Operation: Stop Drinking

... for a month. It started today Jan 12th at 8a. I will consider this completed on Feb 9th at 8a.

Alcohol is a depressant, and it's not helping life right now. I never really understood the depressing part because drinking can be quite fun. However, I am using alcohol to hide that fact that I'm bored a lot, which is bad.

Things going on in the next month that I won't be drinking at
1) NFL Championship games
2) Super Bowl
3) 2 birthday parties
4) Going out every monday for $1 sandwhiches at a bar that has 60 delicious micro-brews and imports on draft

I have barely been working out at all. I have barely played poker for a month. I'm intending to better utilize my time so I'm back in the pattern of working out, and my game is back to 50NL and improved by the end (shooting for 15kish hands total).

Also hoping there is enough time to start eating better.

No one saw this coming
~Swig

Wow... impressive decision. Best of luck to you sir... there is no reason you shouldn't be completely crushing 50nl+. Hopefully this will get you set right.

everyone hates a quitter. but good luck

GL man, crush this not drinking thing along with 25/50nl

I sympathize with you. I am doing the exact same thing except I started 1 week ago. So far so good. I'm also doing it for the same reasons. Alcohol has a way of turning into a hobby and can be -ev real quick.

mad props swiggidy, good luck, you can do this!

see you in february
good luck

Originally Posted by flomo

see you in february

you know it. Thanks all. I think this will actually be really easy.

I'm changing it from the 12th to the 9th. 4 weeks instead of a month, meh. My Monday friend is leaving town in March. So he gave me shit all night for not drinking when he's leaving, especially when he found out I just made the decision this morning, lol. I'm pretty sure I drank more water than I would have beer.

Got on the scale before I went out.
192lbs
27% bf

Yuck, was around 20% this summer when I hurt my foot. Not setting a goal here, just tracking progress.

Another benefit, I will save money. Probably in the $120-200 range.

nice dude, good luck

fucking bullshit, don't listen to them dude

go crack open a cold one yoooooooo

lol I agree with spenda (kidding obviously), I just got back from hooting it up with a couple of buddies I haven't seen in a couple years. Good stuff

But seriously man, good luck! If it's affecting ur life you should definitely cut back. Hope if goes well for ya.

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

fucking bullshit, don't listen to them dude

go crack open a cold one yoooooooo

it is like boost playing poker now--it is fate

Not to be a buzzkill, but I'm an alcoholic and have been sober for almost 5 years. If you have trouble not drinking for this month...i have bad news, you have a problem. The best analogy for problem drinking I've ever heard was that once you start you can't stop...and you can't stop starting. If I can help ya, let me know.

I have almost half of my no-alc-month done. its crazy how boring most parties are when ur sober

I like this decision, I don't drink myself

That explains my doomswitch then.

damn you swig!

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

fucking bullshit, don't listen to them dude

go crack open a cold one yoooooooo

<3, we don't even have a prop bet

Originally Posted by DA9ers

Not to be a buzzkill, but I'm an alcoholic and have been sober for almost 5 years. If you have trouble not drinking for this month...i have bad news, you have a problem. The best analogy for problem drinking I've ever heard was that once you start you can't stop...and you can't stop starting. If I can help ya, let me know.

Thx yo. I really don't think this will be hard. I've quit stuff before. IF I had one, it would only be one (but that's not happening). Going cold turkey was necessary because I can't cut back, which is a problem (i.e. telling myself I'll only have 2 a night has almost zero percent chance of working right now, but it used to be fine)

Originally Posted by badgers

That explains my doomswitch then.

damn you swig!

haha, sorry (although drinking didn't really help you win either)

So thought about last night. I would have had 6 pints. Looked it up, about 180 calories. So I cut 1100 (almost per day) out of my diet

DAY 3:
My roommate needs to finish the last 3 beers in the fridge. Because we have water, milk, butter, eggs and 3 beers. So every time I'm hungry (lol I obviously forget that I don't buy snack food ever) I see them. Last night was tempting to because I was fixing a friend's computer which is entirely frustrating.

Went to a B-day party today at a bar (not in the original list of 2 bday parties). Was easy, but they have good beers on draft so I was a little sad. And a couple people are going to check out a whiskey bar this weekend which also makes me a little sad. Overall good time.

Surprisingly busy week so far, especially for the middle of winter.

Three observations.
1) When not drinking, it is easier to interact with people at a bar who are drinking, than people at a WOOOOO BEEEEER house party
2) I am completely capable of spacing out in the middle of a sentence, without the assistance of alcohol. Not sure how I feel about this.
3) My friend gets a lot drunker than I thought. It's weird how the perception of drunkenness is mostly differential.

Days
... worked out, 2
... played poker, 0

Day 4:
Friends 2-5 made me a birthday dinner tonight, which was really nice. Then were shocked when I wouldn't take a PBR.

