I look so much better since no alcohol last 10 days!

[xxlostxx]

I have used alcohol as a crutch for a good few years now. A bottle of wine a night at least, rare to have an alcohol free night. Due to severe tooth infection/anti biotics/extraction, I have had no choice but to abstain for the last 10 days. Was quite easy as was in agony and doped up on painkillers too. Over the worst of dental probs now but can't believe how fresher my skin looks, brighter eyes, dark circles diminished etc. All them aging factors where due to the wine habit weren't they?

Most likely, yes! And now you're enjoying all the beauty benefits of not drinking, so keep going. I bet you'll find the weight drops off, too. Can you find something interesting to do in the evenings so that you don't go back to the vino out of boredom?

When I was drinking two bottles a week I looked like hell. Dry, crinkly hair, puffy face, bulgy belly. I'm never going back.

Yes ... I never really drank much; a bottle of wine most weekends, the odd G&T before a concert or play ... But last year I gave up all alcohol for six months - and was astonished at how the bags under my eyes shrank, and my lines became less deep.

I drink less and better wine now. And I consciously avoid alcohol for at least a week before a zoom or in person meeting where I want to look half decent.

Ive been off alcohol for the last week because of some antibiotics im on and I was thinking the same this morning. My skin looks a lot better. Ill likely still have a glass of wine 1 or 2 nights a week but not as much as I was drinking before.

Yes! Frown lines not looking as deep either. I've been drinking too much for far too long now and it has definitely caused weight gain. All around middle mostly. Gonna try and fit in exercise/long walks of a night to shift it and stop the boredom of reaching for the wine!

Well done op, keep up the good work.

Have you found that you have slept better as well?

I didn't touch a drop of alcohol for the best part of a year, and then when I had a glass of wine, I didn't sleep well and felt so sluggish the next day.

This was during our lockdown as alcohol was banned, and I just don't like to drink alone. I really haven't missed it. I lost a lot of weight without trying and I think my skin looks a lot better. And I was just a social drinker really.

Yeah, it's a real tonic for the skin.

From the other side of the fence, I’ve been tee total for 5 years + due to various medical stuff and I still look knackered.

Sorry to hear that, KatyN - I know ‘medical stuff’ can be awfully draining.

I like wine and wasn’t prepared to give it up - I’ve just gradually shifted my focus to ‘only when there’s a good reason’ and only biodynamic wine. (There was a thread a couple of months ago on the effects of menopause on one’s alcohol tolerance. I’m convinced it’s the additives in mainstream wine that do the most harm.)

Luckily I don’t care much about other drink, except around Christmas.

Yes!!! Keep it up, I stopped a couple of years back I still appreciate how much better I feel without it.

Alcohol also increases anxiety/ beer fear the next day. The reason we feel good when we drink is because alcohol replaces our natural GABA production.. then as the alcohol leaves our system it means we have no naturally produced GABA to stave off feelings of worry and stress. Hangxiety is a thing ! Also our body won't burn off other fuel if alcohol is present.. so that means, for me at least, I won't lose any even if I am incorporating a drink into my calories or whatever for a day.. plus bloating .. plus everything else means I don't drink during the week and try and limit to a couple of gin and sodas when I do . I've had to give up wine and I know a lot of women really struggle with it .. it's got something in it I can't remember the name of but lots of people can't process it and apparently women especially struggle with it as we get older ( hence why hangovers get worse) ..

I’m teetotal and my skin is much better than friends of the same age who drink wine.