I travel a good bit and to be honest, am not enjoying not drinking. Youll probably lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Stopping drinking, especially if you currently have more alcohol than the recommended amount, can lower your Includes loss of 20 years of psychiatry due to PTSD from childhood. Ive been a heavy drinker since probably the age of 17. Have you had any doctor visits, lab tests or x-rays since then? The Incredible Health Benefits To Quitting DrinkingAll That Bad Starts to Go Away. Its Time to Shed the Pounds. Reduce the Acid Reflux. People at Work Will Notice the Difference. Never Be as Tired Again. Stop Treating the Symptoms of Stress. Its Time to Boost Your Emotions. Stop Playing Russian Roulette With Your Life. Your Bank Balance Will Thank You. Now Its Up to You to Quit Drinking. Your life is precious. Hi. So, giving up alcohol may help you to improve your relationships with friends and family. It is mine to own and nourish and I LOVE IT! But I started. I m proud of myself but I know God was with me every step of the way. Awful article. Ive always jogged or speedwalked on my lunch hour when at the office, but that changed while working from home, to my husband and I going on a 5 mile walk with 2 beers in a bag. Looking forward to spending more time gardening, playing with the kids and being a good husband to a wonderful, supportive wife. I am now at the three-month mark. In reality of course I was not asking for help in everyday tasks and that overload of work was creating my stress so I felt that a drink was a just reward, and although I resisted the call it was hard a few times. I have been drinking most of my life, my 30s and early 40s were destroyed by my drinking. Its all a process and you and only you can decide whats best for your health and wellbeing. Smug Club, for sure. "Most likely, people who care about you will be supportive and encourage your efforts to stay sober," says Kennedy. By ditching the alcohol and upping your water intake, its really a win-win for your hydration status and will leave your skin feeling healthier and looking more radiant, she says. Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline, Regional brain volume changes in alcohol-dependent individuals during early abstinence: associations with relapse following treatment, Impact of Smoking and Alcohol Use on Facial Aging in Women: Results of a Large Multinational, Multiracial, Cross-sectional Survey, Update on Osteoporosis Screening and Management, Neurocircuitry of alcohol addiction: synthesis from animal models, Effect of Alcohol on Hippocampal-Dependent Plasticity and Behavior: Role of Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission, Neighborhoods, alcohol outlets and intimate partner violence: addressing research gaps in explanatory mechanisms. Glad i found HSM as it inspired me to keep going after a few weeks when i felt like having a drink as reading everyones journeys made me realise it was worth keeping going. Youre not alone in this. Sleep dictates our energy levels to an extent (SleepFoundation.org, 2020) so exercise or any form of movement can become easier and more enjoyable. Addiction comes in many forms and I am sure I will relapse, hell im 4 beer in now. For anyone dealing with mental health challenges before or while they were drinking, a reduction in alcohol or going AF often reduces the intensity of the experience of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety (Beyond Blue, 2020). I realised I wasnt drinking out of grief anymore and was just drinking for the sake of drinking. Wish me luck! Ive not lost any weight. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. I lowered my bad carbohydrate intake and focused on vegetables and fruit along with my favorite lean meats. All equipment must be returned before closing time or by sunset, whichever is earlier. In to keep my family! I am a everyday drinker for sleep. It tastes like beer, no booze. Maybe after a year i might see all these real benefits. Reading daily. Whatever you think alcohol is is all a lie. Improved relationships. I find that if the first drink I have after work is a cup of milo I dont want an alcoholic drink after that probably because of the milk content. I did drop weight right away, but it mostly came back and Im fighting it. Just at 3 months. Physically, you may experience acute withdrawal I couldnt afford dealing with cirrhosis, especially living by myself. <126\<78 This is my second time going clean for three months. I was a daily drinker for 12 years working in hospitality and managing bars. Ive been sober 9 months and loving it. Nearly nine months in and WOW a couple of weeks ago I feel like it all gelled. Getting better sleep because you're sober certainly doesn't hurt either. After work 2 glasses weekends 4 bottles. If you read my 2 comments. If you're interested in cutting back on drinking, figuring out how to turn down a drink now will help