Hi Everyone - I have very much appreciated all of the support the TSM forum provides. I started in Mid Oct 2014, after a failure (just gave up) four years ago. I won't list my units because except for a few weeks they have all been in the 40's and 50's. Last week I had 3AF days in a row, then proceeded to still wind up with a 41 unit week. I really think it's pure habit, combined with chasing a buzz which isn't there. I don't get that old buzz, just a slow and tired feeling. My AF days however, result in better overall energy and acuity along with much better sleep. Has anyone else had a pattern like this? I have a feeling that I may be closer to success than my unit count would suggest. - best, Retread

It does sound as if you are feeling quite different about alcohol.

I do firmly believe that there is a 'habit' component for humans when following TSM, and that there is a point where you recognise you are only drinking for the sake of it, and take steps to actively slow down and cut back.

The nal doesn't stop you pouring and swallowing drinks, only you can do that.

Hi retread, 3 days AF is awesome! I can maybe get 1 or 2 days AF in a month but then make up for it the next day. I actually only had 2 glasses of wine on Friday night cause I had to show my house on Saturday.Then Saturday night drank more than my usual 1 bottle of wine. So yesterday I felt pretty hung over and only drank 2 glasses of wine again which is good for me cause I usually can't stand leaving any in the bottle once I have opened it. Funny that the days I am not hung over and feel good are the days I end up drinking more, geesh eh!
I am crossing my fingers that this works for me as I started mid October too.
Nal On!

I missed congratulating you on 3AF days, well done.

The way I look at it is this: If I am about to pour myself a drink and I postpone it for 10 minutes and then forget about the drink, it was habit. If I postpone it for 10 minutes and want the drink even more, it is a craving.

Thanks UK Blonde and everyone else for the comments and encouragement. I am going to think long and hard about the experiment suggested by SRS. The difficulty with this approach is order for TSM to work drinking is a planned activity, so I guess the next time I reach for the NAL I'll wait a while and see if I really want to drink or make the choice to have an AF day. Then I can differentiate between habit and craving. All the best ~ Retread

Good topic Retread. I know exactly what you are saying. I kind of feel close to where you are. I was hoping to break the habit easier. Definitely not getting much enjoyment out of drinking any longer but still have a tendency towards over indulging and I think it is part habit, part chasing the dragon and part diet mentality (better eat this tonight because I'm going to be going on a diet). I have recently started pouring part of my last drink out but am still drinking too much rather consistently when I drink.

I am considering looking up some moderate drinking techniques. I think I could stop cold turkey, and that would be easier than developing a new pattern of drinking, but I did this so I would be in control of/when I drank and if I go cold turkey, then ever drink again (on Nal of course) then I still won't be confident. I realize that I could likely get there over a longer period w/ little effort but I'm rather eager to get on that cured list and have this part behind me.

Would love to hear more about what others have done at this point too.

Jephiner

Good topic Retread. I know exactly what you are saying. I kind of feel close to where you are. I was hoping to break the habit easier. Definitely not getting much enjoyment out of drinking any longer but still have a tendency towards over indulging and I think it is part habit, part chasing the dragon and part diet mentality (better eat this tonight because I'm going to be going on a diet). I have recently started pouring part of my last drink out but am still drinking too much rather consistently when I drink.

I am considering looking up some moderate drinking techniques. I think I could stop cold turkey, and that would be easier than developing a new pattern of drinking, but I did this so I would be in control of/when I drank and if I go cold turkey, then ever drink again (on Nal of course) then I still won't be confident. I realize that I could likely get there over a longer period w/ little effort but I'm rather eager to get on that cured list and have this part behind me.

Would love to hear more about what others have done at this point too.

Jephiner

Have you checked out the Moderation Management site? http://www.moderation.org/ They have some good strategies. Maybe the most useful is to go AF for a month before drinking again. I've found this can help "reset" your mind a bit by forcing you to develop non-drinking habits for a while.

HAMS is good too:

http://www.hamsnetwork.org/