Did giving up drinking for a year improve my cycling and my health?
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- It's almost a full year since I quite drinking alcohol but has it made any difference to my cycling performance and would I recommend it?
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Well done for being brave enough to talk about ditching the drink.
9 years sober myself and the benefits are fantastic.
No going back!
Cheers Ian. Absolutely sterling effort by you getting to 9 years. I'm definitely swaying towards continuing next year and beyond.
Gave up alcohol almost 10 years ago and haven't had second thoughts. I can say I've had a few drinks since then, and they were all for special occasions and didn't affect my long term goal.
Good to hear. I think I’ll save the drinks for special occasions too from now on. 👌🏻
Great news, that's how you know you actually quit the adiction for good, if you were able to enjoy a "healthy" dose on a special ocassion without relapsing :)
Thanks for the inspiration, Peter. I love me some beer, but I'm going to give dry January a try. Best wishes for the new year and please keep the excellent videos coming.
Great to hear, Roger. As I say, I wasn't a big drinker but did enjoy a beer socially with friends, so was initially worried how I'd get on, but with so many decent alcohol free beers around now, it was actually really easy.
8 years no alcohol, didn't like the feeling after drinking so stopped, and feel better for it.
Yep, I’ve definitely not missed the hangovers! 😖
I gave up alcohol for the year of 2019 as a challenge. I never had a problem with it but I had recently quit tobacco and found going sober a great help for a year! Everyone should try it and you realize you don't need it as often as you once thought
That was my biggest realisation, George, that although I wasn't;t a big drinker anyway, I really didn't miss it and if I did fancy the 'feeling' of drinking, I could just have a non alcoholic beer. Definitely glad I did it, and will likely mostly continue in to 2025.
@petertreadway at weddings i would have a tonic water and seltzer with a lime!
Excellent video. I'm starting with dry January and will then see how it goes. This video is a great motivation!
Thanks James, really glad you enjoyed it and best of luck with Dry January. You're already half way through, so keep it up.
Thanks for a very good video, having realised I’m drinking to much / to often, I’m a week into a dry month (or possibly year). My cycling goals for 2025 suddenly seem more important than having another beer!
Love to hear that, Dave! So important to have a goal to help keep you on track too! Well done for your week so far and best of luck for the next 51. You got this. 💪🏻
Hi Peter
Thanks for the videos throughout the year, enjoyed them all and look forward to what 2025 has for you and the channel
Thanks so much. So glad you’ve enjoyed the channel this last year. There so much more to come that I’m really excited about.
Thanks for your support. 💪🏻
Great to see you loving the AF life! I can’t wait for dry Jan this year 😂. Wicked video as always 🤟
Cheers mate. Yeh, the current batch of AF beers are so good, it’s really easy to go dry. 👌🏻
I will never stop enjoying beer, life is too short for this. It's important not to drink at home, but from time to time, with friends, absolutely and always, beer and wine, it's too good to be left aside 😅😅😅
Absolutely nothing wrong with the odd social drive with friends. 👌🏻
Quoting tomorrow for January, thanks for the encouragement 👍😎🚴
Love to hear it. Best of luck. 💪🏻
I have had a few efforts at stopping for around 1-2 months, but now I have decided to give up completely, mainly because of the focus benefits. You will lose weight from stopping, not just from the fewer calories but because of the better food choices while not drinking. I didn't try to tell myself I'm giving up for 2 months etc, I just changed my mind into the fact I'm a non drinker, this makes it a lot easier. I also have friends that have given up drink and they all said the first 6 months are hardest for people asking why? My wife still likes a drink though, so I do get some entertainment. If you do it, then do not worry about what others say, they probably wish they could do the same deep down. Better sleep is another great benefit.
Completely agree with your penultimate comment regards others wishing they had the will power to do the same. Best of luck with your journey too. It definitely gets easier with time. 💪🏻
Its interesting to hear the psychology around alcohol for different people. Personally i drink as much and as often as i feel like, which ends up being once a month or so. Its just not something i can get into or remember to do even though i quite enjoy the experience.