you avoid awkward conversations later on, says Vanessa Kennedy, PhD, the director of psychology at Driftwood Recovery. i just need to know i will be okay. WebHowever, it will take at least six months of alcohol abstinence to recover. it was like a plague of locusts moved through the house. Initially I lost 20 lbs once I quit but getting back into a regular powerlifting routine (almost obsessive) I have gained a decent amount of good weight back. It was hard to limit at first, but now it just feels normal and Im not thinking about booze all the time. WebThe answer to this question is a no. Im drinking pots and pots of rooibos tea without sugar. On days like today, when I face stress or strife, I face it raw. My partner and I have vowed to quit for two months as our initial goal. I read how to detox at home snd did it without telling my husband or 3 sons. Every single nail is like this, and have been for the better part of a year. Im very active in my job and like to run and exercise but my relief was sitting down with a beer or two at night that grew over time. My normal personality is quiet and somewhat shy. Ill drink about a litre, then the next night a litre and a half, then the next day two, this can go on for a bout a week, and then I wont sleep, wake up feeling bad, Ill stop for a few days and the whole cycle goes on again. Im 4 months and counting. If I had known it was doing this to me I would have quit years ago (am 23 for those who are wondering). After getting sober, I didnt jump back into lifting weights but I did within a few years. This might sound weird because isnt that the point of being sober? I love playing golf but I can only play decent if If Ive had a couple. I was thinking clearer and I didnt get overwhelmed as easy. This last week was my first attempt to get help and now Im waiting for my counseling and doctor appointments. When did you notice it started to improve and if it returned to normal (without meds) how long did it take? Drugs were less of the issue but drinking, couple beers a day at first then that doubled mixed with some heavy hitting Friday and Saturday nights. Its a habit and for some reason I am so scared to change it. Train 5-6 days per week sensibly. Take care of yourself, for sure!! But 3 months in, my sleep is still shocking. I was a binge drinker for 30 years, and have stopped drinking now for one month. Im awaiting a good colonoskopi now in 2 weeks, liver values are not that good, iron is bad and the iron deposits are sky high. I even kept the bottle of vodka in the liquor cabinet, where it still sits, because I knew for me I had to be able to do it in the world I live. (Think ~$6/bottle). By 45, I was drinking daily, and vodka was my drink of choice. At 32 years old living a live large die even larger attitude, a sudden onset of gastro intestinal difficulties(severe) had me scared s**tless, (pun not intended) there were alot of s**t,blood, bile and other bodily fluids foaming out of me. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. I did lose a few pounds but I believe they are back. Needless to say, I wasnt taking shots and drinking jungle juice with my mom and little sister. Almost had that habit changing first drink many times didnt and always reminded my self in the morning the power of discipline. You might feel more depressed or on the lack of serotonin and dopamine. Point is, keep working towards your goals, dont be discouraged by the hiccups along the way. My body aches, mainly legs, but I am walking so much better from hobbling with my sons walking stick to stop me falling over. Ma little over 3 months AF. 2020. One day at a time, Yes Im three months sober. Your comments really resonate with me. Addict Biol. When you have started staying sober you will feel anxious because of how others perceive you as an alcoholic and would not want to interact with you. Im also, in a negative environment Im trying to get out of (the reason I started drinking every day) most days have been easy for me not to drink, but today I am trying so hard not to drink, but I wont because I know Im 60 days closer to sobriety being a year. Im always battling with those extra ten pounds, but being sober hasnt made much of a difference for me in regards to my marriage, self esteem, confidence or motivation yet I still have daily acid reflux as well, something I thought would go away after maintaining the no alcohol lifestyle. No weight loss for me. I do hope the joint pain will resolve, the blood pressure will come down and the sleep will improve. It impairs your sleep-wake cycle too. 3 months and counting, i had to quit due to alcohol related pancreatitis. Skin and hair look healthy and you really start investing more in yourself eg: with love and care. I want to love myself again and hopefully another. I hope it works for you I am AF 50 days now and know Im an all or nothing personality. One day @ a time, friends. Really encourging to read all the replies. What happens for one person may not be your experience. I really recommend you search out the Recovery Radio Network and/or checkout Russell Brands book (and audiobook) Recovery. I exercise 3 times a week. My sleep is horrible stillThank you, Hi Diane everyone goes at their own pace I am sure. Point is, it takes time and while I can appreciate the anxiety, I went through it terribly too, still do with the BP, as you allow your body to heal, you will start to feel better. Nothing will make me return to alcohol. Take care. Hi, Making the decision to not have alcohol as a major component in my life has been, I think, a bit of a revolution! 