I think I need to give up alcohol

[withintolerance]

A Cheeba Chew has all of 35 calories, in case anybody was wondering.

[nick k]

As I've gotten older, alcohol can put me to sleep. Especially if I don't have something specific and relatively active to do following a meal with wine or beer. So I try not to sit down for a while after eating (probably a good idea anyway), and drink a glass of wine or a beer a few times a week, but don't have a complex about it. It means my wife and I can split a bottle of wine of we splurge on a night out without much guilt. Philly's excellent BYO's make this less of a splurge than a guilty pleasure.

A couple of summers ago I cut bread and sugar out of my diet entirely. And lordy was I thin. But it's not sustainable with my work life: lots of travel, hotels, 12 hour workdays. Often the only meal I control is breakfast.

Now I just try not to eat anything out of a bag or a box.

[Mr B]

A couple of summers ago I cut bread and sugar out of my diet entirely. And lordy was I thin.

Wife decided to cut out bread for 1 month. Effing miserable, never doing that again.
Everything in moderation, no need to cut anything out of your life completely unless it presents a genuine hazard to your health. Ride more, drink a little less perhaps. Or not. It's still winter.

[Nierman]

Just saw this commercial last night and gave my wife and I a chuckle.

Weight Watchers TV Spot, 'Bread' Featuring Oprah Winfrey - iSpot.tv

bread.jpg

[thollandpe]

I set two Strava KOM's on a rolling TT course in both directions (one still stands) after sitting down after work and having two glasses of red wine. Wine beats tramadol like paper covers rock.


"Shut up, liver!"

[Len J]

One day back in 1988, at the age of 33, I realized that, to a large degree, my life had been dominated by Alcohol. Both parent were abusive drunks, I had both a brother and a sister that had severe chemical dependency issues, & many aunts and uncles, etc, etc. While I didn't have the chemical dependency issues, I had been trained in the habits since birth. I was now the parent of 4 young children and I knew that I never wanted them to suffer. I also knew that statistically, that it's a family disease, and that my kids were very much at risk.

Deciding it was my responsibility to try to break the chain, I stopped drinking (Why the hell was I worshiping at an alter that had resulted in so much pain in my own life?), and haven't had a drink of alcohol since. I eventually also helped my brother and sister into and through recovery and didn't protect my kids from the process, making sure they knew there was a different way. Brother has been clean for 19 years, sister was clean for 9 when she did. When my youngest son was 19, he was able to call me up and ask for help....... he now has 11 years clean and is a beacon in his community.

I don't miss the mornings after, and the only time I miss drinking at all is 1.) not having a top shelf margarita with mexican food & 2.) not having a good bottle of wine with a great meal. It's also amazing the reactions of people around you when you don't drink (It has gotten better over the year as more people opt out, but initially, I was an outlier). Half the people didn't understand, 45% were so uncomfortable they made it their mission to get you to drink and the other 5% were supportive. The first time I attended a family wedding, I was the only one in the room not drinking...... it was interesting to watch.

It's easier than you think....especially if you have a reason.

Len

[dashDustin]

Half the people didn't understand, 45% were so uncomfortable they made it their mission to get you to drink...

It's easier than you think....especially if you have a reason.

Len

I don't know about it being easier simply because of that first statement. Or, I guess it IS easier for YOU to drop it, but it's not easy for everyone else to let it be. It seems like alcohol is such a significant part of the cycling community. My wife has been to women's group rides that have mimosas for post-ride refreshments. No water, just a 5gal jugs of mimosas. I don't understand it.

[Tom Officer]

Perfect! Similar story here. I'm still amazed at how not drinking at all changes your perspective on the world around you. All of a sudden you see how prevalent alcohol is, every social gathering, every family function, the constant bombardment with ads...it never ends.

I look back now and think how could I have possibly thought it was ok to have beer in the fridge with young kids in the house, but you just get habituated to things. It was what I and many others grew up with.

Good on you Len J!

One day back in 1988, at the age of 33, I realized that, to a large degree, my life had been dominated by Alcohol. Both parent were abusive drunks, I had both a brother and a sister that had severe chemical dependency issues, & many aunts and uncles, etc, etc. While I didn't have the chemical dependency issues, I had been trained in the habits since birth. I was now the parent of 4 young children and I knew that I never wanted them to suffer. I also knew that statistically, that it's a family disease, and that my kids were very much at risk.

