Thanks, Joe! You're looking good, too. I'm grateful whenever you can chime in.

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Week 12: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 13: 22 units, 4 AF

Week 14: 38 units, 3 AF

Week 15: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 16: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 17: 36 units, 2 AF

Week 18: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 19: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 20: 36 units, 1 AF

Week 21: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 22: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 23: 26 units, 4 AF

Week 24: 37 units, 2 AF

Week 25: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 26: 32 units, 2 AF

Week 27: 18 units, 3 AF

Week 28: 5 units, 6 AF

Week 29: 38 units, 1 AF (big swing after low in Week 28)

Week 30: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 31: 26 units, 3 AF

I am noticing that I am having thoughts like some others here about the train's having slowed down and my possibly being able to step off. Also thinking that at Week 32 and a bit of a plateau, maybe a catalyst is needed to send the units down to the next lower level. There have been lots of discussions here re: willpower vs. letting Nal work. I'm starting to believe that for me, the final push toward cure may be exerting a bit of willpower NOW THAT I CAN. (I am drinking half what I was at the beginning of this process and very often feel indifferent to or repulsed by alcohol -- more attracted to it at times via habit than via craving.) There is no way I would've been able to realistically consider choosing to stop drinking in the middle of a session a few months ago; it's possible that now I may be able to guide myself toward bed or another activity rather than those last few habitual drinks. My physical tolerance is lower, and a few times lately I've simply gotten sick of drinking and done something else or gone to bed (the latter aided by my having conquered the alcohol- and pill-related insomnia that plagued me at the beginning of this journey). I'm going to start fiddling with this idea in the coming weeks. Not going to overthink it; these are just a few notes for those who are following. If the willpower theory is flawed, I'll admit it and keep trusting the Nal. And I'll keep posting....

good stuff. Let us know how it works, because I've been in the same frame of mind lately. i've found it easy to take AF nights sometimes, but other nights I cave in. GLadly, I drink less anyway, but I still have the occasional "too much wine" night here and there. but even those nights are less than what I drank every day before TSM. Riight now I'm thinking if I have to really try, then what's the point? I'll end up caving eventually anyways. on the other hand learning that I don't NEED to drink, and that it is ok not too, and easy not too, is good reinforcement too. oh well, lets keep seeking

Hi, all. I've been away a while -- hit a long plateau, tried some willpower (not much success with that though it was interesting), got tired of posting the same stuff over and over. Kept taking Nal, kept keeping track of units.

The last three weeks have been a breakthrough. (I know that it's possible that I'll swing back up in consumption, but I feel solid lately -- like habits masquerading as cravings are getting changed via practice, just as the cravings began to change via Nal.)

My alcohol cravings are down to less than 1/4 of what they were when I started. My weekly units are into the teens now. I am having weeks with far more AF than drinking days. When I do drink, my units are about 1/3 of what they used to be per session.

And I am healthier than I have been in a long, long time -- Doing yoga four days a week and cardio two to three days a week, eating healthy.... This is where I hoped I'd be at the beginning, and I sense that it's going to get even better from here. (By the way, I don't mean to get preachy, but I've come to believe that a centering practice like yoga can be really helpful on the Nal journey. It calms the racing thoughts, promotes good sleep, and creates balance and positivity with or without exercise endorphins. At least for me.) There were some white-knuckled, nasty weeks before this breakthrough, and I'm grateful to be here. Excited about the future!

Oh, and I know we say and hear it all the time, but TSM's timeline (in the book) is bogus for most of us. I'm in Week 43, nine weeks away from a year on TSM. HANG IN THERE -- IT WORKS.

I left off at Week 31 (last time I posted).

***

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Week 12: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 13: 22 units, 4 AF

Week 14: 38 units, 3 AF

Week 15: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 16: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 17: 36 units, 2 AF

Week 18: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 19: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 20: 36 units, 1 AF

Week 21: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 22: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 23: 26 units, 4 AF

Week 24: 37 units, 2 AF

Week 25: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 26: 32 units, 2 AF

Week 27: 18 units, 3 AF

Week 28: 5 units, 6 AF

Week 29: 38 units, 1 AF (big swing after low in Week 28)

Week 30: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 31: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 32: 31 units, 2 AF

Week 33: 21 units, 3 AF

Week 34: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 35: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 36: 29 units, 2 AF

Week 37: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 38: 34 units, 2 AF

Week 39: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 40: 14 units, 4 AF

Week 41: 12 units, 5 AF

Week 42: 18 units, 4 AF

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Week 12: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 13: 22 units, 4 AF

Week 14: 38 units, 3 AF

Week 15: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 16: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 17: 36 units, 2 AF

Week 18: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 19: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 20: 36 units, 1 AF

Week 21: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 22: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 23: 26 units, 4 AF

Week 24: 37 units, 2 AF

Week 25: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 26: 32 units, 2 AF

Week 27: 18 units, 3 AF

Week 28: 5 units, 6 AF

Week 29: 38 units, 1 AF (big swing after low in Week 28)

Week 30: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 31: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 32: 31 units, 2 AF

Week 33: 21 units, 3 AF

Week 34: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 35: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 36: 29 units, 2 AF

Week 37: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 38: 34 units, 2 AF

Week 39: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 40: 14 units, 4 AF

Week 41: 12 units, 5 AF

Week 42: 18 units, 4 AF

Week 43: 17 units, 4 AF

Week 44: 18 units, 4 AF

...and five days into Week 45, 4 units and 4 AF! Easy as pie, hardly any thoughts of alcohol. Just working out and enjoying my family. I am headed for the Cured List in the new year.

