I’m the kid at the Chuck-E-Cheese Birthday Party that spent his cup full of game tokens before all the other kids. I still get cake and I’m super stoked to still be at the party-
I’m a five time failure at quitting drinking. So this isn’t about how to quit -I’m only 2 years Alcohol sober
I still hang out with drinkers, I still host whiskey and weed tryouts and many other party’s at my home bar. -I just cant have any alcohol. And that’s ok-
This is my SOMP -a Strategic Organ Maintenance Program. This is a guide for the off season training of professional alcoholics. Off Season meaning any time your not drinking or partying
In the mornings when you wake up. During the day while your working. Evenings and nights when your not throwing down so much and just chillin.
-save me a seat at the BLC Ole’ Bouy.
The bottom of the page has my hand curated list of many of the supplements for your SOMP.
The following are the dietary habits followed by an alcoholic that has recovered five times from pancreatitis resulting in complete liver failure. Each time I recovered, all blood panels, liver and pancreas function, A1C, cholesterol, blood pressure are all within the limits considered very healthy.
Bottom line, If your going to be a long term professional alcoholic, Drink NOTHING but water or black coffee with cinnamon (if its not an alcoholic beverage it needs to be water or black coffee).
I fast from morning wake up at 6am until between 12 – 2pm.
(fast the 6 hours after you wake)
Im no doctor but I think it might be the morning fast that jolted my metabolism -I lost weight quick! Weight loss of the kind when everyone comments and it pisses your wife off.
-Note, I’m also abstaining from alcohol during this time, that’s a huge weight loss factor in itself.
Here’s a day in my regiment:
As soon as I wake up and I mean within minutes -I chug an 18oz bottle of water. I stand at the sink and chug it as if I was at a party racing a friend to finish my beer first. get that pile of water in there to kick start your organs.
Setting up 6 of the -18oz bottles on the counter in the morning with the goal of drinking all of them or more throughout the day.
I gather the empties to the side -I glace at them when I walk by as a reminder.
Then I’ll have second 18oz bottle of water with a 4C Energy Burst flavor packet.
I chug that at half speed. Then -within 20 minutes of finishing it, my attitude is a great, Ive got an optimistic feel, full energy and ready to accomplish the day.
The ingredients are not awfully unhealthy. To be sure, I brought the packets with the ingredient labels to ask my PCP about them. He suggested that they are not all that bad however, be careful, if I’m having three or more throughout the day as they contain 300mg of salt per serving. Then he advised to cut back if find I’m not sleeping well.
After the water with 4C Energy I brew my cup of coffee. -Black with 2 table spoons of cinnamon, an obnoxious amount of cinnamon. I’ll sip that during the rest of my wake up. I sip my coffee. -drink the cinnamon left on the bottom- that’s key.
Outside those, I only drink water until about One or 2pm. This takes the edge off the “hunger stomach” -Then I eat.
My go-to for a quick meal is a giant bowl of bran flakes with 3 to 4 table spoons of cinnamon. Sometimes Ill kill a whole box of bran flakes or what ever, about three times a day. The cinnamon and grains are the key. Sometimes I put yogurt on top, maybe add some raisins or blueberry’s.
Water is your drink with meals. Un-sweet Tea, Hot tea ok but otherwise try to stay with water. and FFS stop drinking soda -just fukin end it. No -seriously soda of any kind is not going to help you at all in any of this. Not Diet, not Zero. I don’t know the science about it -I just don’t -so I’m just saying.
Make no mistake -if someone mentions chinese? -get in on that. Burger King, -I’ll have Double Whopper w cheese please. Bag of fried chicken from the grocery store? yea go ahead and bring that home.
Yogurt is usually in there about 3-4 times a week is key, Blueberry yogurt is the Best Yogurt!
Dinner pshh -wide open. Dine out, home cook, fast food, I don’t discern. Snacks? I’ll have gram crackers, crackers, cereal, mixed nuts etc. I also enjoy binging on cheese-its (white cheddar is my fav).
I am more conscious of antioxidants now. They don’t dictate my life or meal choices, but I will choose an antioxidant over a non just out of Liver concern but not always. Being aware though, lets you make a more informed choice.
My many visits to the hospital as a result of liver failure varied by each occurrence.
- The first admission to the hospital lasted beyond 2 weeks. Full recovery occurred after release and 5 months of alcohol abstinence.
- The second time was four days. Full recovery was 8 months of complete alcohol abstinence.
- The third and fourth were 3 day stays that I checked myself out AMA (Against Medical Advice).
- I never did recover back to a blank slate before the the fifth hospitalization. This one was beyond 4 weeks in ICU. I started refusing oral meds to clear my head enough to check myself out AMA again. The IV drugs were still hooked to me. I’m two years out and pray daily its the last time.
My Five Early symptoms of liver failure included the following. I watch for these in panic everyday still. They include but are not limited to:
- Dark Urine
- Grayish or completely gray stool
- Terrible Gas odor -way worse than average and the same nasty ass smell every time. Poo and farts had the same unnatural, stronger than anything humanly natural, nasty ass- nastiness.
