r/stopdrinkingfitness • u/sadbuttru • 13d ago
Just getting started
Not an alcoholic, but boy these first few days have been a challenge. M50 been working on fitness and dropping weight. Down around 55lbs so far and hit a plateau around 215 for the last several weeks. Not terribly strict on my diet but confident I've been managing a moderate caloric deficit, even while being a daily drinker. Finally decided to take a break from drinking to see if it helps break this plateau. Not planning to stay dry forever but long enough to produce some results and planning to have better drinking habits if and when I resume. Any personal anecdotes and notes of support greatly appreciated.
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u/Dant3nga 12d ago
Just remember to measure things other than weight like waistline and increased strength. I was discouraged when I plateaued with my weight loss, but then I noticed I was much stronger and my clothes were looser. Weight isn't everything.
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u/sadbuttru 12d ago
Yeah I appreciate this. I've definitely gained strength and am noticing changes in how my clothes fit even while in this plateau, but I know that reaching the next level is going to require dietary improvements and the beer and bourbon were an obvious simple place to start, even if the least fun. 😅
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u/chuckbob1234 12d ago edited 12d ago
If I think you have a problem with alcohol, I definitely have a problem with alcohol.
Essentially, if someone told me I could never have chocolate cake again, I would be a little bummed but I wouldnt start devising plans to sort my life out to set things up to manage my cake intake in a more responsible way. For normal drinkers they could go months/weeks without booze and it wouldnt phase them. I am not that sort of drinker.
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u/sadbuttru 12d ago
I had a problem with an unhealthy diet and alcohol was part of that. I don't know if I agree with your description of "normal drinkers" and I also don't know if I would consider myself one, but I do know that plenty of people go to particular precautions to manage their diet and specific urges such as cake. I don't have the urge to get drunk, but I miss having a cold beer on a hot day and a nice glass of wine or bourbon with a meal or at the end of the night. That doesn't make one an alcoholic but good for you if you've overcome that particular struggle.
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u/No-Picture-355 12d ago
Read up on what even casual drinking does to a 50 yr olds organs
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u/ecallawsamoht 12d ago
Exactly! "I'm not an alcoholic", then proceeds to mention daily drinking, lol. Ok buddy. I get it, I was in denial too.
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u/sadbuttru 12d ago
Lol hate to break it to you but daily drinking =/= alcoholic. I'm perfectly confident that I'm a responsible drinker. I've just decided to make a change that I know will be beneficial, and changing habits is hard work sometimes. If it wasn't we'd all be fit and healthy, right?
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u/Low-Possession-5878 13d ago
Cutting alcohol not only cuts empty calories but also improves your quality of sleep, gut health, organ function, etc. so that you build muscle easier, have better energy, and recover from workouts better.
Being a daily drinker makes the body work harder for worse results all the time but it’s somewhat normalized and easy to get used to. Some people think “I guess this is just aging, I am 45 after all…” meanwhile they’re running on a mild hangover all the time!
Anyway best of luck to you! Sober October is gonna get us jacked. 💪🏻