Post: #2301

(11-28-2018 03:34 PM)loremipsum Wrote:  As my hangovers have become days in a purgatory with nausea, headache and depression, I haven't been drunk in 3 months and there is not even an urge to drink.
So far my life has become so much better, from weekend drinker to enjoying small things in life like good sleep, daygame where no bitch shields and white knights exist, and much more time to spend on working out and being active.

Like someone said on the first pages I can agree, the drunken adventure nights with friends are some of the best memories I too have. Sadly it's not worth it anymore. It may be difficult to consciously prevent yourself attaining more such experiences and memories, but what can you do. There's more to life than alcohol.

I am now experiencing strange hangover symptoms for up to 5 days!
At first I thought I caught a cold or some flu but since I repeatedly suffer from the same symtoms after (binge) drinking I conclude its the alcohol.
After a Saturday night of drinking, the Sunday is the "usual" hangover with nausea, nasty headache and this general fatigue. Monday is still have dry mouth, fatigue and this strange pressure in my head. Usually on Monday evening things are better but then again on Tuesday it seems to get even worse again (and I don't touch any alcohol in that period). It feels like a your brain is fogged, an annoying yet not really painful pressure in the head and I am really tired despite 8 h of sleep. This usually drags on until Thursday if I am unlucky...
Tried everything from vitamins to supplements to tons of water. I know that rather sooner than later I have to quit. Since the just drink less approach hardly works out I might just have to quit completely.

First of all did anybody here experience the same (bad) hangover symptoms? And how do you deal with dates and night game in general without any alcohol?

Post: #2302

(12-18-2018 05:26 PM)EmilErlenmeyer Wrote:  

(11-28-2018 03:34 PM)loremipsum Wrote:  As my hangovers have become days in a purgatory with nausea, headache and depression, I haven't been drunk in 3 months and there is not even an urge to drink.
So far my life has become so much better, from weekend drinker to enjoying small things in life like good sleep, daygame where no bitch shields and white knights exist, and much more time to spend on working out and being active.

Like someone said on the first pages I can agree, the drunken adventure nights with friends are some of the best memories I too have. Sadly it's not worth it anymore. It may be difficult to consciously prevent yourself attaining more such experiences and memories, but what can you do. There's more to life than alcohol.

I am now experiencing strange hangover symptoms for up to 5 days!
At first I thought I caught a cold or some flu but since I repeatedly suffer from the same symtoms after (binge) drinking I conclude its the alcohol.
After a Saturday night of drinking, the Sunday is the "usual" hangover with nausea, nasty headache and this general fatigue. Monday is still have dry mouth, fatigue and this strange pressure in my head. Usually on Monday evening things are better but then again on Tuesday it seems to get even worse again (and I don't touch any alcohol in that period). It feels like a your brain is fogged, an annoying yet not really painful pressure in the head and I am really tired despite 8 h of sleep. This usually drags on until Thursday if I am unlucky...
Tried everything from vitamins to supplements to tons of water. I know that rather sooner than later I have to quit. Since the just drink less approach hardly works out I might just have to quit completely.

First of all did anybody here experience the same (bad) hangover symptoms? And how do you deal with dates and night game in general without any alcohol?

These issues have been discussed many times in this thread. Spend a few hours reading the thread it should provide the answers and hopefully give you the motivation to start your own wagon.

Post: #2303

(12-10-2018 12:08 PM)Scott Wrote:  Gents,

I'm climbing aboard the wagon.

I've had a few instances lately where drinking has absolutely wiped me out the next day, and on reflection, I wasn't performing my best even under the influence. I think I'll stick to coffee.

I don't think I'm a huge drinker anyway, but I might as well officially cut it out to save money, efficiency, and dignity.

Scott, thank you for the post. If you are in for a full year, please post your start date here and I will officially welcome you aboard.

Post: #2304

(12-17-2018 06:44 AM)felixio3232 Wrote:  Jumped on the wagon 17th Sept.

I waited until now to post as I'd previously tried to start a wagon a few times over the years but hadn't made it past 3 months.

This thread has been instrumental in reframing how I viewed not drinking. Also in helping me understand how to handle social situations without it.

Thanks to all the posters and LOZ.

felixio3232, very glad to hear this. Just to confirm, are you in for a full year as of September 17, 2018?

