Deciding to quit drinking

[PowerHouse1900]

Im wondering how many guys here have chosen to completely stop drinking.

After college I got myself into the habit of drinking every friday/saturday night at the bars, and then again for family dinners on Sundays. I wouldn't say I was a complete alcoholic, but I def. had my fair share of shit show nights ending in getting 86ed from the bar. A few months ago it occurred to me that booze no longer had a place in my life. So I stopped cold turkey.

I feel so good all the time now. I can't imagine ever having to tolerate a hang over again.

[Gronkowski]

Good for you Brah. I was exactly the same way in college. I think everyone goes through that phase, some just last longer than others. If your very serious about BB and your overall health, it's definitely worth it.

[PowerHouse1900]

Good for you Brah. I was exactly the same way in college. I think everyone goes through that phase, some just last longer than others. If your very serious about BB and your overall health, it's definitely worth it.

Part of the reason why I fell into the habit was I come from an immediate/extended family that drinks. Wine with dinner, beer with yard work, and a cocktail for special occasions.

[DanB]

is beer not a part of society and the pub the social venue where you meet everybody? it is over here and there is more chance of picking up a job by spending night in pub then any agencys or websites etc etc its the main spot for everything really lol

if you dont want to go out then you have very little of a life over here, i know alot of people who dont drink but still spend alot of time in pub because otherwise there isnt really alot to do and if you distance yourself continuously from that social circle then eventually nobody bothers ringing you anymore at weekends, then you miss out on invites to trips away, gigs, women, experiences in general

you can go out and not drink alot, you dont have to get fvcked up every time, i know thats rich coming from me of all people but just thought i would throw it out there

[lovbyts]

No, never got into a habit like that. My drinking habits have changed very little over the last 30 years. I got hammered a couple times in high school but other than that I have been DRUNK maybe 3x but I typically get a buzz going 1x a week but sometimes go weeks or more without drinking anything so I dont think I have any type of habit to worry about.

[Twin]

I rarey drink. Nothing pisses me off more than dieting hard and training hard and making sure i sleep enough then to throw it all the way down the drain and get hammered....
Iv read to many negative things on bodybuilding and booze...
I never even been drunk before. Most i ever drunk was half of a coronna or a shot of vodka at a club...

Proboably gonna change when i go away to college in a few months. But we will see...

[auswest]

I used to be a heavy drinker in my teens and early 20's, got me into alot of trouble too, I never thought I could live without it, I loved being drunk, reasons being I really had nothing else in my life and it allowed me to act like someone I'm not,
For the last 2 and a half years since fully committing to my training I can count on 1 hand how many times I have drunk, and on each occasion I've had to really talk myself into it. I now could not think of anything less I would want to do, I no longer see the point in it, I get much more entertainment and self confidence from my training,
However it does cripple your social life, my mrs doesn't drink either so that helps alot,
I feel great for not drinking, my head feels clearer and straighter and I no longer find myself in bad situations, drinking is overrated.. I've had some good times on the piss but it's all in the past I don't like the person I am when I'm drunk, I prefer being myself and in full control.

[kronik420]

agree, drinking sux a$$, smoke it up lol.

[Gronkowski]

is beer not a part of society and the pub the social venue where you meet everybody? it is over here and there is more chance of picking up a job by spending night in pub then any agencys or websites etc etc its the main spot for everything really lol

if you dont want to go out then you have very little of a life over here, i know alot of people who dont drink but still spend alot of time in pub because otherwise there isnt really alot to do and if you distance yourself continuously from that social circle then eventually nobody bothers ringing you anymore at weekends, then you miss out on invites to trips away, gigs, women, experiences in general

you can go out and not drink alot, you dont have to get fvcked up every time, i know thats rich coming from me of all people but just thought i would throw it out there

Just because everyone in society does it, doesn't mean you have to. If you find a group of people that are interested in the same things as you and have the same goals and ambitions as you, whether you drink or not you can still be friends. You can get so much more accomplished when your not hitting the Liquor.

[DanB]

`^^^^^^^

yeah i know this and your right, but I never said you have to drink, yes I choose to, if you reread my post you will see that Im saying just because you dont drink dosnt mean you have to alienate yourself from basically living life because lets face it, there is alot more to life then going the gym and cooking food, I like to live my life and train etc at same time

I was recently training for a fight so over 12-14 weeks I prob only went out a handful of times, which werent even planned but thats another story

Point is that I was bored as fvck just training 24/7 after a while, I wasnt actually living just existing, I spent my time in 1 of 2 gyms or in the kitchen, I got offered another fight straight after which happened to be a massive oppertunity but would of meant another stint of training 24/7 and I turned it down and went away on holidays instead, I couldnt face just existing like that for much longer, life is for living

[John Andrew]

Mate I have lived the last 33 years without alcohol, I had too cos the docs said I had 3 months to live. It was herd as I was a chronic alcoholic, now I love life. I do not do AA or God, I just live for all the good things in life and being strong and happy enough to do them. Keep it up, I have done a lot of counseling and watched 100's die because they could not do what you have done. Kepp it up forever, Regards and best wishes. John

[Honkey_Kong]

There is life outside of the bar scene. Once you pursue your interests, you'll find others with similar interests and going to the bars is really not necessary. But Dan is right, you don't HAVE to drink when you do hit the pubs. You could order a ginger ale on the rocks and walk around with that.