- Abdominal discomfort and filling up with minimal drinking -got to a point I started drinking liquor because I got too full off just three beers. It turns out it was because my organs had swollen to a point they compressed my stomach capacity.
- Yellowing of eye whites -look under your eyelids, it starts up there and works its way to the whole eye whites.
- Jaundice also starts in the head and became visible once it reached my hairline, that shit followed the edge of the hairline until eventually my hands, arms and then my entire torso was Homer Simpson Yellow.
Watch your Bilirubin! Its a BIG Tell -Its is a yellowish substance produced when red blood cells break down.
The liver processes bilirubin and excretes it through bile into the intestines.
How Bilirubin Affects Urine Color:
- Normally, only a small amount of urobilinogen (a bilirubin byproduct) appears in urine, giving it a pale yellow color.
- High bilirubin levels in the blood can cause dark brown, tea, or cola-colored urine because excess bilirubin spills into the urine instead of being properly processed by the liver.
Bilirubin & Signs of Liver Failure:
Elevated bilirubin in urine can indicate liver dysfunction or failure, often due to:
✔ Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
✔ Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
✔ Bile duct obstruction (gallstones or tumors blocking bile flow)
✔ Hemolysis (rapid breakdown of red blood cells)
When I get Concerned:
- Dark Urine + Yellowing of Skin/Eyes (jaundice) = possible liver issue.
- Other symptoms like fatigue, nausea, swelling, or confusion can suggest worsening liver function.
Liver-Supporting Supplements for Professional Alcohol Consumers
Maintaining liver health is crucial, especially for those who are professional alcoholics. While these supplements won’t completely reverse damage, they can help reduce oxidative stress, support detoxification, and promote liver cell repair.
1. Milk Thistle (Silymarin) 🌿
- Why it helps: Powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; supports liver cell regeneration.
- Effectiveness: Well-researched for liver disease, may reduce alcohol-related liver damage.
2. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 💊
- Why it helps: Boosts glutathione, the liver’s most essential antioxidant.
- Effectiveness: Protects against alcohol toxicity and enhances detoxification.
Overview of the SOMP:
If you cant make 6 hours and cheat at 5 -whatever just make the habit.
Only drink water and black coffee (with an obnoxious amount of cinnamon). Grab a table spoon from your kitchen drawer, put two of them full of cinnamon in your coffee. 4C Energy Rush in the second bottle of water. My third water is plain. I usually have a 4th water water before noon. Yep -I pee a lot, i think of it as flushing. Then I use more water to quell the stomach void/hunger growls until 12-2pm. (my stomach growl sounds like the McDonald’s app notification).
3. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) 🔬
- Why it helps: Reduces oxidative stress in liver cells.
- Effectiveness: May help slow liver fibrosis and improve function in heavy drinkers.
4. Vitamin B Complex 🥚
- Why it helps: Alcohol depletes B vitamins, crucial for detox and nerve function.
- Effectiveness: Helps replenish energy, improve liver enzyme function, and reduce inflammation.
5. Turmeric (Curcumin) 🌿
- Why it helps: Anti-inflammatory, supports liver enzyme balance and bile flow.
- Effectiveness: May help slow liver scarring and reduce fat buildup.
6. Dandelion Root 🍵
- Why it helps: Supports bile production and liver detoxification.
- Effectiveness: Traditional remedy for liver support, though scientific evidence is limited.
7. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) ⚙️
- Why it helps: Supports liver cell repair and reduces inflammation.
- Effectiveness: May improve liver function and mood in those with liver disease.
8. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) 🧈
- Why it helps: Helps repair liver cell membranes and reduces fatty liver.
- Effectiveness: Found in eggs and soy, studies suggest it may protect against alcohol-induced liver damage.
9. Zinc 🥩
- Why it helps: Alcohol depletes zinc, which is essential for liver enzyme function.
- Effectiveness: Helps reduce inflammation and supports immune function.
10. Magnesium 🍫
- Why it helps: Alcohol depletes magnesium, crucial for liver detox.
- Effectiveness: Supports liver enzymes and reduces oxidative stress.
Final Notes:
✔ No supplement can fully protect against professional drinking. Reducing alcohol intake is the best way to prevent liver damage.
✔ Hydration and a balanced diet (rich in antioxidants and lean protein) enhance supplement effectiveness.
✔ Check for interactions if taking medications, especially with milk thistle and NAC.
Taking care of your liver now can prevent serious complications in the future. If symptoms like dark urine, jaundice, or fatigue appear, seeking medical advice is essential.
Talk to you PCP about this post.
Please keep in mind, this is just what I have done. This is only meant to provide information about the results of my own personal regiment. I’m not making any other claims other than I am in much better health. I have a lot more energy, endurance and I’m thinking more clearly and forward in daily tasks and obligations.
Stay informed, stay healthy and smoke more weed!