Stay tuned for the results of the next study, just a couple years from now...

I drank 1, 2 sometimes 3 drinks almost every night for over thirty years. Nearing 50 years old, I decided this was probably not the best long term health plan. Two years ago I decided to cut back substantially. At first it was VERY hard to drop it. I would mark off days on my calendar for accountability and to help me keep track of my progress. I read stories on alcohol addiction forums for inspiration, and vowed never to allow my life or health to be destroyed by drinking like many others have done. I even joined the “drink less support thread” on MTB.com. for added help and accountability.

I started feeling better almost instantly, mostly due to the fact that I was sleeping better. When drinking even 2 beers every night, I would usually wake up in the middle of the night restless and unable to properly fall back asleep. Sometimes had problems with acid reflux. After a few months I realized that I really didn’t need to drink to have fun or be happy, and I feel better through the day. Now I only drink 2 nights a week, (still 1,2 or 3 drinks) usually on the weekend. If I ever find myself slipping back into daily consumption I intend to give it up totally.

You may as well rest now mate. Some folks just can't recognize a windmill when they see one.

completely agree with merlin.

however, I will say that social drinking or not, you will feel it the next day if you put in a hard effort. the threshold for a ****ty ride is way, way under the threshold for a hangover. hydration is massively important.

ugh, yikes. I quit. I feel this thread became the special Olympics. "Even if you win... [fill in the blank]."

every Saturday I meet my friend who gave me my '99 LeMond Zurich on the trail, we do a medium length ride....sometimes a few laps around/through UCF to check out women, then back to his place to drink large quantities of cheap vodka.

yeah, other than that I don't do much. I haven't bought a pack of cigarettes in two months, but I was never a heavy smoker. I gotta say, sometimes I did love being a dick and seeing the look on people's faces as I lit up on the trail though. Priceless.

So was the damage to my lungs, and I realized that most bike rides with a friend or group it was my lungs holding me back, not my muscles. So I quit. Drinking, however, will stay for a while.

Did you really expect anything more or less???

****!

This should have been out on the first page:
:

i like beer

i also like racing my bike

and riding alot

theres alot of people like me

i shouldve made that a haiku

Hell to the YES.

It's not too late.

Correct. Obviously if you're not an alcoholic then alcohol has no negative effects on your life.

Good Lord! No red wine with roasted lamb or Champagne with caviar? No beer with a good burger? .....Life wouldn't be worth living.

you're an evil man.

7 Pages wow, you guys have a lot to talk about.

Is this thread still going? I thought it would be locked by now.

So ... how's it going? You're on Day 13 now?


Red meat is also something which I don't have too much difficulty giving up. I don't mind it in hamburger (mince) form ... as found in lasagna, meatpies, and hamburgers ... where it is disguised by lots of other stuff. But I'm not fond of it any other way. I lived on my own for about 6 years a few years ago, and I didn't eat a much meat of any sort, but I ate red meat maybe once a week, sometimes only about once a month (usually in the form of burritos).

Don't know if it was related, but I was very slender and cycled a lot during those years.

Correct you should have
Too late to remedy this
No haiku for you

But don't drink over it.

I don't think it is evil at all for many people in a general sense. However your "does have" is probably more realistically a "can have." The impact of alcohol is not so easily divided into benefit/cost as you roughed out. The actual cumulative cost is quite likely far greater than the benefit. But that is the price we pay for society getting to enjoy tasty intoxicants. It is easy to see how lots of people who experience overwhelming costs due to alcohol consider it "evil" though. Maybe personally more than generally...

well its been suprisingly easy actually. i suppose if i really were some hard core alcoholic id have had some kind of super freak out by now. hmm, well, my mood has greatly improved in the mornings, my digestion is way better, i have not had any heartburn in two weeks, and ive saved a ton of money. i did kind of miss having a few pbr's at a cook out today but coke will suffice. dunno, so far so good i guess. if i really go whole hog and dont have any booze between now and the summer solstice, then im going to buy a lynskey to ride around for the rest of summer and fall. that seems like a worthy goal. i did eat a few bratwursts today but too bad.......

I think that a threads like this just ask questions of us all....

how much is too much? and do I drink too much? Does drinking most days consitute to much...and why do you do it?

Common senario is to come home and crack open a beer, followed by a second cause one on its own is...well lonely. A glass of wine cooking and another with the meal, with a sneaky top up...

So in this senario I havent drunk too much have I?? Is it habit or addiction? Is it self medicating to dull the day the week what ever it is you have going on?

Perception is the key... Im fine I dont drink irresponsibly I only have a couple...

Well thats two beers and half a bottle of wine a night or most nights. Its done undercover it is done at home bottles come in bottles go out no one is counting at the bar, you arent driving home after 6 pints in two hours so its all fine...

Joy and happiness people joy and happiness now that is a commodity you could bottle and sell...or maybe we can buy it already??

That's a bad example - have you ever read about what sort of "medicines" they had back then? (lead, leeches, bleeding, etc...)

I quit drinking alcohol for two months (that was my goal) 2nd of january. I'm not a heavy drinker (4 units a week, on average). Got back to same level as before, don't feel a difference.
Caffeďne was a different story: very hard to stop cold turkey (had 4-6 cups of coffee a day, + Diet Coke), took 3 weeks to shrug off the side effects (sleepy, moodswings, craving). Felt better after that. Now got back into the habit but trying to limit the intake...

Give up the diet coke but stick with the caffiene, it is highly protective of the liver especially with regard to ethanol abuse.