Though not a religious man, I look upon our addictions as if they have the power of the Devil. If you block 90% of your receptors, he's going to find a way to work himself back in using only 10%. You must deny him utterly.

Afterwards, -experiment all you want. But, please, let's shoot for success first. After success you can judge what that Devil guy is doing. But right now, -he's working quietly behind the scenes to undermine everything you're trying to do and he is very, very good at it. You could fail and never know he was behind it.

Deny him.

50mg.

ONM,

I cannot really speak to the science of it - but it did give me a comfort to take a booster if I was doing an all day drinking session because I did not want to "drink through the NAL". That is a term I read early on and I knew I was at risk for it because of how much long and much I drank on some days. I am not sure if it worked scientifically but psychologically it helped me in the sense that I felt I was sticking to the program - even if I was over indulging. That was early on - have had very few days since where I have done it - but unfortunately I think I still managed to out drink the NAL

Couple of ladies huh? Dayum! Ok sounds good

It's funny. When I was in high school I was a big baseball fan. Last night I was flipping channels and I saw the World Series was on... The World Series? I had no idea... The Mets? Really?

I was a Yankees fan as a kid but still liked the Mets and went to both stadiums on several occasions for games.

-

I think the larger recommended dose is important for people just starting TSM especially if thier drinking is heavy. My drinking was very heavy but again I guess I was jsut lucky and responded fast on small doses. I drank so much though that I would literally still be drunk in them morning. I mean seriously almost every morning that I drove to work I probably was DUI. So if you drink that much on 25mgs of Naltrexone then while you are sleeping it off the Naltrexone will wear away in the presence of alcohol and cause problems. So 50mg's will cover you through all that as a safety margin.

I think you are right about taking g 50 in the beginning.... Imy biggest aversion. Is because I want a couple extra pills in reserve if needed.

Yesterday I started with a half. Had three beers.... They tasted tremendous! So I was worried the chase was about to begin . I took my other half and left the bar to get home to tjhe kids. Had a beer 30 minutes later and could not even finish it.... Tasted off. I think it had more to do with waiting a little longer than the extra half pill.... Either way is okay. Drank a Mike's Hard Margarita.... My favorite.... But only drank half of that, and a half a beer later on. 5.3 standard units all told.... Again. So much lower than a month ago.

MOST of my drinking now is because of habit and that my girlfriend is a heavy drinker so I have one or two with her..... But it is almost always very easy to leave glasses half full.

As far as baseball.... Again, my girlfriend d is a huge baseball fan and six of our kids play softball/baseball because of her.... So I learned to like it more. In fact, I am paying more attention to the series than she is.

I appreciate all your advice and I sight.... I am thrilled to find a medicine that truly helps control drinking. Even during my 15 years of abstinence, I didnt want to be abstinent ALL the time. I love the idea of getting to the point where I can have just a couple beers, Margarita or bloody Mary. Those are my favorites. I like the taste and feel, but after the first few ....feeling satiated.

Ben

Ben,

It sounds like you are getting ahead of that stupid alcohol addicted lizard brain, for you are in control and not the other way around!

I am glad you are seeing results, and just remember it could change (just a reminder).

Keep posting,

Jaba

Congrats on the first AF. Still waiting for mine to come.

an AF day is a good day. keep it up!

Just hard to believe..... Today I had two pints of light beer and only drank half of the second. Went to dinner tonight with the in laws and did not even crave a beer. Usually that would be at least a three pi t event. Came home and had a Mike's Margarita. That made 2.53 standard drinks for the day. Went to put something in the fridge and saw I left half the Margarita in there. I drank it because I had already logged it, but didn't crave it.

So for the week that is one no drinking day, one of 2.53 and all other days this week were less than six.

Two months ago I managed 3 or 4 full sober days.... But I went to AA, avoided slippery places, and white knuckled it. This week, I actually had to work at finishing the last drink.

I still have a long way to go... I don't necessarily want to quit, but I still have a strong preoccupation regarding alcohol. Right now the thoughts are about how my drinking habits are changing.

I cannot wait to share this with other people in need.

Good night all... Gotta rest up... Tomorrow is Halloween and we will have a fire pit and snacks and drinks of alcohol and no alcohol for the neighbors walking by, so I am certain my drink numbers may go up tomorrow a little bit... But usually by the time it starts I am at least a six pack in.doubt I will have any until it starts.

Thought I would post... my signature is now my weekly update (when I do it)....

So with Thanksgiving coming up.... I am thankful because....

I do think it is important to track drinks the further I get into this. I find it motivating and helps me to limit my drinking when I am doing it as a HABIT and not because I want one. Most of my drinking is just a habit. I really only enjoy about one beer, and a Mikes Margarita or two at night. But I find myself drinking a few extra because of social/family times.

Cravings are pretty reduced... although when I am anxious or have bad news, it increases, but is usually very tolerable.

I love how much money I am saving. Forty to Fifty dollars a day (much more on weekends) in alcohol at the bar.... that does not even include what is at home is now less than ten, a little more on the weekend.

I am down 10 lbs since I started..... actually the first week I gained weight (rather it stabilized upward) as I was no longer dehydrated in the morning when I weigh myself and was eating more. But since then I drop a couple of pounds a week.

Anxiety has dropped tremendously.

Most rewarding is I no longer fear going on a bender and becoming obnoxious... In fact, I am kind of boring!

Negatives have been a little nausea and joint pain at the beginning and moodiness throughout..... but that is subsiding slowly.

Thanks to this medicine, this program and all the posts I have read on this board.

with cravings reduced, I find it really difficult to drink excessively now. and the weight loss is beginning to happen. lotta empty calories if you're a beer drinker. Nal on!