Hi All,

 

Currently at the end of 3 weeks without any known alcohol intake, I usually have 3 months each year where I do not partake, and this is the third month this year, the others being April and August.

14 minutes ago, Janjuggler said:

Hi All,

 

Currently at the end of 3 weeks without any known alcohol intake, I usually have 3 months each year where I do not partake, and this is the third month this year, the others being April and August.

 

Good for you. I'm more scared to give up coffee tbh.. how in the hell do we get thru the day without it? It's near impossible.

 

might switch to Russian caravan tea, you know it's made from ground up Russian caravans lol

 

 

6 hours ago, oztheatre said:

Good for you. I'm more scared to give up coffee tbh.. how in the hell do we get thru the day without it? It's near impossible.

 

might switch to Russian caravan tea, you know it's made from ground up Russian caravans lol

 

I didn't know that about the caravan tea, but I once researched caffeine.

3 minutes ago, GregWormald said:

 

I didn't know that about the caravan tea, but I once researched caffeine.

 

Up to 30mg in an espresso!?  Not the way I pack that grouphead

6 hours ago, Janjuggler said:

Hi All,

 

Currently at the end of 3 weeks without any known alcohol intake, I usually have 3 months each year where I do not partake, and this is the third month this year, the others being April and August.

 

That's great.  Good job!

Just now, POV said:

 

Up to 30mg in an espresso!?  Not the way I pack that grouphead

Yup. I expect that's for a standard 7 gm dose. However the caffeine content also falls as the exposure time to the water decreases, so a ristretto has less again.

1 minute ago, GregWormald said:

Yup. I expect that's for a standard 7 gm dose. However the caffeine content also falls as the exposure time to the water decreases, so a ristretto has less again.

 

This is not my area of expertise at all, but I've often wondered about the impact of the evenness of the tamp on caffeine level.  I guess it would impact if water exposure time is a direct correlation?

2 minutes ago, POV said:

This is not my area of expertise at all, but I've often wondered about the impact of the evenness of the tamp on caffeine level.  I guess it would impact if water exposure time is a direct correlation?

Sorry mate, I never got that deep into it—just far enough to justify my consumption. 

 

I do know that caffeine is bitter and the last half of a shot is far more bitter than the first half (try it!). Too long an extraction and the other coffee flavours get destroyed.

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, GregWormald said:

 

I didn't know that about the caravan tea, but I once researched caffeine.

Wow, I didn't know green tea packs such a punch!

12 minutes ago, GregWormald said:

 

 

I do know that caffeine is bitter and the last half of a shot is far more bitter than the first half (try it!). Too long an extraction and the other coffee flavours get destroyed.

 

 

 

 

Fascinating.  I will try it!

The price of that Canadian club is enough to make anyone stop drinking. about $4-5 a go and that's takeaway.

 

Gotta pay for the 10 million ads over 12 months somehow lol

This can be a tough time of year to not be drinking.

 

If you fall off the wagon, don’t beat yourself up. Three steps forward and one step back is still progress. 
 

You got this 👍 

Been off the grog since??? what time is it now?

 

regards Bruce

Been off the turps for nine months straight and not going back. Smoking….tick..Alcohol……tick..Junk food…getting better/there haha. Eating no where near as much red meat either…

2 hours ago, blakey72 said:

Been off the turps for nine months straight and not going back. Smoking….tick..Alcohol……tick..Junk food…getting better/there haha. Eating no where near as much red meat either…

Good work mate. Eating sweet stuff is hard for me to stop, have been off the grog for nearly 7: years now. Time fly’s.

In a way, guess I am lucky since I can control when to stop and have never been drunk in my life. As I can't hold too many glasses so this helps me too.

Only thing, I find myself to hard to control is with sweets, but at least no longer add sugar to my daily coffee for almost 10 years now.

I was a heavy bourbon drinker, particularly after a relationship breakup.

I'd binge drink 2-3 days straight only to pass out and repeat the process, far beyond your casual weekend drink.

Last year marks 10-years since I've touched alcohol, not a drop. In my case I cannot drink ever again, birthdays, christmas nothing.

 

10 years is a very good stint mate, 👍

 

19 hours ago, Pops110 said:

10 years is a very good stint mate, 👍

 

Thanks mate, its been a long time, hard to give advice as everyone's different.

Even years later it never fully leaves you, certain environments may cause 'triggers'. For example, after 6-years not drinking I had a drink of coke one day from the bottle and got a vague bourbon taste in the back of my throat, little things like that can come from nowhere. I'm quite strong now but think its really important your life remains stable and comfortable to reduce thoughts of wanting to drink.

Watching the war in Ukraine atm has made me quite depressed, that's when you need to really be careful.

I'll be ok though, life is better straight, you think clearer, solve problems easier, and the money is best spent elsewhere or even saved in a piggy bank.

Edited March 9, 20224 yr by eLicky

Yep, you are spot on, very hard to give advice can only say what has worked or hasn’t for yourself. But hopefully others can pick up some tips on how to manage things.

Im doing pretty well and really don’t miss it, as I’ve mentioned before I don’t think I want to go the rest of my life without a drink but not sure I could control it so I’m going without for the time being.

