@chiral I don’t have any resources for you but just wanted to express my support for the change you want to make. Good luck mate.
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I would recommend the book “Alcohol Explained” by William Porter. It’s a very down to earth book written by a guy who used to drink a lot, and who explains in plain English all the aspects and downsides of drinking alcohol.
While reading the book, I’ve several times asked myself the question what kind of idiot can keep drinking alcohol after reading this or that part of the book? (me)
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Pawel good point!
btw. are you polish? I guess by your name and last name
Tak jest !
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I stopped drinking on January 1st last year as part of my training plan and did drink a drop until race season was over on August 27th. I lost 30 lbs., my resting heart rate was consistently 48-55, and my race performance was great. I’m drinking 2 drink 3 days a week in the off season and I’ll stop again on New Years Day. Do it, it’s a good plan!
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@chiral, been dealing with some stress anxiety and drinking problems myself. After talking to gp one of the most help full things I did was keep a diary of moods and feelings throughout the day. It helped identify patterns of stress and anxiety, my main problem, for me drink became the relief. The Courage to be Disliked is a book the gp recommended, I’ve found it helpful and might be worth checking out. Headspace is a meditation app been using as well.
Drink really impacts on sleep quality, I never realized how much until I started to get good regular sleep.
If you haven’t already spoke to a gp or similar I’d recommend you do, just talking about your problems are first steps to finding what will help you. All the best
This book worked for me. (saved my life):
Easy Way to Control Alcohol (Allen Carr’s Easyway) Paperback – 30 Sep 2009
I have not stopped drinking fully but I have made significant changes to by alcohol consumption.
I work away from home so eat out every night thru the week. It became a habit to have a pint or 3 with my meal each night, this level crept up on me withe out really noticing. Plus I was having a good drink Friday and Saturday, with a few more on a Sunday afternoon.
About 4 weeks agog I totally stopped all working week & Sunday drinks (I now have alcohol free drinks.
I still drink Friday and Saturday (because I like a drink) but I see it as a big improvement.
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It used to be that I took 2-3 alcohol consumptions over dinner… wine or beer. I like the bourgondic lifestyle, so I also like cooking.
I have cut back on drinking since a year or so. I only allow myself to drink on the weekend, and not more than 3-4 consumptions per time. There are some exceptions, such as birthdays or social events. But since I have a busy worklife, that seldomly occurs.
Alcohol made me tired and made it relatively more difficult for me to get up and do my routine.
Overall, now, I feel much fitter and focused. It is more easy for me to cycle in the morning. For example, the next morning after 2-3 drinks, I for sure was not on the bike by 8:00 am. Now, I can easily start a 4-5h endurance session at 8:00. I am also “always fit”, if I also take care of my sleep properly.
I never want to give up feeling fit. And alcohol makes you less fit and a bit more sleepy throughout the day. If you are really used to drinking 2-3 a day, you no longer notice it. But when you completely come clean and do not drink mostly for a month, only on the weekens, you will really notice how fit you can be. That is the largest motivation for me. And being able to cycle, of course.
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When i was drunken that time i could not understand anything so i took many wrong decisions in my life. Everything has changed now. I had decided what i wanted in my life. I met with various successful peoples, who inspired me and this time one of my friend suggested me to read some inspirational books and i got My Life My Shovel which is effective for me. Anyway, best of guys.
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I stopped drinking 2 years ago on XMas. By far the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I have lost 37 pounds since then with still some work to do. There is not room for it since I am laser focused on training and improving my riding skills and endurance. I am mainly a mountain biker but purchased a CX bike this fall and have been riding that outside when the weather allows and using it for TR workouts.
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I’m out for January anyway. I’ve quit before but I have to say it didn’t make much positive difference to me. Here’s hoping it does this time 
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Our team has a ride more/drink less challenge, this is year 2.
Enter the time you’ve ridden each day.
For every drink you have, 15 minutes of ride time is subtracted.
Total time overall wins the contest. This year I am adding a couple other categories.
The public accountability helps a lot.
Last year was a google doc, this year had it put together on a little website. Any club guys out there who want to do the same thing, I’m happy to help/show how it works.
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Lotto just stopped.
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I’m in the same boat… can quit for weeks/months but when I do eventually open a bottle of wine, within 2 weeks it becomes habitual and I usually end up drinking every night which results in disturbed sleep and it kills my recovery between sessions!!
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Never been much of a drinker but having an IPA once every week or two is nice. I generally prefer Cannabis (in the form of edibles or oils) as it helps keep me relaxed, sleep well and numbs my joint pain.
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I did the whole weekend binge drinking thing in college and in my 20s. But never much more than an occasional beer during the week. Now I drink craft beers because I like them but typically limit myself to a few times a week. and normally it ends up being a couple beers when I’m out for a meal at a bar and a couple of other nights where I just have one beer in the evening.
It’s pretty easy to drink and eat way too much during lockdown - especially that a lot of races are off now (including mine - Ironman in June).
So I’ve started this week-end a 50 days without alcohol - I think the longest I’ve done was 1 month. I’m pretty curious about the results !
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For me? Drinking = So. Much. Wasted. Time. Kudos to anyone who can moderate and enjoy sensibly, but I was never in that camp and–seven years ago–I came to the conclusion that It Just Wasn’t Worth It. Booze serves zero purpose as far as I’m concerned, it offers a one-sided relationship: all take and no give. Hope the lockdown doesn’t push too many folks to the, uh, tippling point with consumption. It’s a hard bell to unring.
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