I haven't touched a drink in over 3 years. I wasn't an alchy or anything like that. After seeing my mother have a heart attack right in front of me, I decided to change my ways. But if you actually are feeling hooked enough on booze that you're consciously trying to avoid drinking, you probably have a drinking problem and should avoid going to the pub. You could go to AA meetings if you need support. The chicks that go to AA meetings are usually pretty easy so it's like going to a bar.

[gixxerboy1]

I rarey drink. Nothing pisses me off more than dieting hard and training hard and making sure i sleep enough then to throw it all the way down the drain and get hammered....
Iv read to many negative things on bodybuilding and booze...
I never even been drunk before. Most i ever drunk was half of a coronna or a shot of vodka at a club...

Proboably gonna change when i go away to college in a few months. But we will see...

and most of that is so over hyped. i used to party in nyc, half the guys looked like they could step on stage in a month, i was in the best shape of my life at the time. and alcohol was the weakest thing people were doing.

I'm not saying its good for you. but all the bs you will loose everything for going out on sat night is bs

[JohnnnyBlazzze]

I drank and partied almost every night up until I was about 23. It got so bad that I wasn't able to sleep at night unless I had some liquor or a few beers and in the mornings my hands would tremble and shake. When I tried to stop cold turkey I had insomnia and stayed up for 3 days straight completely sober, I just couldn't fall asleep, it was the worst. Every time I would drink there was some type of problem caused with my family, my girl, or I would put myself in dangerous positions without giving a shit.

Since I stopped my quality of life has changed dramatically as well as my appearance and this was before I even started lifting again. The people I'm around are better people, I have a better mindset, quality of women changed, just everything. I've been with a couple girls that are still in that stage of drinking all the time and I had to kick them to the curb because of this, It's different being on the outside looking in because when you're caught up in something you have no idea.

I still drink maybe once a month when I see old friends or something. Other then that the only type I drink is maybe some wine with my lady .

[Times Roman]

my only problem with booze is i lose count of how much i drink, and usually only stop when the booze runs out, it's closing time, or i pass out. so i only buy what i want to drink for that night only, which works just fine. and i don't drink at bars very often, unless on the harley, and then usually only a beer or two, then continue the ride for points further down the road....

[cherrydrpepper]

As some people know I have a pretty bad drinking problem.. I go to AA meetings off and on. What I have found is staying busy is essential to me. This means I need to be involved in things. I have had people in AA make fun of me for being into gym to the point of choosing a gym session over a meeting. Those same people have gone back out to shoot up and drink because their lives are boring and all they have is AA. If you are like me and have at times said out loud "I just can't stop drinking", AA is a good place to start to learn how not to drink.

[DCI]

What Dan said is true. I used to be going out to get completely locked, it would a bottle of vodka and 8 beers kinda locked when I was younger. Now that I am a bit older I go out get a bit of a buzz off the drink but nothing like I used be completely hammered and not being able to remember anything. Now I drink Bottles rather than pints as you drink them slower than you would a pint, I found myself drinking a pint in 3 drinks which is way to fast in an hour I could have 4 down me. So now it's a bottle or two an hour which is perfect don't wake up like someone has trampled on my head in the morning anymore and save a lot of money too lol.

I have done the going out sober thing too which is fun also, as everyone else is hammered round you, you can still go dancing and chatting up women etc.

And also what Gixxer said about drinking and training is true also, it doesn't have such a pronounced effect as the mags will lead you to believe, buddy of mine is still 230lbs and lean, and he drinks 5 times the amount I have drank in my life the guy is an alco def.

[Times Roman]

and most of that is so over hyped. i used to party in nyc, half the guys looked like they could step on stage in a month, i was in the best shape of my life at the time. and alcohol was the weakest thing people were doing.

I'm not saying its good for you. but all the bs you will loose everything for going out on sat night is bs

not disagreeing.

but for me, the biggest impact alchohol has on me is the lack of motivation to go to the gym the next day. nothing worse than hitting the gym with a hangover!!!

[warchild]

good job bro!. i have a few drinks maybe a couple times a year.

[Honkey_Kong]

As some people know I have a pretty bad drinking problem.. I go to AA meetings off and on. What I have found is staying busy is essential to me. This means I need to be involved in things. I have had people in AA make fun of me for being into gym to the point of choosing a gym session over a meeting. Those same people have gone back out to shoot up and drink because their lives are boring and all they have is AA. If you are like me and have at times said out loud "I just can't stop drinking", AA is a good place to start to learn how not to drink.

