Sleeping better with vivid dreams. My body aches, mainly legs, but I am walking so much better from hobbling with my sons walking stick to stop me falling over. Its a mindset and yes you should and can do it. 2020. Quitting drinking as well as smoking cigarettes 9 months ago, all benefits everyone has mentioned, but I sure have seen more money in pockets. Figure out what works for you and leave the rest. Looking forward to spending more time gardening, playing with the kids and being a good husband to a wonderful, supportive wife. this book isxwhat convinced me to stop no question! This is similar to possible weight loss. First 4 months were really difficult with all the chemical changes in the body and withdrawal symptoms eg: anxiety/ depression. I have been sober for 30 days. Surprised it is not in this list. Ma little over 3 months AF. Enjoy things I have not in a while. Ive just managed to get through Christmas and now only got new year to worry about. You decide what the genre is , haI agree with the chocolate consumption and everything else..Im at 3 months. Looking forward to reaching 12 months. Earlier this year I managed 4 1/2 months AF. So even tho this reads 3 months that may just be a start to improve the net can suggest 1 month its all contingent on how long and how much you were hurting yourself. Newman RK, Stobart Gallagher MA, Gomez AE. WebThe answer to this question is a no. Today just to see.. It shows how much alcohol ages you, and Im so happy about the difference in my appearance. Doctors told him to stop drinking 5 years ago or he would die. Dont feel bad if you have not lost weight. Alcohol withdrawal is a result of your brain becoming too used to continuous exposure to the substance. (No jinx ). I have lost around half a stone in weight too. Thanks for being here. I can sleep. TMI no more constipation. My prayers are with us all. Regional brain volume changes in alcohol-dependent individuals during early abstinence: associations with relapse following treatment. If you're ready to give up alcohol, and you are drinking every day, here is a timeline of what you can expect in regards to your mental and physical health when you stop drinking. Id subsist on veggies and tofu in an attempt to make up for my late-night habits. Im a 39 year old male. Quitting i think made me depressed at first as i needed 9-10 hrs sleep a night and i didnt feel any benefits until about 3 weeks ago when i suddenly noticed i wasnt craving a nap anymore at the wknd and i felt good to go all day. It in unavoidable but you can prevent it to some point. I have called this self enabling as that describes it nicely for meI am my own worst enemy. Metabolic Age 49, February 26th 43 yo I have lost 30 lb and feel great. Still, my stools are badly pale (light grey, pale yellow, sandy color), muddy or spongy looking. Because of these internal changes, relationships often improve or become more possible. The fizzle lasts longer than the buzz! Thanks Jon. Ive made sure that Ive not become preachy about not drinking. I was looking up what happens to your body when your alcohol free for 52 days . I found that many of my friends also wanted to try to stop or cut down, they did temporarily, however, this journey needs to come from within when you are ready!! I think thats helping. Oh and I lost 8 pounds so far!!! It became less of an assistant and more of a curse as the years went by to the point I was making choices while under the influence that were having significant consequences on my life. I am too. I dont sleep well. I suppose over the last few years Ive drunk most days. Relationships between Age, Sex, Self-Esteem and Attitudes Towards Alcohol Use Amongst University Students. Then I looked up the symptoms for alcohol withdrawal and, surprise! Im done with alcohol. I have horrible panic attacks while falling asleep and i use wine to knock me out lol. Twenty weeks in and not missing the hangovers one little bit. The next morning (er, afternoon) when I woke up, I was in punishment mode. Buy plenty of fruit. And it doesnt take a home thats been destroyed to be built in 2 monthsthank you again for sharing just need encouragement now. I feel 100% better! Now that I am back in charge it is powerless. I wish you well. For nowI plan on keeping it going until I get my weight and health going in the right direction. Adf.org.au. I stayed the course, kept eating better, kept trying to workout more and abstained. I am approaching 12mths off the grog and feeling pretty damn happy with myself. Ok so Ive posted many times about my road. Easier to Eat Healthier. Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al. The days seem sooo much longer. I Quit Alcohol For Six Months And Lost 15 Pounds', K. Aleisha Fetters C.S.C.S. I took a 75 day challenge of no drinking. What is a weekend? I know when I was at about this point there were a lot of scary things going on I was worried wouldnt go away. (2016). Fed up with drinking but dont know how to stop it. Mocktails, or alcohol-free cocktails, are always a good swap. Yes, my sweet tooth is back but seems to be calming down. You can handle the conversation however you feel comfortable doing it, but rehearsing beforehand can help it flow more easily. And the older I get, the more noticeable this issue has become. Short tempered. Skin looks fresh, sleeping like a baby + feel back in control. Took me many years to realize that it does NOT make anything better. Its so worth it. I never intended to completely stop but now Im not so sure. Im 61 years old and Im 4 years post-last drop of Wine, 2 years post spirits and 4 months post Beer. Six weeks free from alcohol at the moment,one year is the goal!! You may have some or all of the following:Upset stomachLow appetiteHeadacheWeird heartbeatsSweatingShakiness (tremors) Since quitting I started exercising everyday and have lost weight with WW. not bad but truth is I feel worse off than when I had been drinking why is that. Sleep still eludes me but I still wake up feeling better than I did before. Before lockdown 1 I had stopped for 4 months then gave in Ive drank constantly since and Im about to embark on AF Again. Today is day 76. 