Start school Monday. Excited and nervous. I am doing quite well. I now have the binge drinking pretty much completely obliterated thanks to the Sinclair method. I have my pills around all the time and can't even finish a bottle of wine anymore. ! (Well, I have finished a bottle of wine twice in the past month) This is progress. Things are so great compared to life before . Can you believe I actually go have a glass of water now every time I am drinking.This is hilariously crazy to me. I would have never done that before. I am becoming the drinker I used to be jealous of. I don't feel totally sure of myself yet though. I still get cravings occasionally now when I find it very inconvienient. I find that annoying. Like just before I want to go to sleep and I have gone for the past 5 days without alcohol. I think I am going to see this cognitive behavior therapist to figure out what is up with this sort of thing. I have seen him before and he has helped a huge amount in my life. One problem he is extremely expensive.

I find it so great that because of this method I am involved in so many more people's lives and I don't need to hide the way I used to. I just wish I could lose 15 pounds and be a better musician. Lol.

Hmmmmmm.....15 pounds.....diet and excersize.

Music practice more.

No really. I have this thing, I am sitting here drinking wine and I have lots of yummy coconut juice here, and somehow I think the coco juice has "calories" and the wine does not. The coco has 86 cals per 9 oz. I think this is about the same as white wine. (I never get too uptight about the cal count, just estimates) Anyway I wonder why I absolutely think the wine just has no effect on my weight. Not true, as I have reduced in the last five years my intake, I have lost those 15 pounds.

So music. I think you are much more musically inclined than I. I struggle with music. More than any other art, or skill, or talent. SO I was joking with the practice more. I really have no answers for that one, when you figure it out, let me know.

I still would love to read some ideas for your name change, just throw some out here ok?

Hi In my experience when I stop drinking wine altogether, I lose some weight. Just not that much and then I am back to that extra ten to 15 pounds. I am fortunate. I hide it very well. I just don't like how it feels but is it ever hard to take off!!! Anyway I am rethinking the whole name change thing since someone told me I remind them of comfort food and therefore comfort. So I may keep the name for now.

Wine contains alot of sugar and sugar is not good for anyone. It causes inflammation in the body. Of course that did not stop me from having ice cream last night. Everything delicious has sugar. I have tried to eliminate sugar from my diet and it is almost impossible.

Went out last night to my friend's kids fundraising benefit and along with a ticket you get a steak, baked potato, ceaser salad and your choice of beer or wine or hard stuff. I got an iced tea. Another really interesting change for me I would not have made in the past.

Oh yeah, never worry about telling me to practice music more. That is exactly what I need!!LOL.

Just here to post an update. The last day before today that I had AL was May 10 and tonight I took my pill of course, and am having wine now. Am at 3rd glass. I wanted to make it further like a week but could not do it. So I guess I am here still following what I am supposed to do and wondering about more progress for someone like me who is and has always been a once every 4 or 7 days drinker. I am looking forward to when I naturally, without trying, get to the point where I go for 2 weeks or maybe even a month with no AL or cravings. Of course I realize that because of my drinking pattern more changes may take longer. At least now I cannot remember the last time I got really drunk or did anything I regret at all. I am happy with the changes and progress but being the impatient person I am I want more. Started school and everything is good there except tons of homework!. Just an update for my own records as much as for anyone else. Best wishes to all!

Hi potato,
About the sugar, have you used or read about Xylitol? It's kind of the "happening" thing in the sweetening department in the healthy eating crowd. I like it because, although I am not a sugar user, (well except for my copious amounts of wine! HaHa!).

I have been baking cookies with it and it really is a great sub for sugar, esp. for diabetic types that must reduce their intake.
The reason it is nice to cook with is is is very similar to sugar, one to one measurement and a texture that is very sugar like, and a sugar like taste, esp. when compared to Stevia. I think if you make your own ice cream it really would be good used that way. I am going to try it as I have a small ice cream maker, and I do like ice cream.

The gum is popular for tooth health also. There is a laxative effect if one uses too much, but I have no idea how much is too much, maybe someone that drinks like 3 cups of coffee each with 2 TBLS of sugar daily?

For what it's worth, just a share, ART

Oh yes I should add that tomorrow I am starting a Gall bladder/ liver cleanse that my naturopath gave me. I do it every 6 months or so and I feel awesome after it. It usually stops my addictive feelings for a good month. Been doing it for years not for al but because my liver gets clogged up really easy because of a car accident I was in where I damaged my liver and kidneys. I am fine, but because of it I am very sensitive to toxins and notice right away when things are "messy" in there. ( i think that is why I am a binge drinker) . It is very hard to do but I am used to it. My friends don't care for it because I can't leave home for close to 24 hours but it is always worth it. Anyway just my own update. Best to all.

Thanks ART! Yes I have heard of it and funny you should say I have gum right now in my purse sweetened with Xylitol. I usually use the Stevia with no after taste to sweeten stuff I make like iced teas and cookies but I do buy the Xylitol gums and other stuff. I am so happy you checked in here with me thanks so much. Means alot. I love your input. xo . I think we may have alot of interesting things to share. Have you heard of Ezekiel bread? It does not put any weight on me.

Ezekial bread - is that one with several different grains? It sounds familiar, but I don't recall exactly what it is.

When my kids were little, I was very into totally organic foods. Used to buy whole milk from a local farmer, use my blender to make my own butter, used the buttermilk to make my own breads. . .even discovered a way to cultivate natural home-made yogurt that I mixed with fruits, etc. Used to buy all whole grains, and crack them in my blender (that blender was put to good use!) and baked my breads from that. At the time, I loved it. Now? I totally would NOT put that much time into it!

I am trying to improve my diet and go more natural again, tho. Can you tell me about your liver cleanse? I've been thinking about trying something like that, since my poor liver has taken such a beating the past several years.

G4M - wow, what a great mom. I wish I could say I do the same for my poorly fed bunch. I try, they resist, I cave..

Potato - I would be interested in hearing about the liver cleanse as well - I go to a naturopath as well. It's done wonders for me. I take a liver cleanse pill twice a day (from Thorne Research) and it makes a big diffence for me (digestive system evens out) but haven't heard of what you are doing.

G4M what a great mom. That is giving the kids a great start. Impressive. You can look up the liver cleanse online. It is the one that has Epsom salts and pink grapefruit mixed with olive oil. It is online in several sites. You eat a no fat breakfast and lunch then drink a big glass of freshly sqeezed grapefruit juice at 2 then start with 2 doses of the Espom salts in water at 6 and 8 pm. Then at 10 take the grapefruit juice mixed with olive oil and hit the hay. Then at 6 am another dose of epsom salts and one more at 8 am. Then 2 hours later your done. Have to start to eat slowly though. I get out lots of little stones out of my gall bladder. Happy4once thanks I will look for that liver pill.
Well, back to the endless business math homework. What a weekend! Wishing you both the best.

4th day AF. Days I have had any alocohol in May are: the 4th, 8th, 10th, 14th. So far. Amount are almost always one bottle of wine and around 6 oz of vodka .