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.