Hi All

Thought I'd start a proper "progress" thread as I'm needing a wee bit of encouragement ... or a big kick up the bottom!!

Going well so far .. to a point

I started TSM mid February and units declining

UK average 50-60 before TSM
March average 38 uk units per week averaging 2 AF nights per week
April average 28 uk units per week ... managing 2 - 3 AF nights per week

May ... hmm creeping back up a bit

Not sure if honeymoon period wearing off a bit and think I need to put in a bit more effort.

Trouble is - I've been feeling a wee bit down recently - no reason for this - life otherwise good (except I'm skint) (no money.... translating for my US friends!) but all else fairly good. I think I'm missing the endorphins .... and although Im still exercising I feeling jogging and aerobics much harder than before Nal. Just more effort, like I'm less fit and more tired. As I'm only doing 2 or 3 nights AF not always consecutive maybe I need to increase this to feel the up regulation?? I could really do with some kind of mental lift as I'm bit worried the Nal is causing me to be bit down in the dumps. I haven't felt high or happy for ages it seems. I'm a bit more tearful than usual .. and this has been over last few weeks.

I am SO SO pleased I've reduced units and its such a relief to AF without really craving too badly and obsessing during the day ... but I'm still drinking a bit too much when I do drink ... that's creeping up again

Also sugar craving a bit and I have gained a few pounds in weight - this is not good as it took me years of low carb dieting to get slim after being huge when pregnant =- so I am VERY anxious not to put weight on.

Advice please

Lorraine (in cold wet Scotland .. hey maybe its just the damn weather getting me down in the dumps!)

I understand it takes 48 hours for Nal to clear completely and upregulation to occur and this matches with my experiences.

Hey Lorraine

Sounds like you are doing everything right... Just dropping in to say "keep up the good work." The exercise will serve you well... The more your numbers drop and the more your AF stretches grow, I think you will start to see the jogging and aerobics get easier rather than harder. I feel like it has gotten more fun to do exercise recently.

In terms of AF stretches, I do feel that 3 consecutive AF days > 1 on, 1 off for 3 days. The first day or two you are likely still going to be having some withdrawal related anxiety and other issues related to coming off of the booze. For me, on the third and fourth day, I gain a clarity and calm that is really really pleasant and makes me want to do more AF stretches.

As for feeling down in the dumps.... I dunno, this is a tough one. My first year on nal was a weird one. I did feel mildly down in the dumps pretty often, but I don't know if that was due to the nal, the lack of booze, or some PTSD that I was dealing with after being homeless for a couple of months (not on the street, just living in the building where I work). For me, for a lot of us putting down the bottle is a sad scary thing even with the nal in hand. The other day I was saddened by a guy I saw walking into a liquor store. Not because I wanted to go in with him, but because I didn't. Alcohol has been one of my best friends for a long time, and we are breaking up, and it's sad. nal makes it a friendlier breakup, but there is still a large part of my life that I've left behind... I think the endorphins/dopamine drew me into excess and consequences, but there are myriad other reasons that I pick up the bottle. It lets me dance, rock out, make inappropriate comments, tell people what I really think of them, and really just vomit pure emotion. I am still working on integrating a little bit of that back into my (now sober) personality. Anyway, I don't know if any of this rings true for you, I just wanted to give you my story and let you know that for me, it's better on the other side. It's a huge adjustment, and a rebirth in many ways, but it gets better.

Sorry for the rambling. Keep it up!

Hi there UKB and Generic

Thanks for your replies... yes I think maybe the longer stretch AF is what I should be aiming for now - to hopefully reap some up=regulation rewards!!

Generic ... good to hear your thoughts and experience... hope you have a happier home situation now and that's interesting to about feeling mildly down in the dumps. I know what you mean about it being strange leaving what is such a normal way of life behind. I went to a friends house tonight .. a Friday night .. and I actually drove there as having an AF night. She was pretty surprised that I wasn't having a drink ... and it felt weird but good.. . there was no/well very little craving either which was good.

