The (short- or long-term) Teetotallers thread

Since we have an alcohol-appreciation thread, I thought it would be nice to have one for those of us who are teetotalling - either for only a short while (like dry January) or for longer periods. 

This is intended to be a supportive thread, not a judgmental one. 

---------------------------------------------

I love different types of alcohol and have been blessed with living in a place with a thriving micro-brewery culture. So my friends and I go out and support the local breweries every week or two. We never drink much, but we're fairly regular. 

Then I noticed that (especially in the summer) I would have a beer when I got home from work. It came to a head when I realized that I wasn't even thinking about opening a beer or two most days. That annoyed me. 

In the past, I've taken long breaks from alcohol, but this time I decided to give it up indefinitely. That started in May last year and, apart from having a couple of beers when a local brewery released their limited-edition winter ale, I haven't had a drop. 

I'm not being fanatical about it - I may decide to have a drink sometime, but it will have to be deliberate and for a special occasion. 

I'm also not going to wax lyrical about the benefits of not drinking, but I do like the fact that my beer belly has disappeared. This may have more to do with the fact that I am also being pretty careful with my portions of food. 

Do I miss alcohol? 

I did at first. But it was easier for me to completely stop drinking alcohol than to cut back. I continue to go hang out with my friends at the breweries, but they all brew their own ginger-beer or root beer (which is usually excellent!), so I have not felt the urge to drink. 

---------------------------------

So, anyone else have a story to share?

Great thread and I'll consider joining for February

Yohann, you could have been writing this for me.  I enjoy an alcoholic beverage occasionally but in late March or early April of 2020 I decided to temporarily give it up.  That was because of the pandemic.  Having a fair bit of wine and spirits in the house for one person who wouldn't be seeing friends to socialize, I didn't want to get into the habit of drinking alone.  I simply stopped one day and figured I'd pick it up again when I could socialize more.  That was almost three years ago and even though I go out with friends now I usually just have water.  The alcoholic beverages are still in the cabinet if I want but I haven't bothered.

It was much more difficult for me to cut down on sweets.  It took me about a year or more before I got my sweets intake under control.  Stopping the alcohol was no problem but the sweets were tough.  Go figure.

I haven't had a drink since March 18, 2022. Coming up on a year now, and it has been tough. I'm proud of what I've accomplished, though. I absolutely needed to do it, for me.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Guess I've been a teetotaller for over 20 years, now.

I enjoy a beer or a glass of wine now and then but I’ve cut back substantially. I’ve never been much of a spirits drinker.  The things that led me to cutting back are first and foremost the impact on my sleep quality. Even a small amount of alcohol in the 3-6 hours before going to bed will interfere with your ability to get into REM sleep or non REM deep sleep. Bottom line is you’re not rested the next morning and if you do it regularly it’s bad for your brain. So I figured the solution would be to drink earlier in the day! Beer with my cereal. Beereal. I’m kidding. The other thing I found is that the alcohol didn’t make me feel great. A beer after cutting the grass is ok. Two isn’t. You know the Kenny Chesney song - one is one too many one more is never enough. So last summer I tried some no alcohol beer. I’d tried them 25 years ago and they were awful. They have significantly improved and given that getting drunk isn’t the goal I find that one of those after cutting the grass is just as refreshing and I don’t get the alcohol thing (headache) and I rarely want a second because I’ve got the energy to move on to other chores. I haven’t gone to complete teetotaler but close. Life is a journey and a learning experience. So far I’m still enjoying the ride.

Yohann, you could have been writing this for me.  I enjoy an alcoholic beverage occasionally but in late March or early April of 2020 I decided to temporarily give it up.  That was because of the pandemic.  Having a fair bit of wine and spirits in the house for one person who wouldn't be seeing friends to socialize, I didn't want to get into the habit of drinking alone.  I simply stopped one day and figured I'd pick it up again when I could socialize more.  That was almost three years ago and even though I go out with friends now I usually just have water.  The alcoholic beverages are still in the cabinet if I want but I haven't bothered.

