To not drink anymore

[pollyputthekettleon33]

Had a few drinks with dh last night while watching Saturday night tv and ordering a takeaway. A wild night it was not.

But my god I feel shit today. I'm not sick or anything, just so so tired and foggy headed. Like I can't string a cohesive thought together or plan to do anything. I have no motivation. It's a lovely sunny day that we could be out enjoying but instead I'm withering away on the sofa.

I don't drink often these days because I have dc and it wouldn't be fair on them to be in this mood often. But dc were out at grandparents last night and I had really been looking forward to a few glasses of wine. It just doesn't seem worth it anymore.

I enjoy it at the time but afterwards I feel so much brighter, clear headed and happy when I haven't had a drink. I'm mid 30s and have only noticed this in the last year or so. I just feel like life is too short to waste days like this.

Agreed. And well done for actually admitting it to yourself.

I think many people are in denial of the effects on their body for one reason or another (often afraid to be judged as dull).
Dh doesn't sleep well after his drink/s and is useless on the next day but it's never the drink that caused it if you ask him.

I love drinking! But drinking does not love me.

I go through phases of drinking 3-4 times a week and a lot at the weekend, and because of the summer we've had traveling, seeing friends, and social activities means I've been chugging non stop since probably Easter if not before.

Was my birthday a couple weeks back, Friday before last I shared 2 bottles of champagne with a friend and decided that that was my lot for a long while.

Enjoyed a tiny wine one Wednesday eve and another yesterday afternoon. Haven't missed it, haven't craved it.

I found that alcohol completely sets any cravings alight and means I don't work out because I'm too foggy.

Since I quit, I've worked out most days, don't wake up bleary and feel 100% clearer. I probably will stay off the sauce until Christmas season and then come off again January.

Of all the reasons to quit, "I don't want to drink" is just as acceptable as "I'm training for a marathon".

I am 48 and can’t drink anymore. Even one glass ruins the next three days for me. So I have given up and it has been fantastic. There are so many benefits. I wish I had known this years ago.

I'm 2 years AF and it's the best decision I've ever made

If I were a lively, engaged with life person I don't think I'd bother with alcohol that much.

I used to binge drink on a Saturday night. Not great, but at least limited to that one night. Now it's around 3 times a week. Sometimes more. Sometimes I'll drink in the day.
I've gained 2 stones in 2 years. I'm tired all the time.

I have to stop now.
I've had 2 deaths of close family members, through alcohol. My dad is an alcoholic and another close family member is heading that way to. I am beginning to think I'm pre-disposed to alcoholism and if I don't stop now, I'll die.

I'm 42 and over 4 years AF. I stopped for similar reasons. Read "The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober". My life is so much better without alcohol. I don't miss it at all.

I stopped drinking completely this year. I used to drink a lot then had a year off in 2014. After that I didn't drink much until lockdown then overdid it for a year and wound down again. After perimenopause started early this year and some health issues (mental and physical) I just don't fancy it anymore and really I am so much better off without it re sleep, MH and just general productivity. It helps I am at a time of life where I don't go out so much socially anymore and DH has never been a drinker so we don't have drinks in the evening.

It’s actually bad now that my friends are all of the age where at any moment anyone might be having another baby so if you refuse a drink I feel like it screams ‘pregnant!’! Why should drinking be so normalized though that you need to do it? Why can’t you just say no with no reason? I hardly ever choose to drink in the house so I obviously don’t enjoy it but for some reason I feel the need to when I’m out

My limit is one glass! I had three glasses of wine last Saturday and felt rubbish all Sunday and woke up with terrible hangziety! Just not worth it at all.
This weekend I went out with my husband and only had a glass of wine and that was enough.
Think the toughest part of reducing drinking or not drinking is in social situations when the expectation is that you'll drink I know a couple of times I've felt like I should drink because everyone else is