Quick Start Preparation Course (FREE)

Download our Quick Start Preparation course as our FREE gift to help you stop drinking alcohol and get the best start to your new life. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

How To Help Clean Your Liver After Quitting Drinking Alcohol? | SDA57

by | Stop Drinking Alcohol, Year Two | 18 comments

Stop Drinking Alcohol 57 – How To Help Clean Your Liver After Stopping Drinking! (The Write Part)

I’m Kevin O’Hara for Alcohol Mastery. This is Stop Drinking Alcohol 57.

I had a bit of a rest last week. I was knackered and I just thought to take a week off from doing the diaries. Anyway, there was a couple of videos up but nothing too spectacular. Back to normal now! I’m feeling much more relaxed.

Looking after Your Body

Today, I wanted to talk about looking after yourself, especially when you’ve stopped drinking. I think it’s so important that you give your body the tools that it needs to repair itself. When you haven’t got that drink going through your system anymore, your body is probably going through repairing processes that it hasn’t done for a long time, if you think about it.

If you cannot be arsed to look after yourself, then who the hell is? Who is gonna look after you? Nobody. Nobody can force you to eat good food or get up and do exercise.

The Battered Liver

When you’re drinking, your liver especially has to put up with such a battering. If you think that the alcohol that’s flying through your bloodstream and your liver is dealing with this blood at about one and a half litres per minute, that’s pretty quick. It’s a really quiet toxic process, if you think about.

If alcohol came on to the market today, it would never get past the drug and food administration. Not just wouldn’t get past that…when your body is trying to deal with this, it’s doing it for your sake. It’s turning something really toxic into something less toxic.

Drunkenness

When we’re talking about drunkenness, it’s just another word for toxic poisoning. Acute toxic poisoning. That’s drunkenness. All the symptoms of drunkenness include dehydration, headaches, nausea, vomiting, shaking, feeling like you have a really bad flu – otherwise known as a “hangover”. These are all symptoms of self-poisoning.

The Liver’s Vital Role in the Body

The reason I’m talking about the liver in this way is because it’s such an important organ inside your body. Without the liver, you just can’t function. The liver is that complex that there’s no way that they can make a prosthetic liver. They can do your heart now, they can put a kidney machine, all that kind of stuff, but the liver – no. You’re hooked up to a machine for the rest of your life which is only gonna be short.

Diverting The Liver From Keeping You Alive

But the point is that when you’re feeding yourself alcohol, your liver is not doing what it’s supposed to do. It’s concentrating its energies on getting rid of this massive toxic burden that you’ve just put on to it. It can’t do anything else – it can’t deal with the normal toxins that are going into the body. So all of these are still going around and floating around in your blood stream, your fat cells…they become a part of who you are – all this crap.

That’s the reality of it.

Toxic Overload

So when we drink, it’s very difficult for your liver to get around to doing what it’s supposed to be doing – its normal job of just keeping your body healthy. And that’s all because we’re taking drugs, because we’re drug users. Every time we take drugs, the liver cannot get out of this emergency toxic overload situation where it’s just desperately trying to get rid of it. It needs to get that out of your body.

The Remarkable Liver

But the great news is that it is one of the most versatile and one of the strongest organs in your body. Once you’ve quit drinking and you get alcohol out of your life, you stop poisoning yourself, then your liver is not in this cycle anymore. You’ve freed it up to be able to do what it’s supposed to do. And it will start repairing itself. It will start to do the work that it was designed to do in terms of getting rid of all the normal toxins that are in the air around you, that are in the food that you’re eating. It will start to get rid of the toxins that are stored up in your body because it just couldn’t deal with it at the time.

I was terrible for it. Not only was I drinking just so much beer, but wine, the occasional spirits, so much alcohol was going into my body that it was just unreal.

Food and Nutrition After Quitting

But it wasn’t just that – it was all the crap that was following. When you’re drunk you just don’t give a shit about what you’re eating. It doesn’t cross your mind that eating the burger is just adding to the insult.

