Hey - I so agree with you. If they do not have a problem they cannot understand why someone cannot just stop - do they think we ENJOY this ???? Have you talked to your sister and tried to explain? My sister and my mum - neither of whom drink, both have a problem with sugar! I can take it or leave it but they cannot just have ONE sweet - you get the picture ? And it has taken about 10 years but my mum finally understands that it is two sides of the same coin! I really think that you need to talk to both your sister and your B-I-L - well, maybe not - but if you want to help them it would be a good idea. I feel for both of them - and for you, sort of in the middle as you do understand !

I wish you luck in trying to decide what to say to whom !!!

Hugs, Maggie x

Thanks, Maggie!

So my units have stayed pretty steady throughout this process, no miracle yet; still less than pre-nal though. When I look at my progress I realize that I have consistently had AF days; maybe not as many as I would like but I have had them consistently since starting TSM and before this they rarely if ever happened so that is huge!!

Still doing the mindless drinking/out of control thing about once a week. Need to figure out why that is. I still enjoy drinking, even on nal, though it is different. The AF days have mostly come after a night of excess, and have been the result of a hangover. I had one yesterday, though, when I was not hungover, and I sort of forced it. I find that when I get home from work I am triggered when I am rushing to get dinner on the table for the fam........I am so used to pouring a glass of wine or having hubby make me a drink as a treat to relax and slough off the day. A habit, but one glass leads to another.......too much. Am going to use Jackson's suggestion of a "mock" tail and see if that helps me.

I almost cannot believe I am going to post this next part, as I know it will sound pretty crazy to many of you. I had tried Sunday for an AF day and couldn't do it. I have used affirmations with pretty good success in many areas of my life, mostly to improve work success, but they have also worked amazingly in my relationship with my husband. For those of you who don't know, an affirmation is just a short statement that you repeat over and over in order to reprogram your subconscious mind. It does not have to be true and you do not even have to believe it for it to work, so goes the New Age wisdom. (I hate that expression.) I had never thought about using them for alcohol, however. But yesterday morning I was thinking: they are supposed to work for health matters, why not this? So throughout the day I used this affirmation: "I can easily abstain from alcohol." I don't mean I did it all day, I just repeated it in my head for a couple of minutes in the morning when I thought of it. Then, when I got home and starting making dinner and felt the cravings I repeated it again and again. I know it is only an experiment of one day, but it worked!! As a result I feel fabulous this AM. Hey, whatever works, right? The subconscious mind is a very powerful tool, actually. It would be foolish to think that it is not wrapped up in addiction.

Hope everyone has a good week and NAL ON!! Newlife

Newlife - none of what you said sounded crazy to me at all - and I am thrilled that it worked the way it did. I know from our PM's that we have a lot in common - and I too use affirmations all the time. I am so happy that things are working for you - I will get to replying to you too - life is just so crazy right now. Trying to sort the new house, get ready for UK, work, keeping the current house 'up' .... it will be such a relief to get on that plane !!!

What is Jackson's suggestion of a 'mocktail'? Drinking Guinness only, it probably will not work for me ... but what is it ? I have not been on the board much lately ...

Hugs, Maggie xx

Mixing sodas and juices together and serving them in a fancy glass to get the ritual and hand-feel of a cocktail without the alcohol.

It would be hard to mock Guiness, I agree. I'm thinking maybe a mix with dark, dark iced coffee with a hit of cocoa in it. Whipped foam on top? Or just replacing it with straight up cappuccino For me, ginger beers tend to help get the feel of a beer. Many have a nice ginger bite to them that can stand in for hops.

Yep, hard to think of a mocktail for Guinness. Especially for me to think of one because I don't like beer and so I have never had a Guinness. Sorry, Maggie.

BUT..........I used the affirmations again yesterday and I had my 2d AF day in a row. Woohoo!! That has only happened one other time since I started the nal, but the last time it happened was because I was severely hungover. So I think that is progress.

Maggie, you do have your hands full, don't worry about replying, I know I will hear from you when you have time.


Nal on!! Newlife

End of Week 8. My lowest consumption since starting TSM!! AF days still not coming naturally; but they aren't unbearable either, so that I am counting as a success. Doing a lot of thinking about learning how to live without the crutch of alcohol. That is one thing that Nal does not solve for me. But at least I feel like it is helping me get there.

Thanks for the support of everyone here on this forum and NAL ON!! Hugs to all from Newlife

Good for you having your lowest week ever newlife ! And I am proud of you for having AF days all on your own - I wish I could do one without AB ! I actually have no trouble doing them now though - but still take that teeny amount of AB as a 'just-in-case' I am tempted ! You didn't update your signature though - what was your intake ?

Have a great day, Hugs, Maggie x

way to go Newlife! you're inspiring me as I go into a tricky week/weekend. I'll also be offline for a while, so I'll really try to take your progress to heart. thanks and hugs!

Newlife, I'm going to try your affirmations. I can easily abstain from alcohol. Tomorrow, I will wake up feeling clear headed and energetic. Today will be my first alcohol free day since starting Nal.