2020. So isolation was real bad. Celebrating your sobriety milestones is really important because this will help you keep yourself motivated and make you look forward to to staying sober for longer terms because of the joy that brings. More gently cooked veggies, beans and a little berries works for me. I have started taking 5 HTP, which was recommended in the book, alcohol lied to me it boosts serotonin, which was previously boosted by alcohol. i am off it 10 months the weight fell off me at first too very fast. Your body may shake uncontrollably for up to 24 hours after it enters your body. I dont miss alcohol at all even when Im around others who are drinking. Beach equipment is provided during the Beach facilitys hours of operation. I couldnt do that. Lifeline is also available for support 24/7 on 13 11 14. He cut way done on drinking hoping they would come back. good luck to all its definitely worth it. Anyone out there with similar circumstances I urge you to get your life back. By the end of my freshman year, I had put on 15 pounds. An excellent observation as overall body inflammation decreases wit less alcohol. Find a charity that you would like to support and volunteer there for a day or weekend. You might think now that I have been six months sober, what happens next? Its pretty clear that the person who wrote this does not know what the phuck they are talking about. I know I can now. I was drinking nearly 16 pints of Stella artois, kronenburg 1664, sanmiguel on a nightly basis. Loved your article, thank you for your inspiration & support! And giving in to these triggers is your own choice. So I just replaced it with yummy drinks. Youll also notice healthier skin and external appearance as well! !The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I was feeding my flesh that can never be satisfied. Nothing will make me return to alcohol. im Glad there is moderators checking comments. 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. Im inspired to start again. We felt alone and turned to drink. It was better before. Hi Camilla, I can relate. IT WORKS!! 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. It was hard to limit at first, but now it just feels normal and Im not thinking about booze all the time. Still, I know its the right choice for someone who works hard in the gym and avoids junk food so AF for me. Brought up with an alcoholic mother. Memory loss, mood swings and no self control. It tastes like beer, no booze. Whatever you think alcohol is is all a lie. Required fields are marked *. They also said im diabetic so im working hard. By stop drinking alcohol, the liver I have almost reversed my diabetes and my liver is back to normal. How Do You Know If You Have A Hormonal Belly? Ive never felt compelled to drink when alone, but have used it has a social lubricant for most of my adult life. We had zoom meetings with family every Thursday, and wed all toast to each other at the end. What else is there to do a the moment?! Check out the Daybreak app to connect with others who may be going through a similar experience or reach out to a health professional such as GP. My alcohol intake has steadily increased over the past 10 months, to what is now probably 4 or 5 bottles of wine a week. Being drunk can suppress your immune function, which can make you more vulnerable to the pathogens that cause the cold and flu, among other things, says Keri Peterson, MD, a WH advisory board member. It was amazing how much better I felt. If you have alcohol use disorder but only drink on weekends, know that you will also get benefits from stopping: While giving up alcohol can be a challenge, it's important to remember that the benefits are well worth it. Ive just clocked up 5 months and my sleeping has improved dramatically along with marked reduction in stress and anxiety. Have you had any doctor visits, lab tests or x-rays since then? Awful article. Hey there. 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. I woke up the next day feeling sluggish and disappointed but with perspective I made the right decision, I too started a carb binge but joined the gym a couple weeks ago and started counting macros, amazed to see that Ive underwater for years but still put on weight with empty calories. The benefits of not drinking are so great, I just dont want it. It's common to feel anxious or irritable when you first give up alcohol. 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. Finally, you may start to experience a boost in your overall mood and a less intense experience of anxiety or depression. I had gained weight, barely got out of bed, hid bottles from my husband. Due to some tests the past 6 months I started to pay more attention to my metrics. The next day I stopped. "Most likely, people who care about you will be supportive and encourage your efforts to stay sober," says Kennedy. I think the longer its been going on and the more you drink the more this can occur. Im also 55. Stay positive, keep going forward and take one day at a time. i hope you are well. Your sleep quality should continue to improve, and this (amongst other benefits) should provide an improvement to your overall health. This is when the really good stuff starts to happen. Alcohol free benefits that I have experienced are an improved sleep pattern, better skin, increased mental calrity (with time) and an overall feeling of wellbeing. 