Post: #2305

(12-17-2018 09:24 PM)rdvirus Wrote:  428 days without a drink as of tonight.. moving towards dreams that always seemed just out of reach when I was drinking. The grass is greener fellas

rdvirus, that's great news, congrats on completing the 1 year wagon and a +1 rep point from me.

If your intention is to continue on the wagon -- which I take it to be from your post -- please post here to that effect and I will be delighted to welcome you back on board for the second year. Even if the decision feels like a matter of course, there is always great value in taking a few moments to reflect on it, and in stating it explicitly and for the record.

Post: #2306

I'm closing in on 3 years without a drop of alcohol (January 1st, 2019), and I will say, if a man wants to escape the blue pill matrix, quitting alcohol long term is one of the most effective techniques. In my first year, I started my incorporated business and wrote my life mission. In year two and three I have transitioned into what black dragon calls the alpha male 2.0 lifestyle with my woman and business (These are ranked as my top 2 in my seven life areas). I still have some life areas I need to get above 7/10 but I can say without doubt I would've never reached where I am without quitting drinking. The end game for my drinking habits and the wagon challenge is this (I have written as part of a mid term goal and part of my personal code): I must hit a net worth of 1 million USD in assets to be allowed to drink alcohol again in the next two years (goal). Once I drink again I will always limit myself to only two drinks in a day. I will only drink with my OLTR, close friends, and family members only (personal code).
My advice to anyone who knows what they're worth but has been hitting a wall in their life, QUIT DRINKING TODAY! Take the challenge this second, do not hesitate

Post: #2307

(12-23-2018 12:09 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

(12-17-2018 06:44 AM)felixio3232 Wrote:  Jumped on the wagon 17th Sept.

I waited until now to post as I'd previously tried to start a wagon a few times over the years but hadn't made it past 3 months.

This thread has been instrumental in reframing how I viewed not drinking. Also in helping me understand how to handle social situations without it.

Thanks to all the posters and LOZ.

felixio3232, very glad to hear this. Just to confirm, are you in for a full year as of September 17, 2018?

Yes - just passed 100 days and curious to see where the rest of the year takes me!

Post: #2308

Fack boys. Was dating a girl for the last while, and I have no shame in admitting I caught some feels for her. Really liked this girl, we were actually talking about moving in with each other, however she just left me; just a single long winded text message and that was that. First instinct, despite not having a drop of booze for about 3 1/3 years, was to go to the liquor store and just get smashed

One thing i am grateful for regarding the wagon is that I know that, no matter how shitty i May feel right now, I know that the feeling will ALWAYS pass. In the past I would always immediately turn to the bottle and keep kicking the can down the road, but now that’s no longer an option. Happy to be able to read this thread again and wallow in my misery just for tonight, stone cold sober. Tomorrow’s another day...

Post: #2309

4 years sober since yesterday.
I had some time to reflect on it and although it's not always easy, it's been the best thing I've ever done for myself. I am very very grateful for being able to enjoy life sober!

I will of course join the wagon for year number 5 starting December 26th.

@komatiite: Sorry about your breakup, it's crazy how those instincts don't seem to go away. You should be proud for facing life stone cold sober and not doing what nearly everyone else would be doing, getting drunk and feeling like shit the next day(s).

Learning to face reality and not hiding behind the bullshit and actually experiencing one's own emotions is the most mindblowing thing concerning this wagon if you ask me.

Post: #2310

(12-26-2018 06:55 AM)felixio3232 Wrote:  

(12-23-2018 12:09 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

(12-17-2018 06:44 AM)felixio3232 Wrote:  Jumped on the wagon 17th Sept.

I waited until now to post as I'd previously tried to start a wagon a few times over the years but hadn't made it past 3 months.

This thread has been instrumental in reframing how I viewed not drinking. Also in helping me understand how to handle social situations without it.

Thanks to all the posters and LOZ.

felixio3232, very glad to hear this. Just to confirm, are you in for a full year as of September 17, 2018?

Yes - just passed 100 days and curious to see where the rest of the year takes me!

Thank you. Welcome aboard as of September 17, 2018 and I look forward to hearing more from you here as time goes on.

Post: #2311

(12-27-2018 09:15 AM)filio Wrote:  4 years sober since yesterday.
I had some time to reflect on it and although it's not always easy, it's been the best thing I've ever done for myself. I am very very grateful for being able to enjoy life sober!