Another instance where its interesting to see how different we all are. Ive got my vices to be sure, im writing this after staying up all night being distracted with bike part designs 😂
Everyone needs an outlet! 😂
Good morning Peter, thanks for sharing your experience with cutting out alcohol for a year. The video is very inspirational, and hopefully helpful to me.
Kind regards, Neil
Great to hear, Neil and thanks very much. It’s definitely easier than I imagined it’d be. 💪🏻
Great to hear, Neil and thanks very much. It’s definitely easier than I imagined it’d be. 💪🏻
I'm currently on No beer 4a year. 3 weeks to go but will probably keep off it. Lost 2 stone. In great shape. I do have occasional G&T with a slimline. This works 4me 👍🏻🍸 Happy new year folks.
That's incredible, Dale. 2 stone lost is some achievement! Congrats. I've definitely enjoyed an increased metabolism and faster weight loss this year too. 💪
Happy new year mate 😊
Cheers Buddy. Same to you. Hope you had a lovely Christmas. 👌🏻
Well done on the giving up 👏 I'm a lot like yourself I very rarely have an alcoholic beverage , maybe once a month if that 😂 when out for a meal it is nice to have a cheeky rum and coke
I have missed the odd small batch craft beer but it’s not been a huge craving. Everyone needs a vice though, even if it’s a Rum & Coke. 😉
Stopped the alcohol in May, haven’t missed it, sleep better, enjoying the rides more, as recovery is quicker. Yes found it a bit frustrating that every time went out for a meal or to a social event, friends always wanted me to have a drink, but that stopped after about 3 months
Better sleep is definitely one of the best benefits I’ve found. Trying to convince friends I’ve definitely given up was a struggle at first, like you found, but it got easier. 👌🏻
Very strong drinker - at home etc. Fairly strong rider - 2000km this year. Did about 8 months sober last year. Fully regressed. It’s the Friday night, Saturday afternoon anxiety that was hardest. Planning a sober year (special occasions, I’ll try for 0%) . If I can do a year like you, I doubt I’d risk the taste again. But those times of the week are always hardest for me. Glorious gravel South Downs in April? I’m about to sign up :) thanks for the content and inspo Pete 😺👌
Cheers Matt and thank you for your support this year. I can definitely recommend the alcohol free beer route, rather than cutting EVERYTHING alcohol related. Definitely helps with social drinking and still making you feel like ‘part of the group’. 💪🏻
@ definitely helps take the edge off! :) ever growing and learning 😺👌 did look at the dirty riever but sold out. Hope to see some of your exploration plans for the year 😀🍿🫡 have a good new year mate! Thanks, M
I got sober during lockdown 4.5yrs ago after a mental health breakdown. I now no longer have any cravings for booze and enjoy my running and cycling again. If anyone out there is struggling to give up alcohol there are plenty of resources out there nowadays. The best one I have found is at the beginning of the phone book.
That’s fantastic to hear, Paul and I’m so glad you found your way back to full mental health after your breakdown. Thank you for being so open about it too, which I know will be an inspiration and motivation to anyone else reading your comment. Legend. 💪🏻
I cut down to "just a couple, on the weekend" in my early 30's, soon after I started to think What's the point? If I'm not drinking enough to actually feel anything, then why put this literal poison in my body, so stopped drinking with any regularity. Christmas and maybe New year is about it now, and ironically because I'm no longer used to it "a couple" is now enough to actually feel it, but not enough to effect me into the next day.
I've always found it funny that when you visit a doctor in the UK they will ask IF you smoke, but just assume you drink and ask how many units. When I had a minor op' a few years ago, the consultant asked I said none, and his response was to tell me that it's just a formality and I could be honest with him.🤨
I find that whole ‘not smoking is commendable but not drinking is strange’ trope bizarre too, Chris. I’m definitely leaning towards continuing with low/no alcohol next year though. Like you, I just don’t see the point in having a couple, which gives no effect.
Great video, I am also doing a dry 2024 - been beneficial for cycling and runningandmy own mental health - contemplating keeping going!
