Thanks for watching! Here's the follow up video (day 31) to this video: th-cam.com/video/A7oys6zITHY/w-d-xo.html And in case you missed my original video where I stopped for the first time, check that out here: th-cam.com/video/VctVi8Sm0dQ/w-d-xo.html How about you, are you thinking of cutting back or taking a break? And if you are drying out like me, how is it going?
I like what you said about getting time back, and about hanging on for the time when you can drink again and be happier. For a long time I stuck to three days off drinking per week, but I realised how much I was structuring my time round it, pleased to wake up on a drinking day, disappointed on a dry one. Now doing Dry January, there's no longer that distinction, and actually, every day is pretty good, except for a few odd moments of being stone-cold rather than joyfully sober, and a bit bored! Life's too short and too precious to be wishing it away. I don't know what I'll do at the end of the month, but I hope I can build on this. Enjoying your videos, thanks!
Thanks for watching! It sounds like you are being really honest with yourself and that's awesome to hear. I'm still feeling good but have been thinking about alcohol quite a lot. My sleeps are great though and my book is getting really good lol. I'm finding joy in different ways, and I've been cooking and making things I wouldn't usually make. My brain is still thinking of ways I can have alcohol in the future without having it all the time (maybe it's fine to have a pint or two at the brewery but just don't buy any at home)... it's crazy that those thoughts are still going round and round. I guess a lifelong habit of drinking will do that to you!
I quit drinking right before Christmas. I can definitely relate to everything you have said and gone through, I'm a dad, too. Thank you, these videos have helped.
Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it. It's tough... I don't really have anyone in my daily life that I can talk about this stuff with. But I find with uploading videos, there's a lot of us out there and this allows us to connect. Tonights Friday and I feel good. That would USUALLY mean I would drink and feel like crap tomorrow. But that's not going to happen tonight which is kind of exciting. What to do instead!? What are you up to?
30 days alcohol-free is no small feat, especially with the honest ups and downs you've shared. Thanks for your openness about the journey, it's really relatable.
Really appreciate you saying, thank you! It never ceases to amaze me how good I feel when I'm not drinking. Last night I slept SO good and feel amazing today... BUT I can feel the thoughts already because it's Friday, telling me how I deserve a drink... Stupid brain! Hope you're doing well on your journey 👊
@@TheSAHDLife Isn't it amazing that you love how you feel when you are not drinking yet thinking about drinking again. Alcohol is powerful and deceptive. i have the same exact thoughts and no I can not moderate from past experiences yet wondering what i will do Feb 1... I should probably just quit forever.
@@mjuberian it's insane. I don't even believe the power it has... wild. I'm right there with you with those thoughts. My brain keeps trying to figure out how I can have my cake without it running my life. Not sure I can.
@@TheSAHDLife I think we both know we can't but I am just not sure i want to quit forever. Thinking if I promised myself to never drink by myself that would fix 90% of my issue but that is probably not realistic. We shall see. Just keep telling yourself that for right now you are not drinking.
After the holidays, I'm on dry January and have completed over two weeks so far. I'm not limiting the break to 30 days though but I'm in no way declaring I'm done with drinking forever. I'm just using this time to clean out my mind, body and soul as well as learn to do more social activities alcohol free. Great commentary.
Good for you. I'm feeling great but still quite tired. I guess the time of year doesn't help. Yeah I'm of a similar mindset. It's hard to reprogram the mind to not think about alcohol because I'm still thinking about it quite a bit but I'm getting a lot of other things done which is great. Nice job👊
Nice job Evan! 👊🤣 I slept SO good last night and feel great today. It's so cold outside as we have a cold snap but jeez, it's so energizing. I just want to do everything! Hope you're having a good one too.
@Olm9 nicely done! How you feeling? Have you got bad cravings? Wifey and I picked up a flat of non-alcoholic Coronas from Costco... We did a bunch of work around the house today where we would usually have a beer afterwards and we had one of those with some lime in it. It was awesome! Honestly didn't even miss alcohol at all... Now that being said I still do have cravings for a big old pint of IPA but still once I get through it I'm always glad. I don't know how I drank so much liquids before... My stomach gets so full now even from like one beer
@@TheSAHDLife I do have cravings. A few glases of wine or beers in the evening has been something I've been looking forward to when I come home from work and start making dinner. The taste - the relaxing feeling. And now there is some kind of restlessness at that very time of day, that I need to come past. On weekdays and especially friday aftenoon. I won't feel that I have acomplished anything before I reach that goal. I'm a bricky and after a hot summerdays work it's impossibel not to be quite dehydrated - but it's also the perfect time for a cold one. Nothing tastes better. But it goes STRAIT to my head and I don't even feel it's safe to drive. So I started having a cold non-alcoholic beer instead (we have quite a variarity in Denmark, where I'm from) a few years ago. And it's fine - not being dizzy and wanting to take a nap as soon as I get home is difinitely a good thing. Maybe I should transfer that to my evening 'rutine'. But not untill I have managed to REALLY shake the restlessness and anticipation of alcohol in evening. That must come first. That's the goal. I'll keep you posted 😁 Godd luck on your sober journey, mate 🤞
doing dry january too! your previous video on quitting for the 30 days which turned into 60 really helped motivate to make the choice to do this month sober. Looking forward to seeing how it continues to go for you this month! The SLEEP is absolutely AMAZING for me starting about 3 days ago. Its like I forgot how impactful true deep restful sleep is.,
Awesome to hear! I slept like a champ last night and feel so good today. So good! Glad to hear you too are enjoying the sleep and look forward to chatting more with you about it's going over the month! Keep me updated 👊
Thanks! Yeah you know, whether it's alcohol, caffeine, junk food, smoking, whatever... we've all got those things in our lives that might not be good for use but we do almost on auto-pilot. I'm sure you have your own struggles and that's why you can appreciate anyone trying to better themselves. Appreciate the support 👊
Bingo - that feeling that “you’re going to feel better after that next one” is a key observation. Being able to accept how you feel each day - “going with the flow” without being really agitated about it - is the key. We don’t have to be happy all the time. Good video - a lot of good thoughts and observations. Keep doing the videos and sharing the experience - your helping others will help you in return! 👍🏼
Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. I've fallen a bit into the trap lately as summer is tough for me (kids off, no time to work on the channel) but messages like yours really help remind me of what's going on. It's crazy that I feel SO good when I'm not drinking yet I still choose to drink. How are you doing?
@@TheSAHDLifeAs long as you’re aware of yourself; observing what you’re doing and asking yourself “why am I doing what I’m doing now?” - you’re allowing yourself to make choices without judgement. That’s what I’m working on. Trying to really see the “why” in my choices and not beating myself up because of them. Being present with my choices so that I know the choices I’m making won’t be regretted looking back on them in the future. The fact that you’re asking yourself the questions and not just living on autopilot is how the answers (and the changes you may want) will come. Thanks for sharing your journey -
Having been on and off the same journey, it’s so refreshing to hear all this from an honest real life perspective rather than some super motivated freak with no apparent other commitments in their life! Thanks.
Haha thanks. Yeah I wanted to share some real honest thoughts on it and the why's behind it. Each time I stop like this I change just a little bit. I still have some alcohol in my life but I just can't handle it anymore. Last night I had 2.5 glasses of white wine which isn't a crazy amount for me, and I was up at 3am with a pounding headache. It's just not worth it.
I was diagnosed with epilepsy 2 years ago and recently have been trying to stop alcohol completely, mainly because it lowers seizure thresh hold, 4 months seizure free since slowing my alcohol intake , I am at 2 weeks with no alcohol now and feeling great. We have the potential to fix numerous problems in our selves but don’t take the hard steps we need too to make our heath better.
That's awesome to hear! Nice job. Yeah you're right, our bodies are pretty nuts... but if we poison them so often we make it tough for them to heal efficiently, and that only gets worse as we age. You have a goal or are you just trying to generally cut down?
@@TheSAHDLifeI’m thinking I want to make it Atleast 2 months clear of any drinks and see how my health is doing. Mainly I just know something needs to change or I’m not going to !
Thanks! And nice job! I'm not a huge fan of the non-alcoholic beer but you're right, I am having some strong cravings and could probably use one right about now just to get through them. Good idea. What are you doing on the weekends to stay busy now? I'm always just curious what others are doing. I'm reading more, watching shows again, and checking stuff off the list for house chores!
Hey man I appreciate your willingness to share. One observation I have is that it seems you have FOMO, or fear of missing out when it comes to drinking. The benefits multiply the longer you go. I would suggest 90 days and then reevaluate. Alcohol is unnecessary to have a great time. Love that you're hiking in this video. It's my favorite sober activity. Keep pushing brother.
Thanks for the message dude, I appreciate it! And yeah I loovveee hiking. It's my happy place for sure. Can't wait to push hard and further. And yeah I feel great when I'm not drinking but definitely think about it a lot. We've had snow this week which is beautiful, but I definitely have it linked to drinking in my head haha. A lifetime of, oh we're snowed in, get a case of beer! But I'm doing fine without it. Feels good 👊
Hey thanks man! Really appreciate it 👊 And I know right? Part of me wants a giant beer SO bad but I'm also starting to feel so fricking good. I had a great sleep and am feeling like a boss today.
Doing dry january for the first time. Your video from last year was so honest and so true. I think of it often as I get through this month. You are dead on for every point. Thank you for being so candid! Very brave putting it out there. Look forward to seeing your progress.....Thanks so much
Really appreciate the support, thank you! I'm glad you found the videos and they have inspired you. Comments like yours inspire me. I'm not going to lie I've been thinking about drinking a lot this last day or so... just, it's beautiful weather it's Fri/Sat and I feel great... the habit is strong! But once I get through those cravings and feel great right when I wake up... what a nice way to live. How are you doing?!
I started Dry January on the 1st, and made it two weeks. I drank a bit over this weekend and felt terrible afterward. Starting over today for the rest of the month, and maybe push into February :) Thanks for the inspiration!
Good for you! It's tough to do but just being mindful of it is a big step. It's not just about the month... it's about the lifetime. And if you are getting a grip of it now you will be in a good place moving forward. Glad you found the video and feel free to chat any time! 👊
You are doing keto too! How is that going for you? I love that lifestyle and way of eating but my wife does not. I love how my hunger almost disappears on keto.
@@TheSAHDLife I’ve done keto for two years now and I lost 60 pounds and hubby lost 50 pounds I just switched hubby to carnivore in January to break his Plato he only has 15 pounds to go he enjoying his meat and we save on groceries
@tinacox9526 that's awesome! Are you buying any special meat or just at the local store or Costco? Are you preparing your meat anyway special? And how many meals are you eating in a day? Sorry for the 20 questions I'm just always curious how people approach it!
@@TheSAHDLife I watch Ken Berry video on you tube and he says to eat meat what you can afford. It doesn’t have to be grass fed yes I buy meat at Costco and my local grocery store with sales I buy a lot ground beef and fish eggs bacon polish sausage and fix the beef all different ways. At my grocery store I found a chuck steak and air fryer it was so tender and delicious. I him pork chops chuck roast and chicken thighs. It’s 10 pm here nice talking to you Tina
Glad you found the video, hope you got through the weekend all right! This weekend was a little tough for me cravings-wise. We ended up getting some non-alcoholic Coronas and I got to say... It was dam good! Maybe the best non alcoholic beer I've tasted? I mean I've mostly only tried pale ales and ipas... Still feeling good otherwise though. Thanks for the comment 👊
2 weeks in (I am going through to 1 April). I find I get the odd thought that "ambushes" me about having a drink, especially as I'm feeling a lot better. Weekends are the worst, but waking up fresh is SO good. And no "Hanxiety" either.
Yeah exactly. I'm right there with you. The weekends are tough. I don't usually like non-alcoholic bevies but we caved and got some and... it's really helping! Usually we try IPA's or Pale ales, but we just got some fake Coronas at Costco and dam! It's satisfying. I hear the fake Guinness is good too. It's weird planning a Fri/Sat night without drinking. I end the night reading lol... which I love but am not used to. Wake up wanting to kick some butt in the day though. That's nice.
