When I got home from my trip on Monday night and went to the bar to sing karaoke, I got a hangover from two beers. I normally have a ridiculous tolerance for alcohol, so this was surprising. What's even more surprising is, of the few times I've been hung over, this one was the absolute worst. Needless to say, I haven't had a drink since that night.
I've been thinking the past couple of days and I've come to the realization that my drinking while at home has become more of a ritual or part of my day, rather than drinking for enjoyment. I've slowly lost my taste for beer, and I've noticed that because my beer reviews have been getting progressively worse.
It just took me until now to realize that fact. I know I can say no to alcohol because I have to do so when I'm at work. Drinking on my job is a one-way ticket to getting fired, and even worse, having your license revoked permanently. It's just something I do at home or when I don't have to work, so I know I can in fact control my drinking. I just choose not to, for some reason.
I've also noticed I've slept better the past two nights than I have in years. I don't feel as tired during the day as a result. I can run for longer in the morning, I can bowl more games in one setting, I can work out more vigorously. My heart hasn't fluttered at all. I no longer have stomach cramps. Granted, I've not felt my best the past couple of days (and who knows, maybe it's withdrawal/detox), but I know I'll come out of it with a new body, just like I did when I made the commitment to the raw vegan diet. On top of that, I've cut out a lot of empty calories those two days from not having my standard 2 beers.
I guess I've realized that I don't want to drink anymore. I don't want this for myself. It's really lost its appeal. The taste doesn't really appeal to me anymore, neither do the effects. I'm done with this. Alcohol has caused me to do some really stupid stuff in the past, when I would drink excessively to numb up or something. A lot of that stuff I'm not proud of. Lucky for me, I'm still young so it hasn't damaged my health too much at this point, and maybe some of what has been done can be reversed. Not to mention thinking about how much more money I'll have to spend on stuff that'll give me a lot more enjoyment for a lot longer. Bowling equipment, music, among other things.
Just, no more of this.
I'm done drinking, for good.
What are your thoughts on drinking? How often do you drink? Could you give up drinking alcohol as easily?
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Comments (11)
i really don't like drinking at all, it just makes me act stupid, too many calories (that's a whole other story though), and it's just super unhealthy for you! i feel like a loser though since i'm in college and everyone goes out but i don't really care... good job on the raw vegan thing, too!
i love drinking! wine especially. i think i binge drink a bit too much tho.. i usually just have a bottle of wine in one sitting… on the odd occasion 2 bottles. when i first started college i drank every single weekend.. but now its like 2 weekends a month max.. sometimes not even that.. i think i could give up drinking.. but nehhh
@x_papergirl@xanga - Well, actually drinking in moderation is said to have heart-healthy benefits, but hardly anyone who drinks sticks to the true definition of moderation (2 drinks/day for men, 1 drink/day for women). Any more than that, yes, it's not healthy.
I wasn't a partier in college either. I just went to class and did my thing. I wasn't involved at all, LOL! I did swing club in grad school, but that was about it, and I only stayed there for nine months.
I recently decided on New Year's Eve that I hate the way people act when they drink and I no longer want to be a part of it. It's just annoying and I end up making a fool out of myself. Alcoholism runs in my family so that's even more of an incentive. Good for you for stopping! I don't drink that often, but in the social situations I'm in occasionally where drinking is a huge part of it it's hard to say no... but not impossible. I think I can give it up pretty easily but I suppose I'll see when I'm actually in a situation where drinking is offered again (some situations I can't avoid - like family gatherings).
I only drank heavily for about 6 months while I was going through a divorce. I think of that as my typical 20-something experience lol. I have gotten drunk a few times since then and I just felt miserable the whole time I was drunk and the next two days. Its just not worth it. Not to mention alcohol tastes like crap! And it has a ton of calories. I very rarely drank the last 6 months of 2011. It just doesn't appeal to me. I recently started drinking a glass (like 3 oz) of red wine with dinner. It tastes awful, but its supposed to be good for you so I think of it like medicine lol
I DO NOT DRINK AND WILL NOT DRINK. I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY "PUSH" IT... I WILL NOT DRINK. It's not worth acting like an idiot and it's not worth the calories.
So good for you for stopping.
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Drinking has become a large part of my life too, and I've been cutting it out a lot lately. Working in the food industry usually provides you with ample reason to get a beer, especially when you're a chef. I've recently cut my drinking down by 90%, and have kept that going for about a month. I've given myself a few nights on for certain occasions, birthday parties, new years, etc, where I've had up to 5 drinks. This is a big difference from when 5 drinks was an everyday thing, about 2 months ago. That's a bigger difference from when 8 drinks was an everyday thing, about 2 years ago.
I definitely don't agree that alcohol tastes like crap. I think people who say that don't know what kind of alcohol to drink, and they're too accustomed to drinking syrup.
It's definitely a habit, and I find myself not being able to sit long without wanting to reach for something. I've tried to replace it with a few things, protein shakes, iced tea, water, but what has really helped has been milk. I know it sounds strange, but drinking milk fills me up. It's also the thickness, sweetness, and maybe the calories that my body is looking for. Maybe it's all in my head, but the lingering flavor sticks with me and wanes my desire for immediately drinking more of something. Drinking water just has me guzzling it all night, which isn't the worst thing for me, but doesn't do much for the habit.
Good luck. I know that I'm not done with the habit, but like you, I'm trying to be done with just drinking for no reason.
Take care
You. Are. Awesome.
Really, there are few people out there like you!
I bartend. It's soooo friggin hard to not drink! Last night I got off work early (midnight) and decided to hang out.... Today my head is pounding from 2 beers and 2 shots of jamie. I'm SO OVER IT. Good luck!
definitely a bad habit. i understand when you say you've lose the taste for it. i've been drinking less and less since last year. i love the feeling of not being hungover. i love waking up refreshed and not babysitting an all-over body ache for the next 48 hours. i love saving all this money! : )
I drink heavily all the time and it never bothered me! Ahhh, that's some good milk!