Since I’ve quit, for the first six months I just was dieting. I wasn’t losing lots of weight because I was eating the wrong foods, still. I started reading a lot of books about food and nutrition, and from there I just went vegetarian. I don’t know if I read the wrong books or the right books because eating meat just scared the hell out of me, like I thought “I’m not putting that stuff into my body anymore”. It was a lot to do with the hormones and just the chemicals that were being pumped into animals’ bodies and stuff but…I read a few evolutionary arguments that sort of put me off eating meat as well.

Plant Life

Anyways, I’m vegetarian and that’s not gonna be for everyone and that’s not what this is about. I definitely would recommend that you eat a lot of vegetables in your diet – 6 a day, 10 a day, if you can get it.

Life Giving Water

Another thing that I do regularly is get up in the morning and have water and then try and drink as much water as I can during the day. Often with a bit of lemon in it – I think the lemon just adds a bit of something else. It’s a natural fresh thing. Sometimes water can be a bit boring but a little bit of lemon juice is nice.

Other things that I tend to eat a lot of include rice, a lot of brown rice, whole-wheat, lentils, beans, so many different forms…it all depends on your taste. You can add different things to flavor them up.

Exercising for Weight Loss

As well as that exercise is another essential; getting out every single day and doing something, even if it’s only a walk around the block, a couple of kilometres or something like that. I try and do 7 or 8 kilometres every day if I can, and one or two days I’ll try and push it up to 20 or 25 kilometres, depending on how much time I’ve got.

Yoga

As well as that I like Yoga so I get up in the morning, I do a bit of Yoga…I’m not doing a hell of a lot yet, mostly it’s just a stretch. I’ve had a bad back nearly all my life and yoga seems to be helping me out. It’s just getting up in the morning and having that first stretch for half an hour. I was never a big fan of the gym, but I think we’ll try it out once.

Goal Weight

I’ve about another I think 14 pounds to lose to get down to my goal weight. A lot of people are saying that I’m losing too much weight, but believe me, I’ve still got the weight where I don’t want it, and it’s around my midriff and the other parts of my body where they shouldn’t be. I think for a man the most dangerous part to have the fact is around your belly, a doctor told me that a long time ago and I just couldn’t get rid of it because I was DRINKING TOO MUCH and eating shite.

The ‘Not-Really-Dieting’ Diet

So I’m gradually seeing it disappearing and when I’m saying I’m losing weight, I am watching my calories but I’m not hungry at all; I’m just eating a lot of different foods. Instead of eating carbohydrates in the evening, I eat a lot more vegetables in the evening. So, a lot of bulk takes away the hunger and I eat a rash of carbohydrates at lunchtime. It seems to be working. Once all this weight is gone then I think I will go back down to the gym.

By Feeding Your Body, You’re Feeding Your Mind

When you start to give yourself a good diet, when you start to treat your body right, you look after your nutrition and you get out and you do exercise, then you’re not only helping your liver (I’m saying focus on your liver because it’s an organ that you really need and once that’s working properly again, it’s gonna really help to flush out everything and to keep your body ticking over well. But, by helping your liver and by doing all this kind of stuff, you’re helping your body as a whole.

Feed Your Body, Feed Your Mind

Nutrition and exercise is a very natural and healthy way to look after yourself. It not only looks after your body, but you’re also going to be strengthening your mind, because your mind runs on basically the same building blocks as your body. So, by feeding your body, you’re also feeding your mind. Does that make sense?

More on the Liver

I’m going to do a couple of videos later in the week about some of the things that you can eat to help your liver, some of the things that you should avoid to help your liver, and some of the other things in your life that you should be doing to give your liver the tools that it needs. If you look at the spelling of “liver”, it’s “l-i-v-e-r” – the first four letters of that word should tell you everything. Without your liver, you just don’t live.

God bless the liver. Here’s to the liver!

I’d love to hear any questions that you have. I’d love to hear any stories. I’m hearing great stories every day of people who are quitting and who are going through the process. Fair play to you. It’s a good life. It’s an awful shite life when you’re drinking alcohol, I’ll tell you that much. Once you get off it, there’s just no looking back.

I’m Kevin O’Hara for Alcohol Mastery.

Onwards and upwards!

