My one-six pack-a-week challenge

As much as anything else, was that not an incredibly expensive habit?

 

I only drink on weekends and it is probably the best choice I've ever made. I feel much healthier than I have in a long time.

 

Again, kudos on your lifestyle change. I've recently got back into craft beer after making some big lifestyle changes during grad school and my post-graduation/finally-into-the-real-world years. Restructured the diet, cut drinking almost completely out of the diet, got back into competitive running, and dropped 60 lbs. That said, I have found that it wasn't very hard to curtail my beer drinking from the level I was at when I first joined BA back at the start of 2009. I was drinking a 6er+ every week, constantly had another 6er plus a couple of bombers in the fridge, and was churning through it like no one's business. I went from that down to drinking on average a single beer a week (and often less given the fact I work 7 days a week for half the year) without any trouble at all. Now, I find that if I drink more than a single beer a week, there's usually some sort of special occasion (family party, wedding, birthday meal, etc.). And I always find myself running or working out earlier in the day when I know I'm going to go out and drink any beer at all that night - some sense of justification for maintaining self-discipline when it comes to drinking.

The beauty in all of it, however, is that it has been a blessing on my wallet, as well as my palate, as I now more carefully consider what beers I choose to drink, and I can justify spending $30 on a one-off bottle for a single, special occasion because I know it will probably be the only time I have a drink that week. Part of me misses being a more active contributor to beer review and whatnot, but at the same time, none of me misses feeling like it was a race to tick off as many beers from my list as I could in the name of exploring new avenues of craft beer - I now realize how ridiculous I must have looked back then.

Just stick to your plan and adapt as you go. I've found that the satisfaction from maintaining self-discipline is the biggest motivator keeping me honest with my health/diet/exercise plans, even more so than rewarding myself with a "cheat" night where I let myself have an extra beer.

 

on July 28 we bought 1 12 pack of blue moon, 1 six of founder porter, 1 sa cream ale. 1 six of NB tripel. not touched all but 1 of the founders, and the SA and NB are still sitting there.


but I cheat I have the HB. Still I did not drink yesterday and day before. weird I can go for days sometimes, then wham the urge hits.....lol

 

I wish there was some way to express how cool it is that you are doing this, and how open you are about this, without sounding cliche. Good on you. I wish you the best, and I hope you feel some more vitality in your life because of this.

 

You've just been released from I'd Hit That!

 

I am not judging you, but it sounds like you should do a little more than cut down to a six pack a week. There is a real good chance you have an issue.

 

I have done the same and feel the same way, although I tend to overdo it on Fridays.

 

Maybe a month off? Might be better to slowly wean yourself off though...

 

I went from a weekend only drinker to at least 1 a day and yeah it does cost more.

 

I misunderstood this post... I thought you were meaning at least one new six pack a week...

 

Good for you. I wish you the best.

 

Wow, six beers a night? Good call on cutting back, best of luck!

 

Damn. If six beers a night is a problem, I'm probably going to die by next tuesday.

 

You don't think that's a lot to consume on a daily basis?

 

Welcome to functional alcoholism! Isn't it great.

 

You are a bit older than me, and none of this may apply to you, but I feel I need to mention.

It took me a while, but slow and steady was much easier for me. I first tried to quit entirely for a while, went to a doctor for withdrawal help, and wound up being more dependent on the medication (benzodiazepines). I tell my friends that the only reason I ever got off of the stuff, and in control of my drinking, was with a much weaker medication called Neurontin (from which Baclofen was derived). And I mean it. After a few weeks of being on it, I simply could not drink as much. I was getting a buzz much quicker, and the "heavy" aspects of the buzz like blurry vision would come after only a few drinks. Needless to say, it helped me a ton with sleep and the chest-tension, nervous aspects of cutting back when you've been a long time drinker.

I'm sure there are a few people who think I still drink too much, and I agree that I could probably benefit from drinking a little less. There is at least one night every week where I only have two beers max, which I think helps a lot. Yesterday was my Saturday, and I had four 4.4%'s and a 22oz 11% over about twelve hours. I had a little buzz in the early evening, but I always try to make sure I go to sleep feeling mostly sober. When I go to sleep pretty buzzed, I always really want an eye-opener

I drink about a case per week today. Two years ago I was drinking a couple 6's and most of a 750 of rye each day, and a year ago I was drinking about a 6 pack and about a pint of rye a day. Every time I see friends I haven't seen in a while, they comment on how much better I look and seem to be doing.

And don't be afraid to slip up. Good luck, but I'm sure you can do it

 

Haha, hey I drank a little bit on Monday after the game!

 

Way to go, best of luck on your lifestyle change. I know you will really appreciate the beer that you drink now.