Then an old college friend called and he's coming up for the weekend. So days 5-7 are a wash. My biggest concern is not drinking by myself, so whatever.

Last night I spend at the bar with some friends, drinking alc free beer. It doesnt taste that bad, its perfect when ur thirsty after doing sports and my table soccer skills are amazing when Im sober.

It sounds to me like you really have a problem a drinking. I have gone through bouts of drinking everyday, it got so bad i had to put it in check, i did and now i can have alcohol in my house without it calling me. Now i only have a drink or two at home like 3 times a year and its mostly only to celebrate something. I never go out and drink and if i did it would be to have a drink with dinner or something. I grew out of the party seen pretty fast. I quit smoking weed and ciggs cold turkey. Its been about two years with the exception of two ciggs at a hard time. Really the fact that you recognize the problem is the first thing and i think all you have to do is get it check and if you can't quit for a while then you need rehab. I stopped it all for a while before i could have just one drink and be ok with it. When i smoked the ciggs i hated them. lol. Good luck and remember if you can't quit for like 2 months without a drink you may need to look into a program to help you.

I disagree strongly with your observation. I spent the last 4 days with people who were drinking, asking me why I wasn't and didn't have any.

A friend I've known for 10 years, and only see 2x a year max, is coming in for the weekend. I'm going to have some drinks with him. Getting drunk by myself is a problem, not drinking with friends.

Also, keep in mind this is a conscious decision with forethought. It's not, "fuck it I need a release I'm finishing this bottle of Jack", or even a spontaneous "oh I'll just have one beer, no big deal".

I'm ok being a social alcoholic, or a functioning alcoholic. I'm not ok with it interfering with my life, which it was.

Originally Posted by swiggidy

I disagree strongly with your observation. I spent the last 4 days with people who were drinking, asking me why I wasn't and didn't have any.

A friend I've known for 10 years, and only see 2x a year max, is coming in for the weekend. I'm going to have some drinks with him. Getting drunk by myself is a problem, not drinking with friends.

Also, keep in mind this is a conscious decision with forethought. It's not, "fuck it I need a release I'm finishing this bottle of Jack", or even a spontaneous "oh I'll just have one beer, no big deal".

I'm ok being a social alcoholic, or a functioning alcoholic. I'm not ok with it interfering with my life, which it was.

I'm just going to be honest and blunt, Your in classic denial. Thats all i'm going to say i don't want to involve myself anymore with it because this is a personal thing and i don't want to step on your toes or have you step on mine. Alcoholism is what it is and its destroyed my family and my childhood and about 6 years of my adult/teen life. So i do speak from expierence but it does not really matter what kind of expierence i speak from because you have your mind made up already and i can respect that. I see your points and understand where you are coming from. I wish you well in life and good luck to you at the tables.

Originally Posted by swiggidy

Got on the scale before I went out.
192lbs
27% bf

Yuck, was around 20% this summer when I hurt my foot. Not setting a goal here, just tracking progress.

So this is 191, 23%bf today. I think I got a bad reading last week. So I put on like 6-8 lbs of fat, not 14+ lbs.

Back on the wagon. Nothing else to report (except that it was a good relaxing weekend).

Op failed. You'll always find a reason.

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Op failed. You'll always find a reason.

I see what you guys are saying.

It's not a matter of talking, it's a matter of doing.

Tebow says: STAY TUNED AS THIS FUCKING EPIC ADVENTURE UNFOLDS

Day something
Went out Tuesday, nothing. I need to think of a good reason. People are like "why aren't you drinking" and I go "because..." But have no intention of explaining. I told one girl it was a social experiment and she thought it was funny.

Went out Wed with some bigwigs from my work. They also wondered why I wasn't drinking, and for some reason "40 mile drive home" isn't good enough. Whatev.

Worked out twice this week (and will Fri/Sat/Sun). If I can properly strengthen my ankle (which will take a lot of repeated effort) I will be in the best shape of my life this summer since I ran XC in HS.

Will def play a lot of poker this weekend, because usually after playing 5 hours in a day I crack a beer, which becomes 2-3 and I do nothing for the rest of the night.

rated 5 spades

stay strong

sounds pretty rough, let me buy you a drink.

Weee, one week later. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

I hate winter

Originally Posted by swiggidy

I need to think of a good reason. People are like "why aren't you drinking" and I go "because..." But have no intention of explaining. I told one girl it was a social experiment and she thought it was funny.

"i'm training for...."
or
"i made a bet that i can go a month without x,y,z...."

Originally Posted by daven

Originally Posted by swiggidy

I need to think of a good reason. People are like "why aren't you drinking" and I go "because..." But have no intention of explaining. I told one girl it was a social experiment and she thought it was funny.

"i'm training for...."
or
"i made a bet that i can go a month without x,y,z...."

Thanks, was looking for humor more than a real reason.

"The economy"
"I don't want to support Obama with the taxes"

or something