Thanks for visiting the site.
Until next time…
Onwards and Upwards!
Kev

Previous Posts That May Help You

Stop Drinking Alcohol Week 54
Stop Drinking Alcohol Week 55
Stop Drinking Alcohol Week 56

Other Links

Alcohol Mastery TV on YouTube
Alcohol Mastery Shorts on YouTube
Alcohol Mastery on Facebook
Alcohol Mastery on Twitter

18 Comments

  1. JoDev59

    Hi Kevin, Thanks for the Blog about the Liver. We all need to be reminded about how vital this organ is for our health as without a LIVER we are a DEADER–LOL:)
    Today is ALCOHOL FREE day 11 for me & am feeling fine. Became a bit out of sorts last night,not sure why,but thought about drinking. So I just kept my mind occupied by doing other things with my hands & mind-Words with Friends & Song Pop on the PC & then skyped my 14yo niece,in another state,to help her start listing items to sell on ebay. This was great for me as it was lovely to help someone else & see the joy on her face at getting things set up for herself.

    My money-sock is still hanging on the fridge and I am putting in $14 dollars a day approximately. Now that its not so much a struggle, I am not putting in every hour with a timer, I just put the days money in when I think of it. But just having the sock there on that fridge door,hearing the coins jingle every time I go to the fridge is a reminder for me & my husband too,of how much money it takes to deaden our LIvers.

    Thanks again-keep up the good work,regards Jo:)

    Reply
    • Kevin O'Hara

      It’s the memory of the habit, I still get it from time to time. Now it’s like a little farty ghost popping in and out of my head. Most of the time I can only get the faint whiff that it’s been there at all… The way you’re saving the money, you’re going to need to a sack instead of a sock soon Jo!
      Cheers
      Kev

      Reply
      • JoDev59

        Hi Kevin, day 14 ALCOHOL FREE today & feeling fine.
        I feel I am calmer & less anxious,which is a good example for my husband. He is drinking less & I have noticed is doing things around the house to keep his hands so busy he cannot possibly be drinking at the same time-maybe he is trying to stop too:) I will leave that up to him—-as that money sock gets heavier while hanging on the fridge door,lol.
        Now it is more a token & reminder for him than me anymore as I hardly think about alcohol unless I see it. My addiction was a very visual one & I am also finding I cannot stand the smell of alcohol on someone when they have been drinking- uuuggghhh. Highest regards Jo:)

        Reply
        • Kevin O'Hara

          Two week in, calmer, less anxious, setting a good example, richer, THAT is what it’s all about… Good for you Jo!
          Kev

          Reply
  2. ronnie

    Hi Kev juicing i find is the best way of getting vegetables into the body as well all the nutrients go straight to the cells in the body without having to go through the digestion process , liquid gold , i liked that in Carrs book the alcohol industry sells you exhiliration and happiness all these happy people on the telly having a good time total bollox innit .all there selling you is an early death,depression, alcohol does nobody any good at all ,its all an illusion anyway
    onwards and uppards lad

    Reply
    • Kevin O'Hara

      Hey Ronnie, I like juicing although I haven’t done it for a while. I prefer to blend as much as I can, that way you get all the fibre as well. Kev

      Reply
  3. steve r

    Great post. 7 weeks without a drink yesterday. longest abstinence in 25 years. Finding I can focus more at work for longer periods, picked up the weight training and cardio and the body shape is changing. Its good progress, Its not easy and its early days, but Im not even having an urge for a drink right now. Upwards and Onwards…

    Reply
    • Kevin O'Hara

      Good for you Steve, you’re making great progress. I think it only gets easier. Kev

      Reply
  4. Mojowomyn

    Great job everyone! I am also happy to be free (52 days today). I agree with Ronnie on the juicing. I’m comfy doing some hard core juicing now that my liver has had some time to heal. You can’t jump into detoxing right away after quitting since your wounded liver can’t take it. Onwards and upwards….and a bit inwards too!

    Reply
    • ronnie

      Agree . you need to start on the Juice slowly one glass a day to start with probably ,i went a bit over the top at first the liver cant handle it , , also find a cup of Twinnings detox tea is also a good way to start a detox,
      slowly onwards and uppards ,Thanks for the posts Kev

      Reply
  5. Mand

    Thanks for the videos Kev, I’m finding them very encouraging and inspiring. Day 4 for me, wow, can’t believe it – first time without a day’s break in 15 years and feeling v determined to succeed – thanks for the encouragement and the information through your videos 🙂 Life feels much beta already.

