Giving up caffeine an' other stuff...

[Bounce]

So this is probably going to sound like a very silly question in the perspective of things...

I used to be a heavy drinker, smoker and pot user (at one point my doctor told me I was heading the way of an alcoholic and my Mum said she'd disown me if I ended up like me Dad) and so far have managed to boot the cannabis outta my life. I quit smoking too, I have stopped using other drugs and not had a drink in over a month.

I wanted to go sober because I got tired of being drunk and also realised it had caused me a lot of problems in the past. I don't know how good I feel about giving money to industries which have caused my family a lot of harm (and may kill some people). I actually feel amazing without drinking, but my social life is suffering and I'm just asking for advice...

I wanna be straight edge, generate my own energy, be in control...

However, the social side of things have gone, in that I hardly see people now because a lot of my mates like to be drunk or go to pubs. I don't really feel as comfy in pubs now I am sober and find drunk people can annoy me.

Any idea on how I can get my social life back on track? or good groups to meet other tee-teetotallers?

Caffeine is another thing... I normally only use it now, if I am feeling tired and need a buzz for a work out, but sometimes in work, I don't get breaks or don't get time to eat all my dinner and so drink a fizzy drink or sugary coffee to last me the afternoon...

In fact, I think I may have an addiction to it in a weird way...

So yeah... Caffeine is really more of a vice for me, as I'm clean off everything... I was wondering if anyone here is now straight edge/clean of drugs and can offer some advice?

Thanks

[baldy]

I dunno and its tough.

Sounds like you are using caffeine pretty responsibly so wouldn't worry too much on trying to give it up. Unless you want to, or have been advised to by a Doctor? Maybe green tea will be good for you as its got caffeine in it but people rave about its health stuff.

Socialising without drinking, while others drink is just a mindset, I know lots of people that do it. I never worked it out though, so please tell me the secret if you do.

As I get older I am getting more responsible and know the effect drinking has on my next days training. So normally hold back because of that.

The obvious solution is to find people you can socialise and train with at the same time! Honestly you will make much more meaningful connections with people exercising together than you will in a drunken party. Well that is always what I found.

This does not stop the need for "normal" socialising.

hey bounce.

there are a lot of vfners from london. why don't you meet up with them?

[quote="baldy"]Socialising without drinking, while others drink is just a mindset, I know lots of people that do it. I never worked it out though, so please tell me the secret if you do.

[soniczip]

an opportunity for you:

http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=21998

[tal]

A commendale goal. I can understand the desire to give up drink and drugs, but why caffeine?

Re: social drinking... I used to drink a lot when I was younger, when I cut back on it I lost contact with a lot of my old friends as they were only interested in drinking and doing dumb stuff. If drinking is the only thing you have in common then you have to ask yourself are they really people you want to continue to hang out with sober?

There are heaps of ways to socialise without getting drunk or stoned. Take up a hobby, get into live music, train with regulars at a gym, use internet forums, etc.

[tal]

[quote="soniczip"]an opportunity for you:

http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=21998

[quote="soniczip"]an opportunity for you:

http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=21998

[tal]

[quote="Bounce"]I'd love to find people to train with in South London... I don't even know anyone who goes to a gym. Maybe though, some will go to a climbing wall or hiking, as it sounds like fun...

[quote="Talyn"][quote="Bounce"]I'd love to find people to train with in South London... I don't even know anyone who goes to a gym. Maybe though, some will go to a climbing wall or hiking, as it sounds like fun...

[DB]

I had sort of the same problem when I quit drinking and again when I moved to Austria(where absolutely everything happens over a beer). Quite a bit of it is just habit. If I find myself at a bar or a club I'll just drink a mineral water or soda or something and hang out like anybody else, though I do know what you mean about other drunks being sometimes annoying. When it reaches the point where enough of my friends are sloshed, I take that as my cue to go home. I'm always the better off for it in the morning and don't miss out on much. Outside of that, there's just SO many things I can do that don't require alcohol. Any sort of hobby, or bike riding or hiking or reading or working out or whatever. It turns out, the vast majority of life actually happens OUTSIDE of the pub.
As far as caffeine goes, don't mess with my coffee.

[_Andreas_]

Yeah I know the problem. I'm not straight edge but I don't want to depend on anything: alcohol to have fun, weed to relax or caffeine to wake up. Overall they all take energy away from you and I prefer to focus on things which give energy back, like sport, good nutrition, meditation or doing something constructive.

Longest I spent without drinking was 6 months and I had the same problem. There is not a lack of things to do, but drinking is when most people meet up and its simply the easiest way to meet old friends and new. Some people also find it annoying or threatening if you arn't drinking with them and make a deal out of it. It also gets very tedious when people are too drunk to have a proper conversation.

I tried to find other ways to connect with old friends like in door climbing, going to gigs or making music. Its quite easy to meet new people in London. I helped out at Pogo cafe which probably has the highest concentration of vegan straight edge people in london lol.

[thestoatyone]

I'm not going to comment on giving up the serious stuff apart from to say congrats on giving up the coffin nails. My mum quit after 20-30 years of smoking and she found it hard as hell, so nice one.

The caffeine however is something I struggle with. Free "coffee" machine at work so I drink enough to give me near permanent bellyache. Attempt to cut down have met with intermittent success. I found that morrocan tea is a nice sub, but if you find a way, please share!

[Bounce]

[quote="_Andreas_"]I tried to find other ways to connect with old friends like in door climbing, going to gigs or making music. Its quite easy to meet new people in London. I helped out at Pogo cafe which probably has the highest concentration of vegan straight edge people in london lol.

[xJimx]

[quote="Bounce"]Caffeine is really more of a vice for me, as I'm clean off everything... I was wondering if anyone here is now straight edge/clean of drugs and can offer some advice?

[quote]I'll hopefully be hunt sabbing soon (can I write that here?!)