A Description of ‘The AA, 12 step, Alcoholic’. Vernon E. Johnson (a priest and recovering alcoholic) advice was that the kindest thing you can do for the alcoholic and the family is to ‘describe the alcoholic illness’. The following page is an attempt to do that. An uncontrollable compulsion to drink Denial that they have a problem with alcohol: they are unreachable, cannot be helped Lying to themselves and others: Dishonesty Unable to take responsibility: blames others, has a victim mentality Self will run riot= willful, I am right, I know everything attitude, they cannot be told anything Can’t deal with life on its own terms= turns away from reality (bills not paid, letters unopened, rubbish stashing). Very fearful person, unable to deal with the world, overwhelmed. A dependency psychology (childlike), not only on alcohol but also people like us. We do life’s tasks for them. In order to keeps us caring for them a constant hidden agenda: high levels of manipulation involved in getting needs met around addiction. The alcoholic be locked together in relationship with the alanon member: there will be a 2nd person (or people) surrounding the alcoholic, caring, controlling, managing the alcoholics drinking and life’s tasks. A.D.D symptoms (racing thoughts/brain/speaks very fast) = Unable to settle, restless, ‘ants in their pants’ and/or sometimes the opposite ‘cannot move from the spot’. (Dr Silkworth’s description of the alcoholic: restless, irritable, prone to disappointment)
Hi Alex, I stopped drinking alcohol on December 7th last year, so it’s only been a few weeks. I chose this date mainly because of the upcoming Christmas season, New Year celebrations, and so on. I can confirm that about two weeks after quitting, I started craving sweets more. I had never eaten so many sweets as I did in the last days of last year. However, I found a way to overcome this increased craving for sugar. I started walking briskly 7-10 km six times a week and tracking my calories using a nutrition app to keep my nutrients under control. I replaced sweets exactly as you mentioned in your video: plain yogurt with honey and cocoa, plus a banana, grapes, or an apple - a delicious treat with almost no calories. So yes, I can confirm this phenomenon. After quitting alcohol, you can expect an increased craving for sweet foods, but it is manageable. Brisk walking probably provides me with enough endorphins and dopamine, so I’m doing just fine. Thank you for your advice and insights!
I'm 67 and started drinking when I was 13 and thought "I'm doing this the rest of my life" and I almost did. 6 months sober and although I never liked sweets ...I do now. 😊
I just watched your video “I quit alcohol and it changed my life,” where you describe your 2-year journey without alcohol. I decided to watch videos you made more than two years ago. It is remarkable how different you look physically now, but also the fluidity and clarity in the expression of your thoughts now, are outstanding! Congratulations!
Watching this came at such a good time for me, sober since 02/11/2024 and ive noticed the sugar withdrawals and my mood, its like my only naughty thing left 😂
It requires a gentle wean rather than cold turkey but you can reframe the dopamine onto other things. So having alternative activities or things you eat to bring yourself off ❤
Thank you for your videos! Last year, I managed to go 75 days without drinking. After that, I did drink a few times. I was so focused on not drinking that I drove myself crazy with my own thoughts. So the final part of this video really clicked with me. Right now, I’m still drinking, and oddly enough, knowing that I’m “allowed” to drink gives me a sense of peace. Because of that, I’ve only had 5 beers over 2 days this January. I think I’m going to try quitting again this year with the help of your tips.
Went alcohol free 1st of Jan and started Carnivore to curb sugar and carb cravings. Eat when your hungry, stop when you're full. Feeling satiated helps a huge amount. Clarity, energy, sleep all improved plus the extra benefit of weight loss. 👍
Love it! Thank you Alex. I’m currently around 3 months in to my alcohol free journey. As a 22 year old student, it has been a challenge… but the benefits have made it so worthwhile. I decided to make this lifestyle change after watching one of your videos, so thank you again! I appreciate all that you are doing to help us feel empowered and healthy. ❤️
2:51 Understanding that the brain also REDUCES the baseline amount of dopamine available when we use an addictive substance regularly has helped me enormously. Needing more and more of something just to feel normal is a _miserable_ experience, and knowing how easily I fall back into overconsumption helps me resist when the siren call of substances tries to tempt me again. Longterm abstinence makes REAL LIFE rewarding, and that feels SO much better than being a slave to a substance! 💪🌿😃💖🤸♂ Totally agree that building a toolbox of strategies and ADDING good things to your life makes such a difference. 😄 Huzzah! 💃🕺
The sugar cravings lasted so long for me! At just over 6 months now, I am finally able to have it under control. Just remember this too shall pass ☺️ thank you for the great video Alex.
I have been working with a health coach recently and she gave me an awesome tip on sugar cravings. She told me if I had a strong sugar craving. It can often be solved with something containing vinegar so I reach for the pickles and it does help.
Excellent video - not many people can film simple videos in this format whilst keeping audience engagement without employing the use of cutaways and transitions but you DO! Proof that content is king 🎉👍
Great to hear that the sugar craving will pass. I'm 2 weeks into dry January, and I'm now battling sugar cravings. I really wanted a drink last night, but I distracted myself by making banana bread. Yoga and walking are also helping. Thanks for the motivational video, it was just what I needed.