Thanks again for a good video. I enjoyed it it helps me with my hangover that I am experiencing right now bringing something positive thank you so much.
We are on vacation and I am right there with you. Ugh. I hate feeling like this... I am better now than I was before but sometimes still get carried away. It's fun but never worth it. My mind gets trapped in dark places despite being in a nice place with my family. Let's get through this and come out a little stronger on the other side 👊
I have found myself enjoying alcohol less and less, after a decidedly unhealthy festive period and new year celebrations I've made a decision to cut out alcohol near enough completely and will only drink in a social situation (seldom happens when having kids, and even more seldom as I am usually designated driver anyway!) or a celebration such as wedding anniversary or birthday. Sure I could just cut it out completely, and I wouldn't find that difficult at all, but I think in a celebratory situation it's fine. We are 12 days into the new year and I do feel more alert, getting better sleep and feeling less tired during the day. Enjoying your videos, keep on keeping on. 👍
Thanks for the comment! And I'm right there with you. Though I have this part of my brain that is still programmed to think that drinking makes everything more fun... It's hard to unlink! I think like you said, if you're out having fun, and everyone has s drink, then have a drink! I'm not 100% sure I can do that and keep it separated from never drinking at home but I am getting better at it the older I get.
@@TheSAHDLife I hear ya, ironically I had one of those moments tonight where I was busy cooking dinner and would normally have a beer, next moment the wife comes out to grab a beer (solidarity much!) and swans off back to the lounge! It's those moments where I think 'well they are having fun why not'. I checked myself though, in fact I found the smell of the beer oddly disgusting!
Good for you my dude! Yeah the brain tries to trick us all day long, it's crazy. Do yourself a favour and read the book (or listen to the audiobook) by Allen Carr I mentioned in the video/description. You don't have to quit for good but he just gives some tools to handle cravings that will last you the rest of your life. Worth!
Alcohol is insidious. Everytime I quit I love how much I sleep even though the first week I pee like there is no tomorrow. I guess that's from the water retention. I plan on quitting once and for all this year.
Good word! Haha and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one peeing all the time even though I'm NOT drinking. And you're thinking about quitting for good?! That's awesome. It sure would feel good to commit to it. Every single comment I've read from someone who's quit has been super positive. I've never seen ONE person who quit quit and was unhappy with that choice.
Thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment! Had quite a few cravings this weekend but I got through it and feel great about that. Looking forward to crushing this week! Nice job👊
@@blakeybobby Glad to have ya! Just fyi I'm not a channel that focuses on sobriety or anything but every once and awhile I like to check myself and share what I learn along the way. I'm a bit over the map with the content I create but it allows me to be passionate and enthusiastic about each video I make. See ya in the comments hopefully! 👊
I stumbled upon my decision to dry january, or who knows how long I keep it going - but I watched your video from last year during the early part of this month - great commentary on how you felt. Interesting to hear your attitude on how you fell off, but are going at it again. It seems you're very reflective and intune with how much better you feel, yet the "pull" still got you last year. Shows how powerful alcohol is, but also routines and habits. 15 days in, I'm truly blown away how much better I feel - mental clarity is amazing. I'll take the mental clarity/mood stabilization, over the "buzz" any day. Easy for me to say now but I'm just taking it one day at a time. If I slip in the future, after January, I won't be hard on myself, but I need to remember how I feel in this state and strive for that.
Yeah good call. I think the more we do things like take breaks, the easier it is. For example I think water fasting is great... but when you've never done it before, a 24 hour water fast... you feel like you're going to die, haha. I did a couple of them on my own, then my wife joined me... and it was so easy for me because I knew what to expect. It was very difficult for her. I think coming off alcohol is similar. Almost (and this is sad) every memory I have in my adult life has alcohol in it. All the vacations we took... all the times we went out... hanging out with friends... it's always there. So a life without it seems empty. That's definitely the addiction and lifelong brainwashing but it's hard to shed. It'll be a lifelong battle but being aware and like you said, taking it day by day is the key. My mental clarity isn't quite where I'd like it to be yet but it's on its way. I'm in control throughout the day and I love it. Thanks for the message 👊
Nice! Good for you. I'm feeling pretty good. The weekends are tough but now that I've been through a couple it's not as bad. Still thinking about going out for beers though, not going to lie! The mind is the worst part!
As a professional musician and roadie for over half my life, I’ve certainly developed a deep affinity and appreciation for the sauce. Almost every extreme high and low has involved alcohol. It was never really an “issue” of worrisome magnitude, but the thing that got me thinking I should stop is that after awhile, it fries your serotonin receptors so much that it tricks you into thinking you can’t have a good time WITHOUT alcohol. I was sitting in gorgeous 75 degree weather with my family over this past Christmas, drink in hand conversing and having a wonderful holiday vacation and realized, “wow, I’m understanding that I love this, but I’m not feeling how much I love this. The serotonin pump is absolutely broken”. Through the entire trip, I felt like I couldn’t truly enjoy myself. It was enough for me to think about reducing my intake to only special occasions during the year. So far it’s been 2 weeks and I feel great. Im finally starting to get those little bumps of excitement again that I felt like I had been missing. Good luck on your journey and I’ll be looking forward to seeing more videos!
Thanks for the great comment! Appreciate you taking the time to share. I think it's really interesting you said that not only your extremes highs involved alcohol but so did your lows... and to me, the highs aren't worth the lows. Well, not anymore. It's weird because I don't like to gamble. The fear of losing money is stronger than the desire to gain money. But with alcohol, that was never true for me. I think like you said, once we stop poisoning ourselves all the little things in life just spark more joy than they do when we're on the sauce.
Thank you for your honest post. I'm doing dry Jan again this year, and have done so for the last 5 yrs. My resting heart rate at night has decreased by about 10 beats/min compared to nights when I drank. That's substantial! Going to do Feb as well. Overall the biggest impact, in addition to the decrease in my resting heart rate, is that feeling of getting up in the morning with no headache and fatigue. I'm not sure what I will do post-February, but I know that my ritual of drinking a bottle of wine each Friday, Sat and Sunday (plus a few cheeky IPAs) with my wife has to stop. It's just become a bad habit that I need to shake.
That's really interesting about the heart rate. And I totally hear you about getting up in the morning with no fatigue or headache. Definitely sounds very similar to me with the wine and IPA hehe. This weekend was pretty tough with the cravings but we ended up getting some Coronas today and they're actually really good. I've tried a bunch of non-alcoholic ipas and pale ales over the years but a cold fake Corona was pretty damn refreshing and scratched the itch!
@@TheSAHDLife Glad you found something non-alcoholic that you enjoy! I got some Guinness 0 which is pretty enjoyable. Not the same as the regular, but close! With regards to the heart rate, we all know that alcohol is a toxin, and in higher amounts, it really impacts the heart. If you wear a Fitbit or Apple watch, it's easy to track the effect during your sleep. On another note, I'm going to extend my dry spell to the end of February this year! Wish me luck :)
Thanks for doing this video. My buddy and I are doing dry January. I can relate a lot to what your saying and experiencing, which means... even though in most arenas I tend to be a fairly disciplined person... that I can't discount the reality that there are negative effects to regular drinking. I only started in my early 40's, but that was 20 years ago, and I'm completely functional, but again, much of what you say I can see in myself, so... Also learned some additional things from other vids, and the clear message to me is that it's worth "experimenting" with some total sobriety. There are some physical/mental changes in my life that may not be causational, and it's easy to chalk them up to "getting older", but these "changes" pop up as common themes in others like you sharing their experience. And speaking of which, you entering into this ENABLES you to have the motivation to share your story, so in your own life you are taking part in "making the world a better place", a clear positive feedback loop!
Great comment, thanks for the time! I completely agree and like what you said about changes in life which a lot of people chalk up to getting older. I think it's easy to say that which helps justify behaviour. It's hard to be honest with ourselves but it sounds like you are on the right track to optimizing joy in life. Allen Carrs book talks about the mind of a non-drinker and how it compares to those of us who drink. I still find myself looking forward to having a pint at a brewery... I'm sure non-drinkers don't have those thoughts. I have to say this is a very supportive community. It's so great there's a lot of people wanting to help each other get through it since we're all in it together!
Thanks for watching! Yeah it's crazy how the older I get the worse it makes me feel. To be honest, the thought of a big glass of silky red wine makes my mouth water a little... though I'm not sure if it's just habit... brainwashing... or what... but then every time I have that, I sleep like crap and get a headache. So why the heck do I even want it? Good for you, hang in there 👊
I made the commitment 12/26/2023, since then I’ve lost 8 lbs, can handle stress a lot more, have more energy and wake up at 530 in the morning for cardio /exercise. 17 days in and I know I at least want 30 but as of now I don’t feel like I want to return to alcohol what so ever, the benefits sober have been amazing
That'a amazing. Good job 👊 I'm a few days behind you and, well to be honest I thought about drinking quite a lot yesterday, but I'm proud I didn't and felt great this morning. Keep me posted with how things are going if you remember in a week or so!
@@TheSAHDLife sure will, one of the biggest things that helps me is tea every night. I fill my electric kettle up in the afternoon with water and set my tea bags to the side so it keeps me on track… wifey still drinks occasionally has two bottles of wine in the fridge but I stay committed to the tea especially knowing every morning I am weighing myself and would like to see progress some sort of progress
Nice! I started drinking tea once I initially stopped for 30 days and it stuck! Do you have any good ones to suggest or just stick to the basics? @@ShadowStyle369
@@TheSAHDLife 21 days for me today 9 more to go, sorry i missed your reply for some reason. For me i keep a variety of teas and i have a cup every night, its also my choice for caffiene in the mornings on weekdays but on the weekends i treat myself to coffee. My go to tea at night is from the brand yogi its kava tea it does well at relaxing me i would say do your research on it as kava is a depressant like alcohol but it doesnt leave me with any of the after affects of alcohol etc
Well done, mate. Keep on the right path and the month will be over before you know it. Everything you mention I can relate too. I used to homebrew 10-20 times a year, always having four 5 gallon (19litre here in 🇦🇺) kegs on the go… finally woke up to myself after 25 years + drinking, including many binge sessions, on my 11 year old sons birthday end of April last year and made a promise to myself to apply the brakes. I initially went 3-4 weeks sober, had a few beers and only a few, then rinsed and repeated. As time has gone by I’ve really come to enjoy the many benefits of being sober, now 6 months sober in fact. I kinda transitioned to sober curious… and that included several bdays, holidays and Christmas / New Year. I did dry August in 2021, and really struggled… always craving a beer (only drink beer). This time was different, something changed within me that gave alcohol the flick. The Andrew Huberman podcast on Alcohol had a profound effect on my mind. Best thing I ever did was stop, haven’t heard anyone ever say they wish they never stopped drinking 😀
Thanks for the great comment man. It sounds like you totally changed things around. Inspiring! What are some of the benefits you've noticed since giving alcohol the flick? 😄 I'm feeling good, though my brain has still been a little foggier than I expected at this point. Getting a few cravings on the weekends but going strong!
