I am trying my first AF day today, after about 3 months on nal. It's getting close to the witching hour, which is the time every night where I start craving that nightcap to finish off my day.

I drank so much this past weekend, and was hungover basically all the time until I started drinking again. It was miserable. I'm ready to try some AF days and see how I feel without alcohol or nal in my system.

I also have been finding it very difficult to maintain control in my eating habits since starting nal, and I'm tired of that. I've gained a few pounds and haven't been able to shake it, and wonder if the nal is contributing.

First alcohol free day since going on nal! I haven't ingested any any alcohol or nal for 36 hours!

I was very anxious going to bed, because I so conditioned to have my nightcap at that time. So I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep. And indeed, I kept drifting off and then waking back up, as though my brain was like terrified to sleep without Chemical inducement. but once I did finally I slept 8 hours and feel great today. I'm going to go for another alcohol free day today.

Congratulations! I remember my first AF day quite vividly. It is quite a milestone, and you deserve to treat yourself a big bowl of ice cream!

One tip: A lot of us report that going to bed without a drink causes a lot of worry about being able to sleep. It certainly did for me. What I did was to always take a book with me. I'd just get in bed and read until I was so tired the sentences began to run together and -viola- I was asleep.

And sleep, once one quits drinking, is a completely different experience. You never wake up until it's morning, and even then sometimes I want to roll over and go back. Never happened while I was drinking...

thank you for the words of encouragement! I'm really excited. I feel better today than I have in a long time. Maybe it's just my imagination, from being off the pill, but I feel like music sounds better and everything is better. and I'm not hungover, and nothing is dulled by alcohol.

and you're right, my sleep habits while drinking heavily, make every night torture.it will be so great if I get to a point where I don't have to wonder whether or not I will get good sleep on any given night

Good for you Brittany. I don't have many AF days either, but when I do they feel WONDERFUL!! Let's go for more!!

Have a great weekend!! Newlife

Brittany - I am so happy about your AF days - isn't it wonderful when they happen? I have really been trying for them 'cos my sleep is so terrible with AL - so far there isn't a lot of difference. I do read when I go to bed - and have no trouble falling asleep but wake up and then am awake for the rest of the night - I got up at 3.45 the other morning 'cos I was fed up with staring at the ceiling !

Anyway - sorry, I digress - I think it is great that you are feeling different - I know that you thought the Nal would never work for you at one point and I am happy to hear things are changing - albeit slowly !

hugs, Maggie x

congrats on the AL-free days. great feeling, isn't it?

Great going BL!

The last seven days have been quite different.

Day 1: AF
Day 2: AF
Day 3: 2 units
Day 4: blackout drunk
Day 5: normal drunk (6-7 units)
Day 6: normal drunk
Day 7: AF again!

3 alcohol free days out of the last 7, and only one really bad day!

Brit - that is so good - if you are like me, then having the AF days gets easier and easier ..... way to go !!!

Hugs, Maggie x