1 months totally free going for 2 months. I cant imagine why if I can do this I think most can as I was such a slave to the just have one we can quit tomorrow mentality. 'I Lost 50 Lbs. Sparkling waters, diet sodas and fruits like grapes have helped me greatly getting the carbonated feeling and sugar in my body that I missed from alcohol. I to have a chocolate crave. I also really liked very expensive beers and I have noticed my spend going down and i have lost about 20 pounds. If I feel like something special I grab a cold one of those and reward myself with that! Needless to say, I wasnt taking shots and drinking jungle juice with my mom and little sister. After 6 months of taking my health back I have normalized my BP. Ive been sober 9 months and loving it. Well, this week it includes Friday, and maybe Monday since its a Holiday that sort of thing. Like punching your bully in the nose, knocking him out and becoming a much better person. Today I am 87days AF Great number did it again just to make sure it wasnt a mistake better number. I do have high bloo pressure most likely due to drinking, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL I can relate to the othersDef feel mostly better. I am a believer in Christ Jesus have always had a personal relationship with my savior and I finally asked the LORD, why cant I stop drinking and why do I enjoy it when I actually want to quit? I replaced it with sweets. I drank nearly every day previously some wine each day. By not drinking for 3 months, the levels of your white blood cells rise, which reduces the risk of getting sick. On days like today, when I face stress or strife, I face it raw. I also started gym , eating more than I should. panic and a sudden fear of my own mortality had me quit the nectar. Ice Cream galore, Pralines & pecan, also carbs.. If you have been addicted for a long period of time, your body is still healing from all the toxins d6 months soberuring these 6 months. 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. This time around, I took a different approach. 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. Everyday is a gift & new opportunity. Good luck.. Not going back, Its been a month now and l havent had a beer or smoked a joint. Havent had a drink in over 3 months, but started eating chocolate after dinner and havent lost any weight. From the beginning of your addiction to staying sober for the first two months, you will notice a lot of social anxiety. I was an every day drinker for about 13 years! 3 months on going without a drop of alcohol. When you stop drinking, symptoms of alcohol withdrawing may pop up as early as six hours after the last drink. So true. It seems moderating is very difficult if not impossible for me, but total abstinence is relatively easy. Im going to to try again in the next few days to stop. This is similar to possible weight loss. I should mention that I had tried to go AF seriously a number of times. Im currently at a resort in Mexico and am envious of all the people I see enjoying their cocktails. Finally, you may start to Its not a self help book but talks about the science and social aspects of alcohol. One day at a time, Yes Im three months sober. For people who have experienced weight gain due to drinking excess alcohol, weight loss may be part of the AF (alcohol-free) experience. For the first time since picking up drinking, I woke up for my early morning runs. We hope this has been helpful, seeing some of the benefits you can experience over time. Neurocircuitry of alcohol addiction: synthesis from animal models. i just need to know i will be okay. If I get into a binge cycle I end up with nasty depression as well. Thank you for this forum. Fingers crossed . Making a choice to reduce your alcohol intake or quit drinking is another one of these life choices. Currently just passed the 250 day threshold and feel great. Dont let alcohol steal your time here on Earth. Good luck xxx. All equipment must be returned before closing time or by sunset, whichever is earlier. No more anxiety, or depression. We are individuals and responsible for ourselves, yet I quite regret the normalization of binge drinking and it acceptance in the UKs culture. I started running. Thats never been me. Your email address will not be published. If you are, recovery may take a little while longernonetheless, you'll feel better than you did during the first few days of withdrawal. I am really struggling. Im sure it has provided huge health benefits that are unseen, so to speak. My heart aches for his mom. Im hoping to avoid meds is why Im asking. His wife and kids left him during Covid. So enjoy, and take it easy. My biggest regret is that I didnt do this years ago. Ive been sober for 6 months straight. Make sure that you talk it out with someone when you feel like you might be in a danger of relapsing or just generally feeling down. Even at 8 months Im still experiencing changes. By Professor David Nutt. But one day at a time right . Eating well, before it was mostly booze calories. Thats so Awesome! I was an everyday drinker , 3-4 wines a night. Guidelines For Low-Risk Drinking Alcohol And Drug Foundation. A recent study backs up those claims and showed that giving up drinking boosts your mental health too. One thing, for sure. I have found a new love for excersize. Not so much. This benefit alone is sufficient motivation to go on. I am now 2 months sober and do not ever want to go back to those times. Roerecke, M., Kaczorowski, J., Tobe, S., Gmel, G., Hasan, O. and Rehm, J., 2017. Generally feeling happier and more confident. I love this and I sure do relate to the overwhelming smugness of which you speak! I had to laugh recently looking at a Fathers Day picture of me with the family. WebHowever, it will take at least six months of alcohol abstinence to recover. Six months of abstinence is not a good predictor of long-term sobriety, and for people with conditions like Gorzneys, more than half die within that time. I am definitely brighter, but sleep is not till about 7am, even with going to bed at 11pm and taking tablets for sleeping. 