Hey mate, the benefits I’ve found most others report, but some take longer to appear than others and after a while it becomes your new normal. Friday and Saturday nights just become normal without a glass of booze in your hand. You find other ways to give your brain the dopamine hit it wants from better, healthier, sources. 1. Huge improvement in sleep, dream every night 2. Don’t need as much time to sleep as the quality of sleep is so much better 3. Frequently wake naturally within an hour of my alarm 4. Improved skin health, particularly around my face 5. Eating so much healthier in general, but still have my fair share of junk food. 6. Consistently exercising and motivated to do so. I road cycle and recognised alcohol was tainting my gains 7. Dropped a stack (very noticeable) of body fat, but stayed roughly the same weight due to increased leg muscle mass from riding gains 8. Improved mood and more relaxed 9. Being much more present for my kids and wife 9. Pushed myself to develop confidence to hold good conversations without the need for alcohol courage 10. Almost 2 years ago work was particularly stressful and compounded with chronic alcohol intake, note the past 5 years I’d only really drink at weekends but the toll of drinking for 25 years compounded, I was getting a lot of chest palpitations. Had a 24-hour halter monitor that recorded over 1900 ectopic heartbeats. The day I wore the monitor I actually didn’t feel any, so was shocked at the result. I now hardly feel any palpitations at all and suspect they’re 95% gone. Work got less stressful and alcohol removed. 11. On note 10, in recent years I’d wake during the night immediately after a binge session with my heart racing out of my chest. The last binge session I had was 6 months ago, and the big reason I’m now 6 months sober. I woke twice with a racing heart and knew then how much damage the booze was doing to my heart… was an easy decision to switch it off. 12. Blood pressure has dropped, I actually suffer a lot with low blood pressure now 😮 13. Resting heart rate has always been pretty good, but this has improved a lot too. I’ve noticed when exercising that I’m able to reach higher heart rates than before. Whilst drinking, I’d always max out around late 160 beats per minute. I’m now reaching mid 170s with ease and can sustain it. 14. I feel like and setting a much better example and being a better role model to my kids 15. There is no better feeling than waking up clear headed and wanting to tackle the day… things that I’d leave for another day I’m motivated to do in the present. I’ve listened to many TH-cam and podcasts on the subject and something they report that I’ve found firsthand, is people, often your closest of friends and family, assume you’ve stopped drinking because you’re an alcoholic… it’s very frustrating that society deems you this way if you choose not to consume the worlds most problematic substance. The toll on emergency services, people’s lives and society as a whole is immense from alcohol abuse, and it’s getting worse. I’m never going to tell others not to drink, it’s my own choice, but I can see alcohol for what it really is now, nothing more than an evil poison that makes fat cats rich. Friends and family are now accepting of my abstinence, and I’ve noticed they too don’t drink as much as they would when we catch-up. Best of luck on your journey and no judgement whatsoever if you go back to the booze after dry January. It’s certainly been a long transition and took many stars to align for me to join the dots.
… almost forgot, gut Health improved like you would not believe. Always had several daily “loose” trips to the bathroom, but now only once or twice a day and without being too graphic it looks like it’s meant to now… and it generally doesn’t smell bad either 😜 I also haven’t proclaimed to myself or others that I’m never drinking again as “never” is a pretty big statement and failure is often glittered with a sense of guilt and self-disappointment. I maintain that I’m just not drinking today and probably not going to drink tomorrow. Will I never drink ever again, probably not to be honest but I’m also on a journey that sees no benefit in doing so either… if I do, it’ll be very small quantities. Prior to my 6 month sober journey I was 6 weeks sober before having the unplanned binge session with a good mate. We’re big craft beer enthusiasts and I remember during the evening being able to really taste the alcohol, which I’ve never noticed much before, and thinking to myself that I wasn’t really enjoying the flavour or experience… since then, I’ve had zero cravings for another drink so maybe my mind has become stronger than the pull of alcohol.
… how could I forget about the huge reduction in anxiety too, probably because almost all of it has gone and it’s now my new normal to not feel anxious anymore… the list goes on and on to the many benefits of not drinking alcohol. If you could put all the benefits into an magic pill, everyone would take it… but not everyone will stop drinking alcohol… that in itself shows just how addictive the substance is to the brain.
Wow what a great and thoughtful comment. Thanks for that. You're right... it has an insane impact on peoples lives and to society. It's almost crazy that it's legal and so easily available.
Feel like we're on same path. Did a dry jan/feb last year, fell back into habits. Dry jan again this year, seems easier but cravings are stronger if that makes sense. Also, last year and again this year had weird skin blemish and eye sties appear!? I get it lol. Late 30s. Let's get it bro! (Down 6lbs since 12/31) 😊
6lbs already!? Haha nice! Yeah man this last day or two I've had some strong cravings... I guess that's expected since I'm so used to drinking on Fri/Sat. I don't usually like non-alcoholic beers but maybe they'd be enough to trick the ol' brain. Do you drink 'em? Nice job! 👊 How's the sleeps? What are you doing instead?
Heh, best of luck! I'm with you; Day 12 today. I feel great! Problem though: going away tomorrow for my wife's birthday to a nice resort. That's the only thing we have going on in January. I bought a six pack of Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beer Hazy IPA for the trip. They make a variety of N/A's and they actually taste great and will fool your brain. (At least the first two). I've tried most of the N/A's out there and they are the best. You'll do fine. Hang in there. And thanks for the shoulder pain video. I've been doing the hanging a couple times a day, and my shoulder feels great!
Good call on the Athletic. We do have those here and I think the Hazy IPA would be my choice too. Ohh I'm jealous about the resort. That sounds amazing. We need that soon. Luckily we live near some amazing ones so might have to follow your lead and book one soon. Have a great time and good luck! And that's amazing about your shoulder. That's what I love to hear! 👊
Hey , I am day 19. Right before new years. My story is the same as many but I am 54. Many beers and whiskey on weekends and 3 days a week. You are just a couple days behind me I just listened to the whole thing. All I can say is that I am changing my mind to never drinking again keeping the idea out of managing it and coming back to it. There is a song called Demon Alcohol by Ozzy It’s so true
Hey good for you! Hope it's been going well... are you noticing any changes without having any drinks? Have you ever quit for a long period of time before? And just listening now... thanks for the share 👊
@@TheSAHDLife I made it a year and a half once before. That was 7 years ago. Sleep is great now. The thought of not drinking is different. This time I want to fully stop. Before I had a life event where I needed to be clear
The funny thing when you stop drinking or smoking how many people tell you they feel like they should quit this too. It is more a general problem than most people admit.
I pickled cabbage today! Hahaha, something I've kind of always wanted to do but never would have done before as I probably would have usually had a beer instead. It's delicious and was really fun!
Thanks Kathie! Yes I was in a band in my youth so it always sparks joy whenever I get to play lol Do you play any musical instruments? I like rhythm... I like to move and dance! So drumming was perfect for me.
So I've done 13 night of no drinking. I've bought an expensive leather bound, lined, thick notebook to keep as a health/well-being journal to help. Re-joined gym, eating all the right foods. My craving can come on strong, but if I resist, 15 to 20 mins it passes and I find my resolve returns. I hope the cravings lessen over time. Also bought some 0.00 gin and I find adding good tonic and lime is nearly the same as alcohol version...so that I hope will help ween me off. I know given my addictive personality I'd end up nightly again. So I am working hard to prevent that. p.s. thanks for the book in your clip, I'm going to go buy the first in the red rising series today :)
I'm so glad you noticed the book :) that's awesome. Red Rising was awesome! You'll l have to let me know what you think once you get into it! And yeah I'm right there with you... it's funny, the day of and after this video have been my strongest cravings days. I don't usually enjoy non-alcoholic stuff but I might need some for now to get through it. Yes it goes away, but it takes time. We're battling a lifetime of addiction and habit here... those two things are insanely powerful. Hang in there and enjoy the benefits of your eating and exercise (and sleep!). Waking up without a headache on Sunday feels pretty good though eh?
My story. I realized that no amount of alcohol is good for you. I had made a decision that 1-2 drinks per week was an acceptable amount to drink. I found that I was slipping to 3-4 per week, having that 2nd glass of wine on a Wednesday, etc. I realized I couldn't control it and keep to my 1-2 drink goal. Granted, my volume was below what most people would call a problem. But the fact that I repeatedly missed my goal was a problem. So, on 10/31 last year I decided to cut WAY back. Only a special occasion drink. (this kept me from thinking, I'm quitting forever!) Think birthday, New Years, only a few times a year. I had one cocktail on New Years, and it wasn't like, "Oh I missed you!". It was ok. And I didn't feel great afterwards. Also, I'm aware that alcohol increases your chances of getting cancer. I lost my dad to cancer when he was 72. I'm almost 60. I want to stack the odds in my favor. Quitting alcohol just makes sense. Lastly, no one else in my family drinks, which I've always been grateful for. Think of your daughters, when they turn 21. How will you feel if they decide to drink alcohol? Even though I was a drinker, I admit I wouldn't have wanted my kids to. Good luck with the 30 days - consider making it a longer-term commitment.
Great comment! Thanks for taking the time. I appreciate it. And you're right... It's interesting how so many of us overlook the health risks. I lost my father too much earlier than I should have because of his excessive drinking. Thank you for the support. It means a lot 👊
i quit for 40 days or so thinking it would help with my anxiety but so far its making it worse I would say honestly.. hopefully it will get better soon. I am not really like you alcohol always helped me calm my mind and relax more.
Oh I hear you... I enjoy and use alcohol for relaxing as well. It's the days AFTER using alcohol that I think it worsens me. Either way, anxiety needs to be dealt with on it's own. Have you read any books, listened to any podcasts, or spoken with anyone to help you deal with yours?
After seeing your other video (1yr. ago) I was confused why you were trying another 30+ day trial. Despite the happiness and many gains, that wasn't enough to keep you going? This video helped me understand better as to what you're going through! Sadly it sounds like my scenario. I'm older than you and I still think I can put a "Handle on my Intake" It doesn't work! Best wishes!
Hey thanks for the comment. Yeah the struggle is real eh? With some people it's sugar... other it's gambling... smoking.. we all have our thing. Those things are easy for me, but drinking? Jeez. It's Feb 2nd and I'm still not really interested in having any. I'm not sure how the future will go but boy, not thinking about it really is nice. Will my brain really break if I have some? It will won't it. heh. Appreciate the comment. Thanks for the support. 👊
Oh yeah for me those first couple weeks my sugar cravings went through the ROOF once I stopped drinking! That has stabilized though. That's great you've been able to get through the weekends though! That's a big accomplishment.
Everything you're feeling is completely normal. Even though your body will eliminate all of the alcohol in your system in ~72 hours, it takes much longer for the brain chemistry to normalize to where you can start experiencing "natural highs". The timeline for that varies, but it's usually around 3 - 6 months. You're absolutely right about better digestion when not drinking. As soon as blood alcohol reaches a certain level the liver shuts down all other task to detoxify your system, and that affects digestion. Fun fact: did you know "intoxicated" literally means poisoned? If I may make a suggestion, don't quit for a month, let alone forever. Just quit for a day at a time, which is very doable. I stole that from a well known organization. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.
Good comment thanks for sharing! And I think that's good advice. Wife and I were just talking about our future alcohol consumption and, it almost seems fruitless to worry about situations we can't control NOW.
Nice job! Not sure if you caught my more recent video, my 31 days without booze one but it might be worth a watch for you. I feel great however there are areas I don't feel as good as I expected, and I know why. I'll be curious if you have the same issue.
I can relate to the sweet tooth returning! I’ve stopped drinking for a little over a week and now I get a big ol’ sweet tooth at night(when I usually drink lol). I usually have a bowl of cereal and fall asleep lol
Right?! I have found non-alcohol beer does scratch the itch nicely but I have noticed how sweet it is. The cravings eventually go away but hey, a little sugar probably isn't as bad as alcohol so that's fine for getting through it. Good for you 👊
Thanks man! Yeah it's definitely worth a try. Worst case scenario you can have a beer at the end! It's not forever. And yeah, the channels growing right?! It's awesome. Having lots of fun with it. Appreciate the support. How are things going with your channel?! What camera are you using for your vids?
@@TheSAHDLife Mostly using a GoPro 8. Also have a Canon R100 I am experimenting with but the GoPro is so easy and works well. My views are declining but I have trouble putting out regular content.
@@gregs_garage Yeah I hear you man. It's nice to have gear that is easy to use. Yeah the TH-cam game is tricky... you think it'll always go up but sometimes you'll have a good month then views never quite get back to that like you hope they would. I imagine you've had some good months along the way!
I like to drink about 6-8 beers a week. I quit for 30 days and felt nothing, except, when I had my next beer I just thought "damn I should have had this 30 days ago". Maybe I am not "trapped" (yet). I actually enjoy having a beer or two while doing those projects ha.
Yeah hey man you do you right? If you feel like it's not a problem in your life and brings you joy, I don't see the problem. It's when you can't do those projects WITHOUT alcohol that maybe you're deeper in the trap than you thought and it might be time to take a break. The health and monetary benefits are always nice at the very least too.
