Two years sober yesterday
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 94
Two years sober yesterday
Happy to have reached 732 days without alcohol - the longest streak since a 7-year streak prior to that. This time around my main motivator was health. I had developed a pretty bad case of GERD which was exacerbated by alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate - among others. Also in late August 2018 there was a widely reported study (about alcohol) which showed conclusively that there was no safe limit for alcohol intake, from a health standpoint. Not even one drink per day is safe and there is no good health reason to start. I was prone to weekend binges which often led to poor sleep for a couple of days or so every week, anxiety and a general sense of unease.
Two years without any booze and all that is gone: at 68 I am as healthy as I have ever been, training for a marathon and signed up to climb Kilimanjaro - for the third time - in Feb. next year. According to my Nomo app, I've saved $7,851.70 by not drinking for two years and I have gained 1,675.02 hours (just short of 70 full days) of productive time. Time that would have been spent either drinking, recovering from drinking, thinking about drinking or just being listless and tired or sleeping. My wife still has a couple of glasses of wine on weekends and it doesn't bother me. Live and let live. All I know is I am not even thinking about drinking anymore and have absolutely zero desire to do so. My friends (most of whom do drink socially), haven't batted an eyelid. I think there are so many non-drinkers around nowadays that it is not unusual and nobody cares. In fact several of my friends seem to want to stop as well. Good luck to everyone else on the same path - if you're looking for motivation, look no further than your health. It is largely in your hands.
Two years without any booze and all that is gone: at 68 I am as healthy as I have ever been, training for a marathon and signed up to climb Kilimanjaro - for the third time - in Feb. next year. According to my Nomo app, I've saved $7,851.70 by not drinking for two years and I have gained 1,675.02 hours (just short of 70 full days) of productive time. Time that would have been spent either drinking, recovering from drinking, thinking about drinking or just being listless and tired or sleeping. My wife still has a couple of glasses of wine on weekends and it doesn't bother me. Live and let live. All I know is I am not even thinking about drinking anymore and have absolutely zero desire to do so. My friends (most of whom do drink socially), haven't batted an eyelid. I think there are so many non-drinkers around nowadays that it is not unusual and nobody cares. In fact several of my friends seem to want to stop as well. Good luck to everyone else on the same path - if you're looking for motivation, look no further than your health. It is largely in your hands.
There are so many benefits to getting sober for good. 
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 710
Congratulations!
People not battering an eyelid has been my experience too.
I spent hours practicing a wide range of excuses to justify my non-drinking to people. 13 months later, I have never had the need to use a single one. I order whatever it is I want in social situations and surprise!!! nobody cares about the alcohol content. In rare occasions, if someone was about to serve me something with alcohol, a polite 'thank you, I don't drink' has been more than enough.
People not battering an eyelid has been my experience too.
I spent hours practicing a wide range of excuses to justify my non-drinking to people. 13 months later, I have never had the need to use a single one. I order whatever it is I want in social situations and surprise!!! nobody cares about the alcohol content. In rare occasions, if someone was about to serve me something with alcohol, a polite 'thank you, I don't drink' has been more than enough.
Life Health Prosperity
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Louisana
Posts: 6,752
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Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,937
Massive respect on the marathon and climbing Kilimanjaro again! So many inspirational stories from people who’ve ditched the alcohol for good.
I’m not climbing any mountains soon or running marathons (although I just about manage sprint triathlons), but I can do many things now I’d never have dreamed of as a drinker. It’s the obvious choice for me not to drink. Do I still get cravings after 20 months? Yes, of course albeit weak ones, but life’s way better - and easier - without alcohol.
Well done again, Joe 👍
I’m not climbing any mountains soon or running marathons (although I just about manage sprint triathlons), but I can do many things now I’d never have dreamed of as a drinker. It’s the obvious choice for me not to drink. Do I still get cravings after 20 months? Yes, of course albeit weak ones, but life’s way better - and easier - without alcohol.
Well done again, Joe 👍
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