Ignoring the negative effects of alcohol.

[dialtone]

I've personally battled with alcohol since I was 20. I am person who is very health conscious and my physical fitness and appearance is very important to me. I've gone through phases where I drink very often, even when it is not a social situation. I then remember all of the harmful effects of alcohol on fitness and health (especially combined with the use of anabolics) and this typically suppresses my urge to drink.

I can't seem to figure out why sometimes my urge to drink is stronger than my urge to stay healthy and fit. There is typically a "rock bottom" point that I reach where it slaps me in the face that I can not drink in order to achieve certain goals...but the urge remains.

Some people drink to substitute for other areas of their life in which they have lost something or are not satisfied with the way things are going. Is it simply a habit that we form is there an underlying addiction?

 

[Nitszo]

I've personally battled with alcohol since I was 20. I am person who is very health conscious and my physical fitness and appearance is very important to me. I've gone through phases where I drink very often, even when it is not a social situation. I then remember all of the harmful effects of alcohol on fitness and health (especially combined with the use of anabolics) and this typically suppresses my urge to drink.

I can't seem to figure out why sometimes my urge to drink is stronger than my urge to stay healthy and fit. There is typically a "rock bottom" point that I reach where it slaps me in the face that I can not drink in order to achieve certain goals...but the urge remains.

Some people drink to substitute for other areas of their life in which they have lost something or are not satisfied with the way things are going. Is it simply a habit that we form is there an underlying addiction?

As you said, Some people drink to substitute for other areas of their life in which they have lost.
I have had multiple friends whose fathers have left them and there mothers have started drinking because of it *Also same for Mothers leaving and Farthers drinking*, Kinda like "Company" or something if that makes sense or at-least something to take there mind of there problems, which leads to more problems.
I have also seen what drinking can do to a Person, in fact it has hurt lots of peoples whole familys.
I have seen a kind woman, loving, caring.. turn into a monster (Punching, Kicking, Swearing, Making other family members bleed) for over nothing & waking up the next day completely unaware of there actions.
I do think drinking is addictive, as it can take away the pain of your life if your blind drunk which some people want, could be over guilt or anger, hate, love..

Drinking is also a way for young & old people to socialize & bring people together.

Sometimes when Parents are to strict, I have seen kids when they get a chance to drink, abuse it more then kid whose Parent would let them drink, because they know that they are allowed too.

Some people choose other paths instead of drinking, Some people choose "food" as comfort after a divorce or problem in there life & what not, and that usually leads to obesity and or heart attack, but I find that is vary rare compared to Alcoholics.

Alcohol is a terrible thing, infact i would call it a "Drug".
In all honesty drinking should be illegal.
It leads to Drink Driving, Which leads to Drunk Driving and Running into a house, Killing a Child, Running over Animals, Crashing into other people which can lead to death & in most cases does.
Leads to Kids drinking, which leads to fights and kids always use bottles as weapons.
Kids get it from there parents, which can be a good or bad thing. (Good because it makes the child aware, Bad because they shouldn't do it, Shows kids that its "OK" to drink, asif its not a choice which then leads to them drinking in the future)
Leads to unprotected sex, which can lead into spreading of diseases like HIV.
People who are drunk, are totally unaware of there actions, I have seen it.
It doesn't push people to murder someone, because that depends on there state of mind, but if they have killed someone before or if they have no respect for the human life I can assure you that its a possibility.

Drinking is Addictive. I have seen it, I am aware of it & I have seen peoples lives and family's ruined multiple times.
Its the worse fucking thing ever.

It really all depends on the persons state of mind, there will-power & where they have come from "Parents".
Peer Pressure also plays a factor, but I consider that "state of mind"

 

[bigherm2121]

Get post guys I sometimes feel the same way dtone. I used to drink a lot then one day something clicked and said your an asshole. So now I barely even drink. For one because doesn't mix well with Aas And number two I just don't feel like i need it. If i go out on the weekends that's different, but even then I don't get shitfaced. Maybe a few beers or couple shots. Nada crazy I just feel lucky I have good will power and a lot of people don't. Alcoholism is very bad.