I think I just back slid a bit these last couple of weeks. I've had 2 AF nights now and already feel much more positive about having bigger AF stretches. It is not a scary thought at all ... somehow quite exciting ... I'm out with the girls at a band tomorrow night .. so will be Nal and drinking ... but maybe go for 3 or 4 in a row from Sunday.. that would be good.

I like the sound of that clarity and calm you describe Generic.... I really hope by next week I'll be right there too!!

Definitely feel a lot happier today ... had some good news this morning which helped ... but Maybe just too many drinking and Nal nights from the beginning of the month gave me wee hiccup.

have good weekend all Lorraine

I find it dampens my mood if I take Nal and drink for several days in a row. I would also say that I've only rarely experienced upregulation. I think it's a lot more difficult to get that exact spot than it's made out, I'm a bit of a stubborn bugger though and if I really want to do something I will, bad mood or not.

Thanks UKB

well ... last week managed 5 AF ... not all in a straight row - but I'm still pretty chuffed. This is a wee bit of breakthr08gh for me and .. surprise surprise - my mood is definitely better.

I had some good news last week too - so that probably helped... but It was pouring with rain here on Saturday ... like torrential .. and I went out and had the best jog I've had in ages.

I think being back reading and posting on here has helped too. Thanks All!

So ... Maybe trying for a few AF days in a row now. I'm trying to eek out my Nal to last longer too (In a typically tight Scottish "not wanting to spend a lot of cash" sort of way!!_)

I can't believe I'm the only Scottish person here .. or one of only a few?? We have a national alcohol problem - Such a shame TSM is nt more widely known about ...

Barry ... are you out there? I bought some hydroxycut today .. saw it in the healthfood shop on special offer = so I expect to be exercising with ease now .. and dropping those stubborn few lbs!!

hope everyone doing well Lorraine

Hi Lorraine,

Glad to hear your mood is up. You are doing really great! Keep it up.
I haven't had a single AF day since started TSM, I don't think I am ready mentally for it

Best wishes

I love hearing about your increased AF stretches! They certainly helped me turn a corner. After five days you feel so clear and focused... at least I do. And what I can tell you is that the more of these stretches you have, the easier it is to really start looking at yourself like a non-drinker... okay maybe not, but at least a reasonable/normal drinker

As for Scottish people - a large part of my family is Scottish... Though we haven't lived there in a few hundred years.

Anyway, keep up the good work Lorraine. Sounds like you are making great progress.

Hi Lorraine, Hey I think I've experienced a similar reaction to the Nal, in that I'm not wanting to exercise as much and I don't feel as fit as I used to. My problem is that I tried to tailor the Nal to my needs and it backfired. Also, I almost convinced myself that being hungover 2-3 days a week and feeling fit on the other days was better than how the Nal was making me feel. I'm happy to read that you decided to go for more AF days and that you had a great exercise experience by doing so. I guess I'm afraid that if I stop the Nal completely for a few days then I'll get those dreaded SE's again. What was your experience? It sounds like you are faithful to the TSM. Keep up the good work. Keek

Hi Generic/Keke/Alice ... and everyone else

Well ... I've had one good week then a couple of not so good weeks ... but over all the general trend is down. March average UK units 38 per week April 28 per week May 34 per week (oops up slightly but managing more AFs)

So I'm thinking for this lovely sunny month of June ... round about 24 UK units per week average with 4 AFs per week would be nice! Had a stinking cold which knocked any more exercise on the head last couple weeks ... but I'm trying to pick up a bit now .. its gorgeous golfing weather here with our beautiful light evenings ... (but my golf is enough to drive the strongest TSMer to drink) so enough about that!!!

How are you all doing out there...?

Generic .. thanks for your support ...(really enjoyed your candid cured post ... what an achievement .. delighted for you) good to hear you're from a line of McGenerics way back

Keke .. I've just been on your thread ... hope you doing ok

Alice?? Are you there?? Really hope things going ok for you now?

UKers?? where's the cheapest Nal online?? I was getting from Goldpharma £44 for 28 tabs .. (good reliable delivery) anyone else getting anything cheaper?

Cheers Lorraine