My experience of drastic alcohol reduction

[FknOmniShambles]

Hi all,
Just thought I'd share this for anyone contemplating significantly reducing their alcohol intake as I've read so many posts on here by people who had successfully managed this, but always kind of thought it wasn't possible for me.

I'd been a binge drinker for last 25 years with amounts creeping up and up. In my 20's, nights out were horrific and I ended up in some appalling states (and getting into extremely unsafe situations.)

In my 30's I used alcohol to cope with a stressful job and by my 40th birthday was drinking between 1-2 bottles of wine a night, or up to half a bottle of gin. Easily 100 units a week. Going to work sluggish and tired was just the norm, and because the sugar I was cosuming, I ate and ate, finally reaching 26 stone. My tolerance was so high, I could drink a whole bottle of gin and be complete coherent and appear sober. In my mid 30's I met a bloke who I instantly knew was the love of my life. He saw my drinking, I knew he wanted me to cut down but he never pushed me or made me feel terrible.

When I hit 40 it was like a light bulb moment.
I actually started taking mounjaro to combat my weight, but I knew if I was spending that much a month there was no way I was fucking it up with booze. So overnight I stopped all alcohol except for Friday and Saturday, when I planned to have a bottle of wine. It has been the absolute best thing I've ever done. I was lucky and didn't experience any side effects of cutting down so rapidly. I go to work fresh and clear minded. I have lost 3 stone 3lb since January and feel my target of 11 stone is managable in the long term.

The love of my life became my husband last year and he just keeps telling me how proud he is of me. Life feels possible again. The prospect of flying, for example, instead of having to pretend I'm too scared, when actually I don't want to tell my dh I wouldn't fit in the seats. I don't think about alcohol at all during the week (but have replaced alcohol with a serious peppermint tea pigs addiction!)

I've noticed as well that on Fridays and Saturdays I no longer want to binge drink. I tried it at the start and quickly found my tolerance had dropped hugely and after bingeing one night felt absolutely appalling and wasted all staurday. No more. Two big glasses is enough for me!

Not really posting for any reason except to say to anyone doubting they can make changes, that you honestly can. It is turning my life around!

Well done you - a fantastic achievement.

Wow thats impressive! Congratulations. I stopped drinking altogether two years ago. I had already cut back.from daily drinking to weekend drinking. I didn't like the headaches I was getting, so I stopped. For a while I still missed alcohol, but not now. If someone offers me a glass I happily say no. Because of my abstention, my husband drinks a lot less. He's prone to binge drinking so this outcome is a relief. Giving up altogether would be so good for him, but he's not ready for that yet.

Your story is inspirational! I hope it inspires and motivates many others. Alcohol is a poison and is responsible for so much violence and misery in our society. I know I sound like a prohibition preacher but it's sadly true. Think of the money down the drain, the children who aren't being well parented, the domestic violence, and the damage to health and well being. It is a dangerous and addictive substance.

Good luck!! I wish you well.

Well done op - l have never been a big drinker but recently decided l don't actually like alcohol that much. I like the idea of a nice cold glass of wine but the reality is l enjoy a lime and soda just as much. Just been on holiday and didn't have a drink all week, came home to find out l lost 1lb in weight too!
Keep it up op xxx

Thank you both for the kind words ❤️
I think I will always love alcohol (and now I can afford the odd bottle of really lovely wine instead of endless bottles of shit) but I do totally agree with you it's the cause of so much misery.
Another thing I've noticed - problematic drinking is always portrayed as part of someone's overall decline, leading to a point of rock bottom. That wasn't the case for me. I was repeatedly promoted at work and reached a very senior position. Which was of course another reason I convinced myself I didn't have a problem.

Look up the Love Your Liver Bus free liver fibroscans .

Well done on ypir alcohol cessation.

Very well done!
Not belittling your achievements but I have heard that mounjaro is supposed to help with addiction and not just food, I have heard it helps with smoking cessation as well

well done @FknOmniShambles
i have found taking mounjaro fantastic for a loss of interest in alcohol, as someone who drank too much and piled the weight on as a result I’ll keep going with mounjaro for this reason alone - it is such a relief to not crave alcohol and be free from it

Blimey, well done. I thought this was going to be a post about seizures etc which it what I am so totally afraid of. I've drunk too much for too long, I don't think I can just cut down like you have.

Well done @FknOmniShambles.

Excellent. I didn’t start drinking til I was married at 40 and we’d share a bottle or two at weekends. He passed away early on and I then found if I opened a bottle I drank a bottle. But I regularly stop, at the moment I have for Lent. Though I can’t say I feel any different and haven’t lost any weight! But I’m sure it’s good for me.

Fantastic achievement!

I stopped for dry January (well, 2 days before nye) and have just kept going (105 days so far). No weightloss though for me just now though which is disappointing - so that's something I need to address soon but omg, yes!, the clear head and my skin is just so lovely now.

Well done OP! Keep going, alcohol is pure poison & when you look at it that way, there no point shoving that in!