Week 10 so far S24, S0, M10, T4, W5

Week 10 projected 60.2000

Did not drink on my LONG drive home (3 hours). I went back to my office first, and worked late. Still took my Nal before heading home, and did purchase/consume 5 malt beverage units watered down with soda.

Repeated tonight. Back in office now without boozing on my 3 hour ride home. Working late again. It sure would be nice to come in below 62 for week 10, and keep the slope of my graph negative.

Be strong this weekend!



Well, once again, I felt the need to have 3 on the way home . I did not stop there unfortunately . I purchased a total of 12 units, consisting of 4-24 ounce cans (2x4's) of different flavor 8% malt beverages and the booze voice told me I needed to try the next flavor. Part of my failure, similar to my 10 on Monday, was due to me running solo, and not at home. I do so much better when going straight home and only having 3 (hopefully someday 0). Last night, I was sent on a mission for groceries, and chose to put 1 can in my mug for the solo ride there, and 1 can in my mug for the solo ride home. As information, for my own sanity, I calculate by BAC % to be 0.08 (legally drunk), upon finishing my mug while unloading groceries, based on http://bloodalcoholcalculator.org/, 9 beers, 3 hours, 280# Male.

I have been choosing the extra sweet beverages, as they are very filling, and more difficult to consume larger volumes of lite beer or Vodka mixers for me. Smirnoff Ice Watermelon, Mikes Hard Fruit Punch, Margaritaville Fruit Punch, and New BL Limearita Strawberry, all listed at 8%.

I did wise up and stop after 3 cans, and not open the 4th, and I did dilute them with soda, and I still have not had any vodka, and I finally figured out how to post my graph after 9 weeks . 52 units is after day 6 of week 10. I am pissed , however, I didn't quit after 3 units/1 can last night. I could have and should have.

Week 10 so far S24, S0, M10, T4, W5, T9

Week 10 projected 60.6667

Nice graph!! Look at that progress! Way to go! Graphs are such a great way to take a quick look and see your progress. You're getting there and no need to kick yourself for what you didn't do last night - you will do it next time, I'm sure! Onward and downward!

So much for the nice graph. I just busted it by hitting 20 units last night. I was hoping to come in under 62 for the week, but finished at 72.

8 hour binge, 20 beers, 2.5 beers per hour. Estimated BAC % = 0.154

So here is how my Friday Night Failure came to be!

6 diluted (literally watered down, 2x4 can mixed with a pint of bottled water) units in my bubba mug running errands on the way home from work (Solo, no wife/guardian, her girlfriend is in town for Easter) between 5-8pm BAC % = 0.036 arrival at home.

Last Lent Fish Fry. I actually went to the after party. The Good Friday Fish Fry is different than the other Lent Fish Fry's. It is all day long, and they don't sell the typical $1.50 longnecks that have been blowing my Friday night numbers throughout lent like the previous 8 Fish Frys. This Fish Fry they wait until they are out of fish, and have an after party, and have FREE BEER for the workers. So now I hesitantly head to the after party after receiving multiple texts wondering where the hell I am at. The crew (20-30) is quite ahead of me in units. I partake only in 4 units and sneak away to head closer to home (Sill running solo, no wife/guardian.) So now it is about 10pm Estimated BAC % = 0.060 arrival at home again.

Not bad if I would have quit there at 10 beers over 5 hours. I would have held at 62 units for 2 weeks straight. However, still 1 more Fish Fry after party 5 house away in my neighborhood. So, 18 pack in hand, I head in that direction. 10 beers and 3 hours later, I head for home. (My wife has joined me now.) To bed a 1AM with a belly full and a BAC around 0.15.

How the hell am I gonna find something positive out of 20 beer binge, and jumping up from 62 to 72.

Here goes.

No Vodka (or any other hard booze for 3 weeks now)

I got my wheels home before going over the 0.08 BAC limit (probably)

I have not had a drink today, and am 99% sure today (Saturday) will be AF. (I say 99% because it never fails to amaze me how easily a phone call or texts shows up in the final hour on an AF day attempt leading me to some last minute backyard/garage/basement party at some fellow boozer friends of ours . Sometimes I think a cloud made out of alcohol must follow me around up in the sky.)

Week 10 results S24, S0, M10, T4, W5, T9, F20

Week 10 actual units 72

Week 11 so far S0 (I hope I am not editing this tomorrow.)

Week 11 projections pending.

Hey Christopher! I'm loving your strength in sticking to your substitutions - Malts instead of vodka. Very good move. Especially early on, and before the nal, the idea of NOT drinking was terrifying to me, but the idea of drinking beer or wine instead of whiskey? Not so terrifying. Keep on using that while you let the extinction happen. You can do this brother.

