4 years, 4 months, 12 days, and 0 regrets

Stick around and it will be 30 years before you know it. And you will look back and wonder what made the sparkle and suds appealing in the first place (there is no upside to it); as for "fun" you won't miss a beat; fun is what you make of life. And, oh, you will probably enjoy good health and have a lot of money.

Will-power, self-discipline and resolution work. I do not know what experts might think of that statement or if it will work for most...but it worked for me. I was never in the fire, but I did smell the smoke--I took an early exit. I'm
a happy guy. As for fun and "loving life," I haven't missed a beat!

Mali said:

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Had a long flight and watched Trainspotting 2. This line stuck with me: "You're an addict, so be addicted. Just to something else." That might be psychobabble crap or it might be meaningful. I've channeled my energy into running marathons and rock climbing, with great progress.

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Congrats to all of you. I have seen a couple of people close to me drink themselves to death and decided I needed to back off myself.

Whatever I do, I go hard. Now my "go hard" is focused on fitness.

so question...

what would you consider an alcoholic?

asking for a friend...

I don't know what deems a person an alcoholic. I am sure there are many different measures that swing one way or the other. What I do know, when I started asking that question the honest truth was that a part of me deep inside was quietly screaming for me to change my behavior. It took me another 5 years to listen to that voice. Wish I woulda listened earlier and been a better person, friend, husband, father, son and brother.

But it's much easier to see that now with almost two years alcohol free and surrounded with a supportive community and therapy.

Challenging the status quo is imperative to becoming the best version of you. Tell your friend to maybe take 30-45 days off and explore the results. If your friend is looking for help on the first steps forward try using the 30 day challenge on OneYearNoBeer.com.

I wish your friend the best and if they would like to talk more about it they can always reach out to me at fredericksawyer@gmail.com

Wow, I am really glad I've come across this thread. I've made it to page five, but after reading all the IPA posts, I went to my fridge and opened up a few IPA's.

I am not an alcoholic, but I am a binge drinker. When I do drink, it's usually a bottle of bourbon, and then a few beers. If I don't have the hard stuff, and it's just beer, I can control it. I can rarely stop if I have any hard liquor. I've been binge drinking since I was about fifteen and I am thirty-six now. It's only once or twice a week, but just how young I started and how much I drink -- it worries me health wise -- I want to be here for my six year old boy.

I am rambling, but there is so much I've read on this thread and just feel the need to ramble.

I stopped for a month multiple times, but I was ready for that next drink. I didn't feel the need to keep going, but it's probably because I hit my goal and was done. I wanted to drink, but it wasn't hard to go the thirty or so days without. I could have gone longer, but didn't want to.

Reading this thread makes me picture the same things you all are -- football, drinking with friends, BBQ, golf, Christmas, winter, Vegas, etc. Why would I want to give up drinking during all those awesome events? Before I found this thread, I came to this board because I wanted to get back in the gym and was probably going to go another month or so alcohol free. At least until football season. Just to pull off a few extra pounds.

I've always been at a weird place. I don't really want to quit, but I would like to cut back when I do drink. Like I said, I can drink beer, but I wish I could drink bourbon and stop. After tonight, I'll stop everything until Sep 3rd. I just hope I am not literally killing myself. In the last few years I preventively went to an endocrinologist and cardiologist -- I was healthy -- but that doesn't really mean anything.

My wife is great. She doesn't like me to drink the hard stuff, she doesn't like when I drink too much, she thinks I should cut back even on once or twice a week, but we don't really have problems. I drink in moderation or rarely around my son -- he's usually in bed when I really get fired up. I don't have problems with my business or anything like that. Yes, I've said dumb things to people, but even sober people do that. My only crazy thing is the money I spend. Buying rounds for everyone, crazy tips, shopping, flying off to places, etc. Just a few months back -- my son was out of town but my wife was home. I went to the country club for golf, went to the bar with some friends later, got home and booked a flight for a few hours later to Vegas. My wife does hate Vegas now because we've been so much, but I still love it. I took an Uber to the airport and didn't do anything stupid other than the impromptu trip. My generosity and blowing of money is my only real issue.