59 year old who drank a lot and often since 13. I've quit often, as well I was a wild land fire fighter and committed trail runner all my life. I still run Spartan races with my daughters. I think that a life of intermittent fasting and very active and challenging work in the mountains has helped me stay young, despite drinking very heavily. I am 21 days clean now. I've been off of sugar for a few decades and quit smoking twenty years ago as well. Thanks for a great chat. You're is the only channel I have subscribed to in a few years! We'll done
I am currently 27 years old. I started drinking when I was 17 and join the military at 19 and had been drinking chronically ever since joining the military. After I got out the military I had gained almost 50 pounds from excessive drinking and not much physical activity. It went from drinking regularly on weekends to drinking throughout the week to nearly everyday. After Christmas 2024 I decided to take the journey of no more Alcohol. It’s been almost 3 weeks now and I can say my mental clarity is insane. The brain fogs/ pressure headaches have gone down tremendously. I’ve also been working out and eating a lot better. I honestly don’t ever want to pick up another drink again with the way I feel. If you are struggling with alcohol please comment under my comment so that we can uplift one another in this journey!
Way to go, reading this has given me hope and encouragement that I can do it also. Today is day 1, and I want to make it to day 2. Would love to life each other up! I am loving Alex's videos also.
@ you got this! The first week was the hardest especially with new years quickly approaching but some things I can speak for myself is that my quality of sleep is a lot better but the first week was hell. I was hungry and could not sleep at all but it gets better! Praying for you my guy!
Just wanted to say thank you Alex. Your videos are helping me so much. I stopped drinking alcohol on 1st December last year and started AA meetings. Thank you ♥︎
Thank you for this! I’m 82 days alcohol free! I was just saying how I’ve been eating so many baked yummies! The holidays! Cookies, brownies, different breads, all delicious, but why? Looking for that dopamine hit, I guess. Frustrating not being able to lose weight, but glad that I’m alcohol free. I’ll keep trying! Balance!
You are doing amazing! Dont be hard on yourself. It took a long time for me to lose the weight and I really did focus on the sobriety first. We dont have to feel we need to fix everything at once!
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve eaten a family-sized bar of dairy milk, a whole tub of Ben &Jerrys plus a packet of Jaffa cakes. Now lying on the sofa feeling as sick as a dog. I’ll end up diabetic at this rate 😂
@@Kim19391that’s impressive😂 I don’t want to come across like I’m judging at all but I think a lot of reasons why some people don’t get what they want for quitting alcohol is because they replace it with another quick dopamine release like sugar which crashes their energy levels and so on. Combining no alcohol with a good diet and exercise and you will feel like super man/woman! I know I’m largely echoing what Alex said but I hope you can curb your cravings😊
I’ve started dry Jan and watching your videos, so interesting to hear about the effects and what to expect. Last night I really craved a bottle of red but really tried to find a distraction and it finally went! I feel so good today that I didn’t give in. Your advice is really helpful! Look forward to seeing more videos 😊
Tomorrow will be two months without a drink for me. Your videos are nice for helping me understand some of these unusual changes like sugar cravings. Thank you!
Thanks, I really needed this. I’m four months in, and sugar is definitely a challenge. It’s good to know it’s a common experience along the way. When you said that it reminded me that when I quit smoking 16 years ago, I had an early period when I drank waaay more alcohol than normal when I was out with friends (something different to do with my hands - I actually had to sit on my hands sometimes to avoid smoking). Eventually, it totally eased off to a normal level.
My sugar craving has been Sprite- glad to know that this is normal under the circumstances😂 I usually cave in on the weekends- mostly out of boredom - so definitely something I need to be mindful of going forward! Thank you so much for sharing this with us❤
My recommendation is allow the sugar, if you fight it , you will loose everytime... its a good replacement for alcohol. Eventually it will start to die off.For me sugar was my methadone. Took me years and im not 100% solid with it . Sober quite a while, but i was a drunk for most my life.
I quit alcohol a couple of months ago and yes I have a huge chocolate addiction, I'm waking up in the night at least a couple of times, going downstairs for a munch. I've woken my wife up eating in bed. I'm not overly concerned as I have no put a mess plan in place as I need to sort this out but I wasn't aware this was a thing do thankyou
I never really thought about the loss of the sugars from the alcohol when you stop drinking causing the inevitable sugar cravings. There was definitely a light bulb moment the other day realizing that I was feeling more hungry likely due to the reduced calories from the lack of liquid bread, but the sugar piece was one I wasn't thinking of. Thanks for sharing! It makes a ton of sense.
I still get mild sugar cravings & once in a while give into it & have a little something sugary. All things in Moderation. Well balanced meal is so important. I put the drink down September 1, 2010 for me it has been the best thing I ever did. Now sober 14.5 years I can go anywhere & to any social function.
I've only had a few drinks in my life, mostly because of my friends. I never enjoyed drinking, mainly because of the taste & the hangovers. I believe everyone's body reacts to alcohol a little differently. My lifestyle isn't very healthy, mainly because I have a big sweet tooth! 😅 I only crave my favorite sweets, and it is very hard to cut out my favorite sugary foods. Sugar is so addictive. What you said in the video, "Cravings will pass. You need the right tools to get through them the best way possible...... Give yourself a goal & purpose, " really resonated with me 😊. Yes, I will get through my sugar craving!!!
I drank several times a week - mainly wine - and have been AF since Jan 1st. I have had that sugar craving and have fed that some days, but was mindful not to do it everyday. That is now subsidingn along with Xmas presents of chocolate. I have always overindulged in the winter anyway - symptom of SAD maybe? Im now taking magnesium and Vit D as a supplement to help me through. I know i am strong willed and that means i can challenge my own body's cravings. This video has helped me identify the 'enemy' - know your enemy. Thank you
Thank you for sharing! And well done! You are right, when we know what we are facing its so much easier to be present and active in taking steps to tackle it.
