I guess this is just more of an outlet or a way to sound out my thoughts. However, recently I've been thinking about myself and my "relationship" with alcohol.
I've always been a drinker, ever since my mid teens. It started off as a social thing, but some time in my later teens lone drinking became somewhat normalised. Now this was never really a drink to get wasted situation. I have just used it as a way to wind down after work or chill on a weekend, few beers whilst playing games or watching films etc, that remains the case to this day thankfully, even whilst being in a job with a massive drinking culture.
I would say my intake can be excessive and is definitely well over recommended limits, but never to the point of being an issue. I still have plenty of drink free nights and rarely two nights on the bounce.
On the nights I do drink 4-6 cans/bottles is normal, or a bottle of wine and I don't do spirits. If doing so socially that can double although that is rarer these days and becoming increasingly so as my friends/peer group dwindles.
I've never been in bother with it either legally or financially, or professionally for that matter.
When I drink I'm reasonably well behaved and sensible for the most part.
I've never had an issue in the past with stopping for periods of time where it has been necessary, over the years I've been deployed on operations/exercises that have been dry.
However on return I've always just fell back into my old ways.
It was only recently that whilst being with physio for an injury that my diet and my alcohol intake was highlighted, and whilst not being a factor in the injury it did make me conscious that what has been normalised to me is not in fact normal... I don't feel like I have an alcoholism problem but my usage is not healthy.
This has really spurred me on to severely reduce my intake, replace alcohol where possible. At the moment I have no intention of cutting it out altogether. I just want to have a healthier relationship with alcohol, still be able to enjoy it for special occasions without reverting to casual lone drinking.
I've reduced from what was recently mostly every other day, to once a week.
I am now planning to reduce it even further with a plan to abstain for the next month and see how I get on with it.
Has anyone else had experience with severely reducing intake whilst still having a moderately healthy relationship with alcohol? How did you handle it? Has anyone tried and failed?
I want this to be a permanent life change not just another temporary break.
Keen to hear others experiences.
I've always been a drinker, ever since my mid teens. It started off as a social thing, but some time in my later teens lone drinking became somewhat normalised. Now this was never really a drink to get wasted situation. I have just used it as a way to wind down after work or chill on a weekend, few beers whilst playing games or watching films etc, that remains the case to this day thankfully, even whilst being in a job with a massive drinking culture.
I would say my intake can be excessive and is definitely well over recommended limits, but never to the point of being an issue. I still have plenty of drink free nights and rarely two nights on the bounce.
On the nights I do drink 4-6 cans/bottles is normal, or a bottle of wine and I don't do spirits. If doing so socially that can double although that is rarer these days and becoming increasingly so as my friends/peer group dwindles.
I've never been in bother with it either legally or financially, or professionally for that matter.
When I drink I'm reasonably well behaved and sensible for the most part.
I've never had an issue in the past with stopping for periods of time where it has been necessary, over the years I've been deployed on operations/exercises that have been dry.
However on return I've always just fell back into my old ways.
It was only recently that whilst being with physio for an injury that my diet and my alcohol intake was highlighted, and whilst not being a factor in the injury it did make me conscious that what has been normalised to me is not in fact normal... I don't feel like I have an alcoholism problem but my usage is not healthy.
This has really spurred me on to severely reduce my intake, replace alcohol where possible. At the moment I have no intention of cutting it out altogether. I just want to have a healthier relationship with alcohol, still be able to enjoy it for special occasions without reverting to casual lone drinking.
I've reduced from what was recently mostly every other day, to once a week.
I am now planning to reduce it even further with a plan to abstain for the next month and see how I get on with it.
Has anyone else had experience with severely reducing intake whilst still having a moderately healthy relationship with alcohol? How did you handle it? Has anyone tried and failed?
I want this to be a permanent life change not just another temporary break.
Keen to hear others experiences.
Anyway results came back generally quite good with no major concerns for liver or kidney function. As I age I want to keep this the case. I guess as you age your focus on your own mortality comes into greater focus. I certainly dont want to leave it too late to make these changes.