Yippee Clarion, I know I'm going to read through your posts, but since you don't have a drink signature could you please summarize. Thanks a bunch, Keek

Ha! A Pleasant reminder that not all was lost!

Two nights ago my wife had the day off and she picked up some really prime Prime Rib steaks for the grill, so I thought what-the-hell: I'll take a pill and have a little wine with dinner. Now wine with my meals Dear Reader, was my poison of choice. Every meal, tons of wine. Bottles of wine.

But on this night I contented myself with 1 single bottle. Oh, how many zillions of times I tried to limit myself to just 1 bottle prior to NAL. Hadn't been able to do it in a decade. Never succeeded. But this night was no problem at all. But that, Dear Reader, is not the point of my story.

I awoke at 2:30am with a hangover and a splitting headache so bad I had to get up and take some aspirin. Woke again later at my usual time still feeling awful and went to work and suffered through most of the day. Now, that was a common occurrence prior to NAL, but not since March, -and I didn't care for it one bit! No Sir! Before NAL I always knew I had no choice about it, and so just concentrated on how to get through it and alleviate the symptoms (usually more wine): wash, rinse, repeat. But this episode made me angry because I do have a choice now and I acted stupidly!

My moral in this story is that yes, some good things have been lost, but we too quickly forget all the bad that was lost as well. I just had a very unpleasant reminder of that bad, -and I do not wish to experience it again. Ever!

I am really starting to get the hang of this AF life, -and I like it more everyday. It is a big adjustment though. A whole other world...

Thanks for the reminder of the bad that is lost, Clarion. It's all too easy to fixate on the "good times."

I remember drinking like a fish, but almost never was it a "good time". That became clear when I quit doing it.

Clarion, Thank you for the reminder, As you say, it is all too easy to remember the good things about the drinking and forget the bad times that have landed us on this sight in the first place. Hmmmm... I wonder if there have been any studies on this convoluted behavior? Anyhow, I hope you are doing better and that thiis, not so little reminder of the bad times, sticks with you when you are contemplating the next bottle. Try not to be so hard on yourself. You have done an awesome job thus far and you are an encouraging example of how TSM can work. Hugs, Keek

Just a little update: Haven't had a drink or taken a pill since my last update here. The post about a sudden aversion to alcohol is ringing very true for me. Seems impossible, the thing I loved more than anything else I suddenly regard with aversion now. But it is all true. Never thought I'd be a teetotaler when I started this program, but now that is exactly what I have become, and what I enjoy! Yes, the things I loved most when I was drinking are gone now, but everyday they get replaced with new things that I find I love just as much, but couldn't really do when drinking. Didn't think that would happen either. Every time I tried to picture life without alcohol I saw a nightmarish life. I used to think it would be just my luck to go through all the hell and deprivation of quitting, only to be diagnosed with a fatal disease a year later!

But it has been anything but a nightmare, and no deprivation, -so easy really- and I am ALIVE now!

I get so much more done in my life these days. And, I feel wonderful!

Thanks for the update, Clarion. It's so inspiring.

Totally awesome Clarion! Perfect.

This is so encouraging! Thank you for the post, and I hope I can report similar results in the not too distant future.

Another thing that was lost (which I previously touched upon): 30lbs and counting! No added exercise, and no changes in diet. Just from no longer drinking alcohol. Every week I get on the scale and another pound or two is gone. I've yet to have a week where I didn't lose weight. I am actually beginning to wonder about what weight I will end up at!?

Perhaps this thread has run it's course. When I started it, I really was thinking about the things that were lost that I missed. That is no longer the case at all, which seemed impossible when I started the thread.

I think my new thread will be titled: What Was Gained!

How's that for a tease?