Beer or ? Oh what to drink

Dazza @>@'

I reckon I could be a stronger and leaner cyclist were it not for BEER. When I'm off work afternoons & evenings I fancy one which leads to 2 & so on til finally a whisky or a brandy to comfort me to bed. I rarely go to the pub I work shifts therefore don't drink every night. I used to abstain completely when on operational tours of duty but at home its just too easy.

Anyone else struggle to break the habit of a lifetime? Please tell what you did (just saying to myself "nope I aint drinking" hasn't worked.

Why? Because its too easy and I like to have something to drink on an evening.

StillGoing

You need help. Go get it. I've served in the Army and in the Police, and in that time I've seen many colleagues spiral into substance addiction from the very habit you describe. They saw no harm in it at the time. "I just like a beer to relax" they said. But when you can't break that cycle something is wrong. Some are now dead through failing health or have lost everything after their wives got fed up with them pissing the bed each night or behaving irrationally or wasting money on drink. They never thought they had a problem until it was all too late.

I used to like a drink after a heavy week of shift work, but when I was faced with a particularly traumatic time in my life, a kind of self defence mechanism kicked in. As a result I abstained from alcohol completely. That saved my life otherwise I'd have drank myself to death with the pressures of the time. Nowadays I can take it or leave it. If I attend a black tie evening, I can drink quite happily, but know that point where I've had enough and revert soft drinks.

bahzob

Don't beat yourself up too much. If you feel guilty it will just make things worse and harder. Drinking is not a crime and there is nothing inherently evil about doing it for enjoyment provided that you don't harm others as a result and you are aware of/managing the potential risks to your health.

What I do is just have some days when I drink and some when I don't. After you have one day off the second is easier and so and so forth.

On days when I don't drink I let myself have a bar of chocolate as a reward. Also some of the 0% alcohol beers are actually not bad and can be used as an alternative. The best of the lot imo is Erdinger 0% . This actually tastes better than the p.i.s.s that passes for lager here in the UK. Bavaria from Holland is pretty good too. Both can be got from Sainsbury along with their own label 0.5% Czech Pilsner which is also passes muster. Avoid Becks Blue and Cobra: hard to believe but they taste even worse than their real beer.

On days when I do drink I just keep a count of the units and over time aim to keep the average under control but not stress too much about it and afraid have not yet managed to get under the official weekly limit. I rarely drink so much that I feel like crap the next day but should that happen I don't let myself scive off any training planned for that day.

Once a year I have a blood test to check out my liver and so long as that doesn't give warning signs I'll continue to enjoy drinking.

This enjoyment does not affect my cycling. I just include calories from beer along with those from other sources, keep the whole lot under control and as a result have got my weight down to 66kg, body fat to 13% and can push out over 300W for a steady hour all of which are pretty good for a 5'8" 54 year old.

bahzob

Should also have mentioned a couple of options from the rather excellent Brewdog.

Nanny State 0.5% http://www.brewdog.com/product/nanny-state

How to Disappear Completely 2.8% http://www.brewdog.com/product/how-to-disappear-completely

bernithebiker

Do like the French. For them, having a beer is a 25cl bottle (less than 1/2 a pint)!

Dazza @>@'

Errrr. I actually don't feel I have a drink problem, when I say leads to 2.... I only really occasionally go to 4-5. I want an alternative to supping beer. I did hear that Erdinger has 0% which is a handy recovery drink.

okgo

Nobody that has a problem thinks they have a problem, otherwise they would be a lot closer to sorting the problem than they usually are. What you have described is not normal, and I would be looking to change it rather than change what you drink... Especially as you're doing it at home so there is actually no social aspect to it!

diamonddog

Dazza @>@' wrote:

Errrr. I actually don't feel I have a drink problem, when I say leads to 2.... I only really occasionally go to 4-5. I want an alternative to supping beer. I did hear that Erdinger has 0% which is a handy recovery drink.

The best alternative if you want to be a 'stronger, leaner cyclist' is not to booze at all but you need willpower to do it IME.

dw300

I really like tea and coffee, but I don't sit down and drink 4 or 5 pints of them in the evening.