I am only on day 3 with no Alcohol - and so far I have turned to self-help books and making my way through 'Let Them' by Mel Robbins. She also talks about alcohol addiction on her channel here. Also keeping a journal as I study how to adopt the stoic way to live ones life, what can we learn from some of our great thinkers.
Quitting alcohol is challenging when I socialize. Quitting sugar is challenging when I'm on my own. I'm now one year and three months sober but the addiction to sugar has always been my vice, drinking or not.
Alex you truly speak very well People should really learn from you I don't drink but my father used to and my parents used to fight because of it which isn't right Thank you for helping everyone so much Really I love you Alex ❤❤❤
Thanks Alex. In September 23 I was struggling with a bad back, felt lousy and I had a BMI of 30. I changed to a low carb/Keto diet with time restricted eating and limited my drinking to weekends. By January 24 I felt much better and had lost 12kg. During 2024 the weekly drinking slowly crept back in and I started to feel under par again. Interestingly though I pretty much maintained my weight loss (only gained 1Kg) during this period by maintaining my low carb (low sugar) diet. I had done dry Jan a few times before so thought it about time to have another reset this year. Now nearly 2 weeks in I am feeling better but noticed that I have had next to no withdrawal symptoms. I have had sugar cravings before but not this time. The craving for alcohol I think is largely from a habit and social context. Zero alcohol beer is helping me to bridge this habit (Guinness 0 is a good option), but I think I will probably just use even this on social occasions going forward. I am seriously considering extending past January as I am pretty certain my alcohol use would slowly creep up again. I don’t rule out not drinking again but maybe only on special occasions and limit myself - we shall see.
Working up to 22 months Alcohol Free and decided to abstain from Chocolate this January. I've found not eating chocolate more than a challenge than stopping drinking but have managed to resist my cravings so far despite having a cupboard full of Chocolate left over from Christmas!
Thank you very much for your time. Thank you very much for all your advice. I haven't seen you for more than 10 years, but sometimes the anxiety comes back. I really like chocolate and thank you for those tips that you give us.Being able to have better health and well-being thanks to your advice I have been able to lose weight, I have been able to organize my time, I am a mother 24/7 and I have been able to have a better relationship with my children,And I have also been able to love and accept myself and have more empathy with myself, I have been able to smile more.God bless you Alex, you are a wonderful, great person. Good luck.🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰🥰💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙❤️❤️😘
Very helpful, thanks Dr. Alex. I think the part about having something to look forward to is pretty important… Also, I agree with the thought of not constantly thinking about alcohol and sober living is a good one. Just try to live your life in a positive way and focus on the good!
That explains a lot! And I started before Christmas so I had a cupboard full of mince pies, cake, biscuits and chocolates! Hopefully now I can begin to tail them off. But I realise now there was actually a biochemical reason for this craving! I've also been walking every day and I have noticed that, despite the extra calories, my weight at the moment hasn't changes. So now that all the Christmas stash has gone, I might lose the 20lbs that I need to drop! Here's hoping! 🎉
For me I consume as much sugar and junk over Christmas as I do alcohol, so when I do Dry January I completely cut out sugar and refined carbohydrates too. Because I've decided that I'm not consuming it I don't have any of it in the house, and for me that pretty quickly eliminates any cravings or temptation.
Great video of exactly what I did when I drank alchol. But I drank to much which killed my brain cells, stomach ulsers etc. However I have not had a drink for 10 years now. Now I feel much better and my dopamine is great. Meaning a bissy life style, eat and drinck healthy. I was on death road 10 years ago and yes it was hard to deal with the cravings in the early stages, but as you said, cravings will and they did pass and i got there by having no cravings or the erge to drink now. Thanks.
Hi Alex, just recently discovered your content on UA-cam. Really enjoyed it. It’s so relatable. I’m doing dry January. Can I ask your advice….. A friend who was fully alcohol dependent and a year into recovery has asked me to be her weekly support check in. Do you think this is a good idea? I have in the past been a heavy drinker and not sure of the path with alcohol come Feb. Feel conflicted. Any thoughts?
-- Hello Dr. Alex! I have been alcohol-free almost my whole life. But I am addicted to sugar and junk food. My blood A1C levels have been high and I’ve been told by my doctor that my levels have to go down, because I am at risk of developing diabetes. I feel like I am at a turning point in my life. But it’s so hard to quit sugar. 🥺♥️
I used to have a glass of wine with every meal during the covid years but as soon as the world opened up again, I actually gave up alcohol because I saw the pattern and what it could become. Habitually I do now have sugar after every dinner but it’s changed from a cookie or cake to a date with peanut butter or a square of dark chocolate. Just little changes can make a big difference guys. See what you can adjust. xx
@@DrAlexGeorgesquash a date( with the base of a glass/cup, with a bit of greaseproof paper),add a spread of peanut butter, then a dollop of melted dark choc,sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and himalayan salt...stick in the freezer. Do a tray of these...put in the freezer....they are yummy and gorgeous for after a meal .......just saying!