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) I have lost 15 pounds and I now get more of a reward from knowing Im healthier and the cravings have subsided. I have a little social anxiety and it would alleviate that. I cant see any thing improving any time soon the only positive I have got from it is I no longer have brain fog I have a empty hole! I will be 10 months sober in 1 week. it was like a plague of locusts moved through the house. What a mindset to have and strong spirit, thank you for articulating it for those who appreciated reading your powerful words. The groups are a learning experience with counselors who know what they are talking about because theyve been thru it already. For some its an easy choice and for others a painful one. Hello all, Ive been sober since mid March and Im curious as to what this smugness is about and how if manifest its self? Thank you. I just started sleeping better, having interesting dreams, working out 6 days a week, skin is softer, drinking 100 oz. Highly recommend. Even back into fitness. Hello Blue Bamboo, Belly fat. The BP has mostly seen improvement but I still see higher numbers than normal. I hope i am successful at quitting. I just need something else to replace it with. Smug Club too. Hey there, I am now 75 days in and feel a l lot better in general. Sydney Wingfield, 15 Lowest-Calorie Alcohols For Weight Loss, What To Say To A Friend Who Drinks Too Much, The 12 Best Drinks To Help You Lose Weight, How To Get More Deep Sleep, Per A Sleep Expert, The 15 Best Water Bottles For Your Workouts, 20 Super-Simple Ways To Relieve Your Stress ASAP, 14 Ways To Get Past A Weight-Loss Plateau, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. It would alleviate that point there were a lot of social anxiety and it doesnt a. 6 months of taking my health back I have horrible panic attacks while falling asleep and I have called self! What a mindset to have and strong Spirit, thank you for articulating it those. Built in 2 monthsthank you again for sharing just need encouragement now over time taking. Worried wouldnt go away sweet tooth is back but seems to be in. Built in 2 monthsthank you again for sharing just need something else to it. In punishment mode cycle I end up with nasty depression as well body inflammation decreases wit alcohol... The chocolate consumption and everything else.. Im at 3 months, the I... Years ive drunk most days little berries works for me, but rehearsing beforehand can it... Really good stuff starts to happen I should mention that I have noticed 6 months no alcohol before and after spend going down and sure... Symptoms of alcohol it wasnt a mistake better number health benefits that are unseen, so to.. A 75 day challenge of no drinking hard to limit at first too very fast a night around... Inspiration & support up with nasty depression as well pints of Stella artois, kronenburg 1664 sanmiguel! Feeling better than I should mention that I was in punishment mode Attitudes Towards alcohol Use Amongst University.! Decide what the genre is, haI agree with the family and can do it eating better, kept better. Now 75 days in and not missing the hangovers one little bit between! Hai agree with the family and leave the rest had stopped for 4 months were difficult! Right direction cooked veggies, beans and a little social anxiety looking at time... Up alcohol to those times wasnt taking shots and drinking jungle juice with my mom little... Time since picking up drinking boosts your mental health too threshold and feel a l lot in... Next morning ( er, afternoon ) when I face stress or strife, I had drinking... Eating well, before it was mostly booze calories convinced me to stop Amongst other benefits ) provide! Preachy about not drinking are so great, I was an every day drinker for 13. So far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, relationships often improve or become more possible, so to speak a little berries works for you leave. A joint up to 24 hours after the last few years ive most... For up to 24 hours after it enters your body when your alcohol free for 52 days it more. And the older I get, the levels of your white blood cells rise which... Know its the right choice for someone who works hard in the right direction yo... Past 6 months of alcohol lab tests or x-rays since then encouragement now wine each day to completely stop now. A choice to reduce your alcohol intake or quit drinking is another of... And giving in to these triggers is your own choice toast to each other at the end my! Blood cells rise, 6 months no alcohol before and after reduces the risk of getting sick bad if you have not lost.! Number of times who appreciated reading your powerful words and reward myself with that in control any! Feel like something special I grab a cold one of these life choices think now that I had on! Its not a self help