Congrats on your progress! Also the new healthier lifestyle is great news.

Pre-TSM: 40-55 units/week (see above for my calculation of units), 0-4 AF

Week 1: about 20 units, 2 AF

Week 2: about 30 units, 4 AF

Week 3: 38 units, 2 AF

Week 4: 23 units, 4 AF

Week 5: 28 units, 4 AF

Week 6: 31 units, 3 AF

Week 7: 29 units, 4 AF

Week 8: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 9: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 10: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 11: 25 units, 4 AF

Week 12: 30 units, 3 AF

Week 13: 22 units, 4 AF

Week 14: 38 units, 3 AF

Week 15: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 16: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 17: 36 units, 2 AF

Week 18: 32 units, 3 AF

Week 19: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 20: 36 units, 1 AF

Week 21: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 22: 20 units, 4 AF

Week 23: 26 units, 4 AF

Week 24: 37 units, 2 AF

Week 25: 34 units, 3 AF

Week 26: 32 units, 2 AF

Week 27: 18 units, 3 AF

Week 28: 5 units, 6 AF

Week 29: 38 units, 1 AF (big swing after low in Week 28)

Week 30: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 31: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 32: 31 units, 2 AF

Week 33: 21 units, 3 AF

Week 34: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 35: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 36: 29 units, 2 AF

Week 37: 26 units, 3 AF

Week 38: 34 units, 2 AF

Week 39: 27 units, 3 AF

Week 40: 14 units, 4 AF

Week 41: 12 units, 5 AF

Week 42: 18 units, 4 AF

Week 43: 17 units, 4 AF

Week 44: 18 units, 4 AF

Week 45: 4 units, 6 AF

Week 46: 19 units, 4 AF

Week 47: 36 units, 1 AF (vacation)

Week 48: 19 units, 3 AF

Week 49: 18 units, 4 AF

Week 50: 16 units, 4 AF

Week 51: 31 units, 2 AF (?)

Week 52: 16 units, 4 AF

Week 53: 24 units, 3 AF

Week 54: 12 units, 5 AF

Week 55: 12 units, 5 AF

Week 56: 14 units, 4 AF

Week 57: 12 units, 5 AF

So I'm 5 weeks into year 2 of Nal. I am now pretty much at 4-5 days/week AF. I'm at about 25% of my former weekly consumption -- after the first week of Nal, it never went back up. My consumption on days I do drink is still higher than I'd like, but I continue to feel more control than I've had since I was in my late teens. Hoping to continue to see units per session go down but happy even if this is it for progress....

This is awesome progress. Like you, at around week 32 I tried going AF. Unlike you, for me it was easy at that point. I strongly believe that at 30 plus weeks, it's time to use minimal willpower if your units are still too high.

Awesome! You are where you want to be. That's what the list should be changed to: "Mission Accomplished."

And yes, the timeframes in the book are bogus. And -- at the risk of being redundant -- it is not a "cure" for many of us. Like you, I still drink and have interest in alcohol. But I'm safe and happy. In the final analysis, that's all that matters.

My best,

Nick

Nick, thanks for your response. When you began applying willpower, what did that look like for you, specifically? How, when, to what degree? I'm considering giving it another try for units/session -- my thought about this isn't getting to zero, just fewer units/session sometimes.

I just addressed this issue on another thread. The key to extinction according to Eskapa is not the number of drinks per session, but the number of extinction sessions. So, when people are triggered to drink, they should take the Nal and drink through the trigger each time. But they do not have to drink themselves into oblivion each time. I think actively trying to cut down numbers per session is a good idea once you are well into TSM. As always, if there is an uncontrollable urge to drink, drink through it. But if you can stop drinking with minimal effort, do so. That's my opinion anyway and it worked for me. I found that after around 32 weeks on TSM, that when I was on beer 6 or so, I'd think, "OK, if I have a few more beers I'm going to maintain a buzz for a while more, but tomorrow I'll feel like **** for the whole day. It's not worth it." Pre-TSM I would have given my left leg for another hour of buzz and that's insane and a hallmark of addiction. However, post TSM I could make a rational choice to quit drinking. Which is what TSM really is: a restoration to sanity and reasoned choices.