Daiken,
Thanks for both the uploading and Excel 2010 tips, I'll play around with both of them.
Have a Great Weekend.

Hi Diver

I have played around with AF days during my TSM trip and I find I tend to drink more on the non AF days, it could be a bit of that ADE. Lately I have been forgoeing AF and my units per day have dropped significantly, not to say they won't spike up again, it's just something I noted when trying to go AF versus not trying.

Well I'm almost through week 20, and I am not feeling all that great. I had hoped to have made more progress at this point, the weekend binges continue unabated. Worst of all, my wife is starting to question this method; she has been so patient with me and my alcohol problem over the last decade that I wish that I was responding quicker. I know that in reality I am probably around the 1/2 point in my journey but it is hard to keep up the enthusiasm.

I know that giving up is not an option so I am going to keep pressing through and hope to have a breakthrough soon.

Hi Diver
I'm wondering if you are still drinking hard liquor? I have found If I drink hard stuff or wine my units go up. If I stick to carbonated bevies my units go down.
Maybe staying away from the drinks you like best or high alc drinks for a few weeks might help bring those numbers down.

Hang in there Diver.

I truly relate to your post about your wife having been patient and now expressing doubts.

My wife has been the best and has tried to hang with me, but understandably has doubted this method and my progress.

I wish you all the best. I you want, read my thread and you can see my experience thus far.

Hey Diver,

How can you get your wife to recognise your progress? Maybe review this list with her and get her to answer the questions on your behalf. Remember, it's her perception of how you are doing... it might not be the accurate truth but this will tell you how she sees your progress:

Can she answer yes to any of the following questions?

Diver has left unfinished drinks

Diver's drinking is less than pre-TSM

Diver no longer has Blackouts

Diver's Stupid / embarrassing behaviour is less of a problem

Diver has more energy for friends / family

Diver argues / fights less with me than 1-year ago.

Diver,

Look at your reduction in units as a percentage of the total amount you were drinking before Nal. You are down by a lot.

Just recently, when I was questioning whether I was headed in the right direction, Andy M suggested that I think about all the things/triggers that had improved since I started on Nal. This really helped me think about progress in a different way. (Thanks Andy!) It isn't just about the numbers, but about the small changes in behavior and daily life you can see. Once I took stock that way, it really gave me new determination.

Here are some of the things I assessed.

1) Number of days I was drunk. (down significantly. 1 drunk day over 4 weeks vs. 3 days or so weekly before Nal)
2) Fights/arguments with my husband. (0 recently. 1 or 2x weekly before Nal)
3) Less depression/better moods (much improved)
4) Embarrassing/bad/dangerous behavior (none since starting Nal).

Once I took stock of these measures, I talked to my husband about it. He was so happy for me and encouraged me to keep going.

Good luck my friend. What we are doing is not easy.

EoB

Everyone's comments are spot on, Diver. I bet there is a lot of progress that you can pinpoint if you don't JUST focus on the unit numbers and how they're not as low as you might like. It would be great to get your spouse on board, but ultimately the most important thing is that you keep following TSM. If your spouse doubts it, all you can do is keep going. Good luck.

Thanks to all for the support. As I mentioned earlier I have a intense certification exam coming up this next Thursday. I have decided to immerse myself in preparation and have been AF for the past four days straight and I am planning to go AF until after the exam. A string of 10 AF days in a row! When I thought about doing this I was worried about ADE, but I haven't really had any cravings thus far ... even on Friday night which is typically a 10+ unit night. I do have a party to go to tonight so that may be a challenge, just in case I'll have some Nal in my wallet.

Stringing this many AF days together in a row has been great for my workouts. I also can see that since I haven't had to use much, if any willpower that much of my drinking has been out of habit rather than true cravings. Having said that I could always have some AF days without much trouble, but when I did drink it was to excess. Look out on Thursday when the exam is behind me !!!

Thanks Again,

Diver - it's really impressive that you can go AF without cravings the way you're doing. But instead of planning to bust loose after the exam, why not have a different plan? That's actually what you've got now -- a plan and a goal, meaning AF until the test.

I wonder what would happen you set up a moderation plan for post-test time, with a finishing date? Maybe even with a built-in reward if you stick to plan?

Maybe it's a dopey idea but I thought I'd toss it out there.

Good luck!