foxtel. It's almost impossible not to have a beer when watching the footy or cricket/

 

[Djcjdees]

Two weeks through one.

Wouldn't be able to do it if I had foxtel. It's almost impossible not to have a beer when watching the footy or cricket/

I'm three weeks through. Have fox n yeah today was really the first day I caught myself starting to rationalise having a beer. Hot day, so much sport on too. Btw, I agree with the sentiments above RE 'don't just do it for a month, develop good habits for the long term.'

However I find that by forcing myself into a break, the habit is broken and generally the next few months are pretty light on due to the new habit that has been formed (ie not drinking). At the end of the day, if you're not overdoing it and drinking plenty of water, eating healthy and exercising, getting pissed every now and again shouldn't be too much of an issue. I try and stay off it during the week. Got into the routine of going for a bike ride early Saturday mornings. A great way to limit the booze on Friday nights. Good excuse as well, not that you should need one, but people usually don't question it. That just leaves Saturday night to have some fun. Don't really see a problem with that

 

[Shellz]

I went 7 weeks without piss last year due to trying to fix a health issue (gout). Lost a bunch of weight and started exercising more/had more motivation to do things. Also saved a shitload of money. It was a good experience.

Had a drink at a festival one night and now I'm back on it like old times.

I'll probably try to get off it again sometime in the future.

Did it help with the gout?

 

[Dazb86]

Did it help with the gout?

Yep.

 

[de_LICA_ish18]

I've had about 5 drinks in 5 years. I have no interest in it and could easily never have another one.

 

[Sterge]

had some friends do this febfast rubbish then organise a massive piss up for today to celebrate how good they are................

 

[Natho]

Didn't drink for about 6 weeks before Christmas/new years. Broke the draught New Years. This was to get fit before preseason. Really helped me. Currently haven't had a drink for 2 weeks. Got a few birthdays coming up so will be a few big weekends. Will be limiting my drinking Saturday nights after footy.

 

[grizzlym]

At the risk of general board opprobrium, has anyone else tried this?

At the start of February me and mate agreed to stay of the alcohol for a month for no other reason than we were curious if we could do it. I am on day 12 of a month without sweet sweet liquor, and I am already noticing some interesting, and basically very positive differences to my life- curious if it is all in my head or other people have had similar experiences.

To be clear, I am a moderate-heavy drinker, who might typically have 2 or 3 on a few nights a week, and then get relatively hammered on friday nights.

pros
- sleeping way better, getting a solid 6-8 hours and waking up early and feeling ready to go.
- feel more relaxed during the day- not losing my temper or snapping at people so much.
- find myself wanting to exercise more.

cons
-find myself avoiding social gatherings where i know people will be drinking.
-actually eating a lot of rubbish, not drinking makes you feel like you need to fill the void with something.

Yes. I did it about 8 years ago. And I drank regularly. Enjoyed it. After the month was up I never drank again. Haven't to this day.

 

[Rustin Cohle]

Strong alcoholism in this thread.

 

[Roobs321]

I stopped drinking after I got my p's, wanted to be the responsible one and just sort of never started drinking again after realising I didn't miss it...

Similar here. I just stopped drinking 2.5 years ago, and I dont miss it or even think about it, so why start up again? I dont plan on drinking ever again.

 

[zimma]

Similar here. I just stopped drinking 2.5 years ago, and I dont miss it or even think about it, so why start up again? I dont plan on drinking ever again.

Yeah been more like 5 years for me but honestly I just think hey all this money i save by not buying booze I get to actually buy nice things! or just save it for later necessities.

 

[Total_Juddshanks]

Yes. I did it about 8 years ago. And I drank regularly. Enjoyed it. After the month was up I never drank again. Haven't to this day.

Heh, meanwhile my booze free month ended on Friday, and I was straight back on the sauce that night. Have to say I didn't particularly feel desperate to, and I definitely plan to be a much more sporadic drinker than I was prior to February.

 

[Swanny36]

Probably not a good sign that we have such an alcohol reliant society.
The fact that people have to consciously go to the effort of not drinking for a month isn't great either, a month really isn't that long to go without something.
It shouldn't be that hard.

 

[Ed_Gein]

Barely drink now. Probably had some casual drinks maybe 5 times in the last 18 months. Don't like the feeling you get the next morning, not a hungover feeling either.

Used to drink maybe a bit though. 3 750ml bottles of Jack Daniels a week as well as a 6 pack of the pre-mixers and to be honest i was struggling to keep it there, i think that had more to do with the Cola i was mixing it with perhaps. Just too much of a reliance on it and was having too many days off work because i felt crap trying to get up the next day. Amateur, yes.

 

[The_Reaper]

Strong alcoholism in this thread.

Nah

An alcoholic is someone who drinks more than I do

 

[nicky]

Reminds me of Withnail and I. "There must, and shall be booze!"

hahahahahahahahaha, one of my all time favourite movies. There are so many quotable lines centered around booze from Withnail and I.
"I want the finest wine known to humanity"

This is a really good thread.

Yes. I did it about 8 years ago. And I drank regularly. Enjoyed it. After the month was up I never drank again. Haven't to this day.

I would like to do that but struggle. Drinking is used by me as an ice-breaker and it is a little bit fun too.