The taste may be something you like, but let's be serious, people drink alcohol for the alcohol.

roryh

Bahzob.... you get a blood test to get your liver checked out... I didnt know such things exist! I'd quite like to do the same. Do you do it privately or through a GP?

R.

stannie

In the evening if I fancy a drink I often have sparkling water or tonic water. It puts a glass in my hand but I don't gulp it down like I would a soft drink.
However I think okgo has hit the nail on the head.

okgo wrote:

Nobody that has a problem thinks they have a problem, otherwise they would be a lot closer to sorting the problem than they usually are. What you have described is not normal, and I would be looking to change it rather than change what you drink... Especially as you're doing it at home so there is actually no social aspect to it!

If you decide it is a problem , this book is really good

Allen Carr -" The Easy Way to Control Alcohol"

It is well worth a read.

bahzob

roryh wrote:

Bahzob.... you get a blood test to get your liver checked out... I didnt know such things exist! I'd quite like to do the same. Do you do it privately or through a GP?

R.

I did it with York Testing, don't want to bother my GP unless I think I have an issue. Costs £75. Not cheap but you only need to do once a year or two so works out at considerably less than half a pint a week.

bahzob

Dazza @>@' wrote:

Errrr. I actually don't feel I have a drink problem, when I say leads to 2.... I only really occasionally go to 4-5. I want an alternative to supping beer. I did hear that Erdinger has 0% which is a handy recovery drink.

Yes, Erdinger is just a carb drink, no alcohol 27g of carb in a 500ml bottle, so OKish for recovery.

Erdinger make some stunning beer and it shows. Their beer has the distinctive taste of a good German beer, though takes a couple of bottles to get used to it. (Probably especially so if your usual drink is Fosters or the like, in which case you really do need help). Main "issue" is that it's not cheap, costs as much as the "real" thing, quite a lot more than the garbage that supermarkets discount.

"Bavaria" a bit confusingly from Holland is also available at my Sainsbury, this costs less but is not quite as good imo. Sainsbury Czech is also very good, made in the home of pilsner and tastes it, it's not alcohol free but at 0.5% you couldn't hit danger limits.

If you usually drink 4-5 beers then I'd suggest trying to make the the first one an Erdinger/Bavaria/czech then make every other drink one as well and/or try having days when you only drink these. If you manage to get used to the taste this will quickly get you on track and, in my experience at least, is easier than trying to go cold turkey.

Mikey23

Sounds like alcoholism to me... I dealt with it by allowing myself a 25cl bottle and no more
You are probably wrecking your sleep patterns if you are using spirits to comfort yourself to bed. My friend was a 40 fag a day man but gave it up because he wanted to be the best runner he could. Now he is county class.

Depends what's important in your life. You know the answer or you wouldn't have asked the question! Like any addiction you can give it up but it's a tough one and you will probably need help

Tom Dean

Dazza @>@' wrote:

Why? Because its too easy

Make it harder for yourself. Don't buy beer. Don't keep bottles of whisky and brandy in the house.

Some of the comments above are strongly worded. Don't panic. There's nothing wrong with drinking in moderation BUT it depends on your level of self-control.

You have recognised that your current habits are not healthy - take small, simple steps in the right direction. First, you need (at least) two full days off the drink each week. hopefully that will be enough to break the cycle.

Drinking to get to sleep is an easy trap to fall into. When you do start drinking less, you may find it takes a while to adjust (your sleep is even worse on the odd days you do drink!). Look at what you can do around your whole sleep environment and routine to ease the transition. You will sleep much better in the long run - stick with it!

durhamwasp

You mind find more than half of the problem is not having a pint/can in your hand.

Go down to some lower alcohol versions - Bavaria 2.8% is about £1.50 for 4 cans in Aldi and tastes pretty decent, or Becks Blue is the best 0% lager IMO.

That gets rid of most of the alcohol, tho doesn't cut out the calories...