 

[nerdalert]

this is a topic that I can relate to very well unfortunately. I come from a long line of alcoholics and I grew up watching the effects on my family. I had my times in my youth where I would drink socially, which grew into me trying to drink as much as I could and usually not handling it too well. I don't know how to explain it but at some point I just looked at myself and told myself that I can't do this anymore. I did not want to have the same life as the others in my family had, and I was not going to put my family through this. For whatever reason it worked for me this way, maybe it was all of the al-anon meetings and other meetings that my mom made me sit through. My dad ended up quitting drinking for 15 years before he passed away and he actually helped alot of others find sobriety as well. It is a tough thing to battle against especially with it being so socially accepted.Think of it this way, if you have the willpower to DIET and workout so hard to get yourself in shape and stay in shape then you should be mentally strong enough to keep that in control as well.

 

[bigherm2121]

this is a topic that I can relate to very well unfortunately. I come from a long line of alcoholics and I grew up watching the effects on my family. I had my times in my youth where I would drink socially, which grew into me trying to drink as much as I could and usually not handling it too well. I don't know how to explain it but at some point I just looked at myself and told myself that I can't do this anymore. I did not want to have the same life as the others in my family had, and I was not going to put my family through this. For whatever reason it worked for me this way, maybe it was all of the al-anon meetings and other meetings that my mom made me sit through. My dad ended up quitting drinking for 15 years before he passed away and he actually helped alot of others find sobriety as well. It is a tough thing to battle against especially with it being so socially accepted.Think of it this way, if you have the willpower to DIET and workout so hard to get yourself in shape and stay in shape then you should be mentally strong enough to keep that in control as well.

Great post nerd! Very inspirational. It's amazing how so many people are connected with such the same situations. As stated above I pretty much went through the same thing as well as a lot of other people in tjis world. You have shows like jersey shore that are so popular with the younger crowd, that pretty much promote drinking. I come from a city where drinking is so so popular. There's bars everywhere and its seems like everyone i know just partys. I came to my senses and kinda got out of that scene. I still occasionally go out but not is much. With people fighting, shooting each other, robbing, its almost not even worth it to me. I kinda got interested in new things. Working out is one of the many. I think theres always a turning point in someone's life to drive them to that. I know I had onr.

 

[Nitszo]

Me Three, Just goes to show you fucked Alcohol is.

 

[Mrs P]

I've personally battled with alcohol since I was 20. I am person who is very health conscious and my physical fitness and appearance is very important to me. I've gone through phases where I drink very often, even when it is not a social situation. I then remember all of the harmful effects of alcohol on fitness and health (especially combined with the use of anabolics) and this typically suppresses my urge to drink.

I can't seem to figure out why sometimes my urge to drink is stronger than my urge to stay healthy and fit. There is typically a "rock bottom" point that I reach where it slaps me in the face that I can not drink in order to achieve certain goals...but the urge remains.

Some people drink to substitute for other areas of their life in which they have lost something or are not satisfied with the way things are going. Is it simply a habit that we form is there an underlying addiction?

I think Alcohol is more of a psychologically addictive drug. Of course your body will become addicted to it too.
but I think people mostly drink because they feel they cannot live without alcohol.

Most alcoholics drink because they don't want to deal with their emotions, so they rather numb them & drink. To the alcoholic drinking solves problems or at least they avoid the problems "short term" to them,it'seasier to drink than to face their problems.

My dad struggled with alcoholism for years, he had a very rough childhood, grew up without a mom, etc..
and the way he delt with his issues was by drinking, although he was a great man & loving father whom I admired & idolised, I knew his behavior was wrong & was destroying him.

Growing up I watched his struggles to quit, he would quit for a while and then something would trigger him to start drinking again. As I got older I understood his drinking was a form of self destruction, and an addiction.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer & that was his turning point, he quit once and for all.

For me watching what he went through & what alcohol does to families was enough to never want to live or put my family through a life like that.

I do have a glass of wine occasionally, but for me, living a healthy life it's important, so I would never let alcohol control my life.

I hope those suffering from alcoholism realize they have a problem & get the help they need.

 

[Georgia]

My stepdad was the biggest alcoholic I ever knew or heard of. He would drink from the time he woke up to the time he went to bed. Lost his jobs...lost my mom. Now he lives home alone in an apartment swollen up like a water melon due to massive water retention and only 30% of his liver even works. Was supposed to be dead like 4-5 Christmases ago.

But he had a VERY good life growing up. Extremelyyyy rich family that comes from a line of Senators and Congressmen. He was very sheltered and had no qualms about life. Why he turned to alcohol I do not know. But it sucked him in and now he's pathetically dying alone and in pain. 400-ish pounds and can not get up out of his chair only to use the bathroom due to his swollen feet.