I quit drinking december 2022, (also I was doing coke almost every day for 4 months) and drinking regullarly since I was 12. Now Im 36. I've had some serious panic attacks these year and regular anxiety almost everyday. Now Im getting better. I was 8 months alone since I found myself preapred to meet friends. Sometimes I want to drink very bad. But finally I feel so much better and I feel I am more in control. Otherwise I feel sometimes like a bomb that can explode, fear for more anxiety attacks keeps me sober I think bc I know if I drink is gonna get worse at the end.
Good for you man! I know that fear and anxiety you speak of, it's nasty. Hopefully you are feeling (and sleeping) better. I read a book awhile back that changed how I think and I reviewed it on my channel. In case you are curious maybe check out the video if you get a few minutes? It was a game-changer for me: th-cam.com/video/V6BBArPhIuo/w-d-xo.html
Haha yeah I'm eating a lot more sweets/treats too. Sleep is way better now too. Love it. My thoughts still go back to alcohol a lot this last couple days but I guess I'm so used to drinking on Friday/Sat it's to be expected. Nice job!
I can sooo relate to so much of what you’re saying. And getting those strange ailments after stopping drinking for a short while is hilarious and real. I like to think it’s my body detoxifying. Interesting how many times I hear, one drink for a woman or two drinks for a man EVERY DAY is acceptable. Who wrote this, the alcohol industry? It’s so irresponsible. And then I read, that more than 15 drinks a week and I’m a heavy drinker. That’s a very small margin for error. So, 14 good, 16 real bad. For me it’s all or nothing, I don’t think I can be a casual drinker. And many of us know the power of alcohol and how it seduces you and lures you in. So, 24 days in and going strong. Not one drop! I didn’t feel much different the first two weeks but now I do, and it’s better and happier and more lucid. And the power of the journey itself gives me strength. Thank you for a wonderful and personal video. You’ve got yourself a new subscriber.
Thanks for the great comment and welcome aboard! My video topics are all over the map (keeps it fun for me!) but I always come back to talking about this, and I'll do a video on it at the end of the month. Yeah I'm right there with you. I know I will try again to see if I can manage alcohol but then I'll take it a little too far, feel like garbage again then realize I probably shouldn't have it in my life at all. In a perfect world I would only drink while we're out and never keep booze at home. But then we'll have guests and get some wine then, well, you know the drill. I'm not really trying to think about booze so we'll see what happens come February. Are you going dry solo or do you have a partner joining you?
My partner joined me initially but has since thrown in the towel. She does not drink as much as I do. But now she misses our evening glasses of wine together. I miss them too which makes it even harder. So alcohol consumption has become part of our relationship for many years. I hope we can survive my continued abstinence. :0) I'm sure we can. I am determined to NOT have alcohol be the common denominator for so many of my activities. Ultimately, I want to be my best self and alcohol cannot be part of the solution for me. I want to experience life's ups and downs without the sedative of alcohol. I'm a genuinely happy guy with lots of interests and hobbies. So I ask myself, why poison my body and mind every day? I don't need to. Anyway... the journey continues. I feel strong now and hope to continue this well beyond the end of the month. Ideally for good.
I like where your head is at. Nice job! We'll have to reconnect in Feb to see how things are going and what the future looks like. I'm trying not to think too much about it at the moment and just enjoy the present moment in which I feel great!@@dpm1964
If it is a real issue in your life and you feel much better not drinking ask yourself why you want to drink at all. It has a lot of benefits not to drink. Better fysical condition, better sleep, less moodswings, more money saving, never thinking whether you can drive or not..I lost a lot of weight. I stopped feeling embarrassed among drinkers and without condemning I feel content and proud not drinking.
Good for you. That's very inspiring. Yes your wallet and your body both benefit tremendously from not drinking. It's tough to convince your mind though sometimes.
@@TheSAHDLife I quit smoking four years ago after 40 years being heavily addicted to nicotine. I never miss it. When you are done with it it's easy. I focus on the benefits instead of focussing on the loss. Both with tabacco as alcohol.
Help! Thank you for sharing your experience. I have been heavily drinking since I was 16 ish. I'm 34 now and I used to have a rule where I would never drink during the week and that would lead to binge drinking on the weekend. Fast forward to current and I no longer binge drink but I drink like you explained, working from home since covid got me drinking during the week. Anyways, I'm doing dry January and by week 2 I felt a million bucks, zero anxiety, just great. But after that 2nd week my anxiety has skyrocketed. I don't understand why and my sleep has been shit. I don't normally struggle with anxiety and I think I was using alcohol to cope with the baseline anxiety I didn't know I really had. Did you experience this and when does it get better, I'm on my 5th week now and energy levels shit lol.
Hey! It seems like you found these vids but I haven't seen you watched my latest one lol. In case you don't, the answer is yes, I have experience with it... and the answer is yes, I have a similar problem I'm working on my mental health and body health, and having things exciting to live and every day are what give me energy and hope. I'm not sure if you've read any self-help books but I highly recommend it.
What is bizarre to me, is I have a friend who we never have a social situation where alcohol is not present. When I gave up alcohol, I became uncomfortable to how we would socialize....it ultimately worked out but who it was strange to think you had a friend who you never got together unless even one glass of something was involved.
When you say it like that I realize I have that relationship with a NUMBER of people, like my brother! It's not bad once you remove it but you're right, it's interesting how when you're so used to it, when you remove it, it's noticeable. I had a hot tub with my neighbour last night, dad's and kids... we weren't drinking and you know what? I might have actually had MORE fun! We were jumping in the snow... I wasn't worried about spilling a drink, or if I brought enough drinks etc. I always think it'll be better with drinking involved... but it's not.
19 days now , 10 days in felt euphoric and exciting but now I feel really empty but it’s weird because I don’t actually want to drink , in a tricky situation at atm….
First off... nice job! I'm not sure if this is the first time you've taken a break from alcohol but it's a big deal! Anytime we make changes to our behaviour and habits it's going to have a trickle effect. Right now your mind is being weird because it doesn't know what to do. I'm right there with you. I think it's important to celebrate the wins every day. You're healthier, you're not poisoning yourself, you're saving money. Now you need to find things that spark joy and do them. Do the things that have been sitting on the back burner and for whatever reason you don't do because you'd rather drink. I made pickled cabbage the other day and it's dam tasty in my lunch wraps. I would have never did that but it was actually fun lol.
Your supermarket has a booze aisle!? In Canada we have to go to separate stores which is slightly inconvenient but we all do it anyway. Oof, if I could buy beer/wine at the supermarket ON SALE, lol, jeez, that would make it even tougher.
Yeah mostly cold turkey quit. This was my second time doing it though so it was a little bit easier I knew what I was getting myself into. I'm a lot better about going without it now. It's just once I have a couple now it keeps going. But I'm better at not even having that first one.
Yeah you know, this year I've really been able to manage GERD. I take Betaine when I need it, and I just eat less / chew more. That combined with not eating close to bed has really helped me. It took me a long time to heal since a lot of damage had been done but I am on top of it now which is nice. But yeah, days of drinking/bubbles and lots of eating will make it flare up. How you doing?
@@TheSAHDLife that’s good 👍🏽 been dealing with gerd / lpr for almost 3 months and it’s terrible. Trying to figure it out but I’m hesitating to try anything consistently so idk what could possibly work or not 😆 scared to try the HCL 🤷🏽♂️
@@TheSAHDLife yup the pills. Yeah you covered on a video I’ve watched it plenty times trying to convince myself to just try it..ha! I did the burp test a few times and it took me about 8-10 min to burp each time. I guess I’ll just go for it.
Yeah me too. The weekends are the toughest. We caved and bought some non-alcoholic Corona's and I gotta say, it was really good. Hit the spot and felt great after. Not sure if you have any but it might be worth it. Those ones out of all the ones I've tried (though I haven't tried Guiness yet) taste like an actual beer. It was refreshing. I felt great today and glad I didn't cave! 👊
@@TheSAHDLife been looking at those 0 alcohol beers and thinking of trying a few when it gets tough we're in the same position my wife loves beer as much as me and the weekends are hard we've got kids to,the worst part for me is I can't sleep I'm surviving of about 4 hours sleep every night.
@@GTFC_ I can't believe how much the fake beers have helped satisfy the cravings. Yeah hopefully you can find a good one, There's a lot of gross ones lol. Weird question but, do you read at night? If not, would you consider trying? It's been helping me a lot but I know sometimes it's hard to find a good one.
Alcohol is a tricky one for me. Without it I sleep so much better, lose fat that I can't seem to lose otherwise, also the few thousand a year that it costs me, also the downside to my health from drinking nightly. Then on the other side of the coin it's nice to drink a couple at night and get the relaxing buzz. I'd like to be able to just drink a couple of drinks about 3 times a month. Not sure if that's possible for me, as so far I just either stop or back to a couple every night.
I am RIGHT with you there man. Exactly. The more I take breaks like this the more I realize I might not need it as often as I have. BUT I know how slippery the slope is once it gets back into your life.
Yeah man you’re a lot smarter than me if you’ve already figured that out. Hard to get out of the trap though once you’re in it… most of my life I’ve been brainwashed into thinking it’s the cool thing I’m supposed to do to have fun.
@@TheSAHDLife 21 days to make or break a habit. May suck at the start but try working out. Ever hear of a runners high? It’s a point where some one who is running has there body releasing certain endorphins. There’s a whole science behind it but nonetheless, replace a bad addiction with a positive addiction. It can be done. It’s all in the mind! Once you’ve been defeated mentally you’ll never win physically so keep that in mind. Your stronger then you may think.
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Thanks for watching! Here's the follow up video (day 31) to this video: th-cam.com/video/A7oys6zITHY/w-d-xo.html
And in case you missed my original video where I stopped for the first time, check that out here: th-cam.com/video/VctVi8Sm0dQ/w-d-xo.html
How about you, are you thinking of cutting back or taking a break? And if you are drying out like me, how is it going?
I like what you said about getting time back, and about hanging on for the time when you can drink again and be happier. For a long time I stuck to three days off drinking per week, but I realised how much I was structuring my time round it, pleased to wake up on a drinking day, disappointed on a dry one. Now doing Dry January, there's no longer that distinction, and actually, every day is pretty good, except for a few odd moments of being stone-cold rather than joyfully sober, and a bit bored! Life's too short and too precious to be wishing it away. I don't know what I'll do at the end of the month, but I hope I can build on this.
Enjoying your videos, thanks!
Thanks for watching! It sounds like you are being really honest with yourself and that's awesome to hear. I'm still feeling good but have been thinking about alcohol quite a lot. My sleeps are great though and my book is getting really good lol. I'm finding joy in different ways, and I've been cooking and making things I wouldn't usually make. My brain is still thinking of ways I can have alcohol in the future without having it all the time (maybe it's fine to have a pint or two at the brewery but just don't buy any at home)... it's crazy that those thoughts are still going round and round. I guess a lifelong habit of drinking will do that to you!
I quit drinking right before Christmas. I can definitely relate to everything you have said and gone through, I'm a dad, too. Thank you, these videos have helped.
Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it. It's tough... I don't really have anyone in my daily life that I can talk about this stuff with. But I find with uploading videos, there's a lot of us out there and this allows us to connect. Tonights Friday and I feel good. That would USUALLY mean I would drink and feel like crap tomorrow. But that's not going to happen tonight which is kind of exciting. What to do instead!? What are you up to?
30 days alcohol-free is no small feat, especially with the honest ups and downs you've shared. Thanks for your openness about the journey, it's really relatable.
Really appreciate you saying, thank you! It never ceases to amaze me how good I feel when I'm not drinking. Last night I slept SO good and feel amazing today... BUT I can feel the thoughts already because it's Friday, telling me how I deserve a drink... Stupid brain!
Hope you're doing well on your journey 👊
@@TheSAHDLife Isn't it amazing that you love how you feel when you are not drinking yet thinking about drinking again. Alcohol is powerful and deceptive. i have the same exact thoughts and no I can not moderate from past experiences yet wondering what i will do Feb 1... I should probably just quit forever.