Tom Dean

I'm not sure about the suggestion of alcohol-free beer. It would be better IMO to break the habit. Then on the days you do have a drink, have something nice. You need to get from where you are now to booze being an occasional treat.

I would recommend making extra effort with your cooking evening meals too - it might not help with weight loss in the short term but it's a nice distraction.

moscowflyer

singletrackanne wrote:

If you decide it is a problem , this book is really good

Allen Carr -" The Easy Way to Control Alcohol"

It is well worth a read.

This.


And the alcohol free route is pointless, regardless of what people think they don't drink beer for the taste, it's the alcohol content. Read the book though, it's very good.

cyco2

As with smoking and drinking there is a bit of the brain thought that has taken over you life. You need to develope a thought in your head that over rides this thought and in doing so take charge of your life. Start small and build up the resiliance and as you get stronger and feel the power it gives you that will be your reward. Not the drink. Basically take charge of your life for better health and well-being. Good luck.

nathancom

There is a lot of preaching in this thread. Just enjoy a healthy drink, nothing wrong with it.

StillGoing

Dazza @>@' wrote:

I reckon I could be a stronger and leaner cyclist were it not for BEER. When I'm off work afternoons & evenings I fancy one which leads to 2 & so on til finally a whisky or a brandy to comfort me to bed. I rarely go to the pub I work shifts therefore don't drink every night. I used to abstain completely when on operational tours of duty but at home its just too easy.

Anyone else struggle to break the habit of a lifetime? Please tell what you did (just saying to myself "nope I aint drinking" hasn't worked.

Why? Because its too easy and I like to have something to drink on an evening.

nathancom wrote:

There is a lot of preaching in this thread. Just enjoy a healthy drink, nothing wrong with it.

Some of us preaching have been where the OP is or have been around people who were there. Believing that a habit of drinking habitually on your own is normal and not a sign of a problem is naivety. You don't have to be a rolling drunk to have a problem with alcohol.

As a safeguard to the OP, you shouldn't cut out the alcohol immediately as your body may have developed a dependence on it. Speak to your GP, tell them what your drinking habits are and they can tell you if it is out of control. They can test and recommend an alcohol control program with you and put you in contact with similar individuals. As a Custody Sergeant someone with an alcohol dependence was the worst prisoner to have in your cells. It isn't the alcohol that kills them, it's the lack of it when they are dependent on it.

bahzob

The OP hasn't contributed to this thread for a while.

I'd suggest he/she has enough advice above to take some sort of action.

Not sure there is much benefit in adding any more until OP adds some sort of feedback

imposter2.0

bahzob wrote:

The OP hasn't contributed to this thread for a while.

maybe he's on a bender...

Dazza @>@'

Well, today saw the last night of a few (as in 3x 500ml bottles of beer). At this time its my last glass and I'll have a whiskey (50ml) over ice. That's it til Thurs. At which I may have A bottle of beer. I need to grip myself then the hard part is not just going back to old habit.

I have read every reply at first with a pinch of salt then it was like swimming in the dead sea. Cheers folks

Buckie2k5

nathancom wrote:

There is a lot of preaching in this thread. Just enjoy a healthy drink, nothing wrong with it.

Exactly, You are not drinking through the week, you only have a few at weekends like 90% of the world and you cycle. Iam pretty sure your health is ok. If anything try hold off to a saturday or have a clean weekend once a month. Just because a person likes a few drinks on his own doesnt always mean he has a problem....

There is always non alcholhlic beer Becks is not bad and gives u that slight placebo effect lol

imposter2.0

Buckie2k5 wrote:

Just because a person likes a few drinks on his own doesnt always mean he has a problem..

Ironic, coming from someone from Scotland whose username is 'buckie'..

Buckie2k5

Imposter wrote:

Buckie2k5 wrote:

Just because a person likes a few drinks on his own doesnt always mean he has a problem..

Ironic, coming from someone from Scotland whose username is 'buckie'..

hahaha. Its for medicinal purposes it is a tonic after all.

StillGoing

Buckie2k5 wrote:

nathancom wrote:

There is a lot of preaching in this thread. Just enjoy a healthy drink, nothing wrong with it.