Thanks for this video. I've been off alcohol for nearly 6 months. The first couple of months i was eating pretty healthy as i was training for a half marathon. The past couple of months my sugar consumption has been through the roof. Eating full packs of biscuits in one night. I've never been that bad. 😢
Dont be hard on yourself, try and use a few of the tips in the video to tackle it. Often cravings subside within minutes when we put ourselves onto a distracting activity. Doesn’t have to be anything crazy, even reading a book or doing laundry
4 years, 1 month, 28 days, and 8 hours since my last drink of alcohol, not missed it a bit. A top tip for losing weight is gentle exercise. The sugar in the blood is used up for the exercise you are doing, but it allows the body to replenish it by converting body fat to sugar. If you exercise too quickly, your body will demand sugar as you will feel faint and you will eat sugar to prevent collapse. This is because eating sugar is the quickest method of getting sugar into the bloodstream to supply energy to your vital organs. Converting fat to sugar is a slow process and will not meet your bodies immediate demands to survive. You will then most certainly overeat, and the excess sugar in your blood will be converted to fat, so you maybe fitter but most certainly heavier. The best thing is to relax and do absolutely nothing after exercise, allow your blood to get back to sugar equilibrium by converting fat to sugar. Calorie count a bit to manage food intake if you want to lose weight.
For anyone who needs a good healthy treat (that contains sugar): cut dates down the middle, remove the pit, fill with a nice spoon of peanut butter (or other spread) and cover in dark chocolate of your choice. Its delicious and rich enough to squash almost any sugar craving, and its pretty damn healthy compared to the typical processed choices.
Stopped drinking 5th Nov 2024 as i had open heart surgery for valve replacement and a bypass. Diet and weight has been an issue (trying to stay under 75kilos) along with fluid intake as im only allowed 1.5ltrs per day. Hoping my daily sugar intake can decrease as it seems to add to my cravings...
I am a person who loves sweets, especially chocolate, I try to control myself but I can't, I know it's bad for our health, whenever I eat something salty I have to have something sweet afterwards 😚🙌👋💜
I'm almost 15th months AF still have chocolate regularly but nothing compared to the first few months. Now sugar free in coffee also soft drinks sugar free. I would say I year AF everything calms down
Ive been eating so much candy,. Going to AA fire the last 5 weeks and it's just sugar sugar sugar and of course lots of coffee. I think I've only eaten 10 times in a month!😢 but, I'm not drinking!❤
That was me. Easy to say... but please don't beat yourself up. It's really normal. Once I accepted I couldn't stop, I allowed myself to enjoy it because I couldn't stop anyways. It then started to die off . Good luck
Day 14 here and I feel like shit. It’s like part of my identity is gone and I feel alone and bored. Not sure where to start in terms of getting that drive back I had when I had ice cold drinks to look forward to at the end of the day. My sex drive and dating life has gone down since drinking was usually a part of those activities and my sleeping hasn’t gotten better in terms of going to bed earlier or quality. I just wake up without a hangover which is nice I guess. 🤷🏻♂️
One complaint I have about the video is this; if you are having liquor only there is either so little sugar its negligable(as in >1gram) or none at all. Yes beers, whine, and mixed drinks do have sugar and if you have a lot of them you are in massive excess. To label all alcohol in this same way is very desceptive. I repect the video on trying to help people with drinking problems realise what they are doing to their body, but I insist you do not disrespect yourself in such a way that you are innacurate and deceive your audience.
bebida alcoólica nunca deveria existir no mundo... a melhor bebida pra mim e Jesus Cristo o filho de Deus. Jesus a fonte de água viva eterna... João 7:38
The sugar cravings lasted so long for me! At just over 6 months now, I am finally able to have it under control. Just remember this too shall pass ☺️ thank you for the great video Alex.
Have you had the same experience having given up alcohol? I'd love to hear your thoughts below 👇
I have cut down on sugary drinks cutting down on chocolate and I drink plenty of water
Definitely! Craving sugar like CRAZY! Thanks for the tips.
Thanks I have been addicted for 30 years. With periods of abstinence. But it is so helpful to hear others
A Description of ‘The AA, 12 step, Alcoholic’.
Vernon E. Johnson (a priest and recovering alcoholic) advice was that the
kindest thing you can do for the alcoholic and the family is to ‘describe the
alcoholic illness’. The following page is an attempt to do that.
An uncontrollable compulsion to drink
Denial that they have a problem with alcohol: they are unreachable, cannot
be helped
Lying to themselves and others: Dishonesty
Unable to take responsibility: blames others, has a victim mentality
Self will run riot= willful, I am right, I know everything attitude, they
cannot be told anything
Can’t deal with life on its own terms= turns away from reality (bills not
paid, letters unopened, rubbish stashing). Very fearful person, unable to
deal with the world, overwhelmed.
A dependency psychology (childlike), not only on alcohol but also people
like us. We do life’s tasks for them. In order to keeps us caring for them a
constant hidden agenda: high levels of manipulation involved in getting
needs met around addiction.
The alcoholic be locked together in relationship with the alanon member:
there will be a 2nd person (or people) surrounding the alcoholic, caring,
controlling, managing the alcoholics drinking and life’s tasks.
A.D.D symptoms (racing thoughts/brain/speaks very fast) = Unable to
settle, restless, ‘ants in their pants’ and/or sometimes the opposite ‘cannot
move from the spot’. (Dr Silkworth’s description of the alcoholic: restless,
irritable, prone to disappointment)
Hi Alex,
I stopped drinking alcohol on December 7th last year, so it’s only been a few weeks. I chose this date mainly because of the upcoming Christmas season, New Year celebrations, and so on.
I can confirm that about two weeks after quitting, I started craving sweets more. I had never eaten so many sweets as I did in the last days of last year. However, I found a way to overcome this increased craving for sugar.
I started walking briskly 7-10 km six times a week and tracking my calories using a nutrition app to keep my nutrients under control. I replaced sweets exactly as you mentioned in your video: plain yogurt with honey and cocoa, plus a banana, grapes, or an apple - a delicious treat with almost no calories.
