Ok, my weekly progress. Week Four. It's been OK. I'm excited to be this far along. I read the forum each night, even if I don't post. I learn every day. My unit numbers are not diving downward, but they are down...steady at somewhere near half the pre TSM, and that is fantastic.

Via the posts and my own reflections, I am more convinced each day that we not only are dealing with dependent neuropathways and addictions that need redirection (via NAL's blocking and TSM), but we must deal with HABIT. And, that takes effort and thought and planning.

SO OFTEN, I pour another dribble of wine into the glass, not because I want the wine, but because it is habit--glass, bottle, wine, table, chair, me--we're all there together so pour and drink! I'm working hard on identifying and breaking those habits. Some new tricks:

I've been a white wine drinker before and during dinner prep (I'm the cook--I call it Chef's wine) and it's easy to down nearly a bottle as the chef. Well, now I drink red....just to break the habit. And, it helps. It's less automatic, and red goes down a little slower for me--for me, white is like drinking soda. And, I AM drinking a lot less because it's not my routine and not being automatic, I think about what I'm doing.

I also try to buy wines I don't LOVE. Not bad wine, that's just a headache in a bottle, but those that don't excite me. It helps!

I now do NOT drink before 6 PM. I played around with different times to take the NAL and decided that 2 hours before the first drink works best for me right now. So, I don't take it until 4 PM...that means no wine until after 6. That habit is identified and being attacked very successfully so far.

A diet trick I saw yesterday is a great idea--cleanse the palate. I often won't drink or eat anything after I've had wine because I like to let the taste linger. But, cleaning it away works too...it's not appealing to drink another glass of wine after having an after dinner mint, especially a minty one! Mints, water with a squirt of lemon, even a quick brush of the teeth or rinse with mint mouthwash....whatever it takes to break the habit.

I did have a "spike" the day after my fist (and so far only) AF day. I expected it, but tried not to let it be self-fullfilling. I didn't like it. After 6 drinks I ended up sleeping badly and feeling hung over. Six drinks in November would not give me a hangover. I am planning my next AF day (Thursday, another meeting at my house...great opportunity to habit-break), and I will plan the following day as well so I will hopefully do better this time. There is no doubt that even this soon, alcohol "hits" me harder and faster. Even with NAL, it's still alcohol going into my system, buzz or not.

There is also no doubt that I don't crave it like before and if I am out of pouring range, I don't even think about it. I do still want that first glass, and gladly pour the next one--I DO really like the taste of the wine, I like feeling
the little flush of warmth, loving the taste and tingle in my mouth. But, that satiated feeling comes with a great latte, a icy cola with lime, an Italian flavored soda....and I never over-indulge in any of those NA beverages, I enjoy one and move on....no addiction, no buzz, no habit with anything but the wine.

I do see a shift. Enjoying the taste, savoring the flavor and experience.....now I'm working very HARD on the habit along with the NAL and TSM. Replacing an old habit with a new one can work wonders, with a little help from my friends--NAL, TSM and you guys.

And, by the way, I hope I always enjoy the taste, the tingle on my tongue, the flush of warmth from a lovely glass of wine....but A single lovely glass of wine should be enough. (OK, maybe a big one!)

Hi Gain, thanks for posting. We have about the same start date so lets keep it up! I am having trouble with the "should I control the amount I drink, or drink what I want in order to let the extinguishing happen". So far I am kind of trying to cut back a little. I drink beer more often than liquor now, and when I drink liquor I now measure a 1 1/2 oz shot into my drink. I checked out how I used to poor and it was about 3 oz per drink, so I would wind up getting hammered pretty quick, leading to very high intakes and blackouts. I found out in these first weeks of TSM that when I pounded down liquor and to some extent beer, it seems like I could overcome the effects of Nal. So I am trying to take it slower for that reason. Make sense to anyone?
Hang in there everyone and please keep posting for us beginners.
Thanks
Dave

I find that switching from white to red wine also helps me drink less. White wine seems to go down so much easier, so much faster.
So early on I wouldn't try to hard to white knuckle through anything as far as "controlling" drinking, just go with the flow and let NAL do it's job. I say that with total acknowledgement that there have been a range of experiences with TSM on this board and everyone needs to find what works for them. I'm going to try your teeth brushing trick!