Exactly, You are not drinking through the week, you only have a few at weekends like 90% of the world and you cycle. Iam pretty sure your health is ok. If anything try hold off to a saturday or have a clean weekend once a month. Just because a person likes a few drinks on his own doesnt always mean he has a problem....

There is always non alcholhlic beer Becks is not bad and gives u that slight placebo effect lol

You clearly have absolutely no comprehension of what an alcohol problem is. An alcoholic doesn't necessarily drink every night. An alcoholic doesn't even get drunk each time they drink partly because of the tolerance their body has adapted to alcohol and the reliance it places on it. A binge drinker who gets rat arsed every weekend is at risk of alcohol problems just as much as someone who drinks regularly. An addict will always try to convince everyone there is no problem and that they are missing out on the enjoyment. An addict can on the outside seem perfectly fit and able so just because they exercise does not mean they are in good health. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is a depressant and for those who use it beyond safe levels of consumption, it can cause a lifetime of mental health problems.

You've put several claims in that post. 90% of the world enjoy a drink at the weekend; where does it say that? How can you be sure his health is ok? Just because a person enjoys a few drinks on his own does not mean he has a problem. Really? Read the links and then read the OP's posts again. He drinks to relax after a stressful day and can't break the habit. His pastime of cycling and his weight is suffering as a consequence. He ticks enough boxes that for me would indicate a problem and the earlier he seeks help, the more chance he can regain control.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol ... atment.htm

http://www.addictionhelper.com/free-ass ... tAodcwMAjg

top_bhoy

philthy3, I agree.

Also, looking from the outside which is all anyone can do in response to the original post, the use of the words 'comfort me to bed' is concerning; it seems to me to be a strange choice of language.

When I'm off work afternoons & evenings I fancy one which leads to 2 & so on til finally a whisky or a brandy to comfort me to bed.

bahzob

Unfortunately alcohol brings out the worst in 2 types of people:

- For those actually drinking it can, if consumed to excess, damage their health and cause them to harm others.

- For those who don't drink it can used as an excuse to project their prejudices/values on others and dictate how they should live their lives , when done to excess in a manner that seems scarily reminiscent of past pogroms. (Perhaps not entirely irrelevantly Hitler was a teetotal vegetarian).

Just be quite clear:

- There is nothing inherently evil in drinking. If done sensibly it can improve your quality of life. If it doesn't work for you and/or you can't control your consumption too bad. However that is not evidence it won't work for others.
- The really bad thing about drink is if it causes you to harm the innocent bystander, either directly or by engaging in risky behaviour that has a high potential for harm (e.g. drink driving). This is the the symptom that should cause someone to seek urgent help.
- Alcohol can cause damage to your health. Being aware of your consumption and keeping it within safe limits is good advice.
- However in terms of health risk excessive consumption of junk food coupled with lack of activity and consequent obesity is a more serious issue.

Drinking won't help avoid this ofc but if you are drinking at home while sitting on a sofa watching TV then a change get off your backside and to ride/jog to the pub and have a drink/watch TV there instead is likely to be of more health benefit than stopping drinking. Even more so if you sit on your sofa and eat some sweet comfort food instead.

Bozman

Going by some of the "preaching" on here I must be an alcoholic.
A mate of mine died at 38 from pneumonia, he was an alcoholic so I've seen it in action, warm beer with his breakfast in the morning, ordering takeaways but not eating them just to get the bottle of wine because there's nowhere open. I've got mates who drink 4 - 5 pints every night of the week but they're not alcoholics.
I did 50 miles on Thursday and that night I drank near on two bottles of wine, I cycled 40 mile yesterday and went out to watch the Froch fight and probably had 8 pints, I've just been out on the bike to blow the cobwebs off with a quick 20, I won't drink until Tuesday now and then it'll be the weekend. I've drank for 28 years and I won't stop, I've slowed down a hell of a lot but I could never give it up.
I've recently had a liver test due to something unrelated and it's fine, after an AF attack a few years back my ticker was well and truly tested and that was classed as athletic with a rhr of less than 40.