I gave it up a few years ago. Since then, I dropped about 25 lbs, and got through a tough course which enable me to have a kickass job. I could stay more focused at work, and relaxed better at night than if I’d had ‘chemical assistance’. I don’t have to worry about hangovers, and I don’t have to worry about smelling even slightly boozy if the phone rings at 1:AM (which, it does).
Yes, I have basically given up drinking, semi-permanently. I did for financial reasons and sleep reasons.
I used to drink quit heavily at times and it was wrecking havoc on my sleep patterns.
i still drink a beer or two occasionally, but no more than two. few and far between though, 4 times this year. Once at a casino, once when Osama was killed and three times after a golf game.
A couple of years ago I gave it up for Lent. I am a weekend drinker- Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, not to the point where I’m actually slurring and stumbling, but a nice buzz. My wife and I usually drink a 750ml bottle of wine on those nights, but I drink maybe 3/5ths of it. I might also have 2-3 beers watching a football game mid-day.
For the first few weeks, I guess I slept better but noticed no other changes. Then all of a sudden, at around the one month mark, I lost 7-8 lbs all at once. Like, in a matter of a few days. I suddenly didn’t have that extra paunch in my gut that I had come to loathe. As of Easter Sunday I felt and looked great. I celebrated with a glass of wine.
I think I’ll do it again for Lent next year. It’s a nice opportunity to hit the ‘reset’ button.