I have concluded a month of TSM as of yesterday, and I would like to make one of those charts soon. Can anyone tell me what program they use to create it?
This month had a lot of inconsistencies. During the first two weeks, I had strong SE but reduced and controlled drinking, week three I felt a bit out of control and the drinking soared and during week four I have just wanted to consistently drink nightly, although I also stop prior to blackout which I never wanted to do before. (On the other hand, when I look at the numbers, they don't vary that widely from week to week.)
I guess I'm just in for the long haul, waiting it out until it works.
I've gained 20 pounds in the last 18 months, probably due to age (turning 50) and having developed an autoimmune condition of the thyroid, although 500 daily alcohol calories can't be helping. One of my reasons for tackling the drinking is the need to cut out the calories (vanity, thy name is woman), but I'm finding that I don't want to wait for TSM to work to get serious about the weight. I'm going to make an appointment with the fat doctor today and see what he prescribes, although I'm sure it won't include 3-5 glasses of wine a day.
If I artificially constrain the amount of alcohol I drink because of a diet, will it just lengthen the TSM process? Even if the diet calls for it, I don't think I will totally eliminate alcohol because I fear the SE coming back. Anyone have any guidance/experience with this?
Lastly, I want to say again how critically important this forum and your comments are to the successful use of TSM. Everyone of you brings so much wisdom and support. I can't imagine doing TSM without this -- I just wish we could get together in person.

Hi Amy.

The key to TSM is being triggered to drink (i.e. craving) and then drinking through the trigger on naltrexone. Arguably, if you are purposely cutting down on the drinking even when triggered to drink, extinction could take longer. As you progress on TSM, weight loss appears to be a nice consequence for many here, because of the reduced calories. Also, for many of us, uninhibited late-night eating resulting from boozing is also catastrophic to waistlines.

I think Saint Vincent said she lost considerable weight when she reduced her drinking. Check out her thread.

My best,

Nick

Amy, here is a discussion on how to graph. http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/community/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1605&p=22505&hilit=how+to+graph&sid=e599979d0576eb2328d1da34aee79d88&sid=e599979d0576eb2328d1da34aee79d88#p22505

I agree with most of what Nick said except that I'm a guy. My soon to be ex-wife would crack up as she considers me an insensitive male. As for weight loss. I have lost over 20 pounds on my TSM journey. My exercising is about the same but I've changed my eating to less carbs and more fat and the reduction in alcohol helped because it reduces the number of calories but also keeps you from losing the inhibition that justifies eating a whole pizza at midnight.

Amy,

Would love to hear what your doctor says. I have also gained around twenty lbs although I don't really have a medical reason behind it. Mostly, drinking a lot makes me really crave cheeseburgers and fries
I started this trend in college, but unfortunately my metabolism isn't quite what it used to be back then.

Also, just read your post about passing out on the phone (brutal). I reached my low when I was drunk in a Mcdonalds drive thru at midnight. I ordered an obnoxious about of food, and the overweight, greasy, 16 yr old cashier looks at me with a face of horror and goes, "YOU WANT ALLLLL OF THISSS?".

My rational brain told me to pull away, but I didn't. I just sat there thinking, If I get pulled over for a DUI, I bet the cop won't even let me finish eating...

Woke up to horrid self loathing the next day.

Just thought I'd share,
80s

LOL to the McDonalds story and to Saint Vincent's gender. I definitely thought you were female because of the sensitivity of your posts. Tell that to your soon-to-be ex.

Nick, I guess like a lot of guys I keep my feelings bottled up and only when I'm able to think clearly and write them down in an anonymous forum do I feel comfortable expressing myself. I'm also making a conscious effort to express myself more to my kids so they don't have to assume I love them but actually have some proof of it based on my actions. And now back to your regularly scheduled program. (sorry for the hijack Amy)

Ok guys, this is all very funny. As I was reading the new replies, I was shocked when I saw that Saint Vincent was a woman -- jaw hit the floor because I was sure he was a guy. Then, he corrects the misconception. Whew. Hoped my radar was not that far off.
In terms of burgers, fries and pizza? Hah! I wish. I have never eaten like that in my whole life. Other than wine consumption I am very careful about what I eat and have still gained weight. But, I'm confident that ultimately eliminating alcohol and dieting strictly will have a positive result. I'm going to do a cleanse thing over the next 10 days and I'm planning to drink once or twice during that time to maintain my tolerance to the naltrexone.
Of course, the last time I tried to seriously diet and cut out alcohol, in January, I failed because I still drank, which had a lot to do with me admitting I needed to be here. So we will have to see if I am up for cutting out the alcohol yet. If not, the cleanse will have to wait.
Thanks, SV, for the chart link. Upon reflection, charts seem like such a guy thing...but I might do it...

Finishing up Week 5 with some higher numbers. Two alcohol free days and higher numbers means I drank more when I drank, and I could tell. I am not delighted about the amount I'm drinking right now, but I am going to defer to my "elders" who seem to have experienced this on TSM before it got better.

I had one milestone this weekend -- I had dinner in a restaurant without drinking which I would have thought was impossible for me. It was a Chinese restaurant, and we didn't sit around for hours, but I still did it. Pretty happy about that. On a different night I did the usual -- 3 glasses of wine in an hour and fifteen minutes out at a restaurant. I don't know what is with me when I am at a restaurant -- it is like I am anxious or in a race or something.

Lastly -- I started that diet/cleanse thing on Friday which is why I managed to have two AF days this week. Haven't lost a pound and don't feel great, but I'm going to try to stick to it and not drink much this week (of course, the diet calls for no drinking at all, and I'll do my best).

Onward and hopefully (consumption-wise) downward.

The "milestones" are proof TSM is working for you. Congratulations, you'll get there.

Hi Amy - At about 5 weeks my units were all over the map each week. One night I might have four and the next eight. That evens out too so just keep going. You are doing great.