But anyways, I learned my lesson through that. I drink only socially and few and far in between. Alcohol in moderation. It is a drug...it is addicting and it does alter your state of mind. Too much of any drug is never good.

 

[traviswyliedime]

My dad was an alcoholic and growing up with that was just aweful. He would drink from sun up to sun down to the point where he drank himself sober. I guess it was because that was his way of coping with everyday stresses. Most of my childhood was in and out of hospitals. Everyone said I would end up just like him and I didn't believe them. But my friends and I started drinking for fun on the weekends and soon it ended up being every night. Later on I watched a friend of mine get killed in front of me and I ended up drinking alone just to go to sleep. As soon as I got into bodybuilding and knew I wanteed to achieve something in the sport I stopped cold turkey..never touched a drink since. But my fear is what happens once bodybuilding is done for me? What am I going to turn to?

 

[coolhandjames]

OP, at least you don't smoke crack.

This may sound funny but today you wouldn't believe the caliber of people on this drug... we're talking businessmen, young kids, teachers... fucked up man !

 

[catazura66]

I think Alcohol is more of a psychologically addictive drug. Of course your body will become addicted to it too.
but I think people mostly drink because they feel they cannot live without alcohol.

Most alcoholics drink because they don't want to deal with their emotions, so they rather numb them & drink. To the alcoholic drinking solves problems or at least they avoid the problems "short term" to them,it'seasier to drink than to face their problems.

My dad struggled with alcoholism for years, he had a very rough childhood, grew up without a mom, etc..
and the way he delt with his issues was by drinking, although he was a great man & loving father whom I admired & idolised, I knew his behavior was wrong & was destroying him.

Growing up I watched his struggles to quit, he would quit for a while and then something would trigger him to start drinking again. As I got older I understood his drinking was a form of self destruction, and an addiction.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer & that was his turning point, he quit once and for all.

For me watching what he went through & what alcohol does to families was enough to never want to live or put my family through a life like that.

I do have a glass of wine occasionally, but for me, living a healthy life it's important, so I would never let alcohol control my life.

I hope those suffering from alcoholism realize they have a problem & get the help they need.

Great post Mrs P. And, I appreciate your thoughts and approach too.

My Father has drunk since he was 16yrs old and his current diagnosis is: His Brain has actually shrunk due to the years of drinking alcohol. The specialist refuses to treat his condition re 'Self inflicted condition'. I'm currently fighting his case. But, I agree it was by choice and self inflicted. My Father was never abusive or violent due to alcohol consumption. He worked hard for 30yrs in his career to uphold the law.

Alcoholism is called a "dual disease" since it includes both mental and physical components. The biological mechanisms that cause alcoholism are not well understood. Social environment, stress, mental health, family history, age, ethnic group, and gender all influence the risk for the condition. Long-term alcohol abuse produces changes in the brain's structure and chemistry such as tolerance and physical dependence. These changes maintain the person with alcoholism's compulsive inability to stop drinking and result in alcohol withdrawal syndrome if the person stops. Alcohol damages almost every organ in the body, including the brain. The cumulative toxic effects of chronic alcohol abuse can cause both medical and psychiatric problems.

I myself have sadly become a victim of alcohol and the darkness that is guaranteed to come along with it. I have been for treatment etc etc... Seen my Father deteriorate but continue down the dark road of alcohol every evening. My step daughter (from my first marriage) died due to the demon alcohol at the age of 30. This is ironic as I was tea total re me being a physical instructor and hard core bodybuilding (I still am...Honest). Maybe I was too strict re diet and health? And, help to send her down that sorry road? It kills me to think I may have contributed to her addiction and I will NEVER get over her death.

I have not touched AAS for almost 16yrs. I have currently purchased approx $5000 of many compounds (AAS/GH etc). My doc has told me my liver enzymes are elevated due to too much alcohol consumption. So, really should not start to hit the juice.

I have been bodybuilding since I was 15yrs old. Always hit the gym and diet hard and still do. I've competed and actually won one BB comp!

I really do want to stop this deadly disease but cannot find the door to make my escape.

I hope my long comment to this thread (sorry for this) will make others think twice and encourage them NOT to get addicted Mentally or Physically to the demon alcohol.

Your lives will be much more productive and positive...HONEST!!!v

 

[catazura66]

Double posted..Sorry.

