Off the grog!!

[Darren69]

Well @ has inspired me to get off the grog.

I have two stubbies of Leo draught left to go tonight (my usual sunday night six pack) and then that's it.

Cold turkey.

My main reason in doing this is for weight loss. Since turning 45 I am spreading. No one agrees that I am spreading but I know I am, pants getting tight, belt going out to the next notch and so on.

I believe I am an alcoholic, as in, I look for alcohol to take the edge off life. I don't drink through the week but will demolish a carton fri-sat-sun.

I love it. It doesn't love me.

I also have depression which is OK, just how it is and I manage it, along with anxiety, so alcohol does me no favours in those areas either, apart from the obvious short term mental respite, am usually a bit sniffy the day after, over think everything, get a bit paranoid and so on. I am sure my memory will improve as well.

SO, tonight I shall finish my two stubbies and jump on the scales. I shall report in from time to time with my weight and how I am feeling.

Money- meh, I'll spend it another way, no doubt.

Wish me luck, I am going to need it.

Daz

Edited February 22, 2015 by Darren69

[ferchersan]

All the best with it, @@Darren69.

 

An admirable decision.  

 

Be well mate. 

 

Cheers,

LF

[Guest Muon]

I'm in ya' corner if need be

 

And...yeah, that extra flab just seems to show up at around that age, like some ass sneaks in during the night and ya' get up look in the mirror and :o

[Saxon Hall]

Well done Daz

I have no intention of ever giving up Alcohol as I have never abused it and never set out with the intention of getting drunk. I have never understood that concept. Why would anyone do that?

As a matter of fact I am having a pre dinner stubby of beer now and enjoying it as it is a rather warm day here in Melbourne.

[andyr]

Good luck, mate.    Yeah, I'm a lot older than you and also spreading - but rather than give up my wine (and the occasional G&T when I need a sugar hit ), I exercise.

 

Mind you, I don't drink beer.  As a diabetic, I find beer does very bad things to my blood sugar level - wine does not.

 

 

Regards,

 

Andy

[Guest Muon]

 

Was hoping nobody would mention the "e" word. A great idea though...gets the endorphin production ramped up......Is natural, is good

[Andrew S.]

Good for you mate. 

 

The one thing I do know is depression and alcohol do not go together. I also suffer depression (of one form or another) and find I manage it a great deal better without the booze. Now it's just a PITA that I occasionally have to think about rather than a constant that is a problem.

 

For weight loss I also encourage regular exercise. I have replaced the booze with an evening row on a water rower: 

 

 

When I started out 15 minutes would bugger me, a couple months later and I can do 45 minutes without much problem and an easy 30 minutes after a stressful day is terrific therapy. Something to consider if you otherwise have trouble fitting it into your day.

[betty boop]

good luck darren, I did Dry July a few years ago..whcih was a good thing....wasnt easy as july for us is a lot of family celebrations. am not a heavy drinker...even through worked for an alcohol company for 8-9 years ! still it was a good thing it was to do. after dry july I still grab a drink but mostly for celebrations and family events...and the odd single drink during the week. not much more...

 

plenty of other things to indulge more in  

[Guest]

Good luck Darren.

You sound like someone I know who's  name starts with M and ends with T, he should go down the same road.

Regards

[Kaynin]

Good luck...it'll be interesting to follow your progress...

[peterpan]

Good luck ,

[soundfan]

Kudos to you Darren for firstly;

 

publicly admitting that you might have a problem, and more importantly, facing up to it and doing something about it.

 

Two big thumbs up.   

[zipstartcanoe]

 

For weight loss I also encourage regular exercise. I have replaced the booze with an evening row on a water rower: 

 

 

When I started out 15 minutes would bugger me, a couple months later and I can do 45 minutes without much problem and an easy 30 minutes after a stressful day is terrific therapy. Something to consider if you otherwise have trouble fitting it into your day.

 

I bought a WaterRower in January this year; it is easily the best indoor exercise I have ever come across. I am improving week in, week out, but haven't managed to meet my 30min 8000m target though! 