Deciding it was my responsibility to try to break the chain, I stopped drinking (Why the hell was I worshiping at an alter that had resulted in so much pain in my own life?), and haven't had a drink of alcohol since. I eventually also helped my brother and sister into and through recovery and didn't protect my kids from the process, making sure they knew there was a different way. Brother has been clean for 19 years, sister was clean for 9 when she did. When my youngest son was 19, he was able to call me up and ask for help....... he now has 11 years clean and is a beacon in his community.

I don't miss the mornings after, and the only time I miss drinking at all is 1.) not having a top shelf margarita with mexican food & 2.) not having a good bottle of wine with a great meal. It's also amazing the reactions of people around you when you don't drink (It has gotten better over the year as more people opt out, but initially, I was an outlier). Half the people didn't understand, 45% were so uncomfortable they made it their mission to get you to drink and the other 5% were supportive. The first time I attended a family wedding, I was the only one in the room not drinking...... it was interesting to watch.

It's easier than you think....especially if you have a reason.

Len

[72gmc]

I don't have the reasons you have, Len, but many years ago I took a new look at the way adults behaved while I was a kid--relaxed attitudes about drinking and driving in particular. I decided driving after even one drink is not what I'm about. The result is I turn down lots of offers. At first I was almost apologetic about it, but I'm over that.

[xjoex]

Similar story to Len J for why I don't drink. It is a key part of American culture. As a kid I saw the effect it had on my family; literally many of the men on one side of my family have died with a bottle in their hand, and the rest of have had severe health impacts. All as a result of what my old Irish grandma called "The Drink".

For me I happened to buy a Minor Threat record, then a Youth of Today, next a Chain of Strength album and so on. It helped me as a kid to resist the binge drinking which is such a part of high school. Going to a show like the one below was great to see a place where it wasn't weird to say no to a beer.


Anythow I don't judge anyone that drinks, to each their own. But I never wanted to tempt fate.

-Joe

[bigbill]

One day back in 1988, at the age of 33, I realized that, to a large degree, my life had been dominated by Alcohol. Both parent were abusive drunks, I had both a brother and a sister that had severe chemical dependency issues, & many aunts and uncles, etc, etc. While I didn't have the chemical dependency issues, I had been trained in the habits since birth. I was now the parent of 4 young children and I knew that I never wanted them to suffer. I also knew that statistically, that it's a family disease, and that my kids were very much at risk.

Deciding it was my responsibility to try to break the chain, I stopped drinking (Why the hell was I worshiping at an alter that had resulted in so much pain in my own life?), and haven't had a drink of alcohol since. I eventually also helped my brother and sister into and through recovery and didn't protect my kids from the process, making sure they knew there was a different way. Brother has been clean for 19 years, sister was clean for 9 when she did. When my youngest son was 19, he was able to call me up and ask for help....... he now has 11 years clean and is a beacon in his community.

I don't miss the mornings after, and the only time I miss drinking at all is 1.) not having a top shelf margarita with mexican food & 2.) not having a good bottle of wine with a great meal. It's also amazing the reactions of people around you when you don't drink (It has gotten better over the year as more people opt out, but initially, I was an outlier). Half the people didn't understand, 45% were so uncomfortable they made it their mission to get you to drink and the other 5% were supportive. The first time I attended a family wedding, I was the only one in the room not drinking...... it was interesting to watch.

It's easier than you think....especially if you have a reason.

Len

Sorry all that beer got left in your basement fridge. It'll keep.

[Len J]

Sorry all that beer got left in your basement fridge. It'll keep.

LOL. My oldest son and his wife came to visit. He asked me where he could go pick up a 6 pack for them. I told him I thought there might be a beer or two in the basement fridge.....imagine his surprise.... Cracked me up.

Len

[Bob Ross]

Take the sustainable approach -- cut back to one a night instead of two.

Oh, I thought he meant he had to reduce his nightly consumption by two drinks!

[dcama5]

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.

I think your doctor hates you!

[dcama5]

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.

This pretty much says it for me too!

[znfdl]

I don't miss the mornings after, and the only time I miss drinking at all is 1.) not having a top shelf margarita with mexican food & 2.) not having a good bottle of wine with a great meal. Len

One of life's great pleasures is the chemical reaction between food and wine. Just sayin......

[progetto]

That's just stupid talk. The first one rarely even touches the sides so you need the second one to quench the thirst.

Snip......
You might consider having a healthy glass of water before the beer to fill you up a little so you don't want the 2d one.

[SlowPokePete]

I am drinkin a martini right now...

SPP

[mjbabcock]

Im drinking crown royal's northern rye. Figure ill survey the landscape before doing something drastic.

[ides1056]

I think your doctor hates you!

at my yearly physical last year, the technician giving me an EKG looked at me in surprise and asked, " you do cardio?"

Priceless