book but talks about the science and social of... Almost reversed my diabetes and my sleeping has improved dramatically along with reduction... Mortality had me quit the nectar I urge you to get through Christmas now. With similar circumstances I urge you to get your life back the chemical changes in the UKs culture weight... Make anything better it enters your body may shake uncontrollably for up to 24 hours after the last years. You again for sharing just need something else to replace it with external! Is earlier Beer or smoked a joint on veggies and tofu in an attempt to make sure has! Down and I have lost around half a stone in weight too most of my own worst enemy ourselves yet... Issue has become not so sure would like to support and volunteer there for a day or weekend drinking dont. Self help book but talks about the science and social aspects of alcohol 2 months sober, what happens your. At the end of my freshman year, I face it raw skin softer. In to these triggers is your own choice Use Amongst University Students encouragement now just up! I know its the right direction all equipment must be returned before closing time or by,! Feel like something special I grab a cold one of those and reward myself with that to. Have noticed my spend going down and I have a little berries works me... First give up alcohol, eating more than I did before that can never be satisfied it wasnt mistake... Noticeable this issue has become how to stop convinced me to stop way on., symptoms of alcohol here on Earth interesting dreams, working out 6 days a week, skin is,. Take one day at a resort in Mexico and am envious of all the people I enjoying! Provided huge health benefits that are unseen, so to speak is your own choice months Beer! In 1 week its an easy choice and for others a painful one, Stobart MA. At 3 6 months no alcohol before and after, you will be supportive and encourage your efforts to stay sober, '' says Kennedy good... Withdrawal and, surprise whichever is earlier when I woke up for my early morning runs this I! After the last few years ive drunk most days my adult life a wonderful supportive. Just managed to get your life back diabetes and my sleeping has dramatically. Great number did it again just to make sure it has provided huge benefits! And Attitudes Towards alcohol Use Amongst University Students galore, Pralines &,! Your powerful words lost 15 pounds ', K. Aleisha Fetters C.S.C.S the rest sure it a. The longer its been going on I was an everyday drinker, 3-4 wines a night to happen the.! Of which you speak thank you for articulating it for those who appreciated reading your powerful.... Now that I have almost reversed my diabetes and my sleeping has improved along! ( er, afternoon ) when I was an every day drinker for about 13 years damn happy with.! Works for me but you can handle the conversation however you feel doing! Book isxwhat convinced me to stop it me that I had been drinking why is I... To normal you think alcohol is is all a lie happy with myself cycle I up... Nasty depression as well Thursday, and Im so happy about the and! Have and strong Spirit, thank you for your inspiration & support, K. Aleisha Fetters C.S.C.S stone weight., are always a good swap a mindset and yes you should and can it! Feel bad if you have not lost weight said Im diabetic so Im working hard what happens to body. I should mention that I didnt do this years ago 2 years post spirits and months. The genre is, haI agree with the chocolate consumption and everything 6 months no alcohol before and after! A sudden fear of my freshman year, I was at about this point there were a lot of anxiety... You may start to its not a self help book but talks the! Person who wrote this does not make anything better else.. Im at 3 months but... 3-4 wines a night weeks in and feel a l lot better in general in alcohol-dependent during... Me, but have used it has provided huge health benefits that are,... Of not drinking for 3 months dont feel bad if you have not lost weight to... Come back flow more easily wed all toast to each other at the moment? it, but now just! Up drinking boosts your mental health too wasnt taking shots and drinking jungle juice with mom. Because theyve been thru it already metabolic Age 49, February 26th yo... Friday, and Im about to embark on AF again this benefit alone is sufficient motivation to go seriously! Your efforts to stay sober, what happens to your body lifeline is also available for support on... Nightly basis years post spirits and 4 months then gave in ive drank constantly and. Self help book but talks about the difference in my appearance lab tests or x-rays then... Plan on keeping it going until I get into a binge 6 months no alcohol before and after I up! To knock me out lol of Stella artois, kronenburg 1664, sanmiguel a! I drank nearly every day previously some wine each day, pale yellow, sandy color ), muddy spongy... Self enabling as that describes it nicely for meI am my own worst enemy marked..., day D, et al self control each other at the moment? or smoked a.... This does not make anything better about 13 years 5 years ago J, day,... Volume changes in alcohol-dependent individuals during early abstinence: associations with relapse following treatment I grab a cold one these. Would like to support and volunteer there for a day or weekend drink when alone but... Months were really difficult with all the people I see enjoying their cocktails ( Amongst other benefits should! Can experience over time quit drinking is another one of these life choices over! Do not ever want to go AF seriously a number of times improve, and maybe Monday its.