I used to hide all the bottles under the newspapers in the recycling bins. Although, all my neighbors drink a lot too, so I am not sure who I was hiding them from. Oh right, my husband.

MLB that chart looks AWESOME - straight down and less than half of where you started! Keep up the great work!

Way to go mlb. You have inspired me. I have added a column on the spreadsheet I track drinks on titled "goal" for drinks and AF days per week. At 12 weeks in you have made great progress.

Another week of slow and steady progress. I'm supposed to call my doctor today to make a follow-up appointment - don't know if I will get in this week or next. I'm looking forward to showing him my graph.

man mlb! this is quite a testament to your level of discipline. if i could have this much control over my units i don't think i would have a drinking problem. care to share the secret of your super powers?
i'll bet it is going to feel good showing this to your doc.
all the best to you as you continue getting to lower numbers,
path

Thanks, path! Good luck to you, too.

If I have a "secret", I think it is consistency of routine. I go to bed at the same time every day, get up at the same time, eat meals at the same times, walk my dog at the same times, drink the same thing in the same place at the same time, etc. Maybe that's boring, but it's the way I am.

When I started TSM, I worked on slowly pushing back the time of my first drink. Typically, I would have the first drink at ~5:15 when I got home from work. To start, I just pushed that back 2-3 minutes a day. By the time I got the first drink back to 6:00, that cut out one drink per night, because I was still going to bed at the same time (~9:30).

Now, I'm down to 2 drinks per night, starting ~7:30 and I'm just working on making the daily amount smaller each week. Each week, I decide how much I will drink per day that week, and it is a small enough change that I don't notice that I'm missing anything.

I *do* feel like I am in control. I can't really imagine having a significant spike. It would be contrary to my routine.

mlb great progress. Your train is slowing down so gradually you may be able to jump off the back and have an AF day soon. Your doc is gonna be thrilled.

mlb,

I am so impressed with your ability to set goals and stick to them. I've tried taking a page from your book and set some goals for myself this week too. I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't achieve them but it does help to strive for something. Thanks for the motivation!!

BTDT

I just stayed even this past week. My progress was derailed by having an extra, though small, drink on both Friday and Saturday. I don't know why I needed the extra, but it bumped up my total for the week to where I didn't go down from the previous week.

I don't know how this week is going to go. I have to go on an unwanted business trip from Wednesday morning through next Monday night. My normal set routine will be shot, so I don't know what will happen. I'll take my nal, though. I'll get back to my normal routine next week.

I saw my doctor this morning. The first thing he asked about was how the nal was going. I showed him my graph. He was surprised and impressed, I think. He wanted to keep a copy of the graph. I told him the progress I've made has been easy. I'm not craving and I feel good.

Four months ago, my liver test was elevated, but not bad enough to keep him from prescribing the nal. Now, it is all better (drinking less, cut back on the niacin I take for cholesterol, and have been taking milk thistle). My blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight are all good, too.

The only problem I'm having healthwise is that I've been hoarse for about four months. He's sending me to see another doctor who can put a camera down my throat to look at my vocal cords. Oh, boy!

Good luck to all this week!

That graph is a thing of beauty!!!!

And the award for most reduced drinking goes to...mlb. Nice 59% reduction in units from pre-TSM. I bet your doc was impressed and surprised that you are tracking your own progress. I'm sure you'll be able to flex your NAL muscles on your business trip and be fine. Great progress. The Whiskey Distillers must be cringing at their reduced profits.