I will of course join the wagon for year number 5 starting December 26th.

filio, I love hearing that. It's good to think of all the days, months, and years of thought and experience that went into the making of that "of course". When you can say "of course" just like that and it sounds and feels completely earned, you know that you've traveled a long way in these four wagon years. The short English monosyllables never lie; they either fall with the sound of authority, or they don't -- and here, it's completely unquestioned. It proves out the wagon as much as any long post ever could.

Welcome back aboard for year 5 as of December 26, 2018, and hope to hear more from you in this thread over time.

Post: #2312

The time has finally come for me and I’m in for a full year drinking wagon effective September 30th, 2018. What started as a sober October ended up being a three month stretch of no booze while I crushed a long stint at work in an alcohol free work camp. After that I decided to take a two week vacation to Mexico where I wasn’t sure if I could handle not drinking but sure enough, I did. There was definitely a few times where I wanted to sit at a bar and slam coronas all day then drink margaritas and tequila shots all night. I’m glad that I didn’t and ended up having a very relaxing vacation, I haven’t slept this well in a long time. I’m at the airport now en route back to Canada where, for the first time in eight years, I’m going to work a full winter and freeze my ass off. I will stay off of the booze, although I won’t be in a camp and could drink, I know that with the short days and cold weather, drinking won’t make it better at all.

2019 is a year for me to get shit done career and money wise, I look forward to reading this post next fall and celebrating a full year without alcohol. I’ll be checking in here often, thanks guys and especially Lizard of Oz for creating this, I should’ve joined earlier!

Post: #2313

scotian, that's truly great news, and something I'm very excited to hear -- thrilled might be a better word. You are one of the true hard drinkers on the forum -- one of the guys for whom I posted this thread more than 5 years ago. The record will show that yours was the very first "like" on the post about drinking, depression, and rapid aging that I wrote not long after joining the RVF. And now you're here in the wagon thread committing to a 1 year wagon. It means a great deal to me, more than I can say.

It won't be easy for you -- like I said, you are one of the true hard drinkers, the real thing, and you're going to feel it as the seasons roll on. You'll feel it through the harsh winter; and you'll really feel it when it gets warm again and you're off work and someplace sunny. The wagon will try you -- but if you just stick to your guns no matter what and refuse to budge from your decision, you are going to make it. You can have a truly great life, and in a way that very few men who spent their twenties and early thirties like you have ever do. You've given the life of drinking everything it deserved and more, a heaping measure; now is the right time to walk away, with your health and your spirit still intact. It's so good that you have the good sense to see that.

Welcome aboard as of September 30, 2018 and I look forward to hearing more from you here as time goes on.

Post: #2314

Right on Scotian
I just looked back at my texts and looks like we met each other on Sept 28 just two days before your Sept 30 start date so that’s some good timing!
Keep in touch and if I’m ever in your neck of the woods or Vice Versa let me know and we can do some sober activities lol
Good luck with the big winter work stint. Hopefully we can get one more boom in the ol Canadian oil patch this winter!

Post: #2315

(12-30-2018 03:56 PM)scotian Wrote:  The time has finally come for me and I’m in for a full year drinking wagon effective September 30th, 2018. What started as a sober October ended up being a three month stretch of no booze while I crushed a long stint at work in an alcohol free work camp. After that I decided to take a two week vacation to Mexico where I wasn’t sure if I could handle not drinking but sure enough, I did. There was definitely a few times where I wanted to sit at a bar and slam coronas all day then drink margaritas and tequila shots all night. I’m glad that I didn’t and ended up having a very relaxing vacation, I haven’t slept this well in a long time. I’m at the airport now en route back to Canada where, for the first time in eight years, I’m going to work a full winter and freeze my ass off. I will stay off of the booze, although I won’t be in a camp and could drink, I know that with the short days and cold weather, drinking won’t make it better at all.

2019 is a year for me to get shit done career and money wise, I look forward to reading this post next fall and celebrating a full year without alcohol. I’ll be checking in here often, thanks guys and especially Lizard of Oz for creating this, I should’ve joined earlier!

