Experiences with Cutting Out/Reducing Drinking

Does anyone have any wisdom about any benefits of cutting out/reducing drinking on their climbing performance? I'm currently recovering from A2 injuries in one finger on each hand. I've had a pretty good mindset throughout, and have worked on the things that I am able to while not half crimping. I'm at the point where I feel I'm climbing more "well" than I ever have before, I'm just hindered by the long timeline of healing this sort of injury. I'm really psyched on sending my first double digit boulder this year, sending 5.12 on gear if I can get my head in the game, and maybe making the podium at a couple comps. Cutting out the drinking seems to be recommended by many for ligament/pulley health, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this that they could share. 

I was recommended by my doctor to stop/lessen my alcohol consumption when recovering from an achilles injury.  It seemed to help a ton.  It was also a good reason for a bit of a reset for a healthier lifestyle.  Now I consume probably 1/10th the alcohol, which I am happy about.

Try stopping for a couple of weeks or a month to see if your pulley improves. If you try, but can't stop for a couple of weeks, you have a different problem!

My grain of wisdom on cutting alcohol is that if you can stop for a week or two, it will be really easy to continue without drinking and you won't miss it. 

FrankPSwrote:

Try stopping for a couple of weeks or a month to see if your pulley improves. If you try, but can't stop for a couple of weeks, you have a different problem!

Haha! That sounds like a pretty decent plan to me. Thank you! 

Drinking strips your body of vitamins and nutrients as well as being an actual poison. Don't get me wrong, I am excellent at drinking, but anything body/health related it's a loser. 

The biggest improvement I saw after cutting out alcohol was sleep quality. I used to drink two beers every night. Surprise surprise I only got 5-7 hours of sleep and recover was shit. Now I consistently get 7-8 hours, making me recover well enough to sustain more training.

Since you are asking the question you probably know the answer is it will be of a benefit to you. Doctors tell to cut back or stop drinking but Willie Nelson says in the song I gotta get drunk that there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so I guess we better have another round.

Alcohol is toxic and will only make it harder for your body to repair itself.  Also from a nutrition standpoint you're consuming "empty" calories which could be replaced by more nutritious foods.

I'm sure you'll be able to drink alcohol and boulder V10 if you work for it. To do it in a year while evading chronic injury, you'll probably need to hold off on the beers.

Personally, I've cut out alcohol and feel pretty great. It's not as hard to give up as you may think.

If you want to recover like a pro, prioritize sleep, PT, supplementing protein/aminos/magnesium/glucosamine, and resting the injured joint.

Most recovery happens during sleep. 

And someone up there already hit the nail on the head re: getting better sleep sans alcohol.  

Also, alcohol literally does you zero favors physically, it's only harsh on your body. 

Smoke weed instead. Way better sleep and some constructive introspection never hurt anyone. 

Also happy new year - hope you crush your boulder/trad/comp goals 

Actual experience:  about a year ago I started recording what I was actually drinking. After looking back and seeing I was averaging 2.2 drinks per day I decided that was too much. I’m now targeting a maximum of 2 per week. I’m mostly succeeding at it, with exceptions for holidays and travel. I’ve never loved the feeling of intoxication—just love the taste.

My suggestions; keep a record and do it honestly. That will tell you if you need to change and also if you are making the change. Be ready to change habits you didn’t think were related to drinking, but it turns out they are. Best of luck. 

check out the book “why we sleep” - it’s amazing. i cut back dramatically on drinking once i learned how good sleep is for you, and how badly you sleep after drinking alcohol!

Willi wrote that drinking song 50 something years ago. He has been California sober for decades. 

If you cut out drinking you may have to change your username. Do it! The sooner the better. Don't replace a bad habit with another bad habit, smoking weed.

I’d argue that an animal-based diet, with unimpaired pathways and copious sleep is recovery heaven, but hey, I’m sober-sober ;)

You will recover faster and feel better. Huberman does a decent podcast on the effects of “habitual” drinking (the habit can be even one drink a week.) Pretty interesting material to listen to. My own personal experience has been very positive, give it a go and see how you feel after a few months.

Cutting out alcohol or reducing drinking has helped my quality of life a lot. Now I prefer "athletic brewing co." beers whenever I'm thirsty for a beer or something hoppy. Seltzer and coffee for everything else.

I cut out alcohol and caffeine about 9 months ago to deal with a heart issue.  No regrets.  Sleeping better, to be sure.

So what's it going to be, Chronically Injured? Are you sober now or what?

Jason Lwrote:

Cutting out alcohol or reducing drinking has helped my quality of life a lot. Now I prefer "athletic brewing co." beers whenever I'm thirsty for a beer or something hoppy. Seltzer and coffee for everything else.

I second Athletic NA beer, it definitely scratches the itch, it tastes delicious!

Same on the NA IPA. I think my favorite so far is the Lagunitas IPNA. I was really worried when I had to give up both alcohol (I'm a huge craft beer/IPA fan/consumer) and coffee due to an ulcer. And while I couldn't wait to get coffee back into my life, I found the NA IPA really did scratch the itch for a "Ugh what a day at work" or "Woo what a day skiing" beverage. I was very (pleasantly) surprised that my brain was more dependent on the activity/ceremony than the alcohol itself.

As far as climbing and physiological benefits, I can't speak to anything subtle, but I will say cutting out a ton of empty calories from the heavy imperial IPA I so adore, has helped me shed a few pounds which certainly helps with climbing.