When I know I'm gong to drink, I actually take the NAL about 2 hours before - was getting paranoid that an hour wasn't enough time since changes were coming so slowly. Definitely didn't plan the 1/2 shot - it was an opportunity and strong impulse and I knew I wouldn't drink after that. Totally agree about the first sip being key.

still can't believe how well this week is going. (as I just jinxed myself)

thanks for these thoughts about waiting a full hour. i have been worrying about having a system that processes everything too fast ( overactive stage one liver pathway) and that nal would be out of my system before i was done, so i was fudging the front end, making it 40 or 45 minutes. but now, i think i will be extra careful on both ends.
anyone else have thoughts about this? waiting more than an hour? taking extra nal to cover the hours 5, 6, or longer?
thanks,
path

The only time I thought about taking more than 1 Nal was on vacation when I would drink around lunch, then dinner through the night. Never actually did take more than 1 and found that I was able to keep things under control...of course, this was after being on TSM for close to a year...

Worried that I may break down tonight - will have to stay very focused and possibly go to bed early

Going on these consecutive days has brought other benefits - no cravings for sweets or fatty foods, have been able to workout every day and give it 100%, have been catching up on non-essential stuff and gathering the mental strength to try and go AF 5 days next week.

Really leaning on the board for support...much like the beginning months of TSM..

Eskapa told me if I started early and kept going, to take another 50 mg after 10 hours and that the max daily dose according to FDA is 300 mg per 24 hours. I stay well below that, and with your liver I really would. but.. I'm not a doctor, just passing on info

Hery Virginia,

Congrads on your recent successes. You're my inspiration as I am coming up to a one year anniversary of TSM and seem to be plateuing at 6-8.

I can at least say that the hangovers have been few and I do have more conscious control. I just still WANT not crave a beer. Back to craving versus habit thread I guess

Take Care, Jim C

hey, virginia!

i've been taking nal since july 9 2010 and just read your progress thread. i'm amazed that you feel discouraged because when i read your story from start to now i see tremendous improvement and it really encourages me!! i had a great honeymoon and now drink pretty much like i always did - maybe 3 or 4 glasses of wine less a week, but nothing to write home about. yet, when i see the change in lifestyle and control of people like you, it really makes me think that this is the answer, even if the answer isn't abstinence. i had a friend who lived with cancer for 10 years before dying, but he always made sure to tell his friends he was LIVING! that is how i feel now. i still drink more than i want, and may for the rest of my life, but drinking is no longer my whole life. i'm sure if you think about your progress over this past year you will realize you are spending more time living and less time drinking. i'm more in control (no unremembered evenings, no stupid fights with hubby) already that i don't even care if i am "cured" or not, although i certainly hope for more imprevement. i'm also into fitness and was frustrated that my drinking kept me from being really healthy. i'm already losing belly fat from just the small amount of reduction in my drinking, so while i'm scared things aren't progressing fast enough, i'm a happy camper. i hope you can relax and enjoy your success so far. thanks for posting. cindi

well, well, well.... Al is a sneaky thing.. My weekly measuring period ends on Sunday and I was feeling so awesome - only 10 drinks the whole week. Going without didn't quite work out as planned but I'm ok w/ having 2 instead of 0. Sunday is usually a dry night for me but I was offered a drink and had a chance to hang out and watch movies so the drinking continued. 6 drinks later and I feel like crap today. Just shows me that there's still a ways to go...

The week did give me enough motivation to try harder this week - goal is 4 AF days - definitely a believer that once you get to a certain point, some effort is required for SOME people. Obviously, not everyone.

Jim and Cindy - thanks for the encouragement and forcing me to look at the big picture.. Perfection, as in no craving and total control, may never happen but I'll take what I have

V