So yes, I can confirm this phenomenon. After quitting alcohol, you can expect an increased craving for sweet foods, but it is manageable. Brisk walking probably provides me with enough endorphins and dopamine, so I’m doing just fine.
Thank you for your advice and insights!
I'm 67 and started drinking when I was 13 and thought "I'm doing this the rest of my life" and I almost did. 6 months sober and although I never liked sweets ...I do now. 😊
I just watched your video “I quit alcohol and it changed my life,” where you describe your 2-year journey without alcohol. I decided to watch videos you made more than two years ago. It is remarkable how different you look physically now, but also the fluidity and clarity in the expression of your thoughts now, are outstanding! Congratulations!
Watching this came at such a good time for me, sober since 02/11/2024 and ive noticed the sugar withdrawals and my mood, its like my only naughty thing left 😂
Just a simple thank you for your knowledge, time, effort and kindness. A 73yr old granny here..What a generous young man you are!
Crazy how this came at the right time. ❤
Same,,
Perfect timing ,I gave up alcohol back in October after around 33 years of daily drinking and I can't stop eating sugary things .
It requires a gentle wean rather than cold turkey but you can reframe the dopamine onto other things. So having alternative activities or things you eat to bring yourself off ❤
@DrAlexGeorge Thanks. I am working on it .
Thank you for your videos! Last year, I managed to go 75 days without drinking. After that, I did drink a few times. I was so focused on not drinking that I drove myself crazy with my own thoughts. So the final part of this video really clicked with me. Right now, I’m still drinking, and oddly enough, knowing that I’m “allowed” to drink gives me a sense of peace. Because of that, I’ve only had 5 beers over 2 days this January. I think I’m going to try quitting again this year with the help of your tips.
Went alcohol free 1st of Jan and started Carnivore to curb sugar and carb cravings. Eat when your hungry, stop when you're full. Feeling satiated helps a huge amount. Clarity, energy, sleep all improved plus the extra benefit of weight loss. 👍
Thank you for sharing!
And well done!
Same I’m 14 days also .
Love it! Thank you Alex. I’m currently around 3 months in to my alcohol free journey. As a 22 year old student, it has been a challenge… but the benefits have made it so worthwhile. I decided to make this lifestyle change after watching one of your videos, so thank you again! I appreciate all that you are doing to help us feel empowered and healthy. ❤️
Love this
Thank you so much for sharing your story and congratulations on 3 months, that's a huge effort 🙏
Your 22.
😂
@@joc1016?
Mind if I ask personally about the "out of hand" examples in your life?
2:51 Understanding that the brain also REDUCES the baseline amount of dopamine available when we use an addictive substance regularly has helped me enormously. Needing more and more of something just to feel normal is a _miserable_ experience, and knowing how easily I fall back into overconsumption helps me resist when the siren call of substances tries to tempt me again. Longterm abstinence makes REAL LIFE rewarding, and that feels SO much better than being a slave to a substance! 💪🌿😃💖🤸♂ Totally agree that building a toolbox of strategies and ADDING good things to your life makes such a difference. 😄 Huzzah! 💃🕺
Absolutely! Thank you for sharing that ❤
The sugar cravings lasted so long for me! At just over 6 months now, I am finally able to have it under control.
Just remember this too shall pass ☺️ thank you for the great video Alex.
Thank you!
I have been working with a health coach recently and she gave me an awesome tip on sugar cravings. She told me if I had a strong sugar craving. It can often be solved with something containing vinegar so I reach for the pickles and it does help.
Excellent video - not many people can film simple videos in this format whilst keeping audience engagement without employing the use of cutaways and transitions but you DO! Proof that content is king 🎉👍
Ps watching on the xtrainer haha!
Thank you so much! That is super kind of you! 💙
@ credit where due!
Great to hear that the sugar craving will pass. I'm 2 weeks into dry January, and I'm now battling sugar cravings. I really wanted a drink last night, but I distracted myself by making banana bread.
Yoga and walking are also helping. Thanks for the motivational video, it was just what I needed.
Well done you! Thats awesome. And the right thing to do, when we feel an urge or even boredom, put the mind to work!
59 year old who drank a lot and often since 13.
I've quit often, as well
I was a wild land fire fighter and committed trail runner all my life.
I still run Spartan races with my daughters.
I think that a life of intermittent fasting and very active and challenging work in the mountains has helped me stay young, despite drinking very heavily.
I am 21 days clean now.
I've been off of sugar for a few decades and quit smoking twenty years ago as well.
Thanks for a great chat.
You're is the only channel I have subscribed to in a few years!
We'll done
It's crazy how your video releases seem to be following my metabolic process to a tee. Thank you for making these!
6 years AF and still get sugar / chocolate cravings! So happy I stopped drinking though
I am currently 27 years old. I started drinking when I was 17 and join the military at 19 and had been drinking chronically ever since joining the military. After I got out the military I had gained almost 50 pounds from excessive drinking and not much physical activity. It went from drinking regularly on weekends to drinking throughout the week to nearly everyday. After Christmas 2024 I decided to take the journey of no more Alcohol. It’s been almost 3 weeks now and I can say my mental clarity is insane. The brain fogs/ pressure headaches have gone down tremendously. I’ve also been working out and eating a lot better. I honestly don’t ever want to pick up another drink again with the way I feel. If you are struggling with alcohol please comment under my comment so that we can uplift one another in this journey!
Way to go, reading this has given me hope and encouragement that I can do it also. Today is day 1, and I want to make it to day 2. Would love to life each other up! I am loving Alex's videos also.
