It is funny how your perspective changes over time. Very recently I was a bit despondent about the rise in my units, yet when I look at the graph over the year, I can see that what seemed like a big regression was in fact still my second lowest month of consumption since starting TSM

Last week I dropped consumption down to 39 units and didn't drink at all during the week. This week (finishing Thursday night) I'll probably be lower still - 36 assuming I don't drink till Friday - which I don't plan to, and which didn't cause me any bother last week. Last Friday was, I guess, a mini-blowout. I took some of my employees out for a few beers after they'd put in a particularly hard but productive week. That 'early start' meant that I probably drank more than I would have otherwise. On the flip side I had a quiet Saturday night (relatively) and Sunday, despite having a big family dinner for Fathers day, I managed to have 2 glasses of wine and then nothing more to drink - normally, and even now, I still get something of an urge for more when I do start drinking.

well I didn't manage that last AF day in the above week, and as a result my consumption went up to 48 units. Last week was also 48 units, even though I managed 4 AF days. Consumption this week so far (last Friday to today) has been 27 units, so if I can go AF till Thursday, then I'll have both my lowest month and lowest week since beginning TSM, and the first week where I'll be on or around the safe drinking limit. Still some way off cured, but definitely going in the right direction.

so far so good, as I've been AF since Saturday night. I have three family birthdays in the next 7 days - including mine, and also including a 40th and a 30th, so I'm not sure how low the units will be next week, but we'll see. Tomorrow is my birthday, but I have planned a quiet night out (non-drinking environment) with a party on Saturday instead.

Fingers crossed, but I'm on target for 21 Irish units this week - i.e. at the safe level according to the doctors here . Other than giving up alcohol for a month about 2 years ago, I reckon that is probably the smallest number of units I've had in a week in about 6 years

well I did it

27 UK units ~ 21 Irish units, which is technically a safe drinking level (even if you're not supposed to have them in only 2 sittings as I did )

Had a few drinks with my dad last night for his birthday, and have a big birthday party tonight, so I'm sure I'll have a fair few units.

One other thing I have noticed is the effect that the nal has on me depending how long before drinking I take the pill. I've definitely been guilty in the past of occasionally stretching the 1 hour rule to 30/40 mins, and on rare occasions even shorter. Last night I took it about 2 hours before drinking and I really noticed the effect. I was drinking a top quality whiskey with my dad and it really wasn't doing that much for me. And that is saying something given that I pour the stuff down my throat at the rate of bottles per week.

congrats, one for! you are an inspiration for a newbie like me. today is day 3 and definitely getting the honeymoon effect. cindi

well the week with all the birthdays, was, not surprisingly, a significant upswing in the trend, hitting 56 units - about half what I used to have on a TYPICAL week pre-TSM.
Have just finished another week, where I had a new record low (as I did the week before the above one), so I'm certainly not disheartened - the trend is definitely in the right direction.

When I get to the stage of being able to have two or 3 months below the safe levels I'll consider calling myself cured. I'm not there yet, but I feel I'm getting there. I'm now typically only drinking at weekends, and not as much (by a long way) as before. I do still find myself looking forward to a Friday night and a few drinks, and also when I do have a drink I still (mildly) crave more - so work still to be done, but every reason to be positive

since my last update I've had 2 good weeks. 28 units in one and 29 in the other, with 5 AF days in each week.

Unless I go crazy tonight and in the next few days (and I've no desire or plan to!) this will be another record low month.

I'm over a year on TSM now, and still not at the end, but the difference between where I was then and where I am now is immense. For 5 of the last 6 weeks I've been fairly close to the 'safe drinking' levels, and my 'normal week' now involves no drinking during the week at all, and much more moderate drinking at weekends. I'm not where I want to be yet, but even if I get no further, I have my life back, my drinking is no longer at dangerous levels and I simply feel much better.
For what its worth, the trendlines suggest that I'll be at the cured stage in the next month or two. We'll see.

I'd be quite happy with that level of drinking- its probably not doing you much, if any harm. The safe drinking limits are pretty arbitrary and vary from country to country. For example, UK is 168 g/week whereas Ireland is 210 g/week--I'm sure you knew this anyway but still.

nice progress! thanks for sharing it. I needed to see the long term success after the week I had

Thats great progress 1-4. Many people who would never consider themselvs as having a problem with alcohol drink twice as much.

As for the Kingdom, Hell sure they have half our team banned, that and the ref being from the same province as the winners. They should just have written a letter to us and told us not to bother showing up as we werent going to be given a chance anyway. You would never know I was bitter would you? .Never mind we'll be back to shove Sam in their pusses nect year, all we need is a bit of a break. LOL