Howzit?
I have chosen to give up drinking. And no. It’s not a poxy new years resolution or anything like that. But because I want to. I’ve had a good run on the ‘golden throat charmers’ and now the sun is finally setting on our near 30-year relationship. Don’t get me wrong - we’ve had a great relationship and alcohol will forever and always occupy an incredibly special piece of my heart but it’s just time to call it a day. To quote the great philosopher Craig David - “I’m walking away”. Every relationship has its ups and downs and my relationship with alcohol was just that. Picking one up and drinking it down. Then another, then another. It was great. I bloody loved it. I was good at it. I never used alcohol to fit in though. I have never thought of myself as being better when I’ve had a few. A little louder, yes. But do I need alcohol to ‘be accepted’?, no. No, I do not. I am just as much fun without the booze. I was also never an aggressive person or a dickhead while I was on it either. I’ve also never wet or shit the bed while drunk. That’s a win any way you look at it. I did however schedule every social thing that I’d do around the availability of alcohol. Everything I did socially was done around the fact that I would be able to punch a few whilst doing it. Sport games, picnics, beach days, dinner with friends, Barbecues and fuck, even kids’ birthday parties these days seem to have an alcohol station at them for the parents right next to the fairy bread and sausage rolls. I’ll miss that. Drinking has been a large part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I’d wear the “Lee can handle his piss” comments like a badge of honour and took immense pride that while most people were on their third or fourth beer – I was happily chopping my way through my eighth or ninth. Let’s just say that if we were to go halves on a 15 box – You were getting 7. That precious 8th beer was all mine and often chopped right at the opening of the box, I’d neck the first one in a couple of gulps, then open my second one while you were half way through your first so casually that you wouldn’t even realise that I’d had one more than you until we were reaching for the last two beers in the box and think “15 isn’t an even number, where did that 15th beer go”? Not my first rodeo, mate. I’m a pro. You’re smashing suds with the best of ‘em, pal. I wouldn’t drink every day. Hell, I’d say that drinking one night out of the week was totally fine, wouldn’t you? I would say that it was a minority of the time, not a majority of the time that I would punch beers. But I would punch beers. One night a week (usually on the weekend without fail) I would punch beers. Drinking every weekend (or every second weekend if I absolutely have to push it out that far) is something I have done since I was around 14/15 years old. It’s a routine, that’s all. A routine that needs to be changed. I have done it in other areas of my life, so I can do it this area too, surely? I have seen great results and changes in my health since making small sustainable changes in both what I eat and the quantity in which I eat. I have lost close to 13 kilos in the last 4/5 months and have noticed that clothes that didn’t fit me prior to making these changes are now fitting my rig just fine. So, this change in my alcohol consumption will surely prove to be beneficial to both my health and my wardrobe. I have a heart condition called Atrial Fibrillation. It is an irregular and elevated heartbeat. I never know when it’s going to come on and it’s a real pain in the ass. It’s quite palpitatey when it happens and is very uncomfortable. The episodes can last anywhere from 10 minutes – multiple hours. As a result of this I am on several different medications to help me keep my heart in check & rhythm.
