GM, its been a bit. How are you doing?

@Flaco I have to avoid the hard shi*. Vodka especially.

The Nal is doing it's job even with the higher octane booze, however, the opportunity to consume more alcohol faster, simply makes me drunk faster, and causes me to make the bad decision to keep on guzzling. I have had more success switching to the lower octane.

I'm sure I could polish of that 750ml also, but I keep my distance to avoid the temptation.

"The Nal is doing it's job even with the higher octane booze, however, the opportunity to consume more alcohol faster, simply makes me drunk faster, and causes me to make the bad decision to keep on guzzling. I have had more success switching to the lower octane."

Thanks, I agree that that is the main problem I have. By lower octane do you mean beer and wine or a more diluted(with tonic) vodka tonic? I assume from an overal alcohol consumption basis the effect should be the same: 10 12 oz beers of 4% alc vs.12 oz of 40% alc. vodka?

I am going to start setting AF day goals and aiming for more and more every week.

Thanks to all for your support and great advice

Greetings all! It has been a while. Things have been crazy around here. Baseball season. One good thing about that is I am very busy in the evening and drinking is not an option in the early evening. My numbers are slowly going down!!!!!! I have decided to quit having a pity party and focus on the positive things. So......

I don't think about drinking like I used to. Many times I will look at the clock and realize that is 7 or 8 o'clock and I haven't had a drink. This makes going AF easier.

I enjoy waking up not feeling sick and hung over!!!!!!

The first drink is not nearly as enjoyable as it use to be. I almost have to force the next few down. It is this that helps me go AF.

Thanks to all of you who posted.

DoubleD-I am going to read your posts today. What you said is very true. I didn't get this way over night. It will take time and I am way better off than where I was before I started. I have to work it!!!!! Thanks for the encouragement.

Flaco-You can do this! Vodka is one bad boy that I can't keep in the house any more. If you haven't already read the posts by Christopher.hulsey please do. He is battling the vodka moster as well.

Keke-How are things going? Will read your posts to catch up.

Bassman-Honesty is so important. I still have days when I just want to blind myself to the fact that alcohol and I don't always mix well. I have to work this thing and it will work. I truly believe that. I always take my meds!!!

Nebulousgoat-Please post!!!!!! It is always good to hear from another mom. It helps me know that I am not the only one who struggles with raising a family and juggling taking care of myself at the same time.

UK-What can I say? You always have the BEST advice. Thanks!

Christopher-Good the hear from you. Just remember. Vodka. BAD BAD! I still have not allowed it back into the house. I have had a few drinks while out with friends but always in to controlled environment. I have even been the one to drive home sober! That's a great feeling. Hope you are doing well.

Well, now that I have written a novel I will call it good. Hope all is well and keep on keeping on. We are going to see this thru and win in the end.

Goal for next week: 3 to 4 AF days and numbers in the teens!

Happy to help.


By the way I had to ban myself from vodka BEFORE TSM because it was simply too dangerous for me - as a binger I could drink it so quickly(40 units in a couple of hours) I'd be paralysed the following day. For some reason when trying baclofen I got a taste for alcopops(thats alcoholic soft drinks, approx 5% strength containing very bright colours and sweeteners), it is difficult to drink a lot of those, specially since they are so sickly so that helped a lot but I have drunk strong drinks and wine whilst on TSM and the worst times have been when I've drunk wine or raced. I don't however think it's a hard and fast rule.

By the way, I give good advice but doesn't mean I always follow it - then again I am a control freak so do mostly!

Hi all,

Quick update. Numbers still in the 20's. However, I am trying to focus on the good that has come from this. AF days are easy to go thru. I have even started working out again. Zumba!

This weekend I went to visit friends. They are BIG drinkers. Christopher, if you are out there, I broke our no vodka rule. Not smart on my part. No more of that.

I have to keep moving forward and believe that this thing works. It has been 16 months. Too much time has been invested to stop now. The more I think about it I truly wish to give up alcohol completely. It's just not worth it!

GA

Hello to all. Hope everything is well. My numbers are still higher than I want. I have been at this for 16 months. I have noticed that I drink not because I physically crave it. Mine is more for escape. I have made an appointment to go see my therapist in two weeks. I am tired of feeling lonely and depressed and am ready to be happy again. I don't want to be hung over any more or ever hear from my kids that they could tell I had been drinking. I really prayed today to be set free from alcohol and this time I truly do want that 100%. Thanks for listening! I could have never come this far without you all.
GA

I had broke the 100% no vodka rule a couple of times by having a couple of vodka mixers on different occasions.

But the way I'm looking at it, is no more vodka stash in the house that I guzzled out of or used to make potent cocktails. And no more pints of vodka on the way home every weeknight. I am still, vodka free, in that regards. My wife actually has about 4 bottles of cherry flavor vodka in the house. I know where they are at, and I have not raided them.

In the past, when en route to a party, my wife will decide to get a fifth of cherry vodka. She would only have a little bit, then bring the rest home. I would eventually drink it. Next party she would just get a new bottle.

Now, the last few times she has done this, I have not gobbled down her leftover vodka at home. So, she has now accumulated a little stockpile.

So, even though you had some with your boozer friends, just make sure you don't sneak any or start drinking it solo again.

This week I am going to not bring any wine into the house. Time to break the cycle. School is out and I want to enjoy my time with the kids. Wish me luck.
GA

New here but just want to commend you for consistently trying to find the positive and for setting weekly realistic goals. Keep it up!

Thanks hopeful. I have enjoyed reading your posts. Keep on keepn' on.

Completed three AF days!!!!! No cravings. Can't remember tha last time that happened. Life is good!!!!!

GA