@@mjuberian it's insane. I don't even believe the power it has... wild. I'm right there with you with those thoughts. My brain keeps trying to figure out how I can have my cake without it running my life. Not sure I can.
@@TheSAHDLife I think we both know we can't but I am just not sure i want to quit forever. Thinking if I promised myself to never drink by myself that would fix 90% of my issue but that is probably not realistic. We shall see. Just keep telling yourself that for right now you are not drinking.
Nice to know others get it and I'm not alone 👊
After the holidays, I'm on dry January and have completed over two weeks so far. I'm not limiting the break to 30 days though but I'm in no way declaring I'm done with drinking forever. I'm just using this time to clean out my mind, body and soul as well as learn to do more social activities alcohol free. Great commentary.
Good for you. I'm feeling great but still quite tired. I guess the time of year doesn't help. Yeah I'm of a similar mindset. It's hard to reprogram the mind to not think about alcohol because I'm still thinking about it quite a bit but I'm getting a lot of other things done which is great. Nice job👊
You've got this Evan, im 3 weeks sober, hard at times but worth it 🎉🎉
Nice job Evan! 👊🤣 I slept SO good last night and feel great today. It's so cold outside as we have a cold snap but jeez, it's so energizing. I just want to do everything! Hope you're having a good one too.
@@TheSAHDLife glad to hear it my man
I'm at 3 weeks too. Determent to make it through 2024! 😁
@Olm9 nicely done! How you feeling? Have you got bad cravings? Wifey and I picked up a flat of non-alcoholic Coronas from Costco... We did a bunch of work around the house today where we would usually have a beer afterwards and we had one of those with some lime in it. It was awesome! Honestly didn't even miss alcohol at all... Now that being said I still do have cravings for a big old pint of IPA but still once I get through it I'm always glad. I don't know how I drank so much liquids before... My stomach gets so full now even from like one beer
@@TheSAHDLife I do have cravings. A few glases of wine or beers in the evening has been something I've been looking forward to when I come home from work and start making dinner. The taste - the relaxing feeling. And now there is some kind of restlessness at that very time of day, that I need to come past. On weekdays and especially friday aftenoon. I won't feel that I have acomplished anything before I reach that goal.
I'm a bricky and after a hot summerdays work it's impossibel not to be quite dehydrated - but it's also the perfect time for a cold one. Nothing tastes better. But it goes STRAIT to my head and I don't even feel it's safe to drive. So I started having a cold non-alcoholic beer instead (we have quite a variarity in Denmark, where I'm from) a few years ago. And it's fine - not being dizzy and wanting to take a nap as soon as I get home is difinitely a good thing. Maybe I should transfer that to my evening 'rutine'. But not untill I have managed to REALLY shake the restlessness and anticipation of alcohol in evening. That must come first. That's the goal. I'll keep you posted 😁 Godd luck on your sober journey, mate 🤞
doing dry january too! your previous video on quitting for the 30 days which turned into 60 really helped motivate to make the choice to do this month sober. Looking forward to seeing how it continues to go for you this month! The SLEEP is absolutely AMAZING for me starting about 3 days ago. Its like I forgot how impactful true deep restful sleep is.,
Awesome to hear! I slept like a champ last night and feel so good today. So good! Glad to hear you too are enjoying the sleep and look forward to chatting more with you about it's going over the month! Keep me updated 👊
Congrats man. I am 25 and never had alcohol but I'm sure it must be very difficult to quit. Great job and keep going!
Thanks! Yeah you know, whether it's alcohol, caffeine, junk food, smoking, whatever... we've all got those things in our lives that might not be good for use but we do almost on auto-pilot. I'm sure you have your own struggles and that's why you can appreciate anyone trying to better themselves. Appreciate the support 👊
@@TheSAHDLifeyeah for sure. I remember reading somewhere that it's easier to avoid something 100% than 99%.
I like that. Thanks for the share 👊@@akj3344
Do yourself a favor and don't try it, honestly! It's a disgusting poison at the end of the day.
Bingo - that feeling that “you’re going to feel better after that next one” is a key observation. Being able to accept how you feel each day - “going with the flow” without being really agitated about it - is the key. We don’t have to be happy all the time. Good video - a lot of good thoughts and observations. Keep doing the videos and sharing the experience - your helping others will help you in return! 👍🏼
Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. I've fallen a bit into the trap lately as summer is tough for me (kids off, no time to work on the channel) but messages like yours really help remind me of what's going on. It's crazy that I feel SO good when I'm not drinking yet I still choose to drink.
How are you doing?
@@TheSAHDLifeAs long as you’re aware of yourself; observing what you’re doing and asking yourself “why am I doing what I’m doing now?” - you’re allowing yourself to make choices without judgement. That’s what I’m working on. Trying to really see the “why” in my choices and not beating myself up because of them. Being present with my choices so that I know the choices I’m making won’t be regretted looking back on them in the future. The fact that you’re asking yourself the questions and not just living on autopilot is how the answers (and the changes you may want) will come. Thanks for sharing your journey -
Having been on and off the same journey, it’s so refreshing to hear all this from an honest real life perspective rather than some super motivated freak with no apparent other commitments in their life! Thanks.
Haha thanks. Yeah I wanted to share some real honest thoughts on it and the why's behind it. Each time I stop like this I change just a little bit. I still have some alcohol in my life but I just can't handle it anymore. Last night I had 2.5 glasses of white wine which isn't a crazy amount for me, and I was up at 3am with a pounding headache. It's just not worth it.
I was diagnosed with epilepsy 2 years ago and recently have been trying to stop alcohol completely, mainly because it lowers seizure thresh hold, 4 months seizure free since slowing my alcohol intake , I am at 2 weeks with no alcohol now and feeling great. We have the potential to fix numerous problems in our selves but don’t take the hard steps we need too to make our heath better.
That's awesome to hear! Nice job. Yeah you're right, our bodies are pretty nuts... but if we poison them so often we make it tough for them to heal efficiently, and that only gets worse as we age. You have a goal or are you just trying to generally cut down?
@@TheSAHDLifeI’m thinking I want to make it Atleast 2 months clear of any drinks and see how my health is doing. Mainly I just know something needs to change or I’m not going to !
Im 6 month off! Feeling much better! Alcohol free beer helped for a few months, now im not even drinking those. Keep motivated
Thanks! And nice job! I'm not a huge fan of the non-alcoholic beer but you're right, I am having some strong cravings and could probably use one right about now just to get through them. Good idea. What are you doing on the weekends to stay busy now? I'm always just curious what others are doing. I'm reading more, watching shows again, and checking stuff off the list for house chores!
Hey man I appreciate your willingness to share. One observation I have is that it seems you have FOMO, or fear of missing out when it comes to drinking. The benefits multiply the longer you go. I would suggest 90 days and then reevaluate. Alcohol is unnecessary to have a great time. Love that you're hiking in this video. It's my favorite sober activity. Keep pushing brother.
Thanks for the message dude, I appreciate it! And yeah I loovveee hiking. It's my happy place for sure. Can't wait to push hard and further.
And yeah I feel great when I'm not drinking but definitely think about it a lot. We've had snow this week which is beautiful, but I definitely have it linked to drinking in my head haha. A lifetime of, oh we're snowed in, get a case of beer! But I'm doing fine without it. Feels good 👊
That’s nice seeing REAL people on TH-cam. Let’s have a glass for that occasion (Kidding 😂).
Keep uploading great content mate 💪🏻
Hey thanks man! Really appreciate it 👊 And I know right? Part of me wants a giant beer SO bad but I'm also starting to feel so fricking good. I had a great sleep and am feeling like a boss today.
Doing dry january for the first time. Your video from last year was so honest and so true. I think of it often as I get through this month. You are dead on for every point. Thank you for being so candid! Very brave putting it out there. Look forward to seeing your progress.....Thanks so much
Really appreciate the support, thank you! I'm glad you found the videos and they have inspired you. Comments like yours inspire me. I'm not going to lie I've been thinking about drinking a lot this last day or so... just, it's beautiful weather it's Fri/Sat and I feel great... the habit is strong! But once I get through those cravings and feel great right when I wake up... what a nice way to live. How are you doing?!
I started Dry January on the 1st, and made it two weeks. I drank a bit over this weekend and felt terrible afterward. Starting over today for the rest of the month, and maybe push into February :) Thanks for the inspiration!
Good for you! It's tough to do but just being mindful of it is a big step. It's not just about the month... it's about the lifetime. And if you are getting a grip of it now you will be in a good place moving forward.
Glad you found the video and feel free to chat any time! 👊
Doing a dry January too feeling great now I will move on to February and doing my keto diet Good luck on your journey to quitting alcohol
You are doing keto too! How is that going for you? I love that lifestyle and way of eating but my wife does not. I love how my hunger almost disappears on keto.
@@TheSAHDLife I’ve done keto for two years now and I lost 60 pounds and hubby lost 50 pounds I just switched hubby to carnivore in January to break his Plato he only has 15 pounds to go he enjoying his meat and we save on groceries
@tinacox9526 that's awesome! Are you buying any special meat or just at the local store or Costco? Are you preparing your meat anyway special? And how many meals are you eating in a day? Sorry for the 20 questions I'm just always curious how people approach it!
@@TheSAHDLife I watch Ken Berry video on you tube and he says to eat meat what you can afford. It doesn’t have to be grass fed yes I buy meat at Costco and my local grocery store with sales I buy a lot ground beef and fish eggs bacon polish sausage and fix the beef all different ways. At my grocery store I found a chuck steak and air fryer it was so tender and delicious. I him pork chops chuck roast and chicken thighs. It’s 10 pm here nice talking to you Tina
Dude you are exactly like me! I relate so much. Good video!
Glad you found the video, hope you got through the weekend all right! This weekend was a little tough for me cravings-wise. We ended up getting some non-alcoholic Coronas and I got to say... It was dam good! Maybe the best non alcoholic beer I've tasted? I mean I've mostly only tried pale ales and ipas... Still feeling good otherwise though. Thanks for the comment 👊
2 weeks in (I am going through to 1 April). I find I get the odd thought that "ambushes" me about having a drink, especially as I'm feeling a lot better. Weekends are the worst, but waking up fresh is SO good. And no "Hanxiety" either.
Yeah exactly. I'm right there with you. The weekends are tough. I don't usually like non-alcoholic bevies but we caved and got some and... it's really helping! Usually we try IPA's or Pale ales, but we just got some fake Coronas at Costco and dam! It's satisfying. I hear the fake Guinness is good too.
It's weird planning a Fri/Sat night without drinking. I end the night reading lol... which I love but am not used to. Wake up wanting to kick some butt in the day though. That's nice.
Thank you so much for this video. It really helps keep me motivated while I am trying to make it 100 days with alcohol.
Glad you found it! Reading comments like yours help me out too so I appreciate it. Did you start Jan 1? How's it going?
Thanks again for a good video. I enjoyed it it helps me with my hangover that I am experiencing right now bringing something positive thank you so much.
We are on vacation and I am right there with you. Ugh. I hate feeling like this... I am better now than I was before but sometimes still get carried away. It's fun but never worth it. My mind gets trapped in dark places despite being in a nice place with my family. Let's get through this and come out a little stronger on the other side 👊
I have found myself enjoying alcohol less and less, after a decidedly unhealthy festive period and new year celebrations I've made a decision to cut out alcohol near enough completely and will only drink in a social situation (seldom happens when having kids, and even more seldom as I am usually designated driver anyway!) or a celebration such as wedding anniversary or birthday. Sure I could just cut it out completely, and I wouldn't find that difficult at all, but I think in a celebratory situation it's fine. We are 12 days into the new year and I do feel more alert, getting better sleep and feeling less tired during the day. Enjoying your videos, keep on keeping on. 👍
Same!
Thanks for the comment! And I'm right there with you. Though I have this part of my brain that is still programmed to think that drinking makes everything more fun... It's hard to unlink! I think like you said, if you're out having fun, and everyone has s drink, then have a drink! I'm not 100% sure I can do that and keep it separated from never drinking at home but I am getting better at it the older I get.