 

[Georgia]

My dad was an alcoholic and growing up with that was just aweful. He would drink from sun up to sun down to the point where he drank himself sober. I guess it was because that was his way of coping with everyday stresses. Most of my childhood was in and out of hospitals. Everyone said I would end up just like him and I didn't believe them. But my friends and I started drinking for fun on the weekends and soon it ended up being every night. Later on I watched a friend of mine get killed in front of me and I ended up drinking alone just to go to sleep. As soon as I got into bodybuilding and knew I wanteed to achieve something in the sport I stopped cold turkey..never touched a drink since. But my fear is what happens once bodybuilding is done for me? What am I going to turn to?

Turn to art bro. Open up your computer...open a Word document...and write a book. About your life...about anything. About steroids. Your struggles. Or heck make a kid's book.

I want to write a book one day.

Why the hell am I so obsessed with books. BBL I am going to read.

 

[Mrs P]

My stepdad was the biggest alcoholic I ever knew or heard of. He would drink from the time he woke up to the time he went to bed. Lost his jobs...lost my mom. Now he lives home alone in an apartment swollen up like a water melon due to massive water retention and only 30% of his liver even works. Was supposed to be dead like 4-5 Christmases ago.



But he had a VERY good life growing up. Extremelyyyy rich family that comes from a line of Senators and Congressmen. He was very sheltered and had no qualms about life. Why he turned to alcohol I do not know. But it sucked him in and now he's pathetically dying alone and in pain. 400-ish pounds and can not get up out of his chair only to use the bathroom due to his swollen feet.

But anyways, I learned my lesson through that. I drink only socially and few and far in between. Alcohol in moderation. It is a drug...it is addicting and it does alter your state of mind. Too much of any drug is never good.

Wow, that's really sad, hope he has family support, nothing worst than being alone in his condition.

Great post Mrs P. And, I appreciate your thoughts and approach too.

My Father has drunk since he was 16yrs old and his current diagnosis is: His Brain has actually shrunk due to the years of drinking alcohol. The specialist refuses to treat his condition re 'Self inflicted condition'. I'm currently fighting his case. But, I agree it was by choice and self inflicted. My Father was never abusive or violent due to alcohol consumption. He worked hard for 30yrs in his career to uphold the law.

Alcoholism is called a "dual disease" since it includes both mental and physical components. The biological mechanisms that cause alcoholism are not well understood. Social environment, stress, mental health, family history, age, ethnic group, and gender all influence the risk for the condition. Long-term alcohol abuse produces changes in the brain's structure and chemistry such as tolerance and physical dependence. These changes maintain the person with alcoholism's compulsive inability to stop drinking and result in alcohol withdrawal syndrome if the person stops. Alcohol damages almost every organ in the body, including the brain. The cumulative toxic effects of chronic alcohol abuse can cause both medical and psychiatric problems.

I myself have sadly become a victim of alcohol and the darkness that is guaranteed to come along with it. I have been for treatment etc etc... Seen my Father deteriorate but continue down the dark road of alcohol every evening. My step daughter (from my first marriage) died due to the demon alcohol at the age of 30. This is ironic as I was tea total re me being a physical instructor and hard core bodybuilding (I still am...Honest). Maybe I was too strict re diet and health? And, help to send her down that sorry road? It kills me to think I may have contributed to her addiction and I will NEVER get over her death.

I have not touched AAS for almost 16yrs. I have currently purchased approx $5000 of many compounds (AAS/GH etc). My doc has told me my liver enzymes are elevated due to too much alcohol consumption. So, really should not start to hit the juice.

I have been bodybuilding since I was 15yrs old. Always hit the gym and diet hard and still do. I've competed and actually won one BB comp!

I really do want to stop this deadly disease but cannot find the door to make my escape.

I hope my long comment to this thread (sorry for this) will make others think twice and encourage them NOT to get addicted Mentally or Physically to the demon alcohol.

Your lives will be much more productive and positive...HONEST!!!v

Sorry to hear about your step daughter.

My dad was never violent either, he was actually funny when he drank, he always said he wasn't an alcoholic because he had one rule "He never drank before 6:00pm"
He never missed a day at work his whole life, worked super hard his whole life, even after he retired. He tought me respect, responsibility, principles, values, integrity, & honesty.

I can only tell u what I did to try to help my dad, I told all family members that he was quiting & made sure no one drank in front of him, or bought him any alcohol.
He never agreed to go to counseling, he just quit cold turkey.

But I can tell u all my talks & intentions to help didn't help, not until he was willing & ready to stop, recovery started when he admited he had a problem.

