Hello All,

much happier today, and so many thanks for the above comments after my grump last week, they really helped.

I am very interested in what Guapo writes; I think as problem drinkers we are so sick and tired of self control failing that a method requiring none but to wait an hour is just too good to be true and we want it just like that. I have pondered though and linking in to what others have said, the pill kills the buzz only, so you can remove the chemical addiction, the love of the taste/feeling sleepy relaxed will still be there, I guess that there will need to be will power but just less of it.

After last Monday where I had drunk every night for ages I made myself go out and see the hobbit (so so I thought!) I knew I would have to drive and so didn't drink.. af number one. I had my birthday on Friday which involved ALOT of drinking and so on Saturday looked up 'whats on' in the local paper and went to see a choir singing, af number 2, yesterday I had to drive 400 miles for family Christmas and so that was af number 3.

So 3 af days this week, and all planned; in fact activities planned to force an af. My alcohol habit is drinking at home on an evening, first whilst cooking and then infront of TV. I used to do this for the BUZZ but now I do it for the taste, relaxation and for the habit.

I know I might be risking slowing the chemical reconditioning, but I do feel this has already changed, I really don't get the cravings, and if I have something else to do the af days are a total breeze, in fact last night we went to a drinks party on the way home from seeing parents and I had elderflower all night and still enjoyed myself.

I read a lot of posts about 'forcing' af days, I think I am engineering af days as ultimately I would like to be mostly af at home during the week, and its the habit of drinking that's stopping me at the moment rather than the need to drink.

Pre TSM 30-45 un/wk 1af/wk us units
0 43/0 no nal 6 39/0
1 40/0 7 37/0
2 29/2 8 34/0
3 44/1 9 39/0
4 35/2 10 25/3
5 31/3

Hi Nigel - and well done on 3 af days.

I think we are identical in our drinking habit. I just posted on my own thread that I don't feel a need to drink when I'm out socialising - it's always at home and usually starts with whilst cooking and then progresses through the evening. I'm also unsure how I'm going to really kick this habit up the backside once and for all as it will get a bit expensive if I have to go out to the cinema, for meals etc every night!!

I was thinking that perhaps I will make a new rule that I will NOT drink whilst cooking. I love ginger beer, so will buy some and try drinking only this whilst preparing the meal to start with. If I want a glass of wine whilst eating, I will have it - and then start thinking how to wean myself off this after. For me, I think that kicking the habit a step at time will be easier.

Keep it up - you're doing great! Snap x

Good job Nigel, sounds like you had a positive week!

Eskapa is very clear that substituting good behaviors for bad ones is part of the process.

For personal reinforcement I reread most of it this weekend focusing on the "instructions" portions

Good on ya Nigel & All. Were the AF days a problem, or did you take it in stride ?

Both of your numbers are looking good !!

Glad you are much happier, yes we all want TSM to work Now but guess we just need to have patience. Like they say
Nal+Drinking+Patience = SUCCESS!!!
Nal on!

Hi Nigeirs

Just a quick look in, you haven't posted and I'm kind of missing your views. Christmas is a difficult time and maybe you're busy, sorry then for this presumption. However if you're having a harder time, I ask that you get back to posting. This is a much longer journey than any of us thought but it's all I've got.
That's all

John

Hello John,

I am still about, I haven't posted as I have been away skiing with the kids and just been busy since getting back... many thanks for the care though.

Been a pretty normal/rubbish/unchanged couple of weeks, it did include my birthday/Christmas and a week skiing, so I haven't had any af days and my intake esp on holiday was high but never peaking. Once I poured half a bottle of wine away but all other days I stuck to a high dose of one whole bottle plus a few beers.

I guess on reflection this is better than this time last year where I certainly had a few HUGE days, so you could say I am moderating but just not at a very moderate amount!!

Had an af day yesterday and I have to say that today I felt very much more alive and happy, drank this evening but up to that point was really happy... I think this is a reflection of the constant Nal taking dulling lifes normal little endorphin peaks. I still feel that whilst forcing isn't a good idea we all need to change our nature/habits somehow, the addiction I think has gone as I haven't had a rush for so so long, but the habit of getting slowly sloshed is there.

Things is and Guapo asked this, af days are a total breeze, I don't struggle to do them at all, the only thing that stops me is the other voice saying 'have a drink youll love it' or 'a glass of wine would taste great with this'; I no longer need to drink to ease a demon, or shakes or cravings like I used to have, but habit is such a bitch!!

so here are the figures, last two weeks up a lot, but I am unsurprised.

Pre TSM 30-45 un/wk 1af/wk us units
0 43/0 no nal 6 39/0 12 46/0
1 40/0 7 37/0
2 29/2 8 34/0
3 44/1 9 39/0
4 35/2 10 25/3
5 31/3 11 42/0

Nigeir

My view is that AF days or no AF days forcing this or not forcing.

If this is going to work how we hope, then nothing is that important. It's going to work!

It's intresting that when we don't drink how fulfilling it can be, any normal folk would be confused that we just cannot stop drinking when life feels better without it.

Habit, genes, addiction. I know I cant change through willpower so TSM has to work or I'm back to square one.

And by the way hope you enjoyed skiing and Happy New Year.

John

morning.

so I am now a week over 3 months doing this. If I am honest I had hoped that I would be seeing more of a change. re reading threads and the book, it does seem that three/four months is when some/many see a change, but I am not really seeing it hugely.

So changes.....

Positive... I was talking with my wife, and we think that I drink less hungrily, and that I also don't have the big binge days, in fact I don't think I have had a big hangover since I started

unchanged.. I still drink, I still look forwards to drinking, I still like the effect, I still like the taste, my units are unchanged really.

Not giving up, but I need to state whats happening.

I am a really lucky man and for the next three weeks I am doing a long distance hike in new Zealand, I might not get on to post, but I will have my Nal and be following the rules

Wow that NZ hike sounds like a cure for the winter blues......enjoy!