I think in general,  life is better for sure without the grog for all of the things you mentioned. Plus no regrets after a big night out, making stupid decisions etc. But not hurting loved ones is probably the biggest benefit.

Keep up the good work. 👍

Spot on where everyone is somewhat different.

 

I have drank on three occasions in the last thirty years, twice was peer pressure and found I had lost any liking for the taste and didn't like the effect even of one or two drinks, the other time was after a death of a parent and I got drunk and woke up with heavy depression.

 

Before all this I was a blackout binge drinking drunk, just wasn't needed after addressing the underlying reasons for why I drank in the first place. But that doesn't mean it was easy in the early days, quite the opposite in fact and took repeated serious attempts to brake the pattern/s.

Edited March 27, 20223 yr by muon*
typo, not drunk!

On 09/03/2022 at 10:32 PM, Pops110 said:

Yep, you are spot on, very hard to give advice can only say what has worked or hasn’t for yourself. But hopefully others can pick up some tips on how to manage things.

Im doing pretty well and really don’t miss it, as I’ve mentioned before I don’t think I want to go the rest of my life without a drink but not sure I could control it so I’m going without for the time being.

I think in general,  life is better for sure without the grog for all of the things you mentioned. Plus no regrets after a big night out, making stupid decisions etc. But not hurting loved ones is probably the biggest benefit.

Keep up the good work. 👍

Its been a while since I checked in here, well done on quitting.

For me, there was a long period feeling flat, but over time it levels out. I'd spent so much of the last 10-years intoxicated, when I became sober I had to rediscover who I was again. A lot of what went on getting sober is psychological, if you can find a new hobby or something to keep your mind occupied for the long-haul  (gaming would be a good example) this helps keep you distracted.

Our brains are only able to think one thought at a time, try right now thinking of two things at once, you can't do it, so having that distraction (alternative hobby) keeps the mind busy while you get through this tricky stage. Eventually the receptors annoying you for a drink go to sleep but it can take a little while.

17 days off the grog now and sleeping much better, and going to bed early. I no longer find myself staying up after the better half has gone to bed so I can sneak in a couple of spirits before I wonder off to bed.

 

I had become what I describe as a high functioning alcoholic. I reasonably drank heavily every night and it took more and more to satisfy me. I rarely ever got silly drunk though. Part of my problem was that I don't suffer hangovers unless rolling or passed out drunk, so it wasn't directly effecting daily life. I now know there is a better version of everyday life.

 

I have committed to staying off the grog for May at least, but hope this circuit breaker will help me live without alcohol controlling my life. I will look to continue to stay alcohol free at home unless there is a celebration of some kind. I celebrated my anniversary last Saturday and it didn't bother me that my wife had a wine and I had a soft drink.

2 hours ago, blybo said:

17 days off the grog now and sleeping much better, and going to bed early. I no longer find myself staying up after the better half has gone to bed so I can sneak in a couple of spirits before I wonder off to bed.

 

I had become what I describe as a high functioning alcoholic. I reasonably drank heavily every night and it took more and more to satisfy me. I rarely ever got silly drunk though. Part of my problem was that I don't suffer hangovers unless rolling or passed out drunk, so it wasn't directly effecting daily life. I now know there is a better version of everyday life.

 

I have committed to staying off the grog for May at least, but hope this circuit breaker will help me live without alcohol controlling my life. I will look to continue to stay alcohol free at home unless there is a celebration of some kind. I celebrated my anniversary last Saturday and it didn't bother me that my wife had a wine and I had a soft drink.

Good on ya mate. Don't look back, it's worth it! I was drinking 12-18 cans of beer nearly every night so you do become somewhat immune to the effects. I've actually found going to bed  bit earlier helps if you were a night drinker. Also feel much better in the morning for it. 

 

If you can't control it it's pretty dangerous stuff. I think I've used my nine lives with it including being airlifted to Melbourne and in a coma for a week. 

Afternoon, I'm waiting for someone so this post may be in 2 parts which I will make concise. First is a suggestion.

 

My in-laws are big drinkers. The uncle in law confided that he had been driving drunk to buy more wine and found it hard to stop at 1 bottle. My partner jokingly suggested to buy smaller bottles and this actually worked. There is a reasonable range of half size and quarter sized bottles and it seems the UIL could not stop while there was wine in the bottle so he now starts with a half bottle.

 

I know it sounds crazy but worth a try.

 

Bye for now, D

Thread recovery and update...

 

My post above was a false dawn. Went back to old habits a few days later. Since then I've moved house, wound up my business, changed careers, and now in a much better mental state.

 

I gave up the grog on Jan 3rd this year and haven't touched any since, if you don't count Gordons 0.0 Gin.... I've also tried the Zero beers but they are mostly rubbish.

 

I think the stars just aligned for me and I was ready. Sleep has improved out of sight. Moving on from a failing business has probably helped immeasurably too. I no longer lie awake thinking about work. I'm enjoying the industry change of selling caravans, even if it doesn't pay that well, the financial side of the business is someone else's headache. Just a pity the new house doesn't lend itself well to HiFi or Home theatre... yet.

Edited September 26, 20241 yr by blybo