For me his alcoholism made me push my self harder, It was an eye opener & I did everything possible not to thorugh what he did...I excelled in school, never got into trouble, had my first drink when I was 19 on my wedding day ..lol
I was always scared I would carry on his disease, so I always kept my self in check.
Now that I'm older and have 3 kids my priority is to set the best example I can for them.


If your looking to quit u can start by evaluating the costs and benefits of drinking, find a new meaning in life, if your into BB, focus on this !!
build a good support network, find a new hobby, find healthier ways to keep your stress level in check...

I really hope u find your way out of this
Good luck to u !

 

[dialtone]

These are all great stories...thank you guys for sharing. People who have seen alcoholism first hand through the people they love have a unique perspective. It is a horrible experience to have to go through but be glad that you learned something by witnessing what it can do to the people you care about.

There are many reasons as to why alcohol is addictive. There are those people who drink for its intoxicating effect, which is physiological. Then there are those who developed a behavioral habit surrounded by alcohol. There are also those who use it to feel certain ways (more attractive, more social, less nervous, etc.).

For those who acquire a physiological addiction (a need for intoxication), they truly need to find help to battle with this. It is not as simple as the other two reasons people drink. Many people who have a problem drinking may quickly assume that they fall into this category, but I feel much of it is behavioral. They get in the habit of having a drink here and there, possibly every night. It is not the intoxicating effects of alcohol that keep them drinking, but engaging in the acts surrounded by alcohol have become habitual. Take me for example...I went through a phase where I would drink about a half pint of vodka every night just sitting at the computer working. While I did this, I would listen to my headphones, call people I haven't talked to in a while, and think about a lot of deep stuff.

I wanted to stop drinking and I did an experiment to see what it was about this ritual that was maintaining the habit. So, I starting out pouring two shots in 8 ounces of diet sprite per drink. The next day, I pouring 1.5 shots. The next one shot and so on until I was simply sipping sprite from a rocks glass. Through its association with the intoxicating effects of alcohol, the sprite gained control over all of the ritualistic behaviors I would engage in. I would walk around doing the things I was used to doing while drinking but was completely satisfied sipping on diet sprite. For me, it was simply a habit...I kept the behavioral habits but just removed one ingredient; alcohol.

 

[Georgia]

Wow, that's really sad, hope he has family support, nothing worst than being alone in his condition.

That's the sad part. His daughter was raised spoiled and now she doesn't have any contact with her.

Both of his parents are gone. And him & my mom never really talked because with alcohol came prostitution with other women. Just turned him bad. Now he's alone day and night with just his dog and cat.

It's a sad story.

 

[trtgiant]

I am not an alcoholic, and ever since I started using a cpap 7 years ago, I pretty much stopped binge drinking.

That being said, I have had to give up booze completely for health reasons, mainly I have gout issues related to my diabetes. It is fucking hard to give up that social connection that is already hard when I have so many limitations on food. The good news is the testosterone helps with my sociability, and I can hang out with people sober or just smoke a little medical MJ.

Booze and testosterone don't mix very well honestly, I see that now. I also like the effects of the T more than I like the catabolic effects of booze.

There are other things that you can take that aren't as hard on the body... and I know of one that is anabolic, but it can't be mentioned here.

Watching "moonshine" makes me want to try some... dammit!

 

[alexus hensicus]

I used to drink alone and play video games then sleep work repeat. Ruined my relationship with my fiance, so she left me instantly I knew it was time for a change. I weighed 280 and with cardio and diet change I got as low as 220. I didn't stop drinking on weekends though. The gym owner said stuff like your doing great you should treat yourself. I don't think he knew how much I drank. Since I started taking anabolics my thoughts of drinking changed. I go through cycles of fitness as well as "partying". Alcoholism is said to be hereditary, and I don't disagree. I've never felt better from being in better shape but there is something that makes me always want to go out and party. I'm 25 so got a lot of friends do it and still being this young peer pressure still is possible.

 

[SigmundRoid]

For me, it was simply a habit...I kept the behavioral habits but just removed one ingredient; alcohol.

That can be a big part of it. Especially in smoking, but drinking too.

 

[Teutonic]

Alcohol is useless.

It s the last legal recreational drug you can abuse and joke about and have people say..."oh you were drunk...well that explains it.." without a stigma attached.

I live 1 hour away from new orleans...drinking there is sooo out of control....get caught with a piece of pot though...screwed.

Another hypocrisy of our society........