I'm also really glad that you are paying more attention to your BAC while driving. As I said before it scares the **** out of me that you get in the car with your kid. It took more courage than I have for you to admit that, and I think it's a very important part of this process for you to talk about your driving. That said, I want to recommend that you buy a breathalyzer to make sure your calculations aren't skewed at all... We are all drunks here, so we know how the mental gymnastics go into overdrive to justify our habits.

Overall, it sounds like you've made some real progress. Get the driving under control so that you can coast for a while and let extinction do it's thing. At the very worst if you still need to sneak drinks, maybe park around the corner from home at the end of your drive and pound your drinks there. Do you have a garage? Can you find yourself a drinking sanctuary that isn't your car?

Keep it up brother.

Ah yes the spike. So many of us experienced that - great downward progress, then all of a sudden a spike up. I remember that happening to me and thinking 'Oh no what's up with that?! Why?!'. But then I found that so many us here experienced that, usually followed by a continued downward trend. So maybe it's part of the Cure?!

Thats why it's so smart, Christopher, that you're journaling everything here, so when you have a bad day, a spike, you can go back and remind yourself of all the progress you HAVE made! All the changes you've made and are making to break some habits and change the ol' drinking patterns to bring your units down.

A thought - when you drink with your buds, especially the neighbors, can you bring your mug and fill it with more soda than alcohol and no one will know but you? So you're part of the party but with fewer units?

Keep on nal'ing on!

Week 11 so far S0, S6

Week 11 projections 21? Wow, wouldn't that be grand.

AF Saturday. Had plenty Friday, 20. So a bit hungover Sat., but not too bad. Made breakfast for family, watched some tv, took naps with daughter and dog, and then went to work. I was debating going to work by myself Saturday, but the opportunity arouse to ride with family, drop off oldest daughter at her work, drop me off at my office, while the others went to mall and grocery store. I forced myself to not even have a booze decision to make for the ride home. Worked out great. Got home at 9pm, we watched TV till 1am and went to bed AF.

Woke up Easter Sunday. Made it through lunch at my sides Easter, never any booze there. Went home napped and prepared for her sides Easter, always booze there. Took a Nal about 2 hours before heading over right before nap. While waiting to head over, I had a beer waiting for the family. They were slow, so I had a 2nd. Arrived at 2nd Easter and they offered me my 3rd. It didn't taste as good as first 2. We were there for 6 hours and I only had 4 total over those 6 hours. So 6 total for Easter Sunday.

Normally, I would have snuck in 3 or 4 before my families booze free Easter Lunch. Then eat lightly so I had room in belly to chug during our break in the action at our home. Then head to boozy in-laws house to gulp their beer down, while again, eating lightly to keep room in belly for booze. Then booze after dinner. Usually it would be "Lets go after that last beer" from my wife. This year, "I'm ready when you are". Felt good to go home basically sober.

So, I chalk this Easter a huge success for TSM.

Tonight I have a work dinner. Free happy hour before dinner. Past events like this, I would have a 4-5 unit vodka on route from office to event. For some damn BS reason, I would feel I need more booze in me before the party than the "normal guy", because he will be catching a buzz after 1 or 2, and "I have such a tolerance" from years of practice, that I need to pregame to get to their level. Then I would hurry down 3-6 beers during the happy hour, eat dinner, listen to speaker, and then polish of another 4-5 unit vodka on route home. I'm sure my BAC on these events was well over the limit. The stupid s*** I have done.

(Edit: FYI @ barryb and generic, I ordered a key-chain breathalyzer Saturday.)

F*cking congrats on all fronts brother. You are clearly making progress.

My breathalyzer has not yet arrived, however, the website calculator had me at 0.06 upon arrival at home last night, and I also ate a big dinner with desert and COFFEE! Rarely a coffee drinker.

Had 9 total last night at corporate happy hour/speech/dinner? 4 hr event from start to arrival at home. My mind played beer volleyball all the way home. Get more, don't get more, get more, don't get more. As I approached the first gas station, I was ready to stop and get 1 more 2x4 can, but didn't. I know I would have without the Nal in my system. 2nd gas station, same thing. 3rd gas station, same thing. After passing the 3rd it stopped and I conceded to making the final ride home without reloading. So I guess I'm happy. Not so much with 9 units, but for not reloading.

I'm going to try 2 things today. Both firsts since starting TSM. Get myself into the gym today, and go for my 2nd AF day in the same log week.

Week 11 so far S0, S6, M9

Week 11 projections 35

If your gym has a hot tub or sauna, I'd highly recommend finishing your workout with those. They give me that sort of "buzzed" feeling and are great for falling asleep fast. Ahhhh.