@ you got this! The first week was the hardest especially with new years quickly approaching but some things I can speak for myself is that my quality of sleep is a lot better but the first week was hell. I was hungry and could not sleep at all but it gets better! Praying for you my guy!
Just wanted to say thank you Alex. Your videos are helping me so much. I stopped drinking alcohol on 1st December last year and started AA meetings. Thank you ♥︎
Ah thank you ❤❤
Thank you for this! I’m 82 days alcohol free! I was just saying how I’ve been eating so many baked yummies! The holidays! Cookies, brownies, different breads, all delicious, but why? Looking for that dopamine hit, I guess. Frustrating not being able to lose weight, but glad that I’m alcohol free. I’ll keep trying! Balance!
You are doing amazing! Dont be hard on yourself. It took a long time for me to lose the weight and I really did focus on the sobriety first. We dont have to feel we need to fix everything at once!
Doing dry Jan, had 4 Mars bars today, not gonna lie.
I probably needed this video 😂
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve eaten a family-sized bar of dairy milk, a whole tub of Ben &Jerrys plus a packet of Jaffa cakes. Now lying on the sofa feeling as sick as a dog. I’ll end up diabetic at this rate 😂
@ 😂🤣🤣🤣
Well done you! And dont worry its so common, hope the video helped :) plus the occasional mars bar is defo a win
@@Kim19391that’s impressive😂 I don’t want to come across like I’m judging at all but I think a lot of reasons why some people don’t get what they want for quitting alcohol is because they replace it with another quick dopamine release like sugar which crashes their energy levels and so on. Combining no alcohol with a good diet and exercise and you will feel like super man/woman! I know I’m largely echoing what Alex said but I hope you can curb your cravings😊
@@Ricardo-ur5os thank you! I’m doing much better today 😂. I also have ADHD which is not helpful in these circumstances lol.
I’ve started dry Jan and watching your videos, so interesting to hear about the effects and what to expect. Last night I really craved a bottle of red but really tried to find a distraction and it finally went! I feel so good today that I didn’t give in. Your advice is really helpful! Look forward to seeing more videos 😊
Well done! And thank you I am glad the videos help
Tomorrow will be two months without a drink for me. Your videos are nice for helping me understand some of these unusual changes like sugar cravings. Thank you!
Not so much a sugar craving for me, but more just binging on snacks after dinner. I put it down mainly to boredom and stress.
Thanks, I really needed this. I’m four months in, and sugar is definitely a challenge. It’s good to know it’s a common experience along the way. When you said that it reminded me that when I quit smoking 16 years ago, I had an early period when I drank waaay more alcohol than normal when I was out with friends (something different to do with my hands - I actually had to sit on my hands sometimes to avoid smoking). Eventually, it totally eased off to a normal level.
My sugar craving has been Sprite- glad to know that this is normal under the circumstances😂 I usually cave in on the weekends- mostly out of boredom - so definitely something I need to be mindful of going forward! Thank you so much for sharing this with us❤
You got this!❤
My recommendation is allow the sugar, if you fight it , you will loose everytime... its a good replacement for alcohol. Eventually it will start to die off.For me sugar was my methadone.
Took me years and im not 100% solid with it .
Sober quite a while, but i was a drunk for most my life.
I quit alcohol a couple of months ago and yes I have a huge chocolate addiction, I'm waking up in the night at least a couple of times, going downstairs for a munch. I've woken my wife up eating in bed.
I'm not overly concerned as I have no put a mess plan in place as I need to sort this out but I wasn't aware this was a thing do thankyou
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I never really thought about the loss of the sugars from the alcohol when you stop drinking causing the inevitable sugar cravings. There was definitely a light bulb moment the other day realizing that I was feeling more hungry likely due to the reduced calories from the lack of liquid bread, but the sugar piece was one I wasn't thinking of. Thanks for sharing! It makes a ton of sense.
I still get mild sugar cravings & once in a while give into it & have a little something sugary. All things in Moderation. Well balanced meal is so important. I put the drink down September 1, 2010 for me it has been the best thing I ever did. Now sober 14.5 years I can go anywhere & to any social function.
This video has been so helpful. I have found myself eating more sweets Anne chocolate and understand why now! Thank you so much
I've only had a few drinks in my life, mostly because of my friends. I never enjoyed drinking, mainly because of the taste & the hangovers. I believe everyone's body reacts to alcohol a little differently. My lifestyle isn't very healthy, mainly because I have a big sweet tooth! 😅 I only crave my favorite sweets, and it is very hard to cut out my favorite sugary foods. Sugar is so addictive. What you said in the video, "Cravings will pass. You need the right tools to get through them the best way possible...... Give yourself a goal & purpose, " really resonated with me 😊.
Yes, I will get through my sugar craving!!!
Thank you ❤
@@DrAlexGeorge Thank you, too 😊❤️
I drank several times a week - mainly wine - and have been AF since Jan 1st. I have had that sugar craving and have fed that some days, but was mindful not to do it everyday. That is now subsidingn along with Xmas presents of chocolate. I have always overindulged in the winter anyway - symptom of SAD maybe? Im now taking magnesium and Vit D as a supplement to help me through.
I know i am strong willed and that means i can challenge my own body's cravings. This video has helped me identify the 'enemy' - know your enemy. Thank you
Thank you for sharing! And well done! You are right, when we know what we are facing its so much easier to be present and active in taking steps to tackle it.
Very good advice and easy to hear wisdom from you.
I'm at 21 days today and going along well
Very informative and an easy watch. Interested and subscribed.