I’m defo leaning towards continuing next year. I honestly haven’t found any downside to cutting alcohol out. Good to hear you’ve found it so helpful too. 💪🏻
Gave up 6 years ago never felt better.. I’ll never go back personally.. doesn’t bother me if people do drink either just my preference😊..😊 happy new year dude.. Pete 🚴🏻👍
Well done, Pete. 6 years is a great achievement. I'm definitely leaning towards staying off it for 2025 too. It makes getting home from nights out with friends so much easier as well. 👍
Happy new year to you and yours too. Thanks so much for your continued support this year. 💪
I think giving up drink is the way I'm going to go. I've had a couple of short term trials last year with a lot of success. As I'm in my late 50's, recovery time is paramount. I just can't justify drinking any more, if I want to be serious about my cycling. It just feels incompatible to me the way I've historically thought about smoking and sport. Lately I've started to plan my drinking in the same way that I plan my cycling. The idea is that I can't drink unless I've planned to drink, but if I can skip the drinking on planned days if i want. I've found that over 50% of the time I don't drink on planned drinking days... Just like training where you have a Z2 day planned, it gives you the structure to avoid hammering it up the hill -- you know you have an intensity day later in the week. I find that knowing that I have a drinking day planned, I don't start randomly drinking during the week, which is what has the biggest negative impact for me. However, I think it's going to end soon. I'm off to visit my parents in February and my dad would be disappointed if I don't have a few drinks with him. After that? It seems like a good time to start a new lifestyle.
It sounds like you've got a great strategy in place for reducing the alcohol, with some great scope to cut it out completely in the near future. I still haven't had a drink this year, despite friends trying to persuade me to 'have a celebratory one'. Again, it's purely a personal choice and would never try to put anyone off drinking if they didn't want to, but I just really haven't missed it at all, so see no need to go back. Best of luck with cutting it out and with improving your cycling fitness. 💪
keep it up ,yes brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much. 💪🏻
Congratulations to you for smashing your goal. I'm also a very occasional drinker and don't feel like I'm missing anything by not having alcohol. Another one for you to try is Erdinger Alkoholfrei, it's an alcohol free Bavarian beer that is also isotonic, contains added vitamins b9 and b12 and is only 25 calories per 100ml!! Erdinger is one of the sponsors of Velo 29, so you're welcomed over the finish line at their events with a perfectly chilled can to wash down a sausage butty 😋
Yes! How could I forget Erdinger. They were also one of the sponsors of the Garmin RideOut this year. Another great tasting beer. 👌🏻
I'm not (quite) teetotal and in my pre-cycling days used to drink quite a bit. I will have an occasional drink on special occasions... Last time was about 5 months ago! Definitely don't feel I need to drink alcohol 🎉
That’s pretty much how I feel now too, Paul. Definitely want to finish the year alcohol free, but don’t feel like I need it beyond that anyway.
Like you I am not a big drinker and I have tried the non alcohol drinks as well so I will stick to that. But I need to look at the food I have which has a big effect on my waist line that's the target for 2025 . Thanks for is year, all the best for next year.
No/low alcohol drinks are definitely the way forward, Ian. Like you, my food intake is the next thing I’ll be looking at in 2025 too. I’ll be cutting out all ultra-processed foods where I can, in an attempt to improve my health and lose weight.
All the best to you and yours too. 👌🏻
I was pub fit for years and just gone past my two year dry anniversary. Never looked back once I made the decision, it’s the people you leave behind that struggle more I think. They are very resistant to change. Alcohol is poison, it’s a waste of money and frankly destroys your health. My gains are immeasurable. Blessed with ADHD too, sometimes a blessing, sometimes a pain right? 😅
Kudos for getting to two years. I’m definitely leaning towards continuing in to 2025.
I’ve had a lot of good natured pi$$ taking from friends, but I’m lucky to have given up alcohol with a good mate, so it’s been a lot easier.
As for ADHD, it’s very much a double edged sword, isn’t it! 😂
@ on some days I misplace the sword completely 😆
moderation is key, in my opinion. One beer after a long cycle session wont hurt anyone. It is when people start binging then it starts to become an issue.
