Sober October

[Broughtonblue]

Anybody doing this? After coming back from an AI holiday, where I was embarrassed to walk from my sun lounger to the bar topless because of all my wobbly bits( I'm male by the way and 17stone) I decided alcohol had to go and this seems a good idea, going to try to do till Christmas if poss.
Also dusted the bike off!!!

 

[Drago]

No. Our big Boss at work urged us all to do this last year, but all the talk of the dangers of booze simply made us want a drink even more.

Seriously though, its no bad thing ditching it if you're trying to lose weight.

 

[Ganymede]

I think it's a great idea to give up booze for a bit, really shows you how much you normally drink!

I do wonder if all the other months are in the process of being brain-stormed by charities - after Movember and Sober October, what next? March in March? No-Fib Feb? Snore-gust where we all have to go to bed on time?

However I do think a spot of sobriety is a good thing - makes you enjoy life a lot more, especially if you are a heavy drinker, you suddenly find out what your missing! (according to a friend of mine!)

 

[thefatcyclist]

No, but I decided to give up for a hundred days to lose a bit of weight and I've lost 12lbs in just over 4 weeks without trying to hard. Oddly enough not missing alcohol in the slightest and I seem to have much more time to do other stuff.

Good luck with it.

 

[Roscoe]

If it's any help with motivation, I stopped drinking on 29th December, ostensibly for the January Dryathlon. This has now lasted for 38 weeks and I have no intention of starting again.

The benefits so far have been:
Lost 5kg in weight, down to 71kg and on track for my target of 68kg.
Sleeping better
No anxiety/panic attacks
Feel fresher, brighter, less tired
Increased fitness as have so far cycled 2300 miles this year (managed 1300 for the whole of last year)
The ability to get up early every weekend and go for a minimum 2 hour ride, Saturday and Sunday without fail
No hangovers!
More money for bike goodies

 

[ColinJ]

I have given up everything except food and chocolate, from Jan-Dec!

 

[Dayvo]

Surely it must be easier to grow a mo in Movember!

Good luck. Once you make changes to your lifestyle and begin to see positive results, then there'll be no stopping you.

 

[Shadow]

Good luck to you and let us know how you get on. Increasing exercise while decreasing food and alcohol intake will reduce your weight dramatically. Set realistic goals in terms of weight loss and importantly, do not forget to reward yourself.

If you are a heavy drinker, I would not advise stopping alcohol immediately but reduce it to zero over a short period of time. Alcohol is a drug and as such, the side effects of total and immediate abstention can be unpleasant. If you do continue drinking over this period, always have it with food and always follow each unit with at least one glass of water.

I'll raise a glass to you on wednesday!!

 

[fossyant]

We are going to give it a go as my father in law is dying of lung cancer. My wife has forgotten that there are three family birthdays and two end of season parties at the caravan site pub. We may fail.

 

[sunrise65]

I am doing this purely for weight loss reasons as I love a pint of local ale or two maybe Been about 2 weeks now and not feeling it at all though my social life is somewhat different to where I was a year ago. Going to try to get to Christmas and then try not to over do it..

 

[Broughtonblue]

I am doing this purely for weight loss reasons as I love a pint of local ale or two maybe Been about 2 weeks now and not feeling it at all though my social life is somewhat different to where I was a year ago. Going to try to get to Christmas and then try not to over do it..

with you all the way on this, although it didnt help last night when mrs BB opened the duty free we bought home, and waved it front of my face asking if i wanted some.
an argument commenced.........

 

[nappadang]

Errrrrrrr..........NO!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Good luck to you and let us know how you get on. Increasing exercise while decreasing food and alcohol intake will reduce your weight dramatically. Set realistic goals in terms of weight loss and importantly, do not forget to reward yourself.

If you are a heavy drinker, I would not advise stopping alcohol immediately but reduce it to zero over a short period of time. Alcohol is a drug and as such, the side effects of total and immediate abstention can be unpleasant. If you do continue drinking over this period, always have it with food and always follow each unit with at least one glass of water.

I'll raise a glass to you on wednesday!!

I quit the sudden way, but didn't have any adverse symptoms (don't know why). I just switched from drinking a large amount of spirits daily to drinking no alcohol. I scared myself into doing it, because the symptoms of alcohol use were becoming very apparent.

 

[Saluki]

My Stoptober is scuppered already as my guitar teacher has a nice single malt hidden up ready to celebrate a year of lessons with him next friday. My Stoptober is starting on the 5th.

 

[edindave]

I'm joining in. I went alcohol free from Jan-Apr this year, until a Majorcan cycle training camp beer drinking training camp intervened!