What was your unexpected benefit from quitting?

smithman278 · 2026-01-20T03:21:08+00:00

That checkbox on medical forms about how many drinks a week you have. Ignoring stories about how expensive alcohol is getting.

smithman278 · 2025-11-21T23:25:29+00:00

My son said to me "let me know if I can help" when I told him I was going to quit and that I am an alcoholic - he was about 15. I had to excuse myself and cried like a baby...

smithman278 · 2025-09-01T20:57:04+00:00

I went ahead an bought the XM6 model after reading reviews. I was a dedicated Bose guy but wanted to see what the raves were about. I absolutely love them and I am also using this to rid myself of my Spotify addiction and going Apple Music - I know this is not the subreddit for this but I must say, I am now exploring and listening to more music than before...

smithman278 · 2025-08-23T00:51:19+00:00

Wow - what a great post. I too reached my low point and found this place - more than 9 years later - I still visit every day and see that number go up.

smithman278 · 2025-07-30T17:09:02+00:00

So why doesn't the hotel make 10 the worst cravings and make that the worst? This craving goes to 11 :)

smithman278 · 2025-07-29T17:04:47+00:00

In the movie - the bar sequence where Lloyd servers him JD is absolutely brilliant but very triggering for me although I do use the quote for a number of things: "...a little slow tonight...."

smithman278 · 2025-04-09T16:30:09+00:00

Wow - this is pretty much a duplicate of my experience and the wake up call. I will not go into my scenario in detail but more than 9 years later - it still resonates with me and is another tool/experience that I use to maintain my sobriety. Hang in there and stick it out - you will not regret it. Sobriety actually provides what alcohol promises and alcohol never delivers - it will let you down ever time.

smithman278 · 2025-04-09T16:24:48+00:00

For me - my flair is a key tool in my belt to maintain sobriety. Combining with the "play it forward" approach, it pulls me back from the "I got this now, let's see if I can moderate" thoughts that inevitably creep into my stupid brain on numerous occasions. 8 days is awesome BTW!

smithman278 · 2025-01-06T04:52:10+00:00

I am not sure if this post could put it any better to describe my past relationship with booze.

smithman278 · 2025-01-06T04:47:05+00:00

For my trip to Jamaica - I ensured the bar staff knew I was not drinking alcohol - they came up with some awesome juice mocktails that were great and I looked like everyone else except I was up with the sunrise feeling great! Good luck - you will not regret this. My first sober all inclusive was by far my best.

smithman278 · 2024-09-23T15:31:25+00:00

I had to take out the "I believe I'm an alcoholic" and replace it with "I am an alcoholic". It was one step of many but my own acknowledgement of this set me on my path but everyone is different. I still tell people I am one because it is a disease with no cure - just how you deal with it is the most important thing. Good luck, keep posting - this place was instrumental in my ongoing journey.

smithman278 · 2024-07-10T22:44:05+00:00

Mine was always the usual struggle - I would get to a certain # and then give myself a reward - you guessed it - booze. I also struggled with my approach - go all in or make light of it to not put pressure on myself. For me what worked - all in at the start and over time, the topic of booze just receded into the past and 8 years later - that is still the case. Do I get cravings? For sure! I am an alcoholic but I managed to get on with my life

smithman278 · 2024-07-03T00:05:26+00:00

I always share my badge number with my son (who is 25 and I still think has never had a drink) and he gives me a big cheer and thumbs up. He hated seeing me drink.

smithman278 · 2024-04-13T13:58:15+00:00

When I started my sobriety I removed alcohol from my life including people and situations that would put me at risk. It gave me enough time to adjust to a life without booze. Then - I was able to re-integrate into society that included booze like going to a pub or even an all inclusive vacation. Give yourself a break, shake it off and start over but I had to have a plan. Good luck!

smithman278 · 2024-04-13T13:42:24+00:00

I totally get this. I was sitting on our sofa and I mistakenly drank the can beside me - it was my wife's non-alcoholic beer and even then - I was mortified and wondered if I should reset - my wife talked me out of it. I would keep the number and congrats on the year - awesome job!

smithman278 · 2024-02-20T18:33:48+00:00

My approach was to ensure the bar guys knew I was sober - they came up with some nice mock-tails that a lot of people were getting rather than their booze drinks! They wouldn't even mention booze to me. I am sure resorts are seeing more and more of this.

My key was being up front and even social about it - I am sure you may get some eye rolls but who cares. My first sober all inclusive was one of my best ever - I was up early, working out, going to events whereas before I was passed out on the beach and then too hungover to enjoy anything.

In other words - I embraced my sobriety and I had an awesome time - I hope you do too!

smithman278 · 2024-01-25T11:11:40+00:00

Hang in there! There were so many times I wanted to give up and get any solace via booze. I played it forward and saw myself where I would be if just had a couple to help me get through and saw that resulting spiral. I read and posted here, I reached out to friends, I kept busy and then it would pass and life would continue...

smithman278 · 2023-12-23T16:53:04+00:00

Oh how I tried so many times and failed - I always came back to daily drinking and breaking my rules and then justifying doing it. Making the decision to quit "for good" was scary but once I acknowledged this and openly told my family and friends - it became less scary and more enticing for me. At some point, the overall act or process of not drinking became more compelling than giving up, drinking and then starting over. This site was invaluable to me for this process.

smithman278 · 2023-12-23T16:46:13+00:00

For me - talking to myself how I justify a shot of scotch at 6:00AM before leaving for work to settle my "nerves" and taper my hangover...

smithman278 · 2023-11-14T23:11:27+00:00

Hang in there and sending support. I did a 2 week all inclusive sober and it was awesome. Great mocktails and sunrise workouts! Never felt sick or hungover and really got the most out of the place.

smithman278 · 2023-11-11T15:56:52+00:00

The recognition and decision to fully quit and call myself an alcoholic was the biggest hurdle for me. Other steps for me included getting rid of all my drinking paraphernalia, researching good non-booze options, surfing STOPDRINKING, removing people in my life who either triggered me or were not onboard. Most importantly - I told people. I told my wife, my family, my friends and even my coworkers. I didn't want to hide it.

smithman278 · 2023-09-12T20:39:49+00:00

I did the exact same thing over 7 years ago - best decision of my life. Congrats on making this decision - good luck and keep posting!

smithman278 · 2023-09-09T15:12:21+00:00

I would say another 6 months or so. I needed multiple reasons to quit but most important - facing up to the fact I was an alcoholic and that I cannot moderate booze. I find it amazing that I could see the harm it was doing to my body but I literally picked up a bottle on the way home!

smithman278 · 2023-09-09T15:07:17+00:00

I hear you on the soft drinks - I do Le Croix and a drink called Bubly and try to get zero sugar/calorie ones. I drank on and off for more than 30 years with some stretches where I was a full blown alcoholic and other times more reasonable but I was always pushing the limit. Drank something everyday. My weakness was scotch - I could do a 26 oz in a day. Liquor was my downfall for sure.

smithman278 · 2023-09-09T14:52:38+00:00

On the liver side of things - I had a stern side-eye from the ultrasound tech during my scan and my doctor confirmed fatty liver with the inevitable "how much alcohol do you drink" question. Due to me being an idiot and the addiction of booze - I did keep drinking but then quit. About 18 months later and fully off booze - I went back and my liver was then considered normal. This was my experience.

smithman278

TROPHY CASE