When I was a minor a judge made me attend AA meetings for my "minor in possession of alcohol" charge (which they tried me as an adult for a crime only a minor could commit). So I went to these AA meetings under the impression I might've had a little drinking problem. I realised there, I was just a kid looking for a party and these guys had some serious fvcking problems. They would replace the drinking with these meetings and that would be their life. That and drinking coffee at Denny's afterwards. None of them had any interests in anything that I remember. But I remember every meeting I went to there would be some long-time member getting their 24 hour chip.

The meetings are good as a support group (and a great place to get chicks), but you're right they need constructive interests in their lives.

[Rwy]

and most of that is so over hyped. i used to party in nyc, half the guys looked like they could step on stage in a month, i was in the best shape of my life at the time. and alcohol was the weakest thing people were doing.

I'm not saying its good for you. but all the bs you will loose everything for going out on sat night is bs

Exactly. Step inside Sound Factory in late 90's. Everyone was drinking or on Drugs and most of the guys were on juice.

Shit the club scene in NY is still the same way guys are just not as big

[PowerHouse1900]

When I was a minor a judge made me attend AA meetings for my "minor in possession of alcohol" charge (which they tried me as an adult for a crime only a minor could commit). So I went to these AA meetings under the impression I might've had a little drinking problem. I realised there, I was just a kid looking for a party and these guys had some serious fvcking problems. They would replace the drinking with these meetings and that would be their life. That and drinking coffee at Denny's afterwards. None of them had any interests in anything that I remember. But I remember every meeting I went to there would be some long-time member getting their 24 hour chip.

The meetings are good as a support group (and a great place to get chicks), but you're right they need constructive interests in their lives.

I tend to agree with your opinion of AA. I all for whatever helps people fix their problems, but if you have to go to a meeting every week it almost feels like the drug/drink still has a hold on you.

Additionally, there's a church down the road from me that hosts NA meetings. Sometimes I walk by the group of thirty guys/girls in the their 20's and I can immediately tell some of them are ****ed up. I couldnt imagine trying to quit drugs while having to see a bunch of fellow drug users a few times a month.

[gixxerboy1]

Exactly. Step inside Sound Factory in late 90's. Everyone was drinking or on Drugs and most of the guys were on juice.

Shit the club scene in NY is still the same way guys are just not as big

i was one of them there

[gixxerboy1]

not disagreeing.

but for me, the biggest impact alchohol has on me is the lack of motivation to go to the gym the next day. nothing worse than hitting the gym with a hangover!!!

i dont hung over that often, or i feel fine later in the day, i train 5 days a week and ussually at night. So it doesnt really effect me, But i can see how it could

[Honkey_Kong]

I tend to agree with your opinion of AA. I all for whatever helps people fix their problems, but if you have to go to a meeting every week it almost feels like the drug/drink still has a hold on you.

Additionally, there's a church down the road from me that hosts NA meetings. Sometimes I walk by the group of thirty guys/girls in the their 20's and I can immediately tell some of them are ****ed up. I couldnt imagine trying to quit drugs while having to see a bunch of fellow drug users a few times a month.

A lot of them go because the courts make them. Most of the people in AA or NA go to tons of meetings every week. Some like twice a day or more. But it is a social place you can go if you want to avoid the pubs and drinking.

[Razor]

Good for you bro

[PowerHouse1900]

Another interesting phenomenon is since I quit drinking a few of my family members stopped drinking nearly as much when we get together. Im entirely convince that they counted on me to be the resident drunk so that no one would pay attention to their alcohol intake.

I also have nieces and nephews now who I enjoy interacting with. I dont want them seeing me tipsy or look like that drunk relative that play with the kids only because hes drunk.

[Rwy]

i was one of them there

I miss those days.

[GirlyGymRat]

I feel so good all the time now. I can't imagine ever having to tolerate a hang over again.

cheers to u!!!

[austinite]

Best call I've ever made. At 31 I was arrested for DWI. Never got charged but it cost me over 6 grand to get out of it. That was the day I quit. Never felt better. I actually quit going out, too and I can't even tell you how much money I saved over the years.

[PowerHouse1900]

Best call I've ever made. At 31 I was arrested for DWI. Never got charged but it cost me over 6 grand to get out of it. That was the day I quit. Never felt better. I actually quit going out, too and I can't even tell you how much money I saved over the years.

Good for you for turning a negative into a positive.

[smbdyshero]

I sell beer for a living, and there's a lot of times when the head honcho comes around and we're politically obligated to go out partying.
There's no getting out of it, so I just get a bottle of some nasty light beer that I hate the taste of and nurse it til it's warm.
Then, when no one's looking and they're all wasted, I disappear like Batman and no one even notices.

[Rwy]

irish exit