All I can do is pray for my health and hope those few times I do drink, are in moderation. I'll pray for all of y'all as well. I feel like there was a lot of other stuff I wanted to say, but I've rambled enough and there probably isn't a person left. I hope I can pull off 15lbs in the next few weeks.




Edit - Tinypic was down tonight, and I had to try a million other hosting websites, which all posted little thumbnails.

A few more things I forgot:

I don't think I could ever become a full blown alcoholic, because while I function well the next day, it's super hard for me to drink back-to-back. I am not even ready two days later. I don't know how some of y'all do it.

At what age did you all start, how long until you stopped, etc.?

I have some buddies who take breaks with Topo Chico and others who smoke weed. I don't want anything else that I might do in excess, so I have no desire for weed. Does anyone else here smoke?

There's no such thing as Santa Claus, he's just some fat old man that lives at the North Pole, wears a red suit, and on Christmas Eve flies his sled pulled by reindeer all over the world bringing presents to all the good boys and girls. Makes as much sense as what you had to say.

hodgesco said:

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Quote:

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I don't think I could ever become a full blown alcoholic

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I appreciate the candor. And, just based on what you've said you may already be there. The fact that these problems are bothering you at 1:00 and 3:00 in the morning is a good thing.

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I work 12 to 16 hours a day, so the timeline of my posting is really not as relevant as it might be for someone else. I am rarely ever in bed before 3am.

I admit that I have a problem stopping when I drink hard liquor. I am a binge drinker even of beer, but I don't drink until I passout with beer. I can stop the beer with a nice buzz, but over what the experts consider a healthy amount. Can I force myself to drink the next day? Sure, but it's not something that I want to do. Alcohol doesn't even sound good to me until three days later.

RickSawyer said:

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Appreciate your honest rambling. You sound like you could benefit from taking a break. I can picture your internal struggle with alcohol clearly. You don't really have a problem with alcohol but you do. You want to stop drinking but you don't. The real part of you is reaching out for some help while the alcohol piece of you is yelling "shut up!".

I have been there.

I started drinking at 17. Stopped at 33. All those things you mentioned that you enjoy with alcohol? Here is a secret, you can enjoy them without. 2 years ago I'd never think that I would enjoy standing around managing the smoker with some music on and topo chico. No way in hell. But I do love it! Same with fishing... in fact I fish more now. The alcohol tricks you. It doesn't make the experience better. Its a tricky ******* that convinces you that you need it to have fun, like the most manipulative person you've ever met.

Look, I see your justification in your post... it's only once or twice a week, you proactively went to medical specialists, it's only the hard stuff etc... I hope you can see past your perceptions and justifications to see the opportunity that lay before you. You don't have to think aboit quitting forever, just today. Then try to do that again tomorrow. Get into a group like AA, or get yourself a therapist and have some real honest reflection on yourself and learn who you are without the once or twice a week noise.

You might just like what you find? I've found it liberating. I love myself and who I am. I am a better husband, father, friend, coworker, etc... I lost 60 lbs... you want to see health benefits - oh you can when you quit!

Good luck with your journey. I am pulling for you.

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Thank you for the reply. I am going to take a break until Sept. 3rd and we'll go from there. I am not really seeing a reason or a want, to quit longterm, but you never know.

Blahhead said:

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RickSawyer said:

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Appreciate your honest rambling. You sound like you could benefit from taking a break. I can picture your internal struggle with alcohol clearly. You don't really have a problem with alcohol but you do. You want to stop drinking but you don't. The real part of you is reaching out for some help while the alcohol piece of you is yelling "shut up!".

I have been there.

I started drinking at 17. Stopped at 33. All those things you mentioned that you enjoy with alcohol? Here is a secret, you can enjoy them without. 2 years ago I'd never think that I would enjoy standing around managing the smoker with some music on and topo chico. No way in hell. But I do love it! Same with fishing... in fact I fish more now. The alcohol tricks you. It doesn't make the experience better. Its a tricky ******* that convinces you that you need it to have fun, like the most manipulative person you've ever met.

