Cutting Back

i dont restrict to weekends but rather space my drinking so i dont drink back to back days, i drink, take 2-3 days off drink again, so i might drink Saturday and then again on Tuesday or Wednesday, keeps the instances down, the bad news is i cant drink less when i drink. always 4 or more. i just dont see the point in having one, i definately drink to "feel" it. i know its binge drinking and has caused a few health issues. is what it is

 

I homebrew so I consistently have 5-10 gallons on tap at any time so it's tough not to go after it. Instead of doing a full pour, I'll use a sample glass and have 1 or 2 of those to make me feel like I'm having a few. My wife and I picked up darts during the pandemic so we play 5 nights a week and set up right next to my keezer so that didn't help a ton. I was surprised that I lost about 10lbs during the pandemic when drinking had picked up, but I think it's more because I was eating healthier. Working out stayed consistent so it was more of no junk lunches or coffees in the city when i was still commuting.

I've also gotten away from the higher ABV beers and I really prefer my farmhouse ales, table beers, and lagers (pilsners, dunkels, rauchbiers, etc.).

 

I have a beer or two most evenings when I'm winding down, but I try to keep those beers to 5% or less and space them out. I'm trying to shed some pounds in the next few weeks for a summer ultimate frisbee league I signed up for, so I may cut back on beer more... we'll see.

About two years ago I started dabbling in NA beers out of curiosity, but I found them good enough to take a permanent spot in my beer rotation to lower my overall alcohol and calorie intake. Although probably the best thing about NA beers has been when I go out with friends for longer drinking sessions, they are perfect to pace myself and avoid hangovers. Of course I could just drink water, but I unconsciously drink a glass of water way faster than a beer, and before I know it I'm reaching for another beer. However, I drink NA beers at the same pace as a regular beer and they taste way better than water, so for me it's a very noticeably better way to pace myself... my wife appreciates it too. I definitely recommend trying craft NA beers if you haven't yet. You can get some good ideas here: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/na-abv-0-5-beers-2021.653130/

 

I've never felt the need to cut back, cause I never really overdue it. I tend enjoy my one beer a night on weekdays (except Monday), no not one 8% beer, one standard drink.

Weekends I'll have 2, sometimes 3. I'm blessed and cursed with horrible sinus headache hangovers if I ever go above that magic number, so I never really can make it past 3.

 

Sorry I will not feel that . I cut down whisky, and a bit before joining BA I waved goodby and found NA beer with no return!

I simply don't dare to start the +0.5 abv again, such a process it was to shake loose. And I think my ageing body and soul needs this.

 

I did a dry February and discovered that today's NA beers are much, much better than they used to be. Since then I've (pretty much) avoided regular beers from Sunday night through Thursday night.
I haven't noticed any real weight loss, but I do seem too sleep better and I don't have to get up during the night

 

I have mentioned to friends that since having to give up all but the very occasional one beer, due to health, it was like getting a no-show part time job. And that one beer gives a really nice buzz, and is sooo appreciated

It also made taking off all the weight I needed to lose easier. I don't suppose anyone wants to hear me complain that now on this crazy diet plan it's hard to put on weight.

 

I like to deprive myself of things I enjoy, such as drinking alcohol or eating meat.

Staying away from alcohol as a professional musician has got to be tough. I'm definitely not a professional musician, but, in the time I did dabble with playing in bands, booze was everywhere. Can't imagine what it's like playing multiple gigs per week.

 

I'm retired and have a 2-tap kegerator in the garage with my own beer, several cans of IPA for the wife, and a whiskey cabinet. I rarely drink wine. I have some form of alcohol every day.

The last couple of weeks I've been aware that alcohol has affected to the worse my sleeping. So now I'm limiting intake to one beer or shot a day or none at all. Yesterday I shared a 16oz IPA with the wife at dinner.

The way I figure it, if I can't go a day without alcohol, there is a problem. I don't want that problem.

 

This thread reads like confession. I absolve you all - now go have a beer.

 

Thanx brother! It's just discipline really. Sometimes I read drum charts or lead sheets but most often my drum parts are memorized. If I get too loose on stage I may end up missing someone's que, either physical or musical, to make a change within the music. I like to be sharp. I'm doing the music for me, the band and for other people. I know there's a beer of my choice waiting for me at the finish line! Cheers!

 

Two years ago I experienced the joy and wonder of heart failure. Thought I had pneumonia, I didn't. So when my case worker waltzed into the ER and asked how much I drank/how often I went out, I truthfully told her that I didn't out on Wednesdays. She seemed confused. And an hour later when two cardiologists came in to explain that I was in advanced heart failure and not pneumonia, they added that I couldn't drink "ever again". Not something you say to a guy who had been homebrewing for 27 years and just recently bought a liter of Woodford Reserve. I replied "you guys don't understand, I have 6 kegs and 50 cases of beer in the basement, and it isn't going to drink itself." I was right, they didn't understand. I didn't drink for three months, dropped twenty pounds. When I did start drinking again, it was about a six pack a week. Since COVD, it's been 2, maybe 3 beers a week. I enjoy them. I replaced three bottle shares a week with more concerts, though COVID put a serious crimp in that strategy. I've been sleeping better than I ever have in my life, though whether that's from not drinking as much, the medications I'm on or a combination, I don't know. I also do not miss the hangovers and I no longer worry about DUI. But man, I do miss going out and drinking with friends.

 

If I'm not traveling for work, I try not to drink Sunday through Wednesday. I do a lot of entertaining when traveling, so weeks that I'm not, I try and cutback.

Thursday's kick off the weekend for me...

 

I just drink Wednesday after work (mid week fun!) and Saturday and Sunday. No beer or alcohol on the other four nights. On average, probably about 4 or 5 beers each of those nights over the course of a few hours. But those beers probably average 5.5% or so, as well. We tend to keep away from big beers for the most part anymore (7%+) apart from the BBA stout here and there. We crack open a BCBS for example and split about 4oz each and recap and enjoy the rest another day.

Trying to cut down even further though recently. My weight has been rock solid for 10 years or so, actually trending downward, so no real concern with that. Just trying to take care of the liver/body a bit more

 

I seem to go through phases. I’ll go weeks without a beer just because I don’t feel like having a beer. Then I’ll have a big beer (10%+) about every other day for a while. Just depends on where I’m at. I think I do tend to appreciate them a little more when I space them out a bit, but mostly it’s just what I’m in the mood for. Definitely conscious of the health/weight aspects of it, especially after gaining a few pounds over the last year or so because of COVID.

 

God don't like a quitter

 

I go through phases where sometimes I’ll have a couple beers every night, sometimes I’ll only drink on the weekends. I've even had some extended (months-long) dry phases.

I got into some of the newer NA beers from Athletic and others and that has helped curb my alcohol intake. Mostly I was drinking out of habit rather than to feel intoxicated, so the “fake” beers were good enough. Where I get into trouble weight-wise is the snacking that accompanies my drinking. My sleep has always been messed up regardless of my drinking patterns, but I found that toking up a bit before bedtime has really helped.