im on day ten of the great beer and red meat fast. have you ever given up booze? for a short while? for a long while? forever?? how did you feel? so far so good. now if it would stop raining i could actually take a ride.

I had to give it up last year for two months prior to having a medical test run. It was only hard because my friends and family kept suggesting I just have a taste of this or that wine. I didn't feel any different physically other than missing the odd mild handover from one or two many every now and then.

It has been like 18 years although I do get a sip of wine each week for communion. I don't miss it but all these micro brews got me curious.

4 Years, feel great

Low carb or alcohol(low alcohol has fewer calories than low carb) now and then in the winter to slow down the waist line.
Craft beer is a bit of a problem. Damn you epic breweries.

I haven't drank in about 2 years. I did not notice a difference physically, but I was never a big drinker anyway.

BTW, good for you for taking on this fast. It can be challenging to change habits.

From the age of 18 when I got drunk to see what it was like I've never touched any kind of alchol. I don't like the way it affects me, I don't like the way it tastes, and I really don't like the way it smells. Also, especially with beer there are lots of empy calories that won't help me lose weight. Life is better without it.

nothing against alcohol but I have gastroparesis induced by stress and food poisoning so alcohol is out of the question. I have nothing in particular against it though.

love beer, love wine but really, moderation in all things... when I went on the wagon a few years ago for about 4 months I think the most noticeable difference was that I slept better. Made getting up early for training easier.

Now I just take it easy and stick mostly to a glass of wine or two on weekends.

Giving up beer in Portland must be hard. Lots of good beer with decent prices (compared to here)

Almost 3 months now without drinking; gave it up for big-time weight loss before the spring. Side benefit is that it is coinciding with Lent, so I don't have to give anything up in addition :-) Kinda miss my evening martini or three, but it doesn't really bother me and most evenings I don't think about it (which I'm actually gratified and relieved to find). It is mostly when we have company over that it bugs me.

And I don't really feel that different, which I guess is a good thing. You better believe when I hit my weight goal (sometime late May I think) I'm treating myself to a drink and a steak.

be careful. they say in the Touring forum that riding loaded or not can influence the handling...

...from my cold dead hands.

I'll drink tomorrow.

Drinking does affect a lot of things -- your relationships, especially those closest to you, but also with people you don't even know; your emotional outlook on life because it is a depressant; your bank account; your judgment and your skills at anything, whether it's work or driving or bedroom activities.

If you get through all that, your health will be at risk. Liver conditions in particular, but it also can affect things like your skin, your stomach and intestinal system, and your brain.

I am lucky. I got my drinking under control (by myself). I think my record was three litres of wine in one evening. Now, I can go months without drinking. Having Machka around helps because she doesn't drink much. I don't like making already wealthy multinational corporations even richer as they don't give a rat's root about my welfare.

And I feel a whole better. In fact, hugely better, waking up not feeling hydrated, not feeling hungover, not making stupid mistakes, and being able to drive and ride with much, much reduced risk.

The last drinks we had were last November. We haven't made any conscious effort to not drink, we just haven't seen a need for it. The way those drinks in November made me feel, however, was a great reminder why.

I am told I should drink more from my family.

Of course, there is a big difference between using alcohol for enjoyment and abusing alcohol. You can drive a car both at 55 mph and 110 mph.

Alcohol tastes gross you should just stop drinking it all together.

Bill W. is a dink, and so are all his friends.

And tomorrow never comes.....

I quit drinking in the 80s, hardest thing I've ever done. Raging alcoholism caused me health problems and I got so sick I thought I was going to die, that did the trick.
Started craving sweets after that, but eventually stopped wanting to drink.

Ive given it up for the most part and rarely miss it, I do enjoy a drink everyone and then with my girl

I don't drink at all during summer racing season. But why give up red meat? Just eat leaner cuts and it's all good...

I might be a rarity here but I have never been a drinker. I am not opposed to drinking
and have a liquor cabinet but can go a year or two without taking a drink of alcohol.

It has been years for me. Tough at first but now it is super easy and I'm VERY thankful for the benefits. The only really tough part is being a foodie of sorts and deciding not to enjoy good food pairings. Especially when dining with people who have extraordinary cellars and palates...