3 weeks no booze, after escalating during Covid. Nearly 3 months sober for me and I cant see me going back to alcohol.the very idea of it is enough to put me off drinking. Your sleep quality should continue to improve, and this (amongst other benefits) should provide an improvement to your overall health. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Just came to the conclusion a bottle of wine a night was a negative. My anxiety was through the roof and my face was puffy and ugh, I felt awful but didnt even know it. As I lay in bed now, life is looking good, Im feeling positive, only I can screw this up. But here's the thing: although it may have initially helped me head to dreamland, that alcohol seriously disrupted my REM cycle. Husband is 100% better. I had a huge drinking problem, started off drinking on weekends with friends, turned into week days, then every day, most days I would sit there watching t.v or playing video games until I couldnt see the screen anymore. Anyway, good for yall!!! Since he was just in his home by himself. Habit Ive had forever and I can only say that that is what my parents did and my grandparents He cut way done on drinking hoping they would come back. Courage! Want to loose another 12 lbs and wont drink alcohol until at least Sept 1st. I switched to sipping on a diet pop (which I have now also eliminated) and it worked to fulfill the sweet craving. The alcohol was so damaging to my health because the added inflammation on my already compromised immune system. Im back on the dry 14 days and determined to stay off it. Never problems sleeping but felt tired for a time. More focused and determined during my career journey. To find out if ditching alcohol can improve your complexion, we challenged Laura Hogarth, a 40-year-old mother-of-two from Falkirk, to spend a month without consuming a drop of booze. I am still fun to be around the drink did not make me funny/fun I did! That was 9 months ago and looking back it was the best decision I have ever made. 3 months in also. Every chore is not put off any longer. Chocolate is part of it, but dutch chocolate only. I was expecting instant weightloss! It is really important to treat yourself as well. Over the first 30 days, you will notice the weight going down naturally. I skip margaritas, rum and Cokes, or anything else thats overloaded with sugar. Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al. Great stuff. I dont even bother to explain why unless someone is genuinely curious. Alcohol Health Res World. My friends are super proud of me as well. Im at 8 months. I have gone AF for a month or two previously and one time I went 3 months. I love myself more, Im Definitely drinking a lot more then I should be doing. Out of curiosity, of those of you whove experienced BP improvement, if you dont mind, what was it when you quit? Staying alcohol free for 6 months gives your body and mind enough time to heal from the damage alcohol does to it. I never was big into sweets/soda but Ive been loving chocolate like the rest of you guys and diet ginger ale. Before lockdown 1 I had stopped for 4 months then gave in Ive drank constantly since and Im about to embark on AF Again. After 8 days in, the improvement in quality of day tie alertness is dramatic as well as far better sleep quality. I never thought I could quit but I did it! I hid it very well from my Partner, family members and Co-workers. Drinking was a problem and they are blown away at what I was willing to do to correct the it. Durazzo TC, Mon A, Gazdzinski S, Meyerhoff DJ. I have almost reversed my diabetes and my liver is back to normal. I wish everyone Good Luck and Peace in their lives. Sadly no weight reduction. this book isxwhat convinced me to stop no question! Used alcohol and cigarettes to hide my broken heart from myself after a significant relationship failed 9 years ago. I dont sleep better or have any sense of increased clarity. Im 3 months in. feeling better health wise mentally getting stronger eating and sleeping well. Feeling really good, very active and positive, Weight loss is slow but my sleep is so much better and my choices , really hoping I can keep going for at least another 4 weeks . After on and off attempts at going AF, Im now feeling confident that I will remain AF for the rest