[Guest]

Good luck - have had one year off then decided to enjoy myself on my 3 month US/Canada trip at the end of last year - now dry for 2015 - possibly beyond - don't miss it at all and the health benefits are immense - physical and mental

PS - I found posting on SNA after having few drinks was never a great idea

Edited February 22, 2015 by andythiing

[Jake]

Great stuff Darren. In the past 4 years I have been dry for extended periods myself. Last year I made 11 months off. 

 

I will join you after tonight myself, let's see how long we can go.

[Darren69]

I'll just give a huge 'blanket-like' to all of those comments, how very nice of you all and the comments are all interesting and encouraging.

Exercise- yes of course, apologies as I did not mention that I have lifted weights since I was 16, gave up gym at the end of last year as I was pretty much over it and started walking.

I walk 7.5km's most week mornings unless I wake exhausted or it is pississtently raining. Even this does not seem to help control my weight. I should have mentioned this in the first post, so, thanks for the suggestions.

I practice yoga at least half an hour a day to manage a bulged disc in my back and bring some stillness to my crazy brain.

I got a few 10kg dumbells from Aldi last week to keep a bit of muscle maintenance happening and screwed up a bit of old galvanised waterpipe today under the ornamental grape trellis as a chin up bar. Jumped up and tried a few...yep, felt like a big bag of lead, haha, it doesn't take long for the old muscles to shrink!!! Managed five.

SO-

I am 45 years old, right here, right now I weigh 99kgs'(15st, 8.2 lbs) @ 6ft 2 in tall.

The heart foundation website reckons my healthy weight range is 63 to 85 kg's (I would be 63 kg's if I was in hospital with dysentery!! Haha!! 85 would be amazing). Obviously, it tells me I am overweight.

Edit- if anyone wanted to join me like Jake has, it would help as I would not want to 'let the side down'. thanks again, awesome!!

Edited February 22, 2015 by Darren69

[Jake]

One thing I initially found helpful Darren is a big glass of sparkling mineral water with a dash of fresh lemon juice whenever I felt "thirsty". This has the added benefit of being very good for you too. And much nicer to drink than just tap water.

[scuzzii]

Good one buddy. I have no doubt you will get there and reset the goals a further time yet.

Anything I can do just call out. The black dog is not at all a friend for many ppl I know and I doubt I'd be the only one on SNA to say drop me a line if you ever need to.

You are part of this community and we share some interests that can at least make for constructive discussion.

[Guest Muon]

Vigorous excessive is what I have always preferred.....in the past, as I never seemed to get the same result doing it the slow and steady way.

[rantan]

It's been about 10 years for me and I can only say life is so much better without it. The thing is though, you never believe that while you are drinking and put it down to wowser talk.

 

 

These days I walk about 12 KM per day mainly because I enjoy it but initially because I was at a crossroads in my life and needed to lose weight or risk a dire future of being a fat freak facing multiple disabilities.

So far I have lost over 50 KG and am now 75 KG, although it ranges from 74-76 depending on my eating discipline. I see it as somewhat like AA, where I am always on the periphery of being over weight again, so although I can relax slightly I now accept that this is a for life commitment.

I am 168CM ( aka short ) and desirable weight is 70KG and this is the real battle now. It took me 8 months to get to 80KG from the original 126KG and 7 months to get from 80KG to 75KG. I am told by my doctor this is quite normal an both of us know I shall get there very soon. I just need to re-focus a little.

 

So keep it going bro' if I can do it you can and it is 100% worth doing

[Chickenism]

G'day Darren,

Firstly, huge kudos to you for opening up and taking it upon yourself to do something about what you see as a problem. That's a big step in itself and a brave one at that. I certainly wish you all the very best in your road to perhaps somethiing better down the track.

I share the black dog with you and am aware that it affects different people in different ways, so I'm not going to dish out cliches about understanding. Because it's possible that I don't. But I can, in some way, relate; I too use alcohol to take the edge off things and to dull the pain, even though I know that I will be feeling worse for it later on. But it's the only way (legally - I don't do drugs apart from those which are prescribed) that I'm able to get some short-tern respite, as you succinctly put it.

