Made it through the weekend!

I did not survive the weekend but I do think it reinforced the idea that I don't particularly enjoy the way I feel when I drink so I'll take it as an overall positive. Alcohol had become a crutch and just something to get me through the evenings and I think I can use tonight as an eye opening evening to show that I not only don't need it but don't want it. Back on it tomorrow fellas

So far so good, about 1/4 of the way done.

This weekend was TOUGH.

Did yard work & put away Christmas decorations under the stern and watchful eye of my loving bride. Under strict guidance, I was able to make it through the crucible of proper repacking and storage of decorations. Next, furniture was moved back into normal position (after vacuuming of course) with much consternation.

When it was all done, my nerves were shot. A calming glass of heavenly bourbon sure would have been nice..... but I powered through and kept myself busy to avoid thinking about it.

Wishing you all continued perserverance!

I'm in! First time doing Dry January but not first time cutting alcohol for long periods (I've deployed 3 times with no alcohol on any of them).

The hardest part was having my boyfriend in town visiting. He is also on board but one of our favorite activities as a couple is a meal with a couple drinks, so that has been an adjustment. More meals at home helped a lot.

GeorgiAg said:

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300 dollars saved in 12 days. That is telling me you spent a minimum of 9k per year just on booze...not to mention the impulse decisions on food / etc while drinking. Is that amount reality?

crazy!

evestor1 said:

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GeorgiAg said:

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300 dollars saved in 12 days. That is telling me you spent a minimum of 9k per year just on booze...not to mention the impulse decisions on food / etc while drinking. Is that amount reality?

crazy!

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I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I bought a pint of vodka pretty much every day. I had a dry February in 2023, then told myself "I'm good." Started out as a few beers after work, then a half pint of vodka and beers, then progressed to a full pint and beers. If I bought more than a pint, there's no telling how much I'd drink, so I always bought a pint to limit myself with a six pack of Hopsecutioner or other high gravity (7%) beer. GF had adopted some of my habits so we usually polished the six pack of beer off easily each night. She usually would come home with a high gravity tall boy or two. I also occasionally bought apple rum "for her." Most days, my charge at the liquor store was $25.66 for a pint of vodka and a six pack of Hopsecutioner high gravity beer. Some days a lot more, some days less for only the pint of vodka. $300 for 12 days is probably a low estimate, and that's not even considering what she spent.

The calorie estimate is probably low too. A pint of vodka is 1,000 calories. Each beer was 211 calories. If I drank a pint and 3 beers, that would be about 20,000 calories in 12 days. The money and the calories are both probably low ball estimates. If there was other liquor in the house, I wouldn't drink it, but the guy who drank a pint of vodka and a few other beers would.

This weekend she had a margarita at a Mexican restaurant on Saturday and only 4 Michelob Ultras (low gravity, low calorie) spread out Friday to Sunday, so she's doing a lot better too. She says she wants to go no alcohol M - Thurs, but her kids usually set her off. Ha.

My law school roommate just went sober for a year and that's what prompted me to get sober. Plus two of my younger lawyer friends died from drinking, one in 2023. I've been helping his widow, and it's sad seeing his high school age kids. I know several lawyers that died from drinking. It's been a wake up call.

Mike - drank himself to death
Chris - drank himself to death
Doug - drank heavily, killed himself
Price - doing good with sobriety, wife in bad accident with severe brain damage, then drank himself to death

Took courage to post that and be so open/honest about it. That is hard for most people. Best of luck on your journey!

Good for you posting this. I would encourage you to tell friends about it as they will help encourage you & hold you accountable.

Personally I had about a $50-60 per week habit. (1-2 bottles of bourbon).
Step one is keeping it out of the house. If it ain't there, there isn't another alcohol for me that is so tempting.
I've rewarded myself with a $50-60 item I've had on my Amazon "wish list" the first week. Instead of drinking my money, I can spend on something I'll actually use. Just a thought for motivation perhaps.

Good luck!!

Think I just convinced a coworker to go sober the rest of the month. Their child died last year and they hit rock bottom. Started getting better and lost around 30 pounds. Is currently sick and hasn't felt like drinking, today they were complaining and the shakes even though they didn't have a fever.

Honestly the more people I talk to the more people I find that have an alcohol problem. If you are on the fence about doing it don't worry about being alone, you are in a much better spot starting this than most people.

Think my bet with my friend runs out at the end of next month, I know they drank a few times but they told me they are no longer buying 3-4 handles of vodka a week. That is a step in the right direction

Made it through the weekend. If I make it through tonight it will be a week. The negative effects of quitting are all but gone. Still get anxiety. I'm thinking it might be something I always had and was self medicating. I don't want to put a pen and paper to the costs, but here is an attempt...
3 handles a week - 2 of decent whiskey and one of vodka, usually Tito's - $150. At least 1 higher end 750 ml - $75-100. So let's $230 at the house. Usually a couple of drinks while out and about, bloody mary morninings, Let's say a conservative another $25 if you include tips. $255 *52 = $13,260. Add about 1 big blowout weekend every quarter where the drinks were bought at bars/restaurants... an extra $2K a year. So $15,260.

I'm sure that is conservative...

Was planning to give myself the night off for the Championship game, even went to the drink fridge and the liquor cabinet for a look, but I just kinda didn't.

Feeling good about that, though I'm not seeing any weight loss post-holidays. I've always had a bad sweet tooth, and it's ramping up in the absence of the bourbon carbs.

Adding in goals of eliminating packaged sweets and no eating after dinner.

To those who are quitting or cutting back, keep grinding it out. We're pulling for you.