I think I need to give up alcohol

[thollandpe]

This thread title is click bait, I'm disappointed. I was expecting some horrifying, sobering realization such as...

1. "I woke up naked in my car, at a truck stop, covered in a glaze of glitter, Astroglide, and barbecue sauce."

2. "I came to at 3 AM, my browser home page set to the Paceline Classifieds, and an email in my inbox with a tracking number for this on its way."

Attachment 89457

[rwsaunders]

I love a good, hoppy IPA, but once one hits 35, it seems that all of your hard living starts to play catch up, one beer at a time. I dialed way, way back on beer and I enjoy sipping a glass of red accompied by a glass of sparkling water. I think of the red wine/sparkling water combination as sort of a methadone treatment, with beer being my smack.

[Matthew Strongin]

I love a good, hoppy IPA, but once one hits 35, it seems that all of your hard living starts to play catch up, one beer at a time. I dialed way, way back on beer and I enjoy sipping a glass of red accompied by a glass of sparkling water. I think of the red wine/sparkling water combination as sort of a methadone treatment, with beer being my smack.

You stop. I'm 37 and just now hitting my beer stride. Don't make me face reality. Don't do it. And if I have to pay the price for my teens and early 20s, I'm effed.

[hampco]

As my ma said:

One isn't enough

Two is too many

Three is just right

[David Tollefson]

I'm fortunate in that I hate beer. Except the beers that don't taste like beer. Schooner Exact does a Hoppy the Woodsman around the holidays that's aged in bourbon barrels. Sweet wines... A good port does me fine. Bailey's, white chocolate liquors, amaretto. All good stuff. Sip it slow all evening. Mmmm....

I think I'm gonna have to make a trip out to the local Wines and More next week.

[ZenNMotion]

I'm fortunate in that I hate beer. Except the beers that don't taste like beer. Schooner Exact does a Hoppy the Woodsman around the holidays that's aged in bourbon barrels. Sweet wines... A good port does me fine. Bailey's, white chocolate liquors, amaretto. All good stuff. Sip it slow all evening. Mmmm....

I think I'm gonna have to make a trip out to the local Wines and More next week.

Ugh, liquid candy. Try Amarula from South Africa, it's disgusting. You'll love it. Seriously.

[Pi Guy]

That wouldn't allow me replenish my precious bodily fluids.

That's funny, I was thinking all it would do is taste bad and rehydrate you...

[echelon_john]

I'm like a chocoholic, but with booze.

[EliottS]

It's clear to me the lobbyists for the Beer Drinkers Thread have too much power. "Drink more beer," They say, "take pictures of that beer, and post them in our thread." They say. What's your end game?

[Tamu8104]

I tend to keep my beer consumption to the weekends and on the weekends I keep it to one a night, occasionally more if it's a special event/occasion. Otherwise I typically drink water or hot tea. I also try to limit my bread and dairy intakes. All of that keeps me feeling good and my weight has held steady.

[maunahaole]

Then you have to wear your ironed shirt untucked, hang out only with people who are painfully attractive, and be filmed by a drone that's constantly looping around you 360 degrees.

Scary thought...a friend of ours here is in one of those ads.

[xjoex]

I don't drink at all. But at one point I decided I needed to be a better climber (long time ago) so I lost 20 pounds and got down to 128. I could beat everyone on climbs in the first hour of a race. But then I fell to pieces after that. So I am back up to 148 and eat pizza now and then. Pizza makes me happy. I'm simple like that.

-Joe

[sk_tle]

I don't drink alcohol on a daily basis. My big issue is chocolate. I calculated my yearly consumption at one point and it was 3.5 times the average chocolate consumption in Switzerland which is completely crazy. I can't give up chocolate completely but I have drastically reduced my daily intake although I have periods of relapse especially in winter.

[dgaddis]

I don't drink at all. But at one point I decided I needed to be a better climber (long time ago) so I lost 20 pounds and got down to 128. I could beat everyone on climbs in the first hour of a race. But then I fell to pieces after that. So I am back up to 148 and eat pizza now and then. Pizza makes me happy. I'm simple like that.

-Joe

148. Skinny boy!!

I don't drink either, but I'm still kinda pudgy around the waist. But that's because I eat like crap, drink soda (love the stuff...I know, I know...), and don't ride enough. I'm 175lbs, two years ago I dropped down around 155lbs and my fitness went through the roof (relatively speaking of course). Once I'm no longer living in two places and working two full time jobs I'll drop the weight again.

[colker]

Drink wine. Red wine. Good for the body and soul.

Not to mention wine importers, the french, italian economy.. napa valley. They count on you.

[Lionel]

I drink everything, wine, beer, hard liquor transparent or not, etc...

Some years ago I gave up all alcohol for 4 months prior to the tape du tour. I was in the best cycling shape of my life. But when I looked at what it meant, the best cycling shape of my life, I decided to start drinking alcohol again. If you are going to suck anyway you might as well enjoy the ride.

[j44ke]

I have no on-off switch, so I had to stop drinking in 1998. It was not easy.

Now I can't eat many spicy high acid foods, i.e. Mexican food. And my doctor put the kibosh on cheese, except for Parmesan. Acid reflux and high cholesterol being the reasons.

Lately she's been after me about coffee.

I am fitter than I've ever been in my life, except perhaps between the ages of 18 and 25. But the medical profession seems determined to find things wrong with me.

[dashDustin]

I don't drink alcohol on a daily basis. My big issue is chocolate.

Chocolate was my weakness, as well. So, on New Year's I stopped eating it. With a 8 and 11yr old at the house, and working in an office where dietary habits are horrendous, there is always some sort of chocolate hanging out. Makes it kind of difficult, but I've held fast.

[ides1056]

cycling keeps me on a short enough leash that the other things- chocolate, beer- don't get out of hand

I had one beer last night instead of the usual two, and I did not fall asleep with a book in my lap: success!

[Artie]

I have been strongly considering this as well. It might be good to give the plumbing a rest.
Losing a 5 pounds would be great also.
My normal limit is 3 drinks If I'm out and about.
I don't drink every day. When I do.. after work it's 1 or 2 good beers. I've been doing about 3 nights during the week.
On the weekends it varies. The post-ride sessions seem to be the most dangerous.

I have abandoned the harsh IPAs and all Wheat beers.. they wreck havoc on my stomach.
So.. I am sticking to the Belgians and I couldn't be happier.

Most of all I need to ride more!