Quitting Alcohol

[CRJR45]

Let me ask you guys something. I am not a day drinker at all, but will have a bourbon or three in the evenings before bed every night. I've been trying to cut back the number of nights each week that I have a drink (currently every night). The issue I have is that I can not go to sleep. If I don't have a drink my mind races with work, family stuff, the next days to do list. I lay awake for 2 hours before I fall asleep and then its fitful sleep.

How do some of you who have quit the juice, get to a place where you can fall asleep without it?

I still struggle to sleep sometimes . There ways to train your mind to shut off . A friend , Rooster , would picture the the curtain of the movie theatre closing , slowly , and calm his breathing as it did , and fall asleep before it did .
My EXBIL would picture himself fly fishing in the river , striving for the perfect cast , and he has never fished in real life , but it works for him .
Neither worked for me . I tried hypnosis , all kinds of stuff , nothing .

 

[ODB]

I still struggle to sleep sometimes . There ways to train your mind to shut off . A friend , Rooster , would picture the the curtain of the movie theatre closing , slowly , and calm his breathing as it did , and fall asleep before it did .
My EXBIL would picture himself fly fishing in the river , striving for the perfect cast , and he has never fished in real life , but it works for him .
Neither worked for me . I tried hypnosis , all kinds of stuff , nothing .

I used to have trouble getting to sleep until i realized I was tryign to go to sleep too early. So many people talk about the perfection of the 10-6 sleep schedule, but if I try to go to sleep at 10, it takes me forever to get to sleep and I am up at 2 for no good reason. I experimented pushing later and later and at 11:30 I am actually tired, fall asleep normally and sleep all the way until I wake up refreshed and without an alarm at 6-6:30. I have used the 'flex every muscle from toes up while deep breathing' as well. Seems to help when needed.

Sleep is an odd thing. The wife is in bed at 8;30 and sleeps until 5am - she goes to bed later, she is toast.

It's very much a YMMV thing...

 

[nevadabugle]

I used to have trouble getting to sleep until i realized I was tryign to go to sleep too early. So many people talk about the perfection of the 10-6 sleep schedule, but if I try to go to sleep at 10, it takes me forever to get to sleep and I am up at 2 for no good reason. I experimented pushing later and later and at 11:30 I am actually tired, fall asleep normally and sleep all the way until I wake up refreshed and without an alarm at 6-6:30. I have used the 'flex every muscle from toes up while deep breathing' as well. Seems to help when needed.

Sleep is an odd thing. The wife is in bed at 8;30 and sleeps until 5am - she goes to bed later, she is toast.

It's very much a YMMV thing...

I get that. My work schedule dictates my bed time. When the alarm is going off at 3:45 I simply have to be in bed early. But your point is well taken. I will have to see if its easier falling asleep on the weekends when I stay up a bit later.

 

[schmalzy]

The sleep thing for me was tricky. Ultimately, the more disciplined I was in other areas of my life the less my mind would race at night. And sometimes you just can’t beat it.

Solid cardio, reasonable diet, giving 100% at life, and being in a calm, organized room without a bunch of light seems to consistently work for me.


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[FredBear86]

When I quit 5 years ago I had to have something that filled that time and void. For me it was cardio. I would run a 5k in the morning and a 5k in the evening. I would do 100 push ups, 100 sit ups, and 50 pull ups a day. I was also somewhat fasting. Only ate about 1200 calories a day and lots of protein and only consumed those from 11-2. In 3 months of doing this I lost 25 lbs. 165 to 140. I've never been overweight or anything but gosh I felt so much better. Luckily my job allowed for these things to happen. Best I've ever felt in my life. Head hit the pillow and I was out. Never needed an alarm. 530 and I was awake and ready to go. Then kids came and I can blame it on them that I don't do it anymore but it's my fault. I can still make that same routine happen but I haven't. Gonna strive to get there again.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Let me ask you guys something. I am not a day drinker at all, but will have a bourbon or three in the evenings before bed every night. I've been trying to cut back the number of nights each week that I have a drink (currently every night). The issue I have is that I can not go to sleep. If I don't have a drink my mind races with work, family stuff, the next days to do list. I lay awake for 2 hours before I fall asleep and then its fitful sleep.

How do some of you who have quit the juice, get to a place where you can fall asleep without it?

That goes away if you just stop drinking for a few weeks.

I have a buddy who makes the same claims “I have to have a few whiskeys or I can’t sleep”. Interestingly improves sleep is probably the #1 reported improvement people experience when they quit drinking.