I’m entirely on board with people drinking (or not drinking) whatever they want but there aren’t any physical benefits from alcohol. There are some mental health benefits for sure though. 👌🏻
16 years no alcohol for me. Having zero drinks works out much better than 15 did! 😂👍👍
Cracking achievement James. Chapeau! 👍
There are no benefits whatsoever to drinking alcohol.
I gave it up nearly 18 years ago and haven't missed it in the slightest.
In the interests of balance, while I agree there are no health benefits to alcohol, there are some (albeit minor) mental health arguments in favour of it. I’m not just talking about having a beer ‘to blow off steam’ but some people are too inhibited to socialise unless they’ve had a drink.
I agree with your sentiment entirely though and I haven’t missed alcohol at all. 👌🏻
Well done , I am a big drinker at least 6 sometimes 10 cups of tea a day. My wife and friends all drink like normal humans. I never give them grief about it. But receive lots of criticism because I am not one of the boys. Another great video Mr Treadway, looking forward to next week's video.
Living in France, I'm surprised you're not drinking 6-10 bottles of beautiful red wine a day, Richard! 😂
On the tea front though, I actually started drinking decaf tea a good few years ago, as I found I was getting headaches from drinking too much normal stuff every day. I can highly recommend that too.
Everyone's going to start thinking I'm a right boring git now! 😂
@@petertreadwaynever, we enjoy your videos to much. If you were boring we would not watch.
Congrats
Cheers Troy. 👌🏻
Best thing about no alcohol is NO HANGOVERS!!! 8-D
Amen to that! 🙏🏼 Haven’t missed those in the slightest!
I generally drink non alcoholic drinks.
I’ve definitely enjoyed them this year. 👌🏻
Just completed a year myself, no plans to go back.
Congratulations Michael. Yep, I don't feel the need to go back to drinking after abstaining for the year either.
Pre watching it, let me guess...
Yes, putting less poison in your body did improve your health? 😂
How did you guess? 😂
Don’t let that stop you watching though. 😉
Give up alcohol? I know to do certain jobs you can't be wired right but you mate, you're off the scale 😂😂😂😂
😂 Don't knock it until you've tried it, mate! 😉
@petertreadway mate I can still remember my first six weeks working offshore. It was the longest I'd ever been without alcohol, I had the shakes for four of them. Blokes were 'brewing their own secret stuff" it was horrible 😢. Due to life changing conditions (not drink related) I don't drink anywhere near like I used too, I like the odd rum or pint or two but I don't think I could cut it out completely especially being a foster carer haha, there are days when they go to bed and you just think God I need this 😀
No judgement here, mate. Both of your jobs could lead a man to drink! 😂
@petertreadway 🤣🤣
Well done for giving it up,but it hasnt cured the homosexual road bike disease,get amountain bike and actually have some fun!
From your last two comments on my videos, you’re either trying and failing to land some ill thought out jokes or your missing something in your life and are therefore craving attention from people online, who otherwise wouldn’t give you a moments notice.
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and imagine that it’s the former, and if that is the case then you need to shape up and do better.
While I’m happy to indulge in some light hearted ribbing between cyclists of different disciplines, I absolutely will not accept homophobia or any other derogatory language on my channel. It’s pathetic and immature.
Cycling should be a safe space for people of all backgrounds, sexual preferences and ethnicities, so I won’t tolerate anything that makes people feel otherwise.
So while I won’t give you another seconds thought beyond replying to this message, I also won’t hesitate to block you from replying to any further videos you decide to leave inappropriate comments on.
I rather hope that you’ll instead reflect on this message, take a long hard look at yourself and, for want of a more sophisticated phrase, grow up.
Мне повезло, алкоголь никогда не был для меня проблемой))). Я не пью вообще))). Береги себя , и будь здоров.
Good to hear. Definitely better to never know what you’re missing! 👌🏻
@@petertreadway Это не то что бы я никогда не выпивал, просто совершенно равнодушен к спиртному))