I get the impression that you are managing your depression well...I envy you for being able to do that. I can't accept mine as you seem to have done.

I don't think we've met; please forgive me if we have. I do a reasonable job of supporting those who need it (I can't deal with my own **** but happily take others' on board!) so am always available by PM or on the phone if you're finding it tough going.

Again, all the best and I hope to see you continuing to post on here :-)

Cheers,

Dave.

[Darren69]

Rantan, amazing story and thanks for sharing, we all have our 'stuff' to manage, no doubt. You sound very much all over that $hit so don't be too harsh on yourself.

Chooky, yes, is easier to give than receive love mate.

[bzr]

One thing I initially found helpful Darren is a big glass of sparkling mineral water with a dash of fresh lemon juice whenever I felt "thirsty". This has the added benefit of being very good for you too. And much nicer to drink than just tap water.

 

 

It's been about 10 years for me and I can only say life is so much better without it. The thing is though, you never believe that while you are drinking and put it down to wowser talk.

 

 

These days I walk about 12 KM per day mainly because I enjoy it but initially because I was at a crossroads in my life and needed to lose weight or risk a dire future of being a fat freak facing multiple disabilities.

So far I have lost over 50 KG and am now 75 KG, although it ranges from 74-76 depending on my eating discipline. I see it as somewhat like AA, where I am always on the periphery of being over weight again, so although I can relax slightly I now accept that this is a for life commitment.

I am 168CM ( aka short ) and desirable weight is 70KG and this is the real battle now. It took me 8 months to get to 80KG from the original 126KG and 7 months to get from 80KG to 75KG. I am told by my doctor this is quite normal an both of us know I shall get there very soon. I just need to re-focus a little.

 

So keep it going bro' if I can do it you can and it is 100% worth doing

 

 

Well @ has inspired me to get off the grog.

I have two stubbies of Leo draught left to go tonight (my usual sunday night six pack) and then that's it.

Cold turkey.

My main reason in doing this is for weight loss. Since turning 45 I am spreading. No one agrees that I am spreading but I know I am, pants getting tight, belt going out to the next notch and so on.

I believe I am an alcoholic, as in, I look for alcohol to take the edge off life. I don't drink through the week but will demolish a carton fri-sat-sun.

I love it. It doesn't love me.

I also have depression which is OK, just how it is and I manage it, along with anxiety, so alcohol does me no favours in those areas either, apart from the obvious short term mental respite, am usually a bit sniffy the day after, over think everything, get a bit paranoid and so on. I am sure my memory will improve as well.

SO, tonight I shall finish my two stubbies and jump on the scales. I shall report in from time to time with my weight and how I am feeling.

Money- meh, I'll spend it another way, no doubt.

Wish me luck, I am going to need it.

Daz

  Daz, you have my vote big fella. I have so many similarities to you it's freaky, like the same weight & height, well almost, I'm 1.7/5'8", but have too lifted weights, those bloody kegs are heavy to get in the boot when visiting for dinner. Good luck to ya & if you need time out i used to live in the Hunter

 

 

 

...j/k mate, good for you.

[Guest Muon]

An amazing insight reading these posts, in only the very best sense

[evil c]

 

SO-

I am 45 years old, right here, right now I weigh 99kgs'(15st, 8.2 lbs) @ 6ft 2 in tall.

The heart foundation website reckons my healthy weight range is 63 to 85 kg's (I would be 63 kg's if I was in hospital with dysentery!! Haha!! 85 would be amazing). Obviously, it tells me I am overweight.

Edit- if anyone wanted to join me like Jake has, it would help as I would not want to 'let the side down'. thanks again, awesome!!

Geez, only 99kg at 6'2'' - that seems reasonable to me!

You and I are just big boned! 

63kg - lucky to find a petite sheila at that weight, this whole weight guideline $h!te does my head in 'cause it aint' in a reasonable range for the majority!

More power to you for committing but don't beat yourself up if you don't end up like the stick insect you'd have to be even at the top of the range!