Is anyone teetotal?

[THE_Liam]

As for exercise swimming is probably the most low impact exercise you can do. Alot of the time I alternate front crawl with just my arms then back stroke with just my legs to give myself a bit of a rest. You just need to go up to your local pool and plonk yourself in the slow lane and paddle along at f*ck all speed as just getting used to using it is important. Quitting before your tired or hurt is also important.

I'm pretty poor in the water, never been much of a swimmer but it is something I've meant to try.

I havnt got a lot of time to read all the messages in this etc but I've worked on bars for 9 years now. I've seen a lot and I care for a lot of the people who drink, often to excess in the pub.

The best advice I can suggest is to not go near the pubs. They're made to be attractive.

It's all well and good people saying for buy beer and I think I browser and saw someone talking about hobbies?? Set yourself reachable, small targets within a hobby. Investing in a bike is always handy. I really feel for you on this matter mate.

Another thing, you REALLY need the support from you friends and family; hearing they're handing you beers seems to me like it's routine and they know you'll drink. Be open with them, tell them how it is, be strong, take the banter when it comes and find an alternative to alcohol. There're a lot alcohol free/alternative drinks. Ginger beer is a good one, you can get them in cans if you're having a doo or shindig at home.

I really wish you the best of luck

Thanks Steve, I know what you mean about seeing people, I was in the bar game myself for a while and you really do see some sad sights, people who really are out of control, and know it, but can't stop. I'm quite tempted to do it on the sly, ginger beer pretty much looks like cider, and I doubt anyone would notice that I'm not getting pissed because I have a pretty high tolerance, you can't tell I've had a drink until 9-10 pints are down. Just drink soft drinks and not say anything.

Ah that's a real shame.
I wonder if maybe swimming without kicking your legs too much would be a good workout that didn't aggravate the knee too badly.

In any case, don't write off just going to the gym and doing weights, at least it is something! It'd keep you busy in the evenings as well, as like you said, you don't enjoy being stuck in the house, better to go to the gym a few nights a week and the pub only a couple of times than go to the pub and drink all of those times?

The problem with cutting out something completely is that if you don't replace it with something it's much more difficult. Any activity that takes up a few evenings after work might be a good first step?

I am quite tempted to go down the body building route, I'm just worried about piling on excess bulk and weight. It would be good though, I see photos of myself in rugby gear at 16 or 17, with big arms and a flat stomach and I miss it, I'm a right fat fucker now.

The drinking all started when I did my knee, I was gutted because I genuinely was close to playing professionally, I'd had trials at Salford, Batley, Hunslet, Wakefield and Bradford and was waiting to hear on them. I actually got a call from Bradfords coach asking me to meet him to discuss a contract 2 days after I got out of hospital, and I had to explain it was unlikely I'd be able to play again. I'm not a cryer, but I put the phone down and burst into tears, that'd been my dream for 10 years.

Regards your knee.
I'm sure you're a young guy but have you looked into or has anyone ever suggested replacement?
My father had his knee replaced about 12 years ago. Similar injuries in his youth from football and coped with it for years but was unable to do various things.
He did find cycling helped but of course every injury is different.
He's basically regretted not getting it done sooner.
Walks the dog daily a good 15 miles and probably 5 rounds of golf a week too.
Has no complaints at all about it and it's got plenty of life left in it.


I've got similar issues with my shoulder, many dislocations and it's never been right since.
I've also got similar drinking issues. It's never a glass of wine, always the bottle or maybe the second.
The shoulder contributed to that too.
I've done the cold turkey no alcohol thing a couple of times, longest stint being nearly a year.
I'm psychicing myself up to doing it again shortly and permanently. But have to be in the right frame of mind.
Have failed once this year to start. Same deal, it's all or nothing. Additive personality plus other stress factors.
The key for me is to find an alternative distraction. Same goes for food. If I'm not bored (watching TV) then I'll not even think about it.
The Mrs reminding me not to does naff all. It has to be based on personal choice and the inner ability to refuse when offered IMHO.
Approach it as a life style change, not just stopping drinking. I find that has helped me more than just stopping something.
That's how I went cold turkey on smoking. Just found a new social set that didn't partake. Now if I'm near smoking I feel physically sick.

I'm planning to join the gym and swim as an alternative distraction.
It would be nice to get back to the fitness I had in my early twenties.
I need to stop pretending I'm still that age now

The knee replacement is an option for the future, because I've been told I'll probably suffer with arthritis in the joint, but for now I can't see it being better than flesh and bone.

Sounds like your in the same place as me really, kind of a turning point. I really hope it works out for you man

about 3 to 4 years ago, I was so close of going off the rails my self, That was due to work, as I was getting the piss took right out of me, left right and centre. To this day I don't even know how I started, What would happen, would be working 2 till 10 doing a job of 4 people, and that would be it! so when I used to finish I would be full of f*cking hell, and then have a drink with a take away, and then it would start from there, I used to have the odd two bottles a week, but then it started to double and it got to the point where it was every night! I never got pissed but from a lad who didn't drink that much to nearly every night, then there's a problem straight away! I don't smoke either, and I was very close of starting and even thinking about doing cocain! My auntie said I am getting worried about you now, as that's not like you! That's how bad I got with work! also I was starting to get very bad tempered , i do have a bad temper but starting to snap at people, at work. Also starting to be a little un friendly to customers, so i was pushed to the point of beyond caring anymore. Work got worse, full sundays ( busy time of the week) on my own! again doing a job of 5 people this time!
How things stopped for me, was when another job role came a long. so applied for that, and got out of the sour environment, which was starting on an early 6 am starts, instead of 2 pms, So with a worlds a part team, a miles better manager, and better hours, in fact an all round better package.
i had to stop, with the every drinking, and takeaways. As i have to be up at 5am as i started work at 6 am.
i tell you what liam, a soon as i got out of the piss taking environment, that was it! I have come back to my old self! people saw a massive change in me again, and now i drink say once a week now, that maybe 2 to 3 bottles or cans. ( depending on what lager i buy)
best advice i can give you, from my side of points, find out what is causing you hell, and get out of the environment.
Things will sort them selves out from there, and the best part of it all, i don't piss drinking, yeah it was hard to break the habit. but the funny thing is, i a drink orange or something like that. as it was habit of drinking something, so i still drink something, but its not a beer etc. As soon as you have that control, you get set in a routine and your away.
lucky for me i got my self back to been me, as i wouldn't like to have seen where i would be now.
Also the high light, with me changing departments and hours, i have managed to meet woman for once, as now i have the better time, and its worked, i am dating someone now. not yet an item but we are getting there.

I can really relate to that, I work in a high stress job and feel quite out of my depth some days, but it's the job I chose so I'm just having to force myself to learn. Glad things are going well for you man, you've mentioned the work issues before.

Thanks again everyone. Just goes to show that this place is far more than just a car forum.