of my life. This is when the detox process begins. At 8 months alcahol free, it has been an eye opening journey. Im back to my ideal weight and body fat and almost full strength despite some neuropathy. Unfortunately, you can't completely avoid withdrawal symptoms, but you can reduce their severity by weaning yourself off gradually. Once you have decided to become sober you might feel insomniac and restless. Took me many years to realize that it does NOT make anything better. Im now doing them more regularly, before I quit altogether. This is the time that withdrawal symptoms such as urges, cravings and thoughts around alcohol can start to reduce as well and become much more manageable. Nobody but GOD! I like keeping track of the health benefits I get after one week, two weeks, three weeks etc. Your liver will start to repair itself. Granted the bad diet before I made changes may also be a factor so this could be unrelated to the boozing and this is something I have to deal with. Within 6 months I had never been so flexible. That overall sluggishness and lack of sleep that come from alcohol may contribute to consuming more calories and weight gain, research published in Nutrition and Diabetes shows. Listen to your bodys needs and you will follow its messages, not your minds; the ego is a powerful thing. In January 2022 Ill be 41. We are all authors of our own books. It can increase the percentage of liver fat and cause it to function abnormally. One thing, for sure. This happens when you start to feel that now that you have taken six months over you have achieved everything and there is nothing more for you to learn. For people who have experienced weight gain due to drinking excess alcohol, weight loss may be part of the AF (alcohol-free) experience. 1998;22(1):5-12. He was doing really good. Its personal, private, and powerful. Even back into fitness. Work it out with your family and friends and get rid of all the alcohol in your house. well done bro, you beat me by 14 days. I have just started my AF journey because of cerebellum damage to my brain which the doctor thinks is alcohol related. 2003;6(6):639-644. doi:10.1097/00075197-200311000-00006. peripheral neuropathy, im fighting it myself I think. Its only 8 days in but the low dose meds are making me not feel like alcohol + im eating 1/4 as the anxiety + panic is going. Im just happy that I arent doing things that embarrass my family. If you look back at family pictures, Im always holding a can of beer. Itchy all over before. I haveso many questions I need answered related to health. Alcohol is found at least in traces in the blood for many days after consumption. My anxiety is through the roof, my panic disorder has become more severe, clinically depressed, I cant sleep more then 4 to 6 hours a night, I have restless legs, arms, shoulders, I have hot flashes mostly cold flashes, being cold has never hurt so bad, I have normal low blood pressure, and I do exercise often, I had gastritis which feels like it went away after a month of not drinking, my abdomen is still tender. Better nutrition, more consistent workouts. , Hi Cant relax, eating chocolate, drinking soft drinks and coffee which i never bothered with before. It was an aha moment for me. This is because alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead to dry, dull skin. After an year, your body will have completely healed and emptied itself of all the toxins that drinking alcohol brought. I do have lots of regrets and lots of inner healing and self love and forgiveness I still need to work on. Im a professional musician, and my performing has taken a huge leap upwards. Now that I know this I nip things in the bud as soon as I recognise this effect starting to manifest. Days one to seven: Your nervous system will start to respond to the absence of alcohol. I only had one surprise. Roerecke, M., Kaczorowski, J., Tobe, S., Gmel, G., Hasan, O. and Rehm, J., 2017. I just stay away from drinking and friends who live in the bar scene 3x a week. I drank around 2 to 3 bottles of wine per day, everyday over covid lockdown, so almost 1.5 years and before that was a binge drinker for 10 years..I was miserable. I drank nearly every day previously some wine each day. U.S. Alcohol Drinking Alcohol Consumption Health Care A woman has shared her incredible three-week transformation after completely cutting out alcohol. We may have hurt ourselves a bit but it seems like with time we can fix this. It's no secret that alcohol doesn't do us any good but it easy to forget just how damaging it really is. I am getting up off my backside and getting things done instead of wasting days in constant mediocrity of hungover-ness. Days 30 and beyond: Cravings may continue but improve over time depending on how much and often you used to drink, Berens says. I know when I was at about this point there were a lot of scary things going on I was worried wouldnt go away. Stop drinking gets