Wife away on business, day 2. Went out to eat with a couple of my kids, had 2 light beers with pizza and wings (YUM!). Paused for a couple hrs and then had 5 more while watching NBA and mixed in some water there too. This is a huge success. It is Saturday morning, heading out for a jog. Going to stick with the beer this weekend, which will keep things in check.

Kicking the vodka is a huge deal for me. (I think I am repeating myself) I tried this a couple of times before, but couldn't keep it up, b/c my brain couldn't get the kick that it wanted from beer fast enough. With NAL, the whole process slows down and I don't have the overwhelming, powerful, uncontrollable urge to continue to accelerate the boozing.

Once again, thanks to all. Weekends are big units days for me, so we'll see how this goes.

I just updated my signature and read a whole bunch on this board. I had posted my daily numbers the first 8 weeks and had run out of characters, so I had to shorten things up and I added some averages. The numbers are brutal and frankly, embarrassing. But what I wanted to note was that despite the huge volume, I feel so positive and hopeful and I can feel that this is working. The numbers don't show it, but my quality of life does. Here's to reducing my numbers in a big way soon. I'm fearing for my liver.

(I'd like to post one of those graphs like I have seen on other people's threads. Can someone give me some direction on how to do this? I'm a quick learner, thanks.)

Jdog here is a thread with a how-to on graphing. http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/community/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2244&hilit=Graphing&sid=4a5bbccea7552da6de1cc02995d006e5

I'm pulling for all you guys with kids whose marriages are still hanging on (AndyM, Squirrel) AA has it completely backwards we don't drink because we are selfish, we behave selfishly because we need to drink. Once you don't need it, it amazing how much more of yourself you'll have to give your family. It will make a huge difference. Nal-on!

Great news! Light beer only! You don't feel like death warmed over with a beer hangover the way you do with a vodka hangover. I'm so glad you could do it! The ability to walk away from the "jolt" vodka affords you is more proof that you are gradually falling out of love with alcohol. And I'm sure while your wife is away she appreciates the non-drunken phone calls. This is a huge deal! The numbers will drop sooner or later -- count on it!

As a life-long Celtics fan (I grew up in Boston), I'm hating the Miami series. But I'm LOVING the Lakers down 3-0!

Weekend tally: 7,9,10 for Fri, Sat. And Sun.
(for my own records, 1US light beer = 0.86 of my Canadian units).

Not great. No vodka at least. My body is searching hard for the former feeling of booze, Pre-Nal. I can feel that. I am hoping to push for some AF days, as I think that might help accelerate the extinction.

I am able to make it easily through the work day and my parental responsibilities without drinking, so I am hoping the non-vodka work nights will show improvment soon.

Still feeling good and positive about TSM. All the best to the NAL warriors.

Watched the NBA last night. Couldn't drink those US light beers fast enough (Maybe because the Celtics lost). Even on NAL. Started around 7:30pm and had 11 units. Felt ok in the morning (embarrassing as that is...). The alcoholic brain striving for a response from the booze that it couldn't get. Finally stopped around 11:30 and left a couple undrank, but not a good night.

It was an exceptionally unsatisfying drinking night. Kept having more, but couldn't get the, "high", so kept having more. Didn't have the dreaded vodka around, thank Goodness, b/c I would have chugged it.

Interesting development...my wife had bought a case of wine as a fundraiser (with my approval). She left 5 unopened bottles in the front of our kitchen. In the past, if we/she received a bottle as a gift or something, it would be hidden. (And I would often find it)

In the middle of my light beer binge, I considered busting a bottle of wine open and drinking it. Instead, I asked her to put them away. I have to take that as a positive in two ways: first, she wasn't paranoid about leaving them around, and second, that I asked her to put them away.

It looks better on paper than it felt. I was hoping to have 4-6 of the weak light beers and have the NAL off switch kick in. I didn't feel hardly any resistance at all, more like an old drinking night. Once I got started, it was on....

I think I'm gonna try for a AF day tonight.....we'll see.

The fact you had a more powerful drink there and resisted it is big. So is your wife's trust. It's still early. The reduced numbers will eventually get here.

The Celtics gave that game away. I'm still ticked off. But I didn't drink, nor was I triggered to. Trust me, this is a new phenomenon.

Hi Jdog, you've been having a few little victories already, even though your early in your journey. The ability to resist the urge to drink Vodka, your wife's wine, asking your wife to put the wine away (and her appreciation of that) and choosing to drink light beer. Qudos to you. Saviour the victories because they are a good part of the journey, not just figures, especially early on. Hope you're well

lol I would say the Heat had a LITTLE to do with the Celtics loss!
Go Heat!!

Hope you guys get recharged for next year. Big losses this year with Boston and LA.

I am AF for 4 days in a row...COOL!!!

Just wrote a long post and somehow it didn't save....ugh.....

Week #9: 8,9,10,11,4,8,7=57 (0AF)
Week #10: 10, 8, 10, AF, >>>

Week 9, still high in units. Nothing to brag about here.

Friday (first day of week 10): a very nice day, despite high units.

I had a business social/dinner with all the important people in my business. I had NAL in advance, 1 light beer, 2 glasses of wine, over 3 hours like everyone else, with no trouble or gripping. That was great. Went home and had 7 more units watching a movie with my boys, and ended with 10. It took no effort to control myself at the event, and I felt like everyone else, which was a gift. I had a couple, stopped, was in complete control and went home. Acted like a normal person. I probably could have gone AF when I got home with more effort, but I didn't want to. End of long work week on a Friday is a big trigger for me and I wasn't in the mood to fight it.

Saturday and Sunday were similar days. I had a family gathering each day, and took NAL, had 2 units before the party. During the party with my brothers, I was AF, while everyone else drank. Once again, I behaved, was not dying for some of the wine and left the party to drink when I got home. In the past, I have embarrassed myself and my wife at such events when I had planned not to drink, but lost control.

I have not gathered the courage to tell my brothers that I am on the TSM roller coaster out of fear. I am starting to suspect that they know that I am drinking, or something is up. I am not mentioning AA at all, so that is probably enough to tip them off. I want to tell them, but don't want them to worry or think that I am being reckless. My mom and dad are very happy with me right now. They tell me that the old me is back. My wife is fine as well and although she is not happy when I drink, our quality of life is so much better and I think she has hope. I think she is healing a little at a time, like I am with TSM.

Monday, I was tired at work from the lack of quality sleep from drinking, and decided to go AF. And I did! I even got caught in a place where I needed cash, the bank machines were broken, and I had to go to a beer store and buy beer and ask for cash back. I took the beer, brought it home to the basement fridge, and still didn't drink that day. That would never have been possible before.

Very busy at work, 4 units in tonight, and feeling generally positive. Units are too high, but it seems like I am making progress that is hard to describe, but still I feel it. All the best to my TSM friends. I will get back on track with my postings.....