Great job on the 2 days AF! That is so wonderful - I cant wait for that to happen to me - so sorry about your loss - that would be a huge trigger for me - and sorry about the sloppy night - I know how that feels all too well - Overall you are dong great - keep it up and thanks for posting - Ready

New life - great job on the 2 AF days - I cannot seem to do AF yet - maybe I need to try as you said yours were forced but were okay and that you felt really good.....

So sorry about the loss for you - yes that would make things really hard as we do use the AL as a means of escape. Hang in there and Nal on !

Hugs, Maggie x

Just completed week 4 on TSM. My drinking has remained at about the same level - 17 units, slightly down from pre TSM of 20 - 25 units. I feel a little guilty because I know my drinking level is not high compared to some here, but the way it manifests in my life has made it a problem for me and I can see the progression.

I definitely can see that for me this is no "magic bullet". I can't just take a pill and presto, become like my husband who can enjoy a drink but take it or leave it. BUT, having said that, I can certainly see the difference it makes. It just takes the really fun high out of the equation; which sort of sucks, and I miss it. BUT the fact is that I like it too much, was chasing it too much, that was leading to the problem of not being able to stop when enough should have been enough.

Last night I went to see a Led Zeppelin movie with my husband. Had one drink (gin & tonic) prior to and two more during. It sort of seemed like the kind of occasion where a drink was in order and one with which I would enormously enjoy it. Now, I was drinking slowly so certainly didn't get drunk. In fact the drinks really didn't taste all that good, and the "high" and "fun feeling" that I crave was definitely not there. So I know the nal is doing its work. So why did I need to keep drinking them? Habit, I suppose; just long habit built up over almost 30 years now. I'm not going to be able to break that easily in a few weeks, I can see that.

Still, this offers me a pause and a new way of looking at alcohol. It allows me to have AF days, which feel really good and which I was not able to pull off personal, God knows I tried. I think I need to focus on trying to replace the time I used to spend drunk and not able to do that much with activities I enjoy doing, as I have seen some others here right about. See where that take me. A little at a time.

I was afraid that the nal would take away the other things I like doing, but so far I haven't noticed that and for that I feel very very lucky. For me it just takes away the fun of drinking (which is NOT nothing, it obviously means a lot to all of us here). I've been lucky with the side effect too, the major thing that I notice is a metallic-y sort of taste in my mouth that I don't really like and that lasts for many hours. Not major, just reminding me that it is there. Like most of you I don't really like the idea of taking a pill for an extended period of time. Trying not to think about that right now. I need to change my life, was giving too much of it to alcohol, let me just see if this can help me do that.

Definitely grateful for those of you who post here. This is a very lonely journey for me.

Newlife

Keep at it newlife. I think that it's a magic bullet for a small minority. But that doesn't mean it doesn't work over time. The fact you are grieving the loss of the "high" seems like a very important step.

Keep up the good work newlife as I can see your consumption is down compared to when you first started. I can relate to what you are saying about the high of drinking. I don't really feel that hyper/high feeling from alcohol anymore. It also doesn't taste as great as it did in the past. Even with the Nal though alcohol still gives me a reward in the sense it relaxes me but almost to the point of being too sleepy. That is why my consumption is down versus the beginning because it does not taste as good and I'm not getting a real hard buzz. I still have a long way to go and thank you for posting your progress here!

Well I ended Week 5 on nal. The bad news is that my drinking was up, pretty much to pre nal levels. The good news is 2 AF days, which almost never used to happen pre nal. Feeling discouraged that they only seem to happen when I've overindulged and because of a hangover rather than out of some happy choice. Right now feeling sort of down about the whole method and more than a little sorry for myself. I am from a family, including blood relatives but also DH and family, all of whom can enjoy a drink and yet can take it or leave it, don't have a problem. Same for many of my friends. So there are very few people with whom I can share this issue/problem, which really sort of sucks. Plus, it just sucks that I am this way and have to put so much time and effort and thought into this when other people don't have to. I know that is whining, babyish, whatever, but it is also how I am feeling at this moment.

From my journal I can see that my pattern seems to be when I cook and entertain, which I love to do and is a HUGE part of my life, I overindulge, even on the nal. I just get to a point and then overdo it. Cooking is one of the greatest joys of my life, but when I get in the kitchen I immediately want to pour a drink. I need to pull back on that somehow, and honestly the nal really doesn't seem to be helping with it. Yet. I know it is still early days.

Feeling pretty discouraged today. Newlife

hang in there NL. it's very common to come back up to your pre-Nal drinking levels after the first few weeks, & then for it to drop off again. as you say, early days, but you've seen a honeymoon period which shows that Nal is working for you

-badger

Hi newlife, Just a few quotes from Heavy Fuel as they are very inspirational and he documents the ups and downs of the roller coaster of TSM. He stayed the course as he stated to keep positive and stay with it for as long as it takes if you REALLY want freedom from alcohol. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2525

"If I had to tell anyone just starting any one thing, it would be to plan on a year to regain control/cured. That's probably a couple of months longer than most, but it stops the insecurity and impatience. I look at how naive I was about the time frame, but I am almost there. The only thing is, I am riding the roller coaster too! Down this week, up next. I am seriously down this week, but may be up next. It's learning to be indifferent to that up and down that is hard."

"I think there is some kind of wall around the 4-6 month mark folks hit. Just going through threads, it seems many posters are riding the roller coaster, frustrated and tired during this time. I think this is the period that tells whether TSM is going to work: if one makes it through, they seem to reach the finish. If they are discouraged and quit, of course they don't finish."
And that is me right now so I know I have to have more patience too.
Nal+Drink+Patience=Success
Nal On!

From what I'm hearing you are definitely on the right track, and I think you will be at safe levels before you know it.

if cooking is a big trigger, MAKE YOUR HUSBAND COOK! Only being 1/2 serious there

On a side note, what was the Led Zep movie? Occasionally when I'm working out I put on Houses of the Holy or IV and proceed to a sweat dripping frenzy pace worthy of the maestros. I am old and grey lol but sometimes the mood fits Jimmy Page like a lit match.

Thanks all41, cheeto and badger1, really needed to hear and you all chimed right in!! I know we are a small group but it is a lifeline just to have someone who understands and can give intelligent feedback.

All41, the Led Zeppelin movie did not have a title that I could tell. It was a "one night only" thing released by a company called Fathom Productions. From what I could tell it was just some clips that have been previously released from old concerts spanning their career. I tried to do some research and it appears it was mostly made available on a 2003 DVD and this was just culled from that. Still, the clips were fabulous, nice to see them on the big screen as I am just a little too young to ever have made it to one of their concerts. I have been listening to their music since I went to the movie, and yes, wasn't Jimmy Page a master? I am a huge Robert Plant fan too. Hadn't thought of exercising to Zeppelin but you are right, perfect!! I need to step up my exercise, I think, as part of this journey.

Again, thanks, guys. Nal on!! Newlife