    Reply
    • Kevin O'Hara

      Good for you Mand!
      Kev

      Reply
  6. Bart

    Hi Kevin,
    I want to thank you for the inspiration and determination your videos have given me. I am now in my 8th week alcohol free and I really feel like my body is starting to repair itself in many ways. It’s like you said : many of the little discomforts caused by drinking have disappeared, and it’s only now that they’re gone that I realize that this is the way I SHOULD be feeling. No reflux anymore. Chronic diarrhea is gone too. My workouts have never been more effective and even though I have never been obese BMI-wise, I have lost most of the excess fat that used to cover my abs. Overall I feel better and more capable of dealing with the stress of everyday life than ever before. I am very happy to have taken the plunge.

    For some reason though I still don’t sleep as well as I should. I had hoped that the tiredness would have disappeared by now, and despite keeping a tight sleeping schedule and spending many more hours between the sheets than I used to, I don’t seem to be able to improve the quality of my sleep. I should mention that a few months before I quit, I have been diagnosed with sleeping disorder (apneu), but ever since the diagnosis I sleep with a breathing machine that supposedly has solved that problem. I tell myself that my body is still working too hard on the process of getting rid of all the toxins I’ve built up over the years, and that soon my nights will get better. Even if they don’t I will not regret my choice to live alcohol free from now on. Because aside from the lingering tiredness I feel more alive than ever 🙂

    Onwards and Upwards!

    Reply
    • Kevin O'Hara

      Hey Bart, well done on your 8 weeks, the hardest part is over! You’re totally right, no matter what happens – alcohol is not going to make it better. It does take more than a couple of months before the alcohol is completely gone… more in the mind than anything else. My sleep was normal after a month or so, but I still get the odd restless night.

      Reply
  7. joe

    ITS BEEN 8 YEARS FOR ME, WITHOUT A DRINK. I DRANK 20 BEERS A DAY FOR 20 YEARS, THEN STARTED ON WHISKEY, A HALF A GALLON EVERY 3 DAYS PLUS THE 20 BEERS, MY BROTHER COME OVER ONE SUNDAY, BY THE WAY HE SAID HE COULDN’T REMEMBER NOT SEEING ME WITHOUT A BEER IN MY HAND, ANY WAY HE SAID YOUR SKIN IS LOOKING GRAY AND YELLOW, WHAT HE DIDN’T KNOW MY LEGS WHERE SWALLOW TWICE THERE SIZE, AND ITCH LIKE CRAZY AT NIGHT TILL I NEARLY WAS GOING CRAZY. WELL BACK TO THAT SUNDAY, THAT NIGHT I SAID WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING IAM NOT GOING TO DRINK, THAT DAY, I HAD NO SIDE EFFECTS, NO SHAKES , NO VOMITING, I HAD NO SIGNS I NEEDED THAT DRINK. IT WAS A FLUCK WHERE WERE THE PINK ANIMALS , 8 YEARS LATER HAVE NOT HAD A SIP OF THAT LIVER KILLER, I WAS LUCKY. YOU CAN DO IT, IF I COULD, I WAS ON DEATH ROW, NOT NOW VERY HAPPY AND DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT STARTING AGAIN. JK

    Reply
  8. Dylan

    Hey bud. I have been watching your videos for a couple of days now trying to get the motivation to but the bottle down for good. I have been drinking almost all of my life and lately it has been an at least every night thing. I feel like I am losing my mind I just seem not to care about things as much. I really want to pull myself out and I am seeking help. I am 25 years old and I have a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. It’s a habit I have done for years and I go to it every time I start to feel weird mentally or just bad in general. Tank you for making vids. I’ll keep watching.

    Reply
  9. Alisa

    I need help I’m trying to stop drinking it’s only been 3 days and I’m sick and itching so much,! Help me please

    Reply
  10. Whitney

    Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s site,
    maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a
    regular visitor for a lengthy time.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.