From one oil guy to another, you can do this brother! Like Lizard said, winter will be challenging and summer even more. Just imagine yourself on an LOA job with scaffolders drinking every night at the casino/hotel you're staying in. Once I passed that test I knew any amount of time I don't want to drink I can accomplish now. You got this and I can't wait to hear how well you do over the next year!

Post: #2316

The time has come for a dry 2019 for me.

After 15 years of weekend boozing since the age of 15, my body can’t handle it any more. Hangovers worse, sleep impacted for the whole week. I feel a million bucks without booze. I love waking up absurdly early and hitting the beach for a workout or surf. I love feeling totally clear headed and stable 24/7. I love the natural high I get when talking to someone interesting or doing something fun.

I gained nothing from drinking except some great memories which are of no use now. The long term relationships I I formed with booze’s assistance didnt work out. Maybe I’ll meet some different girls with a less booze filled lifestyle.

A big thanks to the members of this thread for providing inspiration and accountability. I hope to provide a progress report in a year’s time.

Post: #2317

(12-30-2018 11:07 PM)marcusdivincenzo Wrote:  The time has come for a dry 2019 for me.

After 15 years of weekend boozing since the age of 15, my body can’t handle it any more. Hangovers worse, sleep impacted for the whole week. I feel a million bucks without booze. I love waking up absurdly early and hitting the beach for a workout or surf. I love feeling totally clear headed and stable 24/7. I love the natural high I get when talking to someone interesting or doing something fun.

I gained nothing from drinking except some great memories which are of no use now. The long term relationships I I formed with booze’s assistance didnt work out. Maybe I’ll meet some different girls with a less booze filled lifestyle.

A big thanks to the members of this thread for providing inspiration and accountability. I hope to provide a progress report in a year’s time.

marcusdivincenzo, thank you for the post. Is January 1, 2019 going to be your start date? If so, please confirm on the day itself (or later) and I will be happy to welcome you on board.

Post: #2318

(12-30-2018 11:40 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

(12-30-2018 11:07 PM)marcusdivincenzo Wrote:  The time has come for a dry 2019 for me.

After 15 years of weekend boozing since the age of 15, my body can’t handle it any more. Hangovers worse, sleep impacted for the whole week. I feel a million bucks without booze. I love waking up absurdly early and hitting the beach for a workout or surf. I love feeling totally clear headed and stable 24/7. I love the natural high I get when talking to someone interesting or doing something fun.

I gained nothing from drinking except some great memories which are of no use now. The long term relationships I I formed with booze’s assistance didnt work out. Maybe I’ll meet some different girls with a less booze filled lifestyle.

A big thanks to the members of this thread for providing inspiration and accountability. I hope to provide a progress report in a year’s time.

marcusdivincenzo, thank you for the post. Is January 1, 2019 going to be your start date? If so, please confirm on the day itself (or later) and I will be happy to welcome you on board.

Thanks. Dec 28 2018 official no alcohol commencement date.

Post: #2319

I never posted in this thread before, but I actually pledged not to drink for all of 2018 and I'm less than 24 hours from completing the goal. It's actually going to be a bit over a year since I started abstaining in the middle of December of 2017 but the commitment I had made was for all of 2018, not just one year so that's what I stuck to.

My story is different from most of the people's here. I never had any sort of struggle or issue with alcohol. In fact, I was never a big drinker in the first place. What prompted me to take the pledge was me thinking about why exactly I drink when I don't derive the same joy from it that most people do. I can't tell the difference between the types of beer or wine and I find myself always rolling eyes when I hear people talking about IPAs, microbrews, how hoppy a beer is, etc.

So why do I order beers or drinks when I'm out? I believe it's just because I'm following the cultural programming: hey I'm out, there's lots of loud stimulation. A lot of people get alcohol in these environments, so I'll do the same. When I look at it from a cost-benefit analysis, I see that I'm getting very little benefit for the cost of bodily damage. Now, I probably was having no more than 2-3 drinks a month so the damage no where compares to the damage inflicted on a person who goes out drinking regularly on the weekend...but why should I accept even this small amount of damage when I'm deriving little positive feelings out of it? I also drink soda which I enjoy and I accept the affects on my health and waistline because I like having a coke with my fries in the same way someone likes wine with their steak, but why should I accept a similar negative effect for something I don't particularly enjoy consuming?

