Hi Eric,

I too have noticed that I blackout a bit earlier... but its not a complete blackout, sometimes things come back to me in bits and pieces (does that make sense). Overall though, I feel like my tolerance has decreased with NAL. Maybe that high we were getting from drinking was covering up all the negative side effects of over drinking.

Lolo

Lolo,
I know exactly what you mean about the bits and pieces, that's what I had happen last night.

Eric

Anybody feeling like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyu_-vOHgOk

or maybe like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNxbCK8SaA8

"Good times, Noodle salad"
Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets

Eric

Weekly update:

Not much to talk about. Three nights of drinking. Two glasses of wine one night, one glass another, and three Corona's tonight. Almost to a point where I just don't feel like drinking at all. Today I found a trigger, Mad Men. I watched season 4 over the last two days and I found myself craving scotch. Johnny Walker Black. Oh well, it passed and I settled for three Corona's and pizza. My diet is going well and I put alot of miles on the bike this week, 84 total and I got all four days in the gym. My diet went well, I only cheated Thursday night when I attacked the red licorice and popcorn. Today was my cheat day and I ate everything in site. I was 229 lbs this morning, down 18 lbs total. So, all in all feeling good. Unfortunately this is when I usually **** up.
Ok...nuff ramblin...

Eric

Hi, Eric! Glad to see you posting regularly. I think it helps, as most people don't have anyone else going through this process. Sometimes, we do this in total secrecy.

It does get better. It's a grind and it's slow, but if one reads through the threads of those who completed and regained control, it becomes evident the end happens when unexpected. And usually later than most hope. But it happens. It isn't always noodle salad, but sometimes good enough is okay!

Take care!

So, all in all feeling good. Unfortunately this is when I usually **** up.
Ha, I know that feeling. Recognizing it gives you a head start to avoiding it though!
Sounds like you're moving right along with TSM - having a regular exercise regimen, while not required, is really helpful for a lot of people.

This week...

I will go ahead and post today as I doubt I will drink anything till Sat night and I will post that next week. One night of drinking but it worries me a bit. Took my 50mg of Nal and started fixing dinner. My daughter was late and I was waiting for her so I opened up a bottle of red and figured I would have a glass before dinner and one with dinner...By the time she got home I was finishing the last glass and opening another bottle. Had dinner but it was too late, the binge was on. Happy to say that between us we finished the second bottle of red and shared a bottle of white, I had easily drank two of the three. I was accelerating and didn't want to stop drinking. The white was the last bottle in the house and I don't know why (probably because my daughter was there) I didn't switch to the vodka that was downstairs. I just ended up going to bed.
What worries me is that I didn't feel the Nal and I felt like I had no control. Best that I can figure is that because I was drinking on an empty stomach and combined with a low carb diet that after a couple of glasses of wine I had drank through the Nal. SO! No more wine before dinner...wait till during or after. Good news though, I caused no damage and I was functional the next day. Bad news is I only drank one time and I failed at that...I suck.

Eric

Very likely. And, ah the TSM roller coaster! Sometimes I hit a patch where alcohol is amazingly uninteresting, but it doesn't hold for long, and then maybe the next time it's still Buzz City. Still, the overall trend is less and less interest AND buzz, so I don't mind that rate of progress.

We have some things in common: I'm an avid bicyclist, LOVE Mad Men, and red licorice...small world, after all. My average mileage is maybe...60 to 70 miles/week. I feel very lucky to like such a fun form of exercise, as I'm of an age where watching my weight is a full time job

BTW, no, you DON'T suck...you are VERY early on in the process, and are paying your dues. Try not to be too self-critical - we all tried that for YEARS, and HOW did it improve us???

Chrissie

Weekly progress time!

Friday AF
Sat 3 Coronas
Mon & Tues AF
Wed 2 glasses of red wine
Thurs 2 glasses of red wine

Nal before every drink session. For the most part I am completely uninterested in drinking except for the occasional binge craving (last Tuesday IE). Also, I am such a light weight. Two glasses of wine last night and I was buzzy. Whether I want to or not I am trying to drink at least a few times a week just to continue the extinction process.

For the rest of my current life journey (ok, that was a little bit funny) all is going pretty good. I am still dieting and I am down another pound (228) and my fat jeans are falling off of me. Made all four days to the gym last week and this week I am on schedule as well. I rode approx. 80 miles on my bike last week and will hit 65 miles this week. Feeling pretty good although the hour and a half on the bike and an hour hitting the weights at the gym keeps me physically tired. I am not happy with my job but I am trying hard not to let it get under my skin. Looking forward to my two week sabbatical to my brother's ranch in Oregon in a few weeks. That's right, my yearly vacation involves 12 hour work days in rubber boots, carharts, and flannel and I never, ever, want to come home.

My drinking goal? Right now I want to master alcohol. I want to be in control if I decide to have a drink and how much I drink and if I don't want a drink then I want the reason to be that I don't want it. Not that I am exercising self control.

The biggest goal, overcome the fear of drinking. I am sure some of you know what I mean by that.

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Eric

Another week down,

Four days AF, three days nal+red wine. One or two glasses. Desire to drink is very low this week except for tonight and my second glass of wine will most likely be my last. I am still cycling to work and lifting weights 4 times a week. Diet is not going as well this week and I am plateaued at my current weight. I feel pretty good except my legs are sore due to a change up in my work out.

Weird thing is I get really hot when I drink with Nal. Not like feverish but just warm. Anybody get this?

I sincerely think the nal is working for me, most days drinking doesn't sound like fun at all. I am almost forcing myself to drink the wine that I drink. I am gaining more confidence about drinking and I am not as afraid of alcohol as I was a few months ago. Hopefully this won't backfire on me the week after next as I am traveling to Indy for training and being on the road is a huge trigger for me.

Eric