Look, I see your justification in your post... it's only once or twice a week, you proactively went to medical specialists, it's only the hard stuff etc... I hope you can see past your perceptions and justifications to see the opportunity that lay before you. You don't have to think aboit quitting forever, just today. Then try to do that again tomorrow. Get into a group like AA, or get yourself a therapist and have some real honest reflection on yourself and learn who you are without the once or twice a week noise.

You might just like what you find? I've found it liberating. I love myself and who I am. I am a better husband, father, friend, coworker, etc... I lost 60 lbs... you want to see health benefits - oh you can when you quit!

Good luck with your journey. I am pulling for you.

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Thank you for the reply. I am going to take a break until Sept. 3rd and we'll go from there. I am not really seeing a reason or a want, to quit longterm, but you never know.

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Have you asked your wife what she thinks?

RickSawyer said:

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Blahhead said:

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RickSawyer said:

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Appreciate your honest rambling. You sound like you could benefit from taking a break. I can picture your internal struggle with alcohol clearly. You don't really have a problem with alcohol but you do. You want to stop drinking but you don't. The real part of you is reaching out for some help while the alcohol piece of you is yelling "shut up!".

I have been there.

I started drinking at 17. Stopped at 33. All those things you mentioned that you enjoy with alcohol? Here is a secret, you can enjoy them without. 2 years ago I'd never think that I would enjoy standing around managing the smoker with some music on and topo chico. No way in hell. But I do love it! Same with fishing... in fact I fish more now. The alcohol tricks you. It doesn't make the experience better. Its a tricky ******* that convinces you that you need it to have fun, like the most manipulative person you've ever met.

Look, I see your justification in your post... it's only once or twice a week, you proactively went to medical specialists, it's only the hard stuff etc... I hope you can see past your perceptions and justifications to see the opportunity that lay before you. You don't have to think aboit quitting forever, just today. Then try to do that again tomorrow. Get into a group like AA, or get yourself a therapist and have some real honest reflection on yourself and learn who you are without the once or twice a week noise.

You might just like what you find? I've found it liberating. I love myself and who I am. I am a better husband, father, friend, coworker, etc... I lost 60 lbs... you want to see health benefits - oh you can when you quit!

Good luck with your journey. I am pulling for you.

---

Thank you for the reply. I am going to take a break until Sept. 3rd and we'll go from there. I am not really seeing a reason or a want, to quit longterm, but you never know.

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Have you asked your wife what she thinks?

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Yes. She tells me she has no problem with me occasionally drinking beer. She asks that I not drink bourbon -- not because I am mean or anything like that -- I just don't stop. I'll Uber/Lyft all over town, drop tons of money, I could book stupid trips, buy stuff I don't need, etc.

I just spent the morning listening to sponsee's (sp?) 5th step. Great feeling to see someone on the road to recovery. I told him he has joined an elite group. Of all the people I've sponsored, not a one of them has forced me to drink.

Happy 2 years

agman08 said:

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Happy 2 years

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Thank you very much!

Woke up exhausted from cutting up trees yesterday but absolutely no hangover. Kids helped me clean up around the property, took them to the park, drank a few topo chico grapefruits... I love this life!!!

agman08 said:

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JUST PICKED UP MY ONE YEAR CHIP

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Congratulations .......I hope you're further along in the program than I was at one year. I was still in don't drink and go to meetings mode. I was too much of a bad ass to ever do a 5th step. Just trying to see how miserable I could be and not drink. I don't recommend that to anyone.

Missed the edit but no matter what, you got this!!!

775 days today!

There is some good reading here folks; real powerful stuff. Keep up the hard work everyone

Interesting thread. I had a question. I hear people say that alcohol killed someone they know. What do they mean? Did that person die of alcohol poisoning, choke on their vomit, chronic liver problems or suicide?