Hello friends!
Dry January 2025 (The Sober Thread)
- Thread starter Cassinonorth
- Start date
krink
Eddie Munster
Hey, Total respect for all those who have made the sober choice. I am amazed at the strength I see on this thread. I am committed to a sober January, and lets see how far it will go.
rosceaux
Well-Known Member
Welcome and congrats to all. I started January 2021 and rode it out through June. Frankly, drinking just lost most of its appeal to me since that time. Maybe I hade 20 drinks the first year, 15 the next...... I think I had two drinks in all of 2024. The support from here was awesome.
I haven't checked in on this thread in a while because I haven't been checking in with this board much at all. Glad a thread notice popped up in my email today!
I never noticed the short-term benefits that many described, but there have been a ton of long-term benefits for a guy who stopped drinking at 55. Am I more organized? Yup (that's supposed to get worse with age). Have I checked my penchant for procrastination? Yup... same. Do I have as much fun going out with my friends as I used to? Absolutely, even though most pf them are pretty dedicated drinkers. Did I qualify as an All-American in the high hurdles at age 59? Youbetcha (that's something I couldn't have done at any other point of my life).
Anyway, welcome all. Thanks to all who assisted in my jopuney. Feel free to reach out personally if there's anything I can do.
This (and my love of cyclocross) are the greatest outgrowths of my mountain biking experiences.
Best!
I haven't checked in on this thread in a while because I haven't been checking in with this board much at all. Glad a thread notice popped up in my email today!
I never noticed the short-term benefits that many described, but there have been a ton of long-term benefits for a guy who stopped drinking at 55. Am I more organized? Yup (that's supposed to get worse with age). Have I checked my penchant for procrastination? Yup... same. Do I have as much fun going out with my friends as I used to? Absolutely, even though most pf them are pretty dedicated drinkers. Did I qualify as an All-American in the high hurdles at age 59? Youbetcha (that's something I couldn't have done at any other point of my life).
Anyway, welcome all. Thanks to all who assisted in my jopuney. Feel free to reach out personally if there's anything I can do.
This (and my love of cyclocross) are the greatest outgrowths of my mountain biking experiences.
Best!
Congrats on many fronts! See you at the masters meets! (hoping to be the starter)
the schwartz
Well-Known Member
how the hell you did that please teach me
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
yo yo yo one day down HA
So early 2024 I was very good but in general 2024 I cut back considerably. I think I went to the store like 2 months ago for a 6 pack to share because we had company and still working through that. The time, energy, and money devoted to other things has been enjoyed. Mrs is trying dry January + "cleanse" kit. I wish her luck with fasting and terrible tasting powders haha
BE & STAY STRONG YA'LL
OTOH I second building your own large C02 system. I haven't but I can see this is easy for someone like @mattybfat . I cold glass of water with fresh lemon/lime is nice too.
We sodastream and I find it satisfying. Fizz is on par with Perrier or better. Like I mentioned in other thread - 3 pumps in the smaller bottle is better.
So early 2024 I was very good but in general 2024 I cut back considerably. I think I went to the store like 2 months ago for a 6 pack to share because we had company and still working through that. The time, energy, and money devoted to other things has been enjoyed. Mrs is trying dry January + "cleanse" kit. I wish her luck with fasting and terrible tasting powders haha
BE & STAY STRONG YA'LL
OTOH I second building your own large C02 system. I haven't but I can see this is easy for someone like @mattybfat . I cold glass of water with fresh lemon/lime is nice too.
We sodastream and I find it satisfying. Fizz is on par with Perrier or better. Like I mentioned in other thread - 3 pumps in the smaller bottle is better.
Pretty amateur at best with plumbing and total dork with electric. Woodbutcher is my art, draw me a box and I'll make it a stupendous box!
Fat Trout
Well-Known Member
saw a FB reel this weekend. Guy made a stack of 2x4's on wheels into a hidden beverage cooler. Your wheelhouse for sure.
This in the NY Times today. My doctor said alcohol is the single biggest and most modifiable risk factor for poor health (for a non-smoker).
www.nytimes.com
Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol
Dr. Vivek Murthy’s report cites studies linking alcoholic beverages to at least seven malignancies, including breast cancer. But to add warning labels, Congress would have to act.
This in the NY Times today. My doctor said alcohol is the single biggest and most modifiable risk factor for poor health (for a non-smoker).
Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol
Dr. Vivek Murthy’s report cites studies linking alcoholic beverages to at least seven malignancies, including breast cancer. But to add warning labels, Congress would have to act.
I'm not religious so the 12 steps never called to me, but I do tend to trust science so the book This Naked Mind by Annie Grace really clicked for me way back when I was giving it up.
Highly, highly recommend reading that.
No where in the big book does it say you have to be religious? In fact a whole chapter dedicated to the agnostic
To each their own.
