I have a pet theory that drinkers who go out/party a lot (like Pacificman and myself) respond really well to Nal. I assume it's because we associate drinking with a feeling of high, and when NAL (as an opioid inhibitor) lops that high off, we suddenly gain a lot of control.

Keep the updates coming, Pacific-- it's great to hear your progress.

Hi PC, Been following your posts. I too am a binger & find it hard to calculate progress. When I look back tho, there are some good "baby steps" being made. When I got back from Vaca. I beat myself up for a few of the nights I lost a little control. All in all it would have & could have been much worse. I agree the atmosphere is a trigger especially Vegas! I have also tried swithcing drinks. Years ago it was Martini for a while, then vodka mixed w/whatever, Then wine. Been wine ever since. Hate beer. Last night tried 3 rum & cokes. No big deal. I hear ya bout being able to go long stretches without. Also agree with where we drink & feel lots may be just habit. Sorry if I'm highjacing.
Keep up good work
Whether you realize it or not people are taking this all in. Thank You

10/16 had one glass of wine with dinner nothing to report
10/17 had 2 glasses wine with dinner. nothing to report
10/18 First big trigger and test. Started drinking beer at 1 pm. Had about 2 beers per hour till 4pm, then had about 3 per hour till 7pm. A nice slow steady pace compared to my past.
Then switched to rum and cokes as the beers just became too filling. Had about 4 and got sick. I suspect this is because my alcohol intake has been so much lower in the last 2 months because of TSM. Had one more after that, as I felt better and not really drunk. Went home by midnight. Although i felt a bit hung over the next morning, I was back to normal by the afternoon.
Let me be very clear. This is less than half of what I would have consumed previously. In the past, i would be hurting for 2-3 days after a huge night out when i first got home, and then repeat that every 5 days. Not to mention that i would normally keep it going into the next day until my body couldn't take it any more. Undeniably a huge success. Life is good.

Hey PM, here's a quote for your excellent progress.

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes

You are clearly moving in the right direction.

Reached another trigger and extinction continues.
10/21 My first visit to my local pub since starting tsm. This is my favorite place to drink for the last 10 years. Not only that, but I can buy my own bottle of rum, can of diet coke, and pour my own drinks. This bar ALWAYS has friends and a great crowd. Not to mention the staff who Ive know for 10 years.
I still had a half bottle of rum from 2 months ago,and I got right into it. I was really surprised with how slow I drank. Finished the half bottle in about 6 hrs, then went to a couple more bars for about 3 more beers. Only mistake I made was skipping dinner. I usually did this in the past, but drank twice as much. Still no blackout, loss of control, continued pounding, or drinking the next morning. I even had to tell the bartender to lighten up her pour a couple times. She looked at me like I was an alien. I did not get sick on the rum like I did a few nights back, but that may be the lighter pour. The taste wasn't really affected the way it was with beer.
Felt crummy again the next morning, but fine by afternoon. The body is appreciating the slow down.

Even before I went to my bar, I distinctly recall noticing that I did not have that inner feeling in my gut that I couldn't wait to get there and drink. I had a great time, and can even see myself going there in the future and drinking just soda.

I dont know if its the decrease in amount of alcohol, or the tsm, but along with the less severe hangovers, I have a lot less depression on the following day. Also sleep is better following drinking, and patterns aren't as messed up.
Tick Tock

I like the bartender looking at you like you are an alien Sounds like you are progressing very well!! BTDT

Good job.

Funny stuff, pacificman, I ordered a mixed drink last night at a bar and almost choked on how strong it tasted to me. I wanted a diet coke chaser. A few months ago a triple shot was normal to me too. Sounds like you are seeing great progress.

Love that, it is so true. This just takes time. Tick tock.

Sounds like you're doing great! Keep posting! -YG

10/23 Went to a dinner party with the wife at a friends house. Normally would have been loaded before leaving the house at 6pm. No desire. Had a rum and coke and a glass of wine. Host kept trying to pour more, but It was hot outside and I was thirsty and just craving, YES CRAVING a non alcoholic drink. The drinks tasted fine, but they just weren't satisfying my thirst. 2 drinks the whole night.

10/24 Planned to go to a friends beach house for Sunday afternoon. I've done this before and it's a drinkfest. I got to working on the house (yes Sunday Morning when Im usually still passed out. Weird huh? Just didnt feel like going. Actually I was not looking forward at "having" to drink. When I say that I mean all my mates would be there, and thats what we do. Sit around and drink beer. The whole thought of it seemed like a chore. In the past, I couldnt wait to get there and start pounding. Enjoyed myself, but only drank 5 cans of Coors in 4 hours. On top of that, every can had an inch of warm beer in the bottom that I could not finish. That is a can in itself. Normally I would drink 30 beers on a Sunday at the beach. Hmmm. Also watched a guy polish a bottle of rum, and get loud and stupid.

Up early on Monday morning in SE Asia to watch the NFL, and do some more work on the house. Installing a wind generator, and solar panels today! Feels great to be so productive.