I am also a type 2 diabetic and take Galvumet to help with that. Currently my diabetes is in check – my hba1c count is back down to nearer the pre diabetic range (a result of the changes that I have made in my diet that I mentioned earlier). Kicking goals, there. Happy with that. Back to the atrial fibrillation – This is an old peoples disease. My cardiologist told me that the main cause for someone my age getting this condition is alcohol consumption. She asked me 2 years ago during our first consult if I drank. The conversation went like this. “Lee this is an old people’s condition. Young people don’t usually suffer from this. The main cause for someone my age getting this condition is alcohol consumption. Do you drink”? “Yes I do”. “How much”? “No, no. That’s what I do. Some people play golf, others read books. I drink”. “do you drink every day”? “God no. I’m not an alcoholic. I do drink to excess every weekend though”. “How many Drinks do you have in one sitting”? “Depends. I could drink anywhere from XXXXXXX or XXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX in one session”. “O.K, well that’s not good. You should stop drinking altogether. That’s my professional recommendation.” “For how long”? “Until further notice”. “Fuck.” So, I stopped drinking for a few weeks and then slowly slid back into my old habits. Recently I have felt that my relationship with the booze is coming to an end. I’ve felt this way for a while now. So, it’s time to act. Time to say goodbye. It will be hard. It will suck at times but ultimately it will be for the best. No longer will I have to hear about people saying things about me to my family like “I’m worried about Lee. He drinks too much. I’m going to say something to him” While I am sure that the above comes from a good place being the last person to know that people are talking about you, sucks. No matter what the subject matter is or how good their intentions are. I’ve chosen to Break up with it. No trial separation, no marriage counselling. No late night ‘you up’? texts. I’m talking about a complete severance, and you know what, the divorce settlement will be win-win for me. I get the kids, the dog, the house, the DVD collection, the long happy life and alcohol gets nothing. Nothing except the odd desperate and awkward glances from me when I’m in a ‘drinking scenario’ at least for the first wee while. Don’t stop inviting me out. Don’t carefully open beers around me adjust your drinking habits to suit me. I’ll be fine. Onwards and upwards… L
13 Comments
Quinn
1/4/2024 04:32:54 pm
Bloody awesome lee, what good read!
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Mitch
1/4/2024 04:48:55 pm
That takes guts Lee, proud of you brother. You always will be one of the great piss drinkers in my eyes. Onwards and upwards! As cliche as it is, when one door closes another opens. Your one hell of a guy and I feel privileged to of met you. I can’t wait to see where the future takes you!
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Lucy jan
1/4/2024 05:17:11 pm
I don’t really know you and I’m proud of you. Drinking culture is so embedded in us kiwis and I’m so excited to see how it’s going to improve your health journey. You got this. Also, how good is remembering the night the next day! How good is being your own sober driver! Big love, pride and an amazing 2024 and onwards Lee and Family.
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Sian
1/4/2024 05:27:45 pm
Mean! I’ve done the same … so good heaps of good zeros out there now
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Sarah
1/4/2024 06:45:21 pm
This is awesome!
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Kristalle
1/4/2024 07:36:31 pm
Amazing mahi Lee!
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Karen
1/4/2024 08:41:33 pm
I love the way you put yourself out there Lee and share the raw parts of your life with us all. Your such an inspiration to so many.
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Nathan
1/4/2024 09:18:04 pm
Good shit dude and kudos for sharing your reasons. I had my last “real” beer New Year’s Eve 2022 after a making similar decision. Was never planned to be a permanent thing but after a month off it actually got easier and more convenient to be the sober one. There’s a few zero options out there now that are decent enough to stand in at social events too. Keep up the good work!
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Scotty
1/5/2024 12:27:55 am
Good shit Lee you don't need alcohol and alcohol doesn't need you, if you ever feel the need to pick up another drink come back and look at the support you're getting on here
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Tom
1/5/2024 08:03:18 am
Good luck to ya Lee, I think I’m coming to the end of the line with it myself!
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Lockie
1/5/2024 02:27:30 pm
This was a bloody good read. Good on you Lee, it'll be tough to start out but so worth it. For your health, happiness and most importantly your family, that want both those things for you!
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Glen
1/8/2024 02:02:38 am
Hey Lee, good to see you doing this mate, if you stick it out you will never regret it. Two questions though:
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Shorty
1/10/2024 09:38:48 am
That's bloody awesome! I've recently decided it's time to change my relationship with alc too. We too were weekend buddies. Making the decision was scary. Oddly most scary is what others will think if I say I'm giving up "they'll think I'm an alcoholic." I admire the courage it took to lay everything out (I need some of that courage). Well it's still new for me, & I still have some work to do. This Naked Mind community has been a godsend for me. It really helped me alter my way of thinking, so alcohol isn't taking over my brain. Opposed to just wishing on willpower alone. Just wanted to share since it's been so helpful for me.
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AuthorLee Weir - Radio Announcer, Marriage Celebrant and Guinness World Record Holder. Archives
January 2024
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