Phasing Out Drinking

[Sweep_the_Leg]

@whatsyourgovt

@thommo77

I like drinking - makes me more outgoing, allows me to relax. I only get smashed probably a handful of times a year, mainly at weddings, big celebrations, big weekends etc. I do not drink much during the week and never drink by myself for the hell of it - always in social settings.

You should try drinking by yourself at a strip club while listening to an audio book. It’s quite enlightening.

WTF? That…actually sounds pretty nice.

[woodywoodford]

the thing I look forward to most in my day is kicking back with a glass of scotch/bourbon before bed. not getting drunk, just winding down the day. I could kick alcohol easily but have no reason to do it.

[comp_sci_kid]

I usually don’t drink because when i am even a bit tipsy i stop measuring and thinking about every word i say. I like to be in total control of my thoughts and language

[frisian]

I stopped keeping beer in the fridge a couple years ago and I lost probably 12 pounds since then. I still drink socially, but if you can abstain from drinking a beer every day or two, your body will benefit.

[Sweep_the_Leg]

@frisian

I stopped keeping beer in the fridge a couple years ago and I lost probably 12 pounds since then. I still drink socially, but if you can abstain from drinking a beer every day or two, your body will benefit.

For sure. When I need to slim down I just quit drinking for a week or two and I drop weight like a meth addict.

[higgmond]

@whatsyourgovt

You should try drinking by yourself at a strip club while listening to an audio book. It’s quite enlightening.

Have you been following me?

[higgmond]

@Sweep_the_Leg

@frisian

I stopped keeping beer in the fridge a couple years ago and I lost probably 12 pounds since then. I still drink socially, but if you can abstain from drinking a beer every day or two, your body will benefit.

For sure. When I need to slim down I just quit drinking for a week or two and I drop weight like a meth addict.

Just imagine if you started using meth as well.

[NANA_Hachiko]

I don’t have experience quitting drinking because i don’t drink a lot to start with, and i can probably quit drinking without much pain.

But the question is why?

If you don’t think it’s affecting your lifestyle or if you don’t think alcohol is damaging your body you will not have the motivation to quit next time you go out with friends or next time you go to a restaruant and the server asks you “have you decided on the wine?”

Everything in moderation, i think some alcohol is good, even great for your health, like wine, full of anti-oxidents. perhaps you should quit hard liquor? or beer?

[Greenman72]

@frisian

…if you can abstain from drinking a beer every day or two, your body will benefit.

Doing the math…if one pound = 3500 calories, and one soda has 100 calories, and you cut out one soda per day…

You would cut out 36,500 calories, and you would lose about ten pounds per year.

[frisian]

The only thing worse for your body than soda is tobacco.

I drank soda growing up and through college and sort of tapered off for a few years. Late in 2004 I decided that I never needed to drink a soda again and I haven’t. Is it any wonder than I weigh 25 pounds less now - at 40 - than I did when I was 17? Really wish my parents had instilled better habits when I was a kid. I could have gotten a lot more box as a teenager.

[NANA_Hachiko]

@frisian

The only thing worse for your body than soda is tobacco.

I drank soda growing up and through college and sort of tapered off for a few years. Late in 2004 I decided that I never needed to drink a soda again and I haven’t. Is it any wonder than I weigh 25 pounds less now - at 40 - than I did when I was 17? Really wish my parents had instilled better habits when I was a kid. I could have gotten a lot more box as a teenager.

Congrats!

I think everything is in moderation, never say never.

I don’t buy soda and drink at home, but if i go out, i may order a rum and coke if i feel like it?

The thing is, if you try to “quit” it’s painful, if you just tell yourself “you’ve had enough” you just don’t crave it.

[rawraw]

@NANA_Hachiko

@frisian

The only thing worse for your body than soda is tobacco.

I drank soda growing up and through college and sort of tapered off for a few years. Late in 2004 I decided that I never needed to drink a soda again and I haven’t. Is it any wonder than I weigh 25 pounds less now - at 40 - than I did when I was 17? Really wish my parents had instilled better habits when I was a kid. I could have gotten a lot more box as a teenager.

Congrats!

I think everything is in moderation, never say never.

I don’t buy soda and drink at home, but if i go out, i may order a rum and coke if i feel like it?

The thing is, if you try to “quit” it’s painful, if you just tell yourself “you’ve had enough” you just don’t crave it.

So you’d do meth with me? Heroine? Bungee jumping without a shoot? Surely moderation isn’t a blanket truth?

[numi]

I recently cut out all soda and alcohol except for gin and scotch. I think it has been my trick to staying fit while continuing to be the life of the partay.

[Sweep_the_Leg]

@rawraw

So you’d do meth with me? Heroine? Bungee jumping without a shoot? Surely moderation isn’t a blanket truth?

Teetotalers just don’t understand.

[woodywoodford]

@numi

I recently cut out all soda and alcohol except for gin and scotch. I think it has been my trick to staying fit while continuing to be the life of the partay.

True dat. If I must mix it’s ginger ale but usually just straight. Bonus points when I realized spending a few extra bucks on quality stuff makes a world of difference the next day (ie. Bulleit instead of JD)

[brain_wash_your_face]

Numi, you drink gin straight, or are you just a martini/g&t fan? Hendrick’s?

Woody, what are some of your favorite bourbons? I’m curious.

[Palantir]

woody - what’s a good beginner whiskey for n00bs? Do you drink it straight or with water/soda?

[NANA_Hachiko]

There are some good japanese whiskey as well!

[former_trader]

I drink to be able to fall to the women’s level at the bar. Did you ever try to have a conversation with someone drinking while you were sober? Not fun.

[bodhisattva]

@The_Righteous_Hacksa

I’m thinking of giving up drinking. I’m not an alcoholic. I’ve never driven drunk or been arrested. Never even gotten in a fight. I’m your classic fratboy binge drinker but have always managed to stay out of trouble. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve drunk less and less. Now, that I’m 30, I’ve pretty much cut back to special occasions (wedding or vacation somewhere sunny) and usually only in intimate groups of people I am very close with.

Still, it feels like it’s not enough. It derails my fitness regime (Blake, you know what I mean) and generally makes me a lot dumber. I also find that it effects my mood greatly (both in good and bad ways) effectively magnifying it, both during and after intoxication. These mood swings are unpleasant.

Have any of you guys quit? Thoughts?

I quit drinking when I was 26 but I was a hardcore alcoholic. It was the best decision I ever made in my life. I can definitely understand where you are coming from even though it doesn’t sound like its a problem for you it also doesn’t sound like it is adding much value to your life. So go ahead and give it up and see how it goes, you’ll probably get alot more clarity around it after you’ve given it up and it will almost certainly improve your physical fitness and emotional stability.