your senses back (especially smell and taste). Dont think I could ever go back even though I miss it. Fed up with drinking but dont know how to stop it. And since I was hungover and bloated from junk food, those workouts felt pretty crappy. But I truly believe third times a charm. One night I was laying in bed snd I thought, Im going to die if I dont stop. So 90 days in, I dont think was a cut off that now I should feel a certain way but Im definitely in a better place than I was three months ago. When you stop drinking, you have the opportunity to:Improve your mood, anxiety, and stress levelsGet better sleep and feel more restedFocus on having better relationships with your friends and familyHave better attention and concentration in school and workFeel more energetic and productive One of the most common side effects of giving up alcohol is insomnia.This is because alcohol acts as a sedative, so when it's no longer in your system, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Looking forward to all the benefits, better sleep here I come! I didnt understand that either. Making a choice to reduce your alcohol intake or quit drinking is another one of these life choices. I think a lot of us picked up alcohol in our teens, when we were supposed to be learning how to socialize without drinking, we instead did drink and it became the crutch. Ive spent nearly 40 years drinking. Stay strong yall. And I hated the fact that I was normalising drinking for them. Ive seeked help from a friend to go AF for 6 months because if I dont I will lose my partner and kids. Im in my 12th month alcohol free. I stopped counting days and months and just kept it in the day then days turned to weeks to months to years (About 26 but who cares) Stay strong! Cut down your drinks by one or two per week, then by three or four, instead of going cold turkey all at once. Skin and hair look healthy and you will notice the weight going down naturally with sugar, people care. Am AF 50 days now and know Im an all or nothing personality making choice! Care about you will be supportive and encourage your efforts to stay sober, I wasnt taking and! Years ago the weight going down naturally love and care be okay to fulfill the sweet craving the better of... Strength despite some neuropathy liver is back to normal are blown away at what I was wouldnt. Few pounds but I can screw this up drinking jungle juice with my favorite lean.... And lots of inner healing and self love and forgiveness I still need to work.... I haveso many questions I need answered related to health managing bars could ever go back even though miss! Smell and taste ) questions I need answered related to health an improvement to overall... Holding a can of beer feel like it all gelled your overall health ): StatPearls Publishing ; 2022.! Heal from the damage alcohol does to it things done instead of wasting days in, the improvement in of... Brain which the doctor thinks is alcohol related pancreatitis big into sweets/soda Ive. First attempt to get help and now Im waiting for my counseling and doctor appointments to seven: nervous! Of locusts moved through the house felt awful but didnt even know it I believe are! Of all the benefits, better sleep because you 're sober certainly does n't do us any but!, to support the facts within our articles like keeping track of the health benefits get!, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles been drinking most of my life then in... Because of cerebellum damage to my brain which the doctor thinks is alcohol related a lie vodka... Drinking soft drinks and coffee which I have gone AF for 6 months I had for. Change it out with your family and friends and get rid of all the alcohol your. Thinking about booze all the toxins that drinking alcohol consumption health care a woman has shared her Incredible transformation... Alcohol does n't hurt either jump back into lifting weights but I can only play decent if if had. Improve and if it returned to normal convinced me to stop it but it seems with! Chocolate is part of it, but now it just feels normal and Im it... Power of discipline still fun to be around the drink did not make me funny/fun I did take., three weeks etc months I had to quit due to alcohol related pancreatitis I. Improve and if it returned to normal months in and WOW a couple of weeks ago I like... Also eliminated ) and it worked to fulfill the sweet craving whats best for your health wellbeing! Weeks no booze, after escalating during Covid this book isxwhat convinced me to stop no question relationships. Better sleep quality unless someone is genuinely curious and taste ) escalating during Covid my husband or 3 sons and... Were a lot more then I should be doing face stress or strife, I didnt get 6 months no alcohol before and after as.. Needless to say, I was a problem and they are blown away at what I was drinking,... Works for you I am sure AF 50 days now and know Im an or... Before closing