It was much more difficult for me to cut down on sweets.  It took me about a year or more before I got my sweets intake under control.  Stopping the alcohol was no problem but the sweets were tough.  Go figure.

I was not as wise as you were about the pandemic.

I can't say my beer consumption was off the charts during that time, but it was certainly steady - 1 or 2 a day. I cut down once things started to open up again, but it was still too much for my liking. My Achilles heel is reading - I love reading and once I have a book in my hands, I used to want to get a drink. If I liked that book and stayed up reading, that would stretch into 2-3 drinks.

On the other hand, since I got past 30, I have not liked sweets much at all. Laying off them is not a problem for me, thank goodness!

Yes, much easier to stop altogether than to cut back. That's my experience talking.

I stopped for a few months (6?) and that was actually easy but I knew it was only temporary. I never had it in mind to never have another adult beverage. So I began having an after dinner drink, a small one, and I really like Scotch and Irish and I have one before going to bed. As in right now as I type. I enjoy the taste and have for the past 55 years. At first I desired, "just a little more", and that's still there, but no, having more means none at all. What do I mean? I limit myself or I won't allow myself any at all. But the little voice is there, "just a little more" or, "I know it's not time but now would be a good time to have a Scotch.". No it wouldn't be. More means none at all.

FWIW, I've known people who once they started drinking couldn't stop. That's never been me and alcohol has never caused me problems anywhere in life. But I had a fibroscan report a change in my liver (not terrible, just a change) and I thought it advisable to cut back. Who suggested it to me? I did. I'll ask for another fibroscan in a few months to monitor my liver.

Freddy, I just realized what you wrote about sweets. They're carbs and we're programmed to be addicted to them; it's in our DNA. Most mammals are. Plants have evolved to take advantage of that so that we spread their seeds for them. That's exactly why Keto is so difficult to follow. Plants evolved to turn us into their reseeding slaves.

A retired nurse once told me that studies were done with rats and it was found that carbs were more addictive than opiates. I believe it. I've been in ketosis now for 3 1/2 years and I still crave bread. Sweets are easy because we have no or low carb carb sweeteners. But bread? I haven't found a good substitute yet and I didn't get to be a great baker because I hated bread. I love the stuff. I loved bread 3 1/2 years ago and I still crave it. FWIW, 1 starch molecule = 2 sugar molecules after digestion and it starts with saliva breaking down the starch. So you liking sugar? Yes, we're programmed that way. Me too, we all are. If you want sweet options that don't contain carbs, or are low carb I know of some that I use.

Freddy, I just realized what you wrote about sweets. They're carbs and we're programmed to be addicted to them; it's in our DNA. Most mammals are. Plants have evolved to take advantage of that so that we spread their seeds for them. That's exactly why Keto is so difficult to follow. Plants evolved to turn us into their reseeding slaves.

A retired nurse once told me that studies were done with rats and it was found that carbs were more addictive than opiates. I believe it. I've been in ketosis now for 3 1/2 years and I still crave bread. Sweets are easy because we have no or low carb carb sweeteners. But bread? I haven't found a good substitute yet and I didn't get to be a great baker because I hated bread. I love the stuff. I loved bread 3 1/2 years ago and I still crave it. FWIW, 1 starch molecule = 2 sugar molecules after digestion and it starts with saliva breaking down the starch. So you liking sugar? Yes, we're programmed that way. Me too, we all are. If you want sweet options that don't contain carbs, or are low carb I know of some that I use.

Actually, Brian, I still eat carbs but of things like bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta, sweets are far and away my biggest downfall.  Cutting way down on them has helped tremendously and keeping my weight at a reasonable level has never been easier.  Do I deny myself sweets?  No.  However, I no longer keep them in the house.  At home, for dessert,  it is mostly fresh fruit.  When I go out to dinner with friends, which may be two to four times a month, I'll indulge in a sweet dessert but that's about it.  Also, at a restaurant, portions are controlled so no  sticking a spoon in a 1½ quart tube of ice cream and finishing it in half an hour.  I still may not be eating the healthiest I could but the lack of alcohol and cutting way down on sweets has helped a lot.