OT: I quit drinking alcohol

grateful · #1 12-13-2019, 06:58 AM

I quit drinking alcohol 6 months ago. I wanted to start this thread to highlight a couple of personally important, quantifiable changes that this choice has caused.

1) Cholesterol-I have been suffering with high Cholesterol for years and medication helped to lower it but not near the recommendations from the medical community. There were times I was +300 mg/DL regardless of fitness.

Please keep in mind the standard is <200 mg/DL.

Cholesterol (under prescribed medications) just prior to quitting- 257 mg/DL

Cholesterol (under prescribed medications) 3 months post quitting- 151 mg/DL

2) Hypertension-I have been battling Hypertension for the past 3 years. Prescribed medications weren't effective.

I would take my blood pressure at the local pharmacy on occasion. I happened to do so within a month of my quitting. To my surprise my blood pressure fell into the acceptable range.

I stopped by my Dr. on the drive home and had them confirm my blood pressure readings. I was in fact within the normal range.

3) Weight-245 to 215, no other lifestyle changes.

I could go on discussing subjective findings and I would be happy to do so in a separate thread if anyone would like.

Brad

54ny77 · #2 12-13-2019, 07:11 AM

wow, congrats on the huge weight loss and health improvement!

30 lbs lost in 6 months just on quitting alcohol and no other lifestyle changes = ~100,000 calories lost. that's a lotta michelob ultras!

marciero · #3 12-13-2019, 07:13 AM

Awesome.

The usual caveats about causality notwithstanding, those sound like some dramatic improvements.

kohagen · #4 12-13-2019, 07:14 AM

Glad to hear you've had such positive physical responses to quitting drinking. People have different responses to alcohol. Some seem to tolerate moderate amounts of it quite well, others not so much.

All of those changes will help you live a better and healthier life. And your bank account will be happier, too.

grateful · #5 12-13-2019, 07:19 AM

I appreciate the replies. There has not been one negative since I have stopped and the positives, for me, have been extraordinary.

But quitting and my experiences would best be a new thread.

Brad

grateful · #6 12-13-2019, 07:21 AM

Moderation, had that not been an issue for me my historical health record may have told a different story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kohagen

Glad to hear you've had such positive physical responses to quitting drinking. People have different responses to alcohol. Some seem to tolerate moderate amounts of it quite well, others not so much.

All of those changes will help you live a better and healthier life. And your bank account will be happier, too.

madsciencenow · #7 12-13-2019, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grateful

I appreciate the replies. There has not been one negative since I have stopped and the positives, for me, have been extraordinary.

But quitting and my experiences would best be a new thread.

Brad

I’d be interested in a new thread. I stopped having a beer every evening and have limited myself to one or two on Friday-Sunday. My blood pressure has been higher than normal for the past two years and I was hoping that cutting back to the weekends might help. My cholesterol is normal but high for me (won the genetic lottery ...). Anyway, I’d be interested in additional benefits and how much you were drinking when your BP and Cholesterol were elevated.

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TomP · #8 12-13-2019, 07:31 AM

Kudos to you. I have recently cut way back. This has only been for a month. I went from a large glass of wine nightly, to just an occasional normal size glass. I was thin already, 5'7" and 142 lbs. Now at 139 lbs. Sleeping better and overall feel better. Haven't checked blood pressure or cholesterol.

biker72 · #9 12-13-2019, 07:52 AM

I can understand the weight loss and BP reduction but the cholesterol drop is a big surprise.

If it works ...it works. Great to hear.....

grateful · #10 12-13-2019, 08:18 AM

I was also quite suprised about the cholesterol drop.

Keep in mind that I was tested while in the middle of the weight loss so i was still heavy.

I see the Dr. quarterly for a physical and blood work. I will have more data to share mid January.

Quote:

Originally Posted by biker72

I can understand the weight loss and BP reduction but the cholesterol drop is a big surprise.

If it works ...it works. Great to hear.....

mulp · #11 12-13-2019, 08:53 AM

Congrats, this is a huge accomplishment. Keep pressing on!

RonW87 · #12 12-13-2019, 09:03 AM

OP, how much were you drinking?

oldpotatoe · #13 12-13-2019, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonW87

OP, how much were you drinking?

My question as well...Due to some alcohol induced AFIB, I have cut back a lot too but no weight loss and no change in my BP or cholesterol..BUT for the OP, whatever works..huzzah!!

grateful · #14 12-13-2019, 09:11 AM

Upwards of two bottles of red a night.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

My question as well...Due to some alcohol induced AFIB, I have cut back a lot too but no weight loss and no change in my BP or cholesterol..BUT for the OP, whatever works..huzzah!!

oldpotatoe · #15 12-13-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grateful

Upwards of two bottles of red a night.

Holy moly....Good for you plus good for you goin' cold turkey...

AND, I'd be careful about starting to throw around the description of 'alcoholic' for the OP, or implying it even..I don't think any of us know enough about Grateful to make that determination...