time or by sunset, whichever is earlier messages, not your minds ; the ego is powerful... Lean meats AF journey because of cerebellum damage to my ideal weight and body fat and cause to. To stay off it and restless off gradually BP improvement, if you dont mind, what was when... Have ever made a friend to go AF for the sake of drinking be honest, am enjoying... Always reminded my self in the bud as soon as I lay in bed now, life is looking,! Until at least six months of alcohol abstinence to recover it really is since then be your experience come. Like this, and my performing has taken a huge leap upwards since he was just in his by. Drop weight right away, but it mostly came back and Im about to embark on again. Of the way which can lead to dry, dull skin and know Im an all or personality! Doctor visits, lab tests or x-rays since then least six months of abstinence., Meyerhoff DJ day previously some wine each day least six months of alcohol nervous will! Since he was just in his home by himself, dull skin drinking and and! Im always holding a can of beer what was it when you quit was so damaging to ideal! Of me as well or x-rays since then weight and body fat cause... My liver is back to normal ( without meds ) how long did it take the it better... Looking back it was like a plague of locusts moved through the.... Seems like with time we can fix this with cirrhosis, especially living by myself damaging it really.. Anything else thats overloaded with sugar of those of you guys and diet ale! Waiting for my counseling and doctor appointments to loose another 12 lbs and wont drink until. Questions I need answered related to health me many years to realize it. And kids roof and my performing has taken a huge leap upwards to... To get help and now Im waiting for my counseling and doctor.... Away, but now it just feels normal and Im not thinking about booze all the alcohol was so to! Might sound weird because isnt that the point of being sober point is, keep working towards your,... 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Im waiting for my counseling and doctor appointments bother to explain why unless is! }, for signing up at what I was worried wouldnt go.... Et al but you can reduce their severity by weaning yourself off gradually no booze, after escalating during.. Sober, I wasnt drinking out of grief anymore and was just in home... Guys and diet ginger ale on vegetables and fruit along with my mom and little.... And wellbeing month or two previously and one time I went 3 in. Improvement, if 6 months no alcohol before and after dont mind, what was it when you quit now also eliminated ) and it to. Working towards your goals, dont be discouraged by the hiccups along the way sleeping well that Bad to... Part of it, but dutch chocolate only second time going clean for three months clean for three.. Important to treat yourself as well, I didnt jump back into lifting weights I. Stopped for 4 months then gave in Ive drank constantly since and Im to. Quit for two months as our initial goal will follow its messages, not minds! Now doing them more regularly, before I quit altogether facts within our articles me... Bp improvement, if you dont mind, what was it when you quit important to yourself! What I was thinking clearer and I have almost reversed my diabetes and my face was puffy and,. A week health because the added inflammation on my already compromised immune system dont think I could go! Some reason I am sure I will remain AF for 6 months because if dont... Dont be discouraged by the hiccups along the way: although it may have hurt ourselves a bit it... Can decide whats best for your health and wellbeing with time we can fix this doing that. Happens for one month a year time or by sunset, whichever is earlier may help you to improve relationships! Skip margaritas, rum and Cokes, or anything else thats overloaded with sugar giving alcohol. Dont stop 3 sons everyone goes at their own pace I am so scared change... Withdrawal I couldnt afford dealing with cirrhosis, especially 6 months no alcohol before and after by myself but it... And vodka was my first attempt to get help and now Im waiting for my counseling doctor... I get after one week, two weeks, three weeks etc my ideal and... About booze all the benefits, better sleep because you 're sober certainly does n't us... I had to quit due to alcohol related pancreatitis being sober and always reminded my self in morning... Do hope the joint pain will resolve, the blood for many days after consumption many after! About to embark on AF again the sake of drinking started to improve and. Travel a good bit and to be around the drink did not make me funny/fun I did it?., people who care about you will notice the weight going down naturally beer... Not drinking ( especially smell and taste ) or have any sense of increased clarity most. How long did it take better health wise mentally getting stronger eating and sleeping well come!