@@TheSAHDLife I hear ya, ironically I had one of those moments tonight where I was busy cooking dinner and would normally have a beer, next moment the wife comes out to grab a beer (solidarity much!) and swans off back to the lounge! It's those moments where I think 'well they are having fun why not'. I checked myself though, in fact I found the smell of the beer oddly disgusting!
Day 3 here my man, needed this!!!! 13 days the furthest i've gone in over 15 years. All the best from the UK
Good for you my dude! Yeah the brain tries to trick us all day long, it's crazy. Do yourself a favour and read the book (or listen to the audiobook) by Allen Carr I mentioned in the video/description. You don't have to quit for good but he just gives some tools to handle cravings that will last you the rest of your life. Worth!
@@TheSAHDLife Legend!!! Thanks so much mate, much appreciated :) purchasing now!
Amazing! Keep me posted brother. If you ever need to chat or bounce anything I'm around.
Alcohol is insidious. Everytime I quit I love how much I sleep even though the first week I pee like there is no tomorrow. I guess that's from the water retention. I plan on quitting once and for all this year.
Good word! Haha and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one peeing all the time even though I'm NOT drinking. And you're thinking about quitting for good?! That's awesome. It sure would feel good to commit to it. Every single comment I've read from someone who's quit has been super positive. I've never seen ONE person who quit quit and was unhappy with that choice.
You’ve pretty much just described my past 11/12 days.
Let’s keep up the good work
Thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment! Had quite a few cravings this weekend but I got through it and feel great about that. Looking forward to crushing this week! Nice job👊
@@TheSAHDLife I’ve subscribed now and look forward to more content 👍
@@blakeybobby Glad to have ya! Just fyi I'm not a channel that focuses on sobriety or anything but every once and awhile I like to check myself and share what I learn along the way. I'm a bit over the map with the content I create but it allows me to be passionate and enthusiastic about each video I make. See ya in the comments hopefully! 👊
I stumbled upon my decision to dry january, or who knows how long I keep it going - but I watched your video from last year during the early part of this month - great commentary on how you felt. Interesting to hear your attitude on how you fell off, but are going at it again. It seems you're very reflective and intune with how much better you feel, yet the "pull" still got you last year. Shows how powerful alcohol is, but also routines and habits. 15 days in, I'm truly blown away how much better I feel - mental clarity is amazing. I'll take the mental clarity/mood stabilization, over the "buzz" any day. Easy for me to say now but I'm just taking it one day at a time. If I slip in the future, after January, I won't be hard on myself, but I need to remember how I feel in this state and strive for that.
Yeah good call. I think the more we do things like take breaks, the easier it is. For example I think water fasting is great... but when you've never done it before, a 24 hour water fast... you feel like you're going to die, haha. I did a couple of them on my own, then my wife joined me... and it was so easy for me because I knew what to expect. It was very difficult for her. I think coming off alcohol is similar. Almost (and this is sad) every memory I have in my adult life has alcohol in it. All the vacations we took... all the times we went out... hanging out with friends... it's always there. So a life without it seems empty. That's definitely the addiction and lifelong brainwashing but it's hard to shed. It'll be a lifelong battle but being aware and like you said, taking it day by day is the key. My mental clarity isn't quite where I'd like it to be yet but it's on its way. I'm in control throughout the day and I love it. Thanks for the message 👊
Great video. I'm with ya, man!
Nice! Good for you. I'm feeling pretty good. The weekends are tough but now that I've been through a couple it's not as bad. Still thinking about going out for beers though, not going to lie! The mind is the worst part!
It's been a vicious cycle for me. I find your truthfulness quite refreshing and spot on. Thank you for sharing!!
As a professional musician and roadie for over half my life, I’ve certainly developed a deep affinity and appreciation for the sauce. Almost every extreme high and low has involved alcohol. It was never really an “issue” of worrisome magnitude, but the thing that got me thinking I should stop is that after awhile, it fries your serotonin receptors so much that it tricks you into thinking you can’t have a good time WITHOUT alcohol. I was sitting in gorgeous 75 degree weather with my family over this past Christmas, drink in hand conversing and having a wonderful holiday vacation and realized, “wow, I’m understanding that I love this, but I’m not feeling how much I love this. The serotonin pump is absolutely broken”. Through the entire trip, I felt like I couldn’t truly enjoy myself. It was enough for me to think about reducing my intake to only special occasions during the year. So far it’s been 2 weeks and I feel great. Im finally starting to get those little bumps of excitement again that I felt like I had been missing.
Good luck on your journey and I’ll be looking forward to seeing more videos!
Thanks for the great comment! Appreciate you taking the time to share.
I think it's really interesting you said that not only your extremes highs involved alcohol but so did your lows... and to me, the highs aren't worth the lows. Well, not anymore. It's weird because I don't like to gamble. The fear of losing money is stronger than the desire to gain money. But with alcohol, that was never true for me.
I think like you said, once we stop poisoning ourselves all the little things in life just spark more joy than they do when we're on the sauce.
Nice video! I'm on day 9. Thanks for sharing your thoghts...feel the same good luck
Nice job! Glad you found the video. You getting some good sleeps yet?
Thank you for your honest post. I'm doing dry Jan again this year, and have done so for the last 5 yrs. My resting heart rate at night has decreased by about 10 beats/min compared to nights when I drank. That's substantial! Going to do Feb as well. Overall the biggest impact, in addition to the decrease in my resting heart rate, is that feeling of getting up in the morning with no headache and fatigue.
I'm not sure what I will do post-February, but I know that my ritual of drinking a bottle of wine each Friday, Sat and Sunday (plus a few cheeky IPAs) with my wife has to stop. It's just become a bad habit that I need to shake.
That's really interesting about the heart rate. And I totally hear you about getting up in the morning with no fatigue or headache. Definitely sounds very similar to me with the wine and IPA hehe. This weekend was pretty tough with the cravings but we ended up getting some Coronas today and they're actually really good. I've tried a bunch of non-alcoholic ipas and pale ales over the years but a cold fake Corona was pretty damn refreshing and scratched the itch!
@@TheSAHDLife Glad you found something non-alcoholic that you enjoy! I got some Guinness 0 which is pretty enjoyable. Not the same as the regular, but close! With regards to the heart rate, we all know that alcohol is a toxin, and in higher amounts, it really impacts the heart. If you wear a Fitbit or Apple watch, it's easy to track the effect during your sleep.
On another note, I'm going to extend my dry spell to the end of February this year! Wish me luck :)
Thanks for doing this video. My buddy and I are doing dry January. I can relate a lot to what your saying and experiencing, which means... even though in most arenas I tend to be a fairly disciplined person... that I can't discount the reality that there are negative effects to regular drinking. I only started in my early 40's, but that was 20 years ago, and I'm completely functional, but again, much of what you say I can see in myself, so...
Also learned some additional things from other vids, and the clear message to me is that it's worth "experimenting" with some total sobriety. There are some physical/mental changes in my life that may not be causational, and it's easy to chalk them up to "getting older", but these "changes" pop up as common themes in others like you sharing their experience. And speaking of which, you entering into this ENABLES you to have the motivation to share your story, so in your own life you are taking part in "making the world a better place", a clear positive feedback loop!
Great comment, thanks for the time! I completely agree and like what you said about changes in life which a lot of people chalk up to getting older. I think it's easy to say that which helps justify behaviour. It's hard to be honest with ourselves but it sounds like you are on the right track to optimizing joy in life. Allen Carrs book talks about the mind of a non-drinker and how it compares to those of us who drink. I still find myself looking forward to having a pint at a brewery... I'm sure non-drinkers don't have those thoughts. I have to say this is a very supportive community. It's so great there's a lot of people wanting to help each other get through it since we're all in it together!
Inspiring & Fresh! Thanks. Thumps up & subscribed!
Glad you found the video! Thanks for the comment and the support. Really appreciate it 👊
Thanks for the really honest take. I’m going through it too but realize that alcohol just does not serve me. 🇨🇦
Thanks for watching! Yeah it's crazy how the older I get the worse it makes me feel. To be honest, the thought of a big glass of silky red wine makes my mouth water a little... though I'm not sure if it's just habit... brainwashing... or what... but then every time I have that, I sleep like crap and get a headache. So why the heck do I even want it? Good for you, hang in there 👊
I made the commitment 12/26/2023, since then I’ve lost 8 lbs, can handle stress a lot more, have more energy and wake up at 530 in the morning for cardio /exercise. 17 days in and I know I at least want 30 but as of now I don’t feel like I want to return to alcohol what so ever, the benefits sober have been amazing
That'a amazing. Good job 👊 I'm a few days behind you and, well to be honest I thought about drinking quite a lot yesterday, but I'm proud I didn't and felt great this morning. Keep me posted with how things are going if you remember in a week or so!
@@TheSAHDLife sure will, one of the biggest things that helps me is tea every night. I fill my electric kettle up in the afternoon with water and set my tea bags to the side so it keeps me on track… wifey still drinks occasionally has two bottles of wine in the fridge but I stay committed to the tea especially knowing every morning I am weighing myself and would like to see progress some sort of progress
Nice! I started drinking tea once I initially stopped for 30 days and it stuck! Do you have any good ones to suggest or just stick to the basics? @@ShadowStyle369
@@TheSAHDLife 21 days for me today 9 more to go, sorry i missed your reply for some reason. For me i keep a variety of teas and i have a cup every night, its also my choice for caffiene in the mornings on weekdays but on the weekends i treat myself to coffee. My go to tea at night is from the brand yogi its kava tea it does well at relaxing me i would say do your research on it as kava is a depressant like alcohol but it doesnt leave me with any of the after affects of alcohol etc
No worries and thanks for letting me know. Appreciate it 👊@@ShadowStyle369
This Sunday, 4 weeks sober! Focused on getting healthy by eating better and exercising.... Sparkling water curves my alcohol cravings.
That's fantastic. Nice job! Have you gone that long before? How you feeling?
Well done, mate. Keep on the right path and the month will be over before you know it. Everything you mention I can relate too. I used to homebrew 10-20 times a year, always having four 5 gallon (19litre here in 🇦🇺) kegs on the go… finally woke up to myself after 25 years + drinking, including many binge sessions, on my 11 year old sons birthday end of April last year and made a promise to myself to apply the brakes. I initially went 3-4 weeks sober, had a few beers and only a few, then rinsed and repeated. As time has gone by I’ve really come to enjoy the many benefits of being sober, now 6 months sober in fact. I kinda transitioned to sober curious… and that included several bdays, holidays and Christmas / New Year.
I did dry August in 2021, and really struggled… always craving a beer (only drink beer). This time was different, something changed within me that gave alcohol the flick. The Andrew Huberman podcast on Alcohol had a profound effect on my mind. Best thing I ever did was stop, haven’t heard anyone ever say they wish they never stopped drinking 😀
Thanks for the great comment man. It sounds like you totally changed things around. Inspiring! What are some of the benefits you've noticed since giving alcohol the flick? 😄 I'm feeling good, though my brain has still been a little foggier than I expected at this point. Getting a few cravings on the weekends but going strong!
Hey mate, the benefits I’ve found most others report, but some take longer to appear than others and after a while it becomes your new normal. Friday and Saturday nights just become normal without a glass of booze in your hand. You find other ways to give your brain the dopamine hit it wants from better, healthier, sources.
1. Huge improvement in sleep, dream every night
2. Don’t need as much time to sleep as the quality of sleep is so much better
3. Frequently wake naturally within an hour of my alarm
4. Improved skin health, particularly around my face
5. Eating so much healthier in general, but still have my fair share of junk food.
6. Consistently exercising and motivated to do so. I road cycle and recognised alcohol was tainting my gains
7. Dropped a stack (very noticeable) of body fat, but stayed roughly the same weight due to increased leg muscle mass from riding gains
8. Improved mood and more relaxed
9. Being much more present for my kids and wife
9. Pushed myself to develop confidence to hold good conversations without the need for alcohol courage
10. Almost 2 years ago work was particularly stressful and compounded with chronic alcohol intake, note the past 5 years I’d only really drink at weekends but the toll of drinking for 25 years compounded, I was getting a lot of chest palpitations. Had a 24-hour halter monitor that recorded over 1900 ectopic heartbeats. The day I wore the monitor I actually didn’t feel any, so was shocked at the result. I now hardly feel any palpitations at all and suspect they’re 95% gone. Work got less stressful and alcohol removed.
