Cleansing and the alcohol deprivation effect

Deena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:53 pm **Posts:** 446

OMG! I cannot imagine getting injections for weight loss. That seems very unnatural to me. I wonder how people feel when they do that. Other than losing weight, do they feel better?

Ocean · **Joined:** Thu May 28, 2015 1:37 pm **Posts:** 353

Deena wrote:

Badger, it has always amazed me that I can do a cleanse without alcohol and it is not a big issue. Perhaps the fact that there is an end date and I am not trying to give it up forever makes the difference? You are absolutely right that if I can do it for 21 days, the techniques that I use to do that should make it easier to do a few alcohol free days during the week. I don't seem to crave alcohol at all during a cleanse, though. It is crazy.

The good thing about doing a cleanse is that much of the mindfulness about eating carries on after the cleanse. I will spend more time on meal planning and preparation after the cleanse. The same does not seem to hold true when it comes to drinking, however. For some reason after a cleanse I tend to binge on alcohol and my consumption goes up. I was stymied by that, always disappointed that I couldn't moderate my drinking and carry on better drinking habits. I didn't realize until I went back through several years worth of journals, how significant the increase in my alcohol intake was after each 21 day or longer cleanse. Until I read The Cure book, I did not know about ADE but it certainly seems to apply to my past experience.

My greatest goal is to not have that craving any more. UKB says that it took her 8 months to get to that point. I can wait 8 months. I have been inching slowly forward and I just don't want to do anything to put me back to square one.

Thanks for all your input. You have given me a lot to think about.

I've always done the same thing. Typically I'd take January off after the holidaze. I'd have the whole litany of excuse, need to lose weight, need to cleanse, and everything else except the truth which was I need to slow down my drinking so I don't die from cirrhosis or heart failure.

I would always have a target date and then depending how I was feeling push it back as far as possible. I'd go through a process every single time. The first day was the worst. That's when you have to chemically detox and it would cause anxiety, irregular heart beats, anger, depression and almost any form of psychological torture to get me to submit to my medicine. In a few days time I'd start to feel just a bit better. Then I would have these major sleep sessions. I'd sleep incredibly well and have really wacked out and vivid dreams. That would last for about a week or two then everything would start to get normal and I'd begin questioning why I ever did just binge for the last three months topping off at a good 15 drinks per night, blacking out, breaking promises and so on.

I'd start to feel righteous! Almost like a soldier of temperance. A moral superior who would look down on the insidious drunks that were my friends.

I'd ride that high for a week or two more and then I'd start thinking that I'm better now. I'm a new man. I've changed my ways and after all I work hard I deserve a drink!

Then I'd only drink on the weekends. Then I'd start my weekends on Thursday. Then I'd give up.

newlife · **Joined:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:54 pm **Posts:** 1204

But not anymore, huh Ocean? Nal on!! Newlife

Ocean · **Joined:** Thu May 28, 2015 1:37 pm **Posts:** 353

newlife wrote:

But not anymore, huh Ocean? Nal on!! Newlife

Amazingly no. Last night I met up with my mates at the usual watering hole after our bike race. I'd typically have at least three beers before showing up, buy a pitchers all around and drink all night. Sadly, I'd drive home too, not proud of that. Instead I had two beers with dinner over the course of 4 hours and headed home. I knew there was not much alcohol in the house too. I think I had maybe two beers in the fridge and the box of wine was practically empty. The fact that I didn't know EXACTLY how much alcohol was in the house, didn't even care, and didn't think it necessary to stop off at the store just in case says volumes about the changes that have occurred in my life.

I'm not a gambler but 4 months ago if you had bet me $1000 bucks that I could have two beers and go home to sleep I'd have doubled the bet with confidence.

newlife · **Joined:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:54 pm **Posts:** 1204

YAY!! I know that it feels so good to be able to say that.

Deena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:53 pm **Posts:** 446

Update: I finished a 10 day cleanse last Wednesday and extended it by one day. So, I had 11 alcohol free days in a row. I have had alcohol every day since I finished up the cleanse but I have not had too much to drink or felt like I needed to tie one on to make up for what I missed. I know it was a shorter cleanse than what I normally do, but I hope that how this went for me is a sign that the ADE will not be a problem after a longer cleanse.

Ocean · **Joined:** Thu May 28, 2015 1:37 pm **Posts:** 353

That sounds great Deena. I've noticed that if I don't drink for a week my habitual brain thinks it wants to binge hard but then when I drink it's my normal 2 or 3 anyway.

I agree, that is a very good sign that TSM is doing it's job.

reboot · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2015 12:22 pm **Posts:** 336

Congrats Dee! Wow - 11 AF days and no junk food! You are my new hero! I just finished a bowl of ice cream because I deserved it for making it through WNW :oops:

Deena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:53 pm **Posts:** 446

Reboot, congrats on making it through WNW! I think you deserved the ice cream. I offered on my progress thread to walk you through a cleanse when you are ready.

I had book club tonight and I was a little afraid that I might want to binge a bit. The fact that I wasn't driving made that more of a possibility. But, like you, Ocean, I had two drinks and I was done. Maybe the ADE is something I no longer have to fear.

Maggie1929 · **Joined:** Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:27 pm **Posts:** 1691

Reboot, what is WNW ? And yes of course you deserved a bowl of ice cream! LOL

Deena, as you know, I am truly in awe of you doing the cleanse ! I cannot imagine doing one - maybe I should check out the Dr Hyman thing and see - just to look you understand ? :lol:

I just know that I could not do the AF thing though! Guinness has lots of iron in it and is really good for me so maybe we could include that ? :roll:

Hugs, Maggie x

Cleansing and the alcohol deprivation effect

Who is online