OT Sobriety and health

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by riverman, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    I love spirits, brandy, scotch and irish whiskey, rye whiskey ….this is not a thread about the evils of alcohol, this is about a personal change in my life....I'm 64 now and many people in my age group are kicking the bucket from health issues...I did an experiment and am amazed at the results....I started feeling fatigue, lacked energy in the morning hours, found myself wasting many evenings with another brandy on the rocks...then liver spots started showing up on my hands, cheeks, etc....I read that many recent deaths such as the pop star George Michael were related to enlarged livers and fatty tissue surrounding them. I've been alcohol free for 4 months and all the spots are gone....completely. I've lost three quarters of my spare tire...sleep really well and wake up with the birds...by 10 am I have already done a lot of things around the property...when drinking I would not get started on those things until about 10 am.....I'm not an alcoholic....never drank during the day or got the shakes when I didn't drink...irish genes I guess....but I'm finding that it was an enabler for a less than energetic life....also would lead to more snacking, whatever....the results at my age have been quite remarkable...wife sees a big difference and people I know ask how I've gotten suddenly younger looking.....I have no big agenda about being sober but just thought I'd share this experience here...I am mostly retired and my new part time schedule allows me to be home every evening...before two days a week I couldn't partake at all....I noticed I was escalating my consumption....I recommend the liver flush..
     
  2. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    I knew I should have titled this thread, "Dame drinks like a fish" …..
     
  3. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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  4. oldfisherman

    oldfisherman Unicorn Wrangler

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    Same experience. Took my last social drink over a year ago. Feel much better now.
     
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  5. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    yeah, but if only you had opposable thumbs to open those.....
     
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  6. MarAzul

    MarAzul LongShip

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    Ha!
    Give it some time, you probably will come to realize you really didn't love the spirits near as much as you thought. It gets better as you realize, you are here because you made the change.
    Welcome! I was a little younger when I did, but not much. Dang I love a couple of beers a few time a year when the moment is right though. Better than ever now.
     
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  7. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    Thought you should know that the liver flush is a rare poker hand
     
  8. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    There are times when I think about taking up more drinking, but then I remember how fucking annoying I am.
     
  9. PDXFonz

    PDXFonz I’m listening

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    I have a very big heart, which means I also have a very big liver.
     
  10. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    You mean more than now?
     
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  11. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    thats was kind of the point of my post.
     
  12. bodyman5000 and 1

    bodyman5000 and 1 Lions, Tigers, Me, Bears

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    The best thing about drinking once every 4-6 months is how effective it is.
     
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  13. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    Another perk to my recent life change is I no longer have an excuse for not going out to events because of needing a designated driver....any fear of a DUI is non existant..probably still be a hermit but not for those reasons
     
  14. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    practice....practice!
     
  15. UncleCliffy'sDaddy

    UncleCliffy'sDaddy We're all Bozos on this bus.

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    I used to be quite the weekend consumer of beer, though I rarely if ever drank during the work week. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve slowed to almost nothing. Alcohol just doesn’t work for me anymore. Maybe it’s the age or maybe it’s due to the various medications I’m on. Don’t know and don’t really care. I do know that when I do have a drink it exacerbates my existing AFib problem significantly, along with making my joints very achy. So I pretty much leave it alone, or stop at one or two on the rare occasions when I do imbibe. But it must be pointed out that it certainly helps that weed has been legalized, when a substitute is desired......
     
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  16. crandc

    crandc Well-Known Member

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    That's pretty much my pattern. I don't drink at home. I have a drink (one is my capacity) when I go out to dinner. I had a glass of wine last Friday at dinner in SF with a friend. Probably won't have another for a month or two. It depends on whether you are holding the drink or the drink is holding you. I have known people with real alcohol problems. I have also known occasional social drinkers who do just fine and live long. It's complicated, involving genetics, overall health, social environment. What works for you.
     
  17. donkiez

    donkiez Well-Known Member

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    Dude that's awesome. Alcohol is very taxing on your system. Funny enough I just gave up weed for similar reasons. Its not forever but it had become to big a part of my life rather than a distraction. I was more psychologically dependent than I thought I was, I guess switching to only dabs awhile ago can make that sneak up on you. I was getting to the point of up to a gram of dab per day, which is an insane amount. Took a few days of restless sleep and weird appetites but I feel great now, it wasnt really that bad. Sober is awesome, so is weed, I'll be back soon but for now it's very refeeshing.
     
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  18. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    I'm probably saving a hundred bucks a month not drinking...I smoked way more pot when I was drinking as well....now without the enabler habit I have reduced my pot use by quite a bit....I grow my 4 plants a season so it's free to me and now it seems I'm less interested in consuming cannabis beyond casual use...I still use cannabis but only in small quantities....I should add that replacing alcohol with water has had health benefits ...I don't think I drank enough water when I was drinking booze….ice cubes don't really have the benefit fresh well water has.
     
  19. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    Yeah, but what about going to the scrip club?!
     
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  20. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Scrip club?
     

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