Tamtam, I am so happy for you because your progress is truly amazing!! I am a little jealous, but so very happy for you!!

Nal on, Newlife

I had two totally different days on Nal. Yesterday, I took twice 12,5 mg Nal since I was at a day long event. I drank quite a lot - probably about a bottle of wine throughout the day. Today, however, I took Nal again and then ordered a glass of wine which I could not finish. I was frustrated yesterday, because it looked that I really had not changed that much my consumption at a social event. But today, extinction worked. I was not tempted to finish that glass of wine! So, in some way things are working, but not every day.

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It doesn't make sense to expect organic processes to proceed linearly. Weight loss and grieving don't work like that; why should this? You're rocking and rolling! You've so got this!

I am slowly figuring out how extinction process works with me. Last night, I was out at a dinner party. I had one glass of champagne first and then two small glasses of wine with dinner. The second glass of wine was the one I sort of lost enjoyment for. I drank it really slowly, but then in the middle of the process, I did not really care about it. When someone topped it up, I completely lost desire for it and left all wine in the glass. I loved my first two drinks in the evening, but did not care about the next one. It was as if a stopper emerged from somewhere and made me not drink more. I woke up fresh and energetic today - no side effects from Nal and no hangover, too. Today, will be and AF day. I am trying to have 3 AF days per week. It makes me feel really good and I am loosing some calories, too.

Another week passed and my count showed 22 UK units or 12,5 US units. I am happy, but I do feel that I could have stayed in the teen numbers if I were to be able to control my party drinking. I now have 3 AF days per week and then a day or two of excess and a day or two of very moderate drinking. Alcohol is not a problem any more in my life. I cannot remember when I was last drunk or when I had hangover. Even when I drink too much - 10 UK units in a day - I drink a lot of water with it. I am not sure, however, how come that this excessive days still happen. It is as if when I let go, I put no brakes on. Parties and weekend are the worst. I would like to consume up to 15 UK units per week. Not sure how to get there at this point. Although craving is gone, habits remain.

This is what I'm soooooo worried about, too. While my daily consumption is above recommended llevels and where I personally want it to be, it is the times when I drink to excess that I'm trying to extinguish. Specifically the times where I binge so badly that I behave terribly toward my husband, do things I wouldn't even consider doing while sober & blacking out. How do we break ourselves of that nasty habit... the one that gets me in such trouble...

Sounds like you are doing great to me T. You are moving in the right direction. I am having the same sort of results right now. Although I am still on the high side of the unit intake it is mostly weekends where I am usually at a beach house or traveling. But with rare exception - even that is getting better. Baby steps forward - maybe - but steps indeed. Not that old weekend walk of two steps forward, one step sideways and three backwards!

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I am celebrating 3 months on Nal. Results are good. Now, I do not crave alcohol anymore. It is not an issue any more in my life. No desire to get drink whatsoever. I feel that I could easily be abstinent by this point, however, I am still enjoying wine at social functions. Sometimes, a little too much. So, I am working on that now. AF days are easy if no social event is in my plans.

The best thing that has happened in my life with Nal is the ability to control anxiety. When I stopped drinking regularly and especially when I stopped drinking when stressed a strange switch happened. Now, when stressed I just go and deal with the situation at hand. In the past, I would open a bottle and procrastinate. I have been able to go through two very stressed days AF. This would have never happened without Nal. I just hope that I continue progressing so well - my fear is that old alcohol times come back one day.