I am only on day 3 with no Alcohol - and so far I have turned to self-help books and making my way through 'Let Them' by Mel Robbins. She also talks about alcohol addiction on her channel here. Also keeping a journal as I study how to adopt the stoic way to live ones life, what can we learn from some of our great thinkers.
Mel Robbins is great! I need to read that book
Quitting alcohol is challenging when I socialize. Quitting sugar is challenging when I'm on my own. I'm now one year and three months sober but the addiction to sugar has always been my vice, drinking or not.
Alex you truly speak very well People should really learn from you I don't drink but my father used to and my parents used to fight because of it which isn't right Thank you for helping everyone so much Really I love you Alex ❤❤❤
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Thanks Alex. In September 23 I was struggling with a bad back, felt lousy and I had a BMI of 30. I changed to a low carb/Keto diet with time restricted eating and limited my drinking to weekends. By January 24 I felt much better and had lost 12kg. During 2024 the weekly drinking slowly crept back in and I started to feel under par again. Interestingly though I pretty much maintained my weight loss (only gained 1Kg) during this period by maintaining my low carb (low sugar) diet. I had done dry Jan a few times before so thought it about time to have another reset this year. Now nearly 2 weeks in I am feeling better but noticed that I have had next to no withdrawal symptoms. I have had sugar cravings before but not this time. The craving for alcohol I think is largely from a habit and social context. Zero alcohol beer is helping me to bridge this habit (Guinness 0 is a good option), but I think I will probably just use even this on social occasions going forward. I am seriously considering extending past January as I am pretty certain my alcohol use would slowly creep up again. I don’t rule out not drinking again but maybe only on special occasions and limit myself - we shall see.
You are doing great ❤
Working up to 22 months Alcohol Free and decided to abstain from Chocolate this January. I've found not eating chocolate more than a challenge than stopping drinking but have managed to resist my cravings so far despite having a cupboard full of Chocolate left over from Christmas!
Thank you very much for your time. Thank you very much for all your advice. I haven't seen you for more than 10 years, but sometimes the anxiety comes back. I really like chocolate and thank you for those tips that you give us.Being able to have better health and well-being thanks to your advice I have been able to lose weight, I have been able to organize my time, I am a mother 24/7 and I have been able to have a better relationship with my children,And I have also been able to love and accept myself and have more empathy with myself, I have been able to smile more.God bless you Alex, you are a wonderful, great person. Good luck.🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰🥰💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙❤️❤️😘
Very helpful, thanks Dr. Alex. I think the part about having something to look forward to is pretty important… Also, I agree with the thought of not constantly thinking about alcohol and sober living is a good one. Just try to live your life in a positive way and focus on the good!
Thank you so much for sharing Dr Alex I do replace everything with chocolate 🍫 💚
That explains a lot! And I started before Christmas so I had a cupboard full of mince pies, cake, biscuits and chocolates! Hopefully now I can begin to tail them off. But I realise now there was actually a biochemical reason for this craving! I've also been walking every day and I have noticed that, despite the extra calories, my weight at the moment hasn't changes. So now that all the Christmas stash has gone, I might lose the 20lbs that I need to drop! Here's hoping! 🎉
You got this!
For me I consume as much sugar and junk over Christmas as I do alcohol, so when I do Dry January I completely cut out sugar and refined carbohydrates too. Because I've decided that I'm not consuming it I don't have any of it in the house, and for me that pretty quickly eliminates any cravings or temptation.
Great tip!
Great video of exactly what I did when I drank alchol. But I drank to much which killed my brain cells, stomach ulsers etc. However I have not had a drink for 10 years now. Now I feel much better and my dopamine is great. Meaning a bissy life style, eat and drinck healthy. I was on death road 10 years ago and yes it was hard to deal with the cravings in the early stages, but as you said, cravings will and they did pass and i got there by having no cravings or the erge to drink now. Thanks.
You have done incredibly. Thank you for sharing ❤
Not with alcohol, couldn't stand the stuff but heroin was my best friend! You definitely have mad sugar cravings after detox , heaps in a cup of tea
Hi Alex, just recently discovered your content on UA-cam. Really enjoyed it. It’s so relatable.
I’m doing dry January. Can I ask your advice…..
A friend who was fully alcohol dependent and a year into recovery has asked me to be her weekly support check in. Do you think this is a good idea? I have in the past been a heavy drinker and not sure of the path with alcohol come Feb. Feel conflicted. Any thoughts?
Sure, very good video, thanks for sharing this video 👍
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing dr Alex really good video great information
My pleasure!
Very inspiring video!
-- Hello Dr. Alex! I have been alcohol-free almost my whole life. But I am addicted to sugar and junk food. My blood A1C levels have been high and I’ve been told by my doctor that my levels have to go down, because I am at risk of developing diabetes. I feel like I am at a turning point in my life. But it’s so hard to quit sugar. 🥺♥️
Thank you for sharing. I hope the tips in this video will help you, you can absolutely do it 🙏
Thankyou for this had a great information i didnt even know that alcohol had sugar and i love this channel ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Que bello tierno palabra bendiciones 🙌 Dr Alex George
Thank you!
Very good video!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you!!