11. On note 10, in recent years I’d wake during the night immediately after a binge session with my heart racing out of my chest. The last binge session I had was 6 months ago, and the big reason I’m now 6 months sober. I woke twice with a racing heart and knew then how much damage the booze was doing to my heart… was an easy decision to switch it off.
12. Blood pressure has dropped, I actually suffer a lot with low blood pressure now 😮
13. Resting heart rate has always been pretty good, but this has improved a lot too. I’ve noticed when exercising that I’m able to reach higher heart rates than before. Whilst drinking, I’d always max out around late 160 beats per minute. I’m now reaching mid 170s with ease and can sustain it.
14. I feel like and setting a much better example and being a better role model to my kids
15. There is no better feeling than waking up clear headed and wanting to tackle the day… things that I’d leave for another day I’m motivated to do in the present.
I’ve listened to many TH-cam and podcasts on the subject and something they report that I’ve found firsthand, is people, often your closest of friends and family, assume you’ve stopped drinking because you’re an alcoholic… it’s very frustrating that society deems you this way if you choose not to consume the worlds most problematic substance. The toll on emergency services, people’s lives and society as a whole is immense from alcohol abuse, and it’s getting worse. I’m never going to tell others not to drink, it’s my own choice, but I can see alcohol for what it really is now, nothing more than an evil poison that makes fat cats rich.
Friends and family are now accepting of my abstinence, and I’ve noticed they too don’t drink as much as they would when we catch-up.
Best of luck on your journey and no judgement whatsoever if you go back to the booze after dry January. It’s certainly been a long transition and took many stars to align for me to join the dots.
… almost forgot, gut Health improved like you would not believe. Always had several daily “loose” trips to the bathroom, but now only once or twice a day and without being too graphic it looks like it’s meant to now… and it generally doesn’t smell bad either 😜
I also haven’t proclaimed to myself or others that I’m never drinking again as “never” is a pretty big statement and failure is often glittered with a sense of guilt and self-disappointment. I maintain that I’m just not drinking today and probably not going to drink tomorrow. Will I never drink ever again, probably not to be honest but I’m also on a journey that sees no benefit in doing so either… if I do, it’ll be very small quantities. Prior to my 6 month sober journey I was 6 weeks sober before having the unplanned binge session with a good mate. We’re big craft beer enthusiasts and I remember during the evening being able to really taste the alcohol, which I’ve never noticed much before, and thinking to myself that I wasn’t really enjoying the flavour or experience… since then, I’ve had zero cravings for another drink so maybe my mind has become stronger than the pull of alcohol.
… how could I forget about the huge reduction in anxiety too, probably because almost all of it has gone and it’s now my new normal to not feel anxious anymore… the list goes on and on to the many benefits of not drinking alcohol. If you could put all the benefits into an magic pill, everyone would take it… but not everyone will stop drinking alcohol… that in itself shows just how addictive the substance is to the brain.
Wow what a great and thoughtful comment. Thanks for that. You're right... it has an insane impact on peoples lives and to society. It's almost crazy that it's legal and so easily available.
Great video !
Aw thanks! Really appreciate the support 👊 Hope you are doing well on your journey.
Feel like we're on same path. Did a dry jan/feb last year, fell back into habits. Dry jan again this year, seems easier but cravings are stronger if that makes sense. Also, last year and again this year had weird skin blemish and eye sties appear!? I get it lol. Late 30s. Let's get it bro! (Down 6lbs since 12/31) 😊
6lbs already!? Haha nice! Yeah man this last day or two I've had some strong cravings... I guess that's expected since I'm so used to drinking on Fri/Sat. I don't usually like non-alcoholic beers but maybe they'd be enough to trick the ol' brain. Do you drink 'em?
Nice job! 👊 How's the sleeps? What are you doing instead?
Heh, best of luck! I'm with you; Day 12 today. I feel great! Problem though: going away tomorrow for my wife's birthday to a nice resort. That's the only thing we have going on in January. I bought a six pack of Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beer Hazy IPA for the trip. They make a variety of N/A's and they actually taste great and will fool your brain. (At least the first two). I've tried most of the N/A's out there and they are the best. You'll do fine. Hang in there. And thanks for the shoulder pain video. I've been doing the hanging a couple times a day, and my shoulder feels great!
Good call on the Athletic. We do have those here and I think the Hazy IPA would be my choice too.
Ohh I'm jealous about the resort. That sounds amazing. We need that soon. Luckily we live near some amazing ones so might have to follow your lead and book one soon.
Have a great time and good luck! And that's amazing about your shoulder. That's what I love to hear! 👊
Hey , I am day 19. Right before new years.
My story is the same as many but I am 54.
Many beers and whiskey on weekends and 3 days a week.
You are just a couple days behind me
I just listened to the whole thing. All I can say is that I am changing my mind to never drinking again keeping the idea out of managing it and coming back to it.
There is a song called Demon Alcohol by Ozzy
It’s so true
Hey good for you! Hope it's been going well... are you noticing any changes without having any drinks? Have you ever quit for a long period of time before? And just listening now... thanks for the share 👊
@@TheSAHDLife I made it a year and a half once before. That was 7 years ago. Sleep is great now. The thought of not drinking is different. This time I want to fully stop. Before I had a life event where I needed to be clear
Well good for you. What are you going to do with your clear head and extra time? Got any fun hobbies to dust off / hone?@@4thMaster
The funny thing when you stop drinking or smoking how many people tell you they feel like they should quit this too. It is more a general problem than most people admit.
That's a good point. It's like they know they should be stopping but they can't... more like they won't change their behaviour.
great video, alcohol eats up so much time, it means I do less of the fun things in my life. I’m doing less of it now.
I pickled cabbage today! Hahaha, something I've kind of always wanted to do but never would have done before as I probably would have usually had a beer instead. It's delicious and was really fun!
You're so talented, Evan! You can play the drums.
Thanks Kathie! Yes I was in a band in my youth so it always sparks joy whenever I get to play lol
Do you play any musical instruments? I like rhythm... I like to move and dance! So drumming was perfect for me.
So I've done 13 night of no drinking. I've bought an expensive leather bound, lined, thick notebook to keep as a health/well-being journal to help. Re-joined gym, eating all the right foods. My craving can come on strong, but if I resist, 15 to 20 mins it passes and I find my resolve returns. I hope the cravings lessen over time. Also bought some 0.00 gin and I find adding good tonic and lime is nearly the same as alcohol version...so that I hope will help ween me off. I know given my addictive personality I'd end up nightly again. So I am working hard to prevent that. p.s. thanks for the book in your clip, I'm going to go buy the first in the red rising series today :)
I'm so glad you noticed the book :) that's awesome. Red Rising was awesome! You'll l have to let me know what you think once you get into it!
And yeah I'm right there with you... it's funny, the day of and after this video have been my strongest cravings days. I don't usually enjoy non-alcoholic stuff but I might need some for now to get through it. Yes it goes away, but it takes time. We're battling a lifetime of addiction and habit here... those two things are insanely powerful. Hang in there and enjoy the benefits of your eating and exercise (and sleep!). Waking up without a headache on Sunday feels pretty good though eh?
My story. I realized that no amount of alcohol is good for you. I had made a decision that 1-2 drinks per week was an acceptable amount to drink. I found that I was slipping to 3-4 per week, having that 2nd glass of wine on a Wednesday, etc. I realized I couldn't control it and keep to my 1-2 drink goal. Granted, my volume was below what most people would call a problem. But the fact that I repeatedly missed my goal was a problem. So, on 10/31 last year I decided to cut WAY back. Only a special occasion drink. (this kept me from thinking, I'm quitting forever!)
Think birthday, New Years, only a few times a year. I had one cocktail on New Years, and it wasn't like, "Oh I missed you!". It was ok. And I didn't feel great afterwards.
Also, I'm aware that alcohol increases your chances of getting cancer. I lost my dad to cancer when he was 72. I'm almost 60. I want to stack the odds in my favor. Quitting alcohol just makes sense.
Lastly, no one else in my family drinks, which I've always been grateful for. Think of your daughters, when they turn 21. How will you feel if they decide to drink alcohol? Even though I was a drinker, I admit I wouldn't have wanted my kids to.
Good luck with the 30 days - consider making it a longer-term commitment.
Great comment! Thanks for taking the time. I appreciate it.
And you're right... It's interesting how so many of us overlook the health risks. I lost my father too much earlier than I should have because of his excessive drinking.
Thank you for the support. It means a lot 👊
i quit for 40 days or so thinking it would help with my anxiety but so far its making it worse I would say honestly.. hopefully it will get better soon. I am not really like you alcohol always helped me calm my mind and relax more.
Oh I hear you... I enjoy and use alcohol for relaxing as well. It's the days AFTER using alcohol that I think it worsens me. Either way, anxiety needs to be dealt with on it's own. Have you read any books, listened to any podcasts, or spoken with anyone to help you deal with yours?
After seeing your other video (1yr. ago) I was confused why you were trying another 30+ day trial. Despite the happiness and many gains, that wasn't enough to keep you going? This video helped me understand better as to what you're going through! Sadly it sounds like my scenario. I'm older than you and I still think I can put a "Handle on my Intake" It doesn't work! Best wishes!
Hey thanks for the comment. Yeah the struggle is real eh? With some people it's sugar... other it's gambling... smoking.. we all have our thing. Those things are easy for me, but drinking? Jeez. It's Feb 2nd and I'm still not really interested in having any. I'm not sure how the future will go but boy, not thinking about it really is nice. Will my brain really break if I have some? It will won't it. heh.
Appreciate the comment. Thanks for the support. 👊
After Saturday night binges for years I’m doing dry January and finding it surprisingly easy. Sugar on the other hand is proving more problematic
Oh yeah for me those first couple weeks my sugar cravings went through the ROOF once I stopped drinking! That has stabilized though. That's great you've been able to get through the weekends though! That's a big accomplishment.
Everything you're feeling is completely normal. Even though your body will eliminate all of the alcohol in your system in ~72 hours, it takes much longer for the brain chemistry to normalize to where you can start experiencing "natural highs". The timeline for that varies, but it's usually around 3 - 6 months.
You're absolutely right about better digestion when not drinking. As soon as blood alcohol reaches a certain level the liver shuts down all other task to detoxify your system, and that affects digestion. Fun fact: did you know "intoxicated" literally means poisoned? If I may make a suggestion, don't quit for a month, let alone forever. Just quit for a day at a time, which is very doable. I stole that from a well known organization. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.
Good comment thanks for sharing! And I think that's good advice. Wife and I were just talking about our future alcohol consumption and, it almost seems fruitless to worry about situations we can't control NOW.
@@TheSAHDLife Exactly!
Today is 7 days for me. I'm looking forward to having no anxiety and depression
Nice job! Not sure if you caught my more recent video, my 31 days without booze one but it might be worth a watch for you. I feel great however there are areas I don't feel as good as I expected, and I know why. I'll be curious if you have the same issue.
I can relate to the sweet tooth returning! I’ve stopped drinking for a little over a week and now I get a big ol’ sweet tooth at night(when I usually drink lol). I usually have a bowl of cereal and fall asleep lol
Right?! I have found non-alcohol beer does scratch the itch nicely but I have noticed how sweet it is. The cravings eventually go away but hey, a little sugar probably isn't as bad as alcohol so that's fine for getting through it. Good for you 👊
sober is my new drug!
Nice man! Yeah I'm getting so much done it's awesome. I'm chewing through books too it's fun. I'm on book two of the Red Rising series. They're rad!
Great video I need to try this! Btw how did you start getting so many views? Your videos used to get lower view counts but the now are taking off!
Thanks man! Yeah it's definitely worth a try. Worst case scenario you can have a beer at the end! It's not forever.
