I've been on TSM since October 24, 2016 so about 2 1/2 months now.
I guess I can tell a little bit of a difference I'm maybe drinking slower but the volume doesn't really seem to have gone down much. it does seem that cravings or not as bad.
I know I have read about Mindful drinking and I've tried that a little bit but still seem to end up drinking too much. I feel like I've just been depending on the pill to work and it's not working as fast as I would like.
I know this might sound like a crazy question but how much actual willpower do most people apply with the pill? I know I have to drink for the Nal to work but should I really try to not drink? So far I have pretty much just been Drinking as usual hoping the desire would disappear. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Right. It's not a magic pill just an opioid blocker. If you continue to crank down drinks without attention to what you're doing one is likely not going to see results or they'll take considerably longer. There's all kinds of tricks people employ whether it be changing beverages, setting drinks in another room or back in the fridge, smokers will leave their drinks inside when stepping out as their consumption sky rockets when the two are combined, insert a glass of water between drinks... Here's a mistake people make. Let's say they like to have an after work drink. Every day at 4pm they toss down NAL in the office not because they're craving a drink, but because that's their routine. When they walk through the door lizard brain pours the drink. If they waited until they got home, waited for a craving and then employied a distraction for the hour before drinking they'd be allowing some gaps, pauses for thought. You're not so much willing desire away, fighting cravings and instead interrupting our lizard brain's routine. The point of TSM is to be able to have a drink, but the medication allows for a little pause where we can ask ourselves, "Do I really want this next drink"?

EDIT: This isn't directed at you, but I feel compelled to note if anyone is skipping doses they're never going to get anywhere. You simply can't let ANY endorphins through. Doing so is a complete reset in my opinion. Once you've achieved extinction (5-12 months) perhaps you can play a little fast and loose (I don't), but not in the beginning. Folks, you're only fooling yourselves. /rant.

Thank you Bardo,
Very helpful advice!
I have been compliant and taking the pill and waiting a hour. however just like you described I've been taking the pill before I get home grabbing a beer ,grabbing another ,repeat ,repeat ,and so on.

I'm going to follow your advice and try and change my routine I'm only going to take the pill when I have a craving wait a hour have a beer and try to stop.

It's important for the brain the connect the craving with the unrewarded drinking session. I think of it as unspooling a thread you've woven over years. Each unrewarded drink is another swath of thread hanging relaxed off the spool.

I would recommend reading Dr. Eskapa's book. In it he describes how the endorphins work on a subconscious level to rewire your brain in response to stimuli. The point I am making is that the naltrexone is working even if you cannot feel it working in the moment. BTW - I suspect we are in the same group. Right now I am about 8 months into TSM. I have been 100% compliant and am still drinking around 20 drinks per week on average. I definitely feel it working but it is taking a long time. Will power can probably make a difference. Your ability to employ will power will absolutely improve over time so stick with it.

This is a visual tool expressing how alcohol affects and AUD brain:

http://lundbeck.com/global/brain-disorders/disease-areas/other-diseases/alcohol-dependence

Thanks Deuce,
I have pretty much been following my habit and not changing the way and amounts I drink. I now will put forth solid effort. I have the book but have not yet read all of it.
I hope you continue to see change and improvement.

And thank you Bardo for the video link.

Another point, every drink you have while taking Naltrexone works to de-adict you. This is another reason not to be too worried about your level of consumption.

That's a good thing!
I was able to have an AF day yesterday and can already tell that although those are not as often as I like , they are easier than they used to be.

That's really great to hear and must also feel reassuring to you.

I sincerely wish you all the success in the world.