I don't personally agree with steps 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11 or 12. Nor did I need them to sober up. More power to people who do, no right or wrong way. My cousin went through the steps, worked out for him but it was way more of a commitment than I needed personally.
Haha you don't agree with step one?
Step 1
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
It's the only step that needs to be perfect.
If you don't disarm your ego you will never successfully win the war of alcoholism.
I don't know your journey and maybe you had a high bottom or no bottom. Maybe jails institutions or near death was not your end but 1000s upon 1000s have successfully died sober with the help of AA. Millions have come through the doors did not stay and died from this disease. There is no graduation from AA once you decide to take your own will back it's only a matter of the first drink will get you drunk.
Sorry to get all preachy and I truly wish you all the best in your journey, peace and love.
Not that it matters, but are you classifying yourself as an alcoholic? Or just a guy who decided not to drink anymore?
That's an interesting question actually. I definitely disagree with the notion that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic so I'd reject that label today...another thing I disagree with but I digress. By the clinical definition, I was probably over the line at my peak drinking years (I'd say I was on the 5/6 "yeses" line in that questionnaire). I was more of a binge drinker though. I drank to blackout nearly every time I went out. Could've just been excused away as being a 20 something.
Was I getting hammered before going into work at 9 am? Nah. Was I drinking 4-5 nights a week...sometimes at home by myself? Yep. My dad (and uncle and cousin) also 100% by the definition were/are alcoholics so if I wasn't there yet my family genetics were sending me there.
pkovo
Well-Known Member
I’m in on this! I decided to do it on my own, then ironically stumbled on this thread.
I gradually fell into the routine of drinking 2-3 IPAs with a big unhealthy snack more evenings than not. Definitely not the best habit to be in when all of your favorite things to do are athletic activities.. mtbing, surfing, BMX.
For me this is part of a bigger push to get back into shape in general which I already started. I’m working out regularly, eating healthier, already cut way back on alcohol etc.., but it’s all relatively recent.
I’m approaching 50, and I feel like my body has been sending me hints that I need to make some adjustments and put in some work if I want to keep enjoying my favorite activities. I’ve decided to take in those hints and adjust accordingly 🤙
I gradually fell into the routine of drinking 2-3 IPAs with a big unhealthy snack more evenings than not. Definitely not the best habit to be in when all of your favorite things to do are athletic activities.. mtbing, surfing, BMX.
For me this is part of a bigger push to get back into shape in general which I already started. I’m working out regularly, eating healthier, already cut way back on alcohol etc.., but it’s all relatively recent.
I’m approaching 50, and I feel like my body has been sending me hints that I need to make some adjustments and put in some work if I want to keep enjoying my favorite activities. I’ve decided to take in those hints and adjust accordingly 🤙
frug
Well-Known Member
I have to respectfully disagree with this. But maybe it is just my experience. Despite having sober periods that lasted over a year in the past, this is still a battle fought everyday. It was mostly a losing battle over the holidays for me. So if you are at the point where you don't think you could be called an alcoholic then you deserve congratulations. Run with it.
The same goes for everyone else in here winning the fight everyday. Proud of you all!
I need to weigh in. But this just my opinion. First I quit drinking, I had no plan. Then I read This Naked Mind. At first I was hopeful and could definitely relate. But when I finished the book, I was like now what. If not for @mattybfat encouraging me I would not be sober. The point of AA is there is something bigger than yourself. It's a higher power bigger than me. It doesn't need to be God. And it's not about religion. It's just not me. I can't do it alone.
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
This pretty much parallels my situation. The Mrs and I have been focusing a lot more on our health/exercise in the last 4-6 months, and I feel like letting go of the drinking and reigning in what we are eating will really push that forward.
I’m not looking to bench 2x my weight, I just want to be active and lucid well into my retirement and stay healthy for my kids sake. As someone who probably won’t be a grandparent until my late 60s I’m also using that as some motivation. So, the booze ain’t gonna help!
thegock
Well-Known Member
This in the NY Times today. My doctor said alcohol is the single biggest and most modifiable risk factor for poor health (for a non-smoker).
Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol
Dr. Vivek Murthy’s report cites studies linking alcoholic beverages to at least seven malignancies, including breast cancer. But to add warning labels, Congress would have to act.
Having a family history of alcoholism on both sides of the family, I pay attention to the issue. Here is the section of the article that need emphasis:
"Five years ago, the scientific report that informed the writing of the 2020-2025 dietary guidelines acknowledged that alcohol is a carcinogen and generally unhealthy and suggested “tightening guidelines” by capping the recommendation for men at one standard drink, or 14 grams of alcohol a day.
When the final guidelines were drafted, however, there was no change in the advice that moderate drinking of up to two drinks a day for men was acceptable."
When business and politics trumps science, the public suffers. That's how I read it.