Keeping your head on your shoulders

[BrandonMitchell]

Hey all,
I am typing up this new thread to see if anybody else has the same issue as I do with bodybuilding and alcohol consumption.
I am 20 years old; and around here (Maine) I think im the only straight edge (no drugs,alcohol) person there is for miles!
I find it EXTREMELY difficult to party it up at parties when im the only one not drinking/getting the buzz. I am so independant that I feel joining the group and getting a buzz going will open me up and loosen me up and meet new people.
I have read countless articles on bodybuilding and alcohol. We all know that they DONT mix at all.
So my question is, how do you guys do it? how do you avoid alcohol but still keep that social life. Maybe it's just me being in such a shell.

I have read Tim's story before I even started lifting and I must say he has contributed greatly to my new lifestyle. His inspiration to me is much higher then most people. I just gotta shake this guys hand!

Let me know fellas/ladies :Thumbs Up:

[Tim Wescott]

Thanks Brandon,that means a lot to me bud!!

As you know,I no longer drink,but at times when I did,I would attempt to quit and still go to bars with my cousins or other friends that were still drinking.

Result........I could not stand being sober and being around so many drunken idiots ...................the sad part that was actually one of many wake up calls for me,was that when I drank,I was far worse than just about anyone I`ve ever seen.............especially in the latter years of my drinking.

This allowed me to see why people said I was an insane drunk.........because I was literally insane at times when I drank.

I moved from Mass. and now live in upstate NY but before I left I surrounded myself with positive people who also trained and lived the bodybuilding lifestyle............we had our own social life........bodybuilding and food,and the contests we competed in.

Stay around positive sober people.........nothing wrong with having a drink but if you really need it to be social,somethings wrong.

I know how it is when you are younger but set your own standards and never follow...........be a leader.

Good luck bro........hang in there!!

[BrandonMitchell]

words of wisdom right there; doesn't get any better.

I appreciate that tim.

Here in Maine it's so hard to find bodybuilders/fitness freaks like me... let alone a straight edge person.

Hopefully, people will catch on to my progress and I can set an example like you have set with me and many others.

thanks for responding

[sockrocker]

hey, another edger, cool! I'm representin the sXe here in arizona, going to ASU...There is a pretty healthy straightedge scene here(or at least normal sober kids), so I don't have a huge problem with it - however, in high school, I found that if I were partying with friends, it helped to bring some ginger ale with me, as that looked like beer (so then people just assume i AM drinking, and they don't offer me anything), tasted good, and is a funny story for a few years down the road...if you find yourself getting tempted, just drink some water (or ginger ale), and find another part of the party...I've long prided myself on courage under fire as far as this is concerned, and tested myself under very hard conditions to make sure that I really want this for myself...if you haven't already, put yourself in some tough situations, and see how you come out of it - it will dictate everything that you do from that point on...in the end though, it all comes down to personal strength, and sheesh, isn't that why we do everything that we do ??

[TaPo31]

All I can say is that you need to be true to yourself. I know exactly where you are coming from as I have never taken a sip of alcohol or done one ounce of drugs of any kind, yet I always had a good time when out with my friends who were drinking. Just make it known to them that you don't drink, and after a little ridicule of course, they will be fine with it ;D. It will come to the point that your friends/others will respect you more for sticking by your values than giving in just for social acceptance.

Taylor

[sockrocker]

TaPo31 said:

It will come to the point that your friends/others will respect you more for sticking by your values than giving in just for social acceptance.

Taylor

Truer words: never spoken...after attending numerous parties, and never drinking or smoking or anything else, I started to get a whole lot of "Wow, I wish that I had your will power...I'd love to stop drinking, but I don't think that I'd survive *chuckle*" and "That's so cool, man, good for you - don't ever start doing this sh*t"

just keep doin your thing

[Maximum6]

hmmm...maybe if i start drinking more protein shakes at school...people would stop drinking those dr. peppers...and follow the short buff guy.... ;D

[Troyster]

Max, mess with their heads and drink DIET Dr. Pepper, LOL!!

Yes, surround yourself with positive people who aren't into drinking. It goes a long ways. There are a lot of people who don't PARTY HARD and drink a glass of wine or a beer socially without getting carried away.