Thank you so much for this ❤
I used to have a glass of wine with every meal during the covid years but as soon as the world opened up again, I actually gave up alcohol because I saw the pattern and what it could become. Habitually I do now have sugar after every dinner but it’s changed from a cookie or cake to a date with peanut butter or a square of dark chocolate. Just little changes can make a big difference guys. See what you can adjust. xx
That's amazing, thank you so much for sharing these great tips. Date and peanut butter sounds delicious, i'll definitely give it a try :)
@@DrAlexGeorgesquash a date( with the base of a glass/cup, with a bit of greaseproof paper),add a spread of peanut butter, then a dollop of melted dark choc,sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and himalayan salt...stick in the freezer. Do a tray of these...put in the freezer....they are yummy and gorgeous for after a meal .......just saying!
Helo dr alex☺️ thank you for sharing this🥰
My pleasure 😊
You are welcome ❤
@@DrAlexGeorge 🥰
Omg Thank you! I thought it was just me 😂,,,,,,I stopped 🛑 in September. And now all of a sudden, I'm the cookie monster 👾.
Thanks for this video. I've been off alcohol for nearly 6 months. The first couple of months i was eating pretty healthy as i was training for a half marathon.
The past couple of months my sugar consumption has been through the roof. Eating full packs of biscuits in one night. I've never been that bad. 😢
Dont be hard on yourself, try and use a few of the tips in the video to tackle it. Often cravings subside within minutes when we put ourselves onto a distracting activity. Doesn’t have to be anything crazy, even reading a book or doing laundry
4 years, 1 month, 28 days, and 8 hours since my last drink of alcohol, not missed it a bit. A top tip for losing weight is gentle exercise. The sugar in the blood is used up for the exercise you are doing, but it allows the body to replenish it by converting body fat to sugar. If you exercise too quickly, your body will demand sugar as you will feel faint and you will eat sugar to prevent collapse. This is because eating sugar is the quickest method of getting sugar into the bloodstream to supply energy to your vital organs. Converting fat to sugar is a slow process and will not meet your bodies immediate demands to survive. You will then most certainly overeat, and the excess sugar in your blood will be converted to fat, so you maybe fitter but most certainly heavier. The best thing is to relax and do absolutely nothing after exercise, allow your blood to get back to sugar equilibrium by converting fat to sugar. Calorie count a bit to manage food intake if you want to lose weight.
1day in. I'll be listening a lot
For anyone who needs a good healthy treat (that contains sugar): cut dates down the middle, remove the pit, fill with a nice spoon of peanut butter (or other spread) and cover in dark chocolate of your choice. Its delicious and rich enough to squash almost any sugar craving, and its pretty damn healthy compared to the typical processed choices.
Stopped drinking 5th Nov 2024 as i had open heart surgery for valve replacement and a bypass. Diet and weight has been an issue (trying to stay under 75kilos) along with fluid intake as im only allowed 1.5ltrs per day. Hoping my daily sugar intake can decrease as it seems to add to my cravings...
You got this ❤
Brilliant video
I just threw away all my liquor again. I hate drinking it’s so nasty 🤢 but it’s so good. 😢😢😢😮
I am a person who loves sweets, especially chocolate, I try to control myself but I can't, I know it's bad for our health, whenever I eat something salty I have to have something sweet afterwards 😚🙌👋💜
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@DrAlexGeorge ❤️❤️
I'm almost 15th months AF still have chocolate regularly but nothing compared to the first few months. Now sugar free in coffee also soft drinks sugar free. I would say I year AF everything calms down
Currently 43 days sober
Ive been eating so much candy,. Going to AA fire the last 5 weeks and it's just sugar sugar sugar and of course lots of coffee. I think I've only eaten 10 times in a month!😢 but, I'm not drinking!❤
That was me. Easy to say... but please don't beat yourself up. It's really normal.
Once I accepted I couldn't stop, I allowed myself to enjoy it because I couldn't stop anyways. It then started to die off .
Good luck
Day 14 here and I feel like shit. It’s like part of my identity is gone and I feel alone and bored. Not sure where to start in terms of getting that drive back I had when I had ice cold drinks to look forward to at the end of the day. My sex drive and dating life has gone down since drinking was usually a part of those activities and my sleeping hasn’t gotten better in terms of going to bed earlier or quality. I just wake up without a hangover which is nice I guess. 🤷🏻♂️
I've quit alcohol now rely on ssri gummies
Vita mins or vitamins ????
Brawo to co robisz
Great video 🩷
thank you 🙂
Silly question but how much sugar actually does a large can of red bull have ?🙁
11g of sugar per 100g. 473ml can has 52g sugar😮
I thought it was just me craving sugar. I’m 4 months in and all I want is sugar. I’m not eating anything else
You’re different thank you
Easier to cut drinking out than sugar for me.
Try a keto diet along side your sobriety it helps with cravings.
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Buen video 👌👏❤️🩹
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Tip # 1 don't listen to country music it all about whisky drinking 😂
One complaint I have about the video is this; if you are having liquor only there is either so little sugar its negligable(as in >1gram) or none at all. Yes beers, whine, and mixed drinks do have sugar and if you have a lot of them you are in massive excess. To label all alcohol in this same way is very desceptive. I repect the video on trying to help people with drinking problems realise what they are doing to their body, but I insist you do not disrespect yourself in such a way that you are innacurate and deceive your audience.
I appreciate your video, but i would say you are lying to yourself when saying you dont suffer with addictions
bebida alcoólica nunca deveria existir no mundo... a melhor bebida pra mim e Jesus Cristo o filho de Deus. Jesus a fonte de água viva eterna... João 7:38
The way to look at it is 40-60 percent of the people in these comments will go right back to drinking after January.
The sugar cravings lasted so long for me! At just over 6 months now, I am finally able to have it under control.
Just remember this too shall pass ☺️ thank you for the great video Alex.
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