I personally didn’t realize how badly I was sleeping until I stopped the booze. Alcohol may help you fall asleep more quickly but you’re body isn’t getting deep restorative sleep when alcohol is involved.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I wish I felt like I had the time for the workout. Im in good shape (always watch my diet), but could definitely benefit from it. But I leave for work at 430am, get gome at 600pm. Have time to eat, visit with the family about their day and off to bed. Rinse and repeat.

The notepad is a good idea that I could likely fit in while visiting.

Crazy how many middle aged guys who don’t work out think they are in “good shape”.

 

[nevadabugle]

Crazy how many middle aged guys who don’t work out think they are in “good shape”.

I mean its all relative I suppose. I guess what I mean is: I weigh what I did when I was in college. To the pound. I am never embarrassed by my ability to match pace in the mountains with any hunters my age, nor keep up with my kids skiing. Am I in as "good" of shape as I was at 25? No, and there is for sure room for cardio or strength improvements.

I was not using my current shape as an excuse. However I was using my long work days as one.

 

[FredBear86]

I mean its all relative I suppose. I guess what I mean is: I weigh what I did when I was in college. To the pound. I am never embarrassed by my ability to match pace in the mountains with any hunters my age, nor keep up with my kids skiing. Am I in as "good" of shape as I was at 25? No, and there is for sure room for cardio or strength improvements.

I was not using my current shape as an excuse. However I was using my long work days as one.

I would agree with you 100 percent. It's all relative. I have the time to better. You might not. Everybody's atmosphere is different. I have the time to do the right things just have to do them.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I mean its all relative I suppose. I guess what I mean is: I weigh what I did when I was in college. To the pound. I am never embarrassed by my ability to match pace in the mountains with any hunters my age, nor keep up with my kids skiing. Am I in as "good" of shape as I was at 25? No, and there is for sure room for cardio or strength improvements.

I was not using my current shape as an excuse. However I was using my long work days as one.

Sorry I didn’t mean that as an insult, just something I hear fairly often for some reason. I’ve got a good buddy who always tells me how his job keeps him in shape so he dosent need to work out….he’s s car mechanic and while he has skills, it’s not a job that involves daily strenuous activities.

He’s put on about 30lbs in the past few years mostly from drinking several beers every evening and not exercising. For some reason though, he legit thinks he’s in good shape.

I work with another dude who while not “fat” has that typical late middle life (he’s 55) alcoholic body going on. Super skinny arms, no muscle in the shoulders and that round belly thing going on, he always talks says stuff like “that’s why I’m in such good shape, that’s why I don’t even need to work out” type stuff.

You are right, it is all relative and I probably wouldn’t get my workouts in if I had a 430-6 work schedule. I know some rich guys have gnarly schedules and get ripped but I don’t know how.

 

[Bighorse]

VO2 capacity baby! Thinhorn has it right. I perform Cardiac MRI and Cardiac CT's as a imaging technologist. Confidence and anaerobic capacity will create a very strong and explosive movement, in the short term. Aerobic and metabolic conditioning take time and dedication.
Not all hearts are created equal. Some folks just have issues, I'll leave that alone. For normal non-diseased hearts, conditioning pays dividends for everyone. I think I even heard recently that VO2 capacity is one of the best predictors of longevity.
"

VO2​

The relationship between VO2 capacity and longevity is well-documented. Research indicates that higher VO2 max levels are associated with a lower risk of dying from any cause. For instance, one study found that every 1 mL/kg/min increase in VO2 max cuts the risk of death by 9%. Another large study revealed that people with high cardiorespiratory fitness had a 30% lower chance of dying compared to those with low fitness levels. These findings highlight the strong connection between VO2 max and how long you might live. As individuals age, VO2 max typically drops by about 10% every decade after turning 30. However, endurance and strength training can slow this decline, significantly improving VO2 max and overall health. Endurance-trained older adults can maintain aerobic capacities much higher than their untrained peers, contributing to lower risks of disability and longer, healthier lives.

And quitting the sauce allows one to sleep better, facilitating a better overnight cardiac recovery.

Then we can shoulder our loads with a modicum of grace and skill. Hunt smart guys, a man only gets to climb so many peaks in his life. Care for your hearts!

 

[DuckDawg22]

I'll have 5 years in January and still struggle with the sleep part. We stayed in a hotel room with both young kids who use sound machines and wouldn't you know that was some of the best sleep I've had. I now have one on my nightstand and use it to great effect. I will say, we use a simplisafe security system and I went ahead and got sensors for every downstairs window, because you don't hear much with that sound machine running. But in my drinking days, I would've been too passed out to hear anything anyways