Like mentioned, it affects your training and WILL impact your goals.

However, just cause you're not into drinking, don't isolate yourself and become anti-social. That's crucial... it can lead to drinking on its own!!

T

[BrandonMitchell]

thanks alot guys, I knew I'd hear some kick ass responses

[johnnyboy]

I quit drinking in 1999, all the trouble I ever got into involved alcohol in some form.

[Arbel]

i used to be a pretty heavy drinker ( wich is hard to do at 17 ) and had a bad habit of drinking away my bad times , but i didnt like the way i acted when i was drunk ( got to see it on video once ....not an easy sight ) and from that day i just told my friends to beat the carp out of me if i even think about drinking

just try to get a " feel " going when at a club or praty , its not hard to get into a good mood if your with the right ppl

[BrandonMitchell]

thanks bub

[kkschaef14]

I'm a little bit older and don't find it too difficult not to drink. I will go out on occasion and not drink but I don't really like being around a bunch of drunk people. I usually make an appearance and cut out before everyone starts to really cut loose.

[cavemuscle]

Ski and I have a friend named Bill in common so his story is pretty much my story. What he says is true.

If you are serious about your bodybuilding and following the lifestyle, find yourself new playgrounds and new playmates. Find folks, they don't have to be hard core, at your gym to hang with. Find a church or other spiritual program and make friends there. Hit boards like this and see if you cant find buds close by to talk to and maybe meet up with.

Most of all, extricate, ever so gracefully, yourself from the party crowd. Peer pressure is very strong, and as my friend Donna B likes to say "If you keep going in the barbershop, sooner or later you are gonna get a haircut."

Peace

B

Tim said:

Thanks Brandon,that means a lot to me bud!!

As you know,I no longer drink,but at times when I did,I would attempt to quit and still go to bars with my cousins or other friends that were still drinking.

Result........I could not stand being sober and being around so many drunken idiots ...................the sad part that was actually one of many wake up calls for me,was that when I drank,I was far worse than just about anyone I`ve ever seen.............especially in the latter years of my drinking.

This allowed me to see why people said I was an insane drunk.........because I was literally insane at times when I drank.

I moved from Mass. and now live in upstate NY but before I left I surrounded myself with positive people who also trained and lived the bodybuilding lifestyle............we had our own social life........bodybuilding and food,and the contests we competed in.

Stay around positive sober people.........nothing wrong with having a drink but if you really need it to be social,somethings wrong.

I know how it is when you are younger but set your own standards and never follow...........be a leader.

Good luck bro........hang in there!!

[BigMikeReed]

Brandon:

I actually have to congratulate you- you should know that your bodybuilidng endeavors are bringing you to a much higher level of maturity than your drinking biddues are at.

What I would suggest is that you go party and drink diet soda or whatever your diet permits. Leave when the buddies start acting stupid drunk. You'll find that when you think about it later, you'll know still can lift like you want to the next day, you will have saved money by not buying alchohol- money that you can spend on supps,etc, and you'll just have a higher level of self-respect.. Once you have the bodybuilding lifestyle 100% in you, the non-drinking and partying won't bother you at all. You can still have a social life- just not a wild destructive one.

[ntrllftr]

I use to be like Ski, With my first marriage we use to drink a fifth of something then go out to the bars all night. The next day I would feel like crap, but still make it to the gym hung over. lol
Well now it is 13 yrs later and I have my head on pretty good (not all the way yet). I only have a couple of beers
with a sh** load of wings after a show to take a break from my diet then the next day I am back at training again.
It is good that you are young and already realize that drinking and training do not mix.
My thought is if I have one drink while training that just leaves an opening for the other guy beat me in a show.
That is my motivation for not drinking- TO WIN!

[hossjob]

All these are GREAT POINTS! Buddy, just be TRUE TO YOURSELF! Like Taylor said. In college I was always able to go out and have a few beers w/ my buds but not get crazy out of control. Now, hell I go out and say, let's get a beer and I end up getting diet pepsi and water because I know it's not conducive to my lifestyle (BODYBUILDING), however, from time to time it's not bad to have a beer or glass of wine to unwind. JUST DON'T RELY on it for social outtings, tht's where bad things happen.