And yeah, the channels growing right?! It's awesome. Having lots of fun with it. Appreciate the support. How are things going with your channel?! What camera are you using for your vids?
@@TheSAHDLife Mostly using a GoPro 8. Also have a Canon R100 I am experimenting with but the GoPro is so easy and works well. My views are declining but I have trouble putting out regular content.
@@gregs_garage Yeah I hear you man. It's nice to have gear that is easy to use. Yeah the TH-cam game is tricky... you think it'll always go up but sometimes you'll have a good month then views never quite get back to that like you hope they would. I imagine you've had some good months along the way!
I like to drink about 6-8 beers a week. I quit for 30 days and felt nothing, except, when I had my next beer I just thought "damn I should have had this 30 days ago". Maybe I am not "trapped" (yet). I actually enjoy having a beer or two while doing those projects ha.
Yeah hey man you do you right? If you feel like it's not a problem in your life and brings you joy, I don't see the problem. It's when you can't do those projects WITHOUT alcohol that maybe you're deeper in the trap than you thought and it might be time to take a break. The health and monetary benefits are always nice at the very least too.
Thanks.
Thanks for watching 👊
You doing Dry Jan or just curious?
I quit drinking december 2022, (also I was doing coke almost every day for 4 months) and drinking regullarly since I was 12. Now Im 36. I've had some serious panic attacks these year and regular anxiety almost everyday. Now Im getting better. I was 8 months alone since I found myself preapred to meet friends. Sometimes I want to drink very bad. But finally I feel so much better and I feel I am more in control. Otherwise I feel sometimes like a bomb that can explode, fear for more anxiety attacks keeps me sober I think bc I know if I drink is gonna get worse at the end.
Good for you man! I know that fear and anxiety you speak of, it's nasty. Hopefully you are feeling (and sleeping) better. I read a book awhile back that changed how I think and I reviewed it on my channel. In case you are curious maybe check out the video if you get a few minutes? It was a game-changer for me: th-cam.com/video/V6BBArPhIuo/w-d-xo.html
@@TheSAHDLife thanks man😜
Im on day 12, im eating alot of cake, cookies. Sleep is 10/10 excellent, my body is healing.
Haha yeah I'm eating a lot more sweets/treats too. Sleep is way better now too. Love it. My thoughts still go back to alcohol a lot this last couple days but I guess I'm so used to drinking on Friday/Sat it's to be expected. Nice job!
@@TheSAHDLife My wallet doesn't auto drain every weekend when I hit up the bars for beer, pizza and wings
Yeah exactly! That money sure adds up.@@dronetrucker
I can sooo relate to so much of what you’re saying. And getting those strange ailments after stopping drinking for a short while is hilarious and real. I like to think it’s my body detoxifying. Interesting how many times I hear, one drink for a woman or two drinks for a man EVERY DAY is acceptable. Who wrote this, the alcohol industry? It’s so irresponsible. And then I read, that more than 15 drinks a week and I’m a heavy drinker. That’s a very small margin for error. So, 14 good, 16 real bad. For me it’s all or nothing, I don’t think I can be a casual drinker. And many of us know the power of alcohol and how it seduces you and lures you in. So, 24 days in and going strong. Not one drop! I didn’t feel much different the first two weeks but now I do, and it’s better and happier and more lucid. And the power of the journey itself gives me strength. Thank you for a wonderful and personal video. You’ve got yourself a new subscriber.
Thanks for the great comment and welcome aboard! My video topics are all over the map (keeps it fun for me!) but I always come back to talking about this, and I'll do a video on it at the end of the month.
Yeah I'm right there with you. I know I will try again to see if I can manage alcohol but then I'll take it a little too far, feel like garbage again then realize I probably shouldn't have it in my life at all. In a perfect world I would only drink while we're out and never keep booze at home. But then we'll have guests and get some wine then, well, you know the drill.
I'm not really trying to think about booze so we'll see what happens come February. Are you going dry solo or do you have a partner joining you?
My partner joined me initially but has since thrown in the towel. She does not drink as much as I do. But now she misses our evening glasses of wine together. I miss them too which makes it even harder. So alcohol consumption has become part of our relationship for many years. I hope we can survive my continued abstinence. :0) I'm sure we can. I am determined to NOT have alcohol be the common denominator for so many of my activities. Ultimately, I want to be my best self and alcohol cannot be part of the solution for me. I want to experience life's ups and downs without the sedative of alcohol. I'm a genuinely happy guy with lots of interests and hobbies. So I ask myself, why poison my body and mind every day? I don't need to. Anyway... the journey continues. I feel strong now and hope to continue this well beyond the end of the month. Ideally for good.
I like where your head is at. Nice job! We'll have to reconnect in Feb to see how things are going and what the future looks like. I'm trying not to think too much about it at the moment and just enjoy the present moment in which I feel great!@@dpm1964
If it is a real issue in your life and you feel much better not drinking ask yourself why you want to drink at all. It has a lot of benefits not to drink. Better fysical condition, better sleep, less moodswings, more money saving, never thinking whether you can drive or not..I lost a lot of weight.
I stopped feeling embarrassed among drinkers and without condemning I feel content and proud not drinking.
Good for you. That's very inspiring. Yes your wallet and your body both benefit tremendously from not drinking. It's tough to convince your mind though sometimes.
@@TheSAHDLife I quit smoking four years ago after 40 years being heavily addicted to nicotine. I never miss it. When you are done with it it's easy. I focus on the benefits instead of focussing on the loss. Both with tabacco as alcohol.
Help! Thank you for sharing your experience. I have been heavily drinking since I was 16 ish. I'm 34 now and I used to have a rule where I would never drink during the week and that would lead to binge drinking on the weekend. Fast forward to current and I no longer binge drink but I drink like you explained, working from home since covid got me drinking during the week. Anyways, I'm doing dry January and by week 2 I felt a million bucks, zero anxiety, just great. But after that 2nd week my anxiety has skyrocketed. I don't understand why and my sleep has been shit. I don't normally struggle with anxiety and I think I was using alcohol to cope with the baseline anxiety I didn't know I really had. Did you experience this and when does it get better, I'm on my 5th week now and energy levels shit lol.
Hey! It seems like you found these vids but I haven't seen you watched my latest one lol. In case you don't, the answer is yes, I have experience with it... and the answer is yes, I have a similar problem I'm working on my mental health and body health, and having things exciting to live and every day are what give me energy and hope. I'm not sure if you've read any self-help books but I highly recommend it.
What is bizarre to me, is I have a friend who we never have a social situation where alcohol is not present. When I gave up alcohol, I became uncomfortable to how we would socialize....it ultimately worked out but who it was strange to think you had a friend who you never got together unless even one glass of something was involved.
When you say it like that I realize I have that relationship with a NUMBER of people, like my brother! It's not bad once you remove it but you're right, it's interesting how when you're so used to it, when you remove it, it's noticeable.
I had a hot tub with my neighbour last night, dad's and kids... we weren't drinking and you know what? I might have actually had MORE fun! We were jumping in the snow... I wasn't worried about spilling a drink, or if I brought enough drinks etc. I always think it'll be better with drinking involved... but it's not.
19 days now , 10 days in felt euphoric and exciting but now I feel really empty but it’s weird because I don’t actually want to drink , in a tricky situation at atm….
First off... nice job! I'm not sure if this is the first time you've taken a break from alcohol but it's a big deal! Anytime we make changes to our behaviour and habits it's going to have a trickle effect. Right now your mind is being weird because it doesn't know what to do. I'm right there with you.
I think it's important to celebrate the wins every day. You're healthier, you're not poisoning yourself, you're saving money. Now you need to find things that spark joy and do them. Do the things that have been sitting on the back burner and for whatever reason you don't do because you'd rather drink. I made pickled cabbage the other day and it's dam tasty in my lunch wraps. I would have never did that but it was actually fun lol.
Best thing is not having to go down the booze isle in the supermarket!
Your supermarket has a booze aisle!? In Canada we have to go to separate stores which is slightly inconvenient but we all do it anyway. Oof, if I could buy beer/wine at the supermarket ON SALE, lol, jeez, that would make it even tougher.
Awesome. Did you taper or cold turkey quit?
Yeah mostly cold turkey quit. This was my second time doing it though so it was a little bit easier I knew what I was getting myself into. I'm a lot better about going without it now. It's just once I have a couple now it keeps going. But I'm better at not even having that first one.
@@TheSAHDLife thanks a lot, I appreciate the insight.
How’s your GERD since reintroducing alcohol. Still under control?
Yeah you know, this year I've really been able to manage GERD. I take Betaine when I need it, and I just eat less / chew more. That combined with not eating close to bed has really helped me. It took me a long time to heal since a lot of damage had been done but I am on top of it now which is nice. But yeah, days of drinking/bubbles and lots of eating will make it flare up.
How you doing?
@@TheSAHDLife that’s good 👍🏽 been dealing with gerd / lpr for almost 3 months and it’s terrible. Trying to figure it out but I’m hesitating to try anything consistently so idk what could possibly work or not 😆 scared to try the HCL 🤷🏽♂️
the hcl pills? They're low risk. I can't remember if talked about it on the other video... have you tried the burp test? @@brewdawg1462
@@TheSAHDLife yup the pills. Yeah you covered on a video I’ve watched it plenty times trying to convince myself to just try it..ha! I did the burp test a few times and it took me about 8-10 min to burp each time. I guess I’ll just go for it.
O good luck men haha now i see you it is time for my to do the same.😊
Haha well hopefully I'm inspiring peeps! Feels good to feel good you know? Save a few bucks to which is always nice! Thanks for the comment 👊
Day 15 and im starting to find it super hard
Yeah me too. The weekends are the toughest. We caved and bought some non-alcoholic Corona's and I gotta say, it was really good. Hit the spot and felt great after. Not sure if you have any but it might be worth it. Those ones out of all the ones I've tried (though I haven't tried Guiness yet) taste like an actual beer. It was refreshing.
I felt great today and glad I didn't cave! 👊
@@TheSAHDLife been looking at those 0 alcohol beers and thinking of trying a few when it gets tough we're in the same position my wife loves beer as much as me and the weekends are hard we've got kids to,the worst part for me is I can't sleep I'm surviving of about 4 hours sleep every night.
@@GTFC_ I can't believe how much the fake beers have helped satisfy the cravings. Yeah hopefully you can find a good one, There's a lot of gross ones lol.
Weird question but, do you read at night? If not, would you consider trying? It's been helping me a lot but I know sometimes it's hard to find a good one.
Hello , I would like to know , do you have any sugguestion how to heal esophagus ? Thank you !
I replied to your other comment so we can go back and forth there.
@@TheSAHDLife ok thank you
I'm on day 17 now
Good you for! How's it going?
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Alcohol is a tricky one for me. Without it I sleep so much better, lose fat that I can't seem to lose otherwise, also the few thousand a year that it costs me, also the downside to my health from drinking nightly. Then on the other side of the coin it's nice to drink a couple at night and get the relaxing buzz. I'd like to be able to just drink a couple of drinks about 3 times a month. Not sure if that's possible for me, as so far I just either stop or back to a couple every night.
I am RIGHT with you there man. Exactly. The more I take breaks like this the more I realize I might not need it as often as I have. BUT I know how slippery the slope is once it gets back into your life.
Where's the other day's then if this is 11
Here it is: th-cam.com/video/A7oys6zITHY/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the comment. I'll update the pinned comment.
Alcohol is over rated
Yeah man you’re a lot smarter than me if you’ve already figured that out. Hard to get out of the trap though once you’re in it… most of my life I’ve been brainwashed into thinking it’s the cool thing I’m supposed to do to have fun.
@@TheSAHDLife 21 days to make or break a habit. May suck at the start but try working out. Ever hear of a runners high? It’s a point where some one who is running has there body releasing certain endorphins. There’s a whole science behind it but nonetheless, replace a bad addiction with a positive addiction. It can be done. It’s all in the mind! Once you’ve been defeated mentally you’ll never win physically so keep that in mind. Your stronger then you may think.