Having said all that, I was wondering if I should continue being as strict going into 2019 as I was this year. If I'm out with some of my friends and someone offers me a beer, should I go out of my way to decline it in the same way I was this year? I don't think I'm in danger of falling into any sort of bad habit considering that I was never a big drinker even when I imposing any sort of rule of abstinence on myself, but then there's the reasons I gave above. Any thoughts?

Post: #2320

Good work Wutang.

I'd say try to stay on the wagon; it's easy to keep on it than hop on and hop off at will. Plus, if you've not drunk alcohol for a year, you'll find your body may react quite badly to even one beer.

Post: #2321

I forgot to mention. There was one night when I was out and I had O Douls which I thought would be fine since it's an non-alcoholic beer. After finishing the beer, I felt a bit of a buzz which I found strange. I looked at the bottle and saw there's actually 0.5% alcohol in it which I had no idea about. That's the one time where I did consume alcohol this year but other than that, I've been stone cold sober. If that's enough to get me buzzed, you are likely right about how my body might get banged up from one real beer.

Post: #2322

(12-31-2018 10:13 AM)marcusdivincenzo Wrote:  

(12-30-2018 11:40 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

(12-30-2018 11:07 PM)marcusdivincenzo Wrote:  The time has come for a dry 2019 for me.

After 15 years of weekend boozing since the age of 15, my body can’t handle it any more. Hangovers worse, sleep impacted for the whole week. I feel a million bucks without booze. I love waking up absurdly early and hitting the beach for a workout or surf. I love feeling totally clear headed and stable 24/7. I love the natural high I get when talking to someone interesting or doing something fun.

I gained nothing from drinking except some great memories which are of no use now. The long term relationships I I formed with booze’s assistance didnt work out. Maybe I’ll meet some different girls with a less booze filled lifestyle.

A big thanks to the members of this thread for providing inspiration and accountability. I hope to provide a progress report in a year’s time.

marcusdivincenzo, thank you for the post. Is January 1, 2019 going to be your start date? If so, please confirm on the day itself (or later) and I will be happy to welcome you on board.

Thanks. Dec 28 2018 official no alcohol commencement date.

A solid date. Welcome aboard as of December 28, 2018 and I hope to hear more from you in this thread over time.

Post: #2323

(12-23-2018 12:44 PM)musashi Wrote:  I'm closing in on 3 years without a drop of alcohol (January 1st, 2019), and I will say, if a man wants to escape the blue pill matrix, quitting alcohol long term is one of the most effective techniques. In my first year, ...

Congrats man. So you started this on New Year 2016. How was it for you personally to start this on New Year?

I relate a lot to your story. So far I haven't been sober for more than a week.. I'm thinking more and more about alcohol and the effects. It's sad, but for the last 10 years I can't really think about any great professional accomplishments. It just kills my productivity and I am definitely still in the ''blue pill'' reality. Not just because of alcohol but i guess it's a part that I don't need and it will probably give me about 40-50 extra hours per week not partying and having a hangover.

I want to read more, do more day game (so far I'm still scared approaching girls during day, alcohol helps me A LOT at night, so excited for this), start a business, spend more time with family and becoming healthier, I also want to learn Korean.

Starting from today I'm going to shift these priorities. I have a big party today, and will start not drinking from tonight!

Post: #2324

Hell yea boys wagon is gonna be lit 2019!
Enjoy your last drinks Kentemo and welcome to the thread!
And congrats WuTang on your one year!

Post: #2325

(12-31-2018 01:55 PM)Wutang Wrote:  I forgot to mention. There was one night when I was out and I had O Douls which I thought would be fine since it's an non-alcoholic beer. After finishing the beer, I felt a bit of a buzz which I found strange. I looked at the bottle and saw there's actually 0.5% alcohol in it which I had no idea about. That's the one time where I did consume alcohol this year but other than that, I've been stone cold sober. If that's enough to get me buzzed, you are likely right about how my body might get banged up from one real beer.

Ha! I was at a friend's house for Christmas lunch and he had a full spread of fine rum and scotch... I opened the Macallan 12 and just smelled it. Corked it and put it back on the table. Went to the dessert table and got a little peanut butter ball looking thing. Took a bite and realized it had a very strong taste of liquor in it! I put the other half back on my plate and my friend happily finished it! Good luck to each of us for a great 2019! Thank you!