Even before TSM a thimble full of wine at a gourmet shop would not have set me off. If I bought a bottle of wine, though, and opened it that evening, I would not be happy until that bottle was gone and I would not have stopped there. I would have opened another bottle (we have an extensive wine cellar with hundreds of bottles of wine) or started on the vodka.

Thanks for the link, Bardo. I found Eskapa's take on it interesting.

Truffle, thanks for your post. It made a lot of sense to me and gave me a lot to think about.

Reboot, I always have that handy little pill with me. I just wonder if taking the pill to have a Tablespoon of wine means I will drink that night since I have the nal in me. It is probably better to skip the tasting and risk buying a crappy bottle of wine.

And of course with Deena posting that about the tasting I also had a question about my Christmas cake ! I usually soak my fruit in brandy, and then after it is made, 'feed' it with more brandy - this year I can skip the feeding but have still already got the fruit soaking. I love my cake - not sure if it would be the same without the brandy though! And was wondering the same thing as Deena - if that teeny amount that is in it (and it will have been cooked) would take me a step backwards with TSM?

Hugs, Maggie x

It's amazing isn't it? I mean I think back to that which was only 5 months ago and have to, I don't know, I guess laugh about it. Three is something comical about it though it certainly isn't funny to anyone else at the time. When I read in Dr. Eskapa's book and Dr. Sinclair's work on how traditional abstinent programs fail because they don't address the real problem which is that the brain being the complex organ that it is sort of takes on a mind of it's own, pun intended, I thought of howthe brain is nothing more then a chemical biological computer that learns.. It goes deep into the whole philosophical realm of mind and body. It learns through training and what it actually does is create chemical and biological circuits that store memories, collects data through the senses and so on. And for us drinking became a part of that programming language. For us that one drink set off the chemistry that triggered the results. It was as Eskapa said not a sign of weakness, a loss of self control, a moral decay and so on. It was simply a chemical biological computer program running in the brain and it really felt like that too.

TSM is sort of like getting unplugged from The Matrix.

OMG this is really how I feel...it is amazing to no longer be a copper top!

So Jaba - what are your opinions on the Christmas cake issue (see post a few posts ago in this thread)

Hugs, Maggie x

Maggie,

That is a tough one, for if it is covered in liquor and not cooked off it would have me concerned. You say you soak the fruit and then the fruit is baked in the cake no issues, but to cover the cake in additional brandy that is NOT baked or heated to cook off the alcohol I would have an issue with it.

BUT, everyone is different. If you have never had an issue with it before it should not be a problem with you now. If you are afraid, just make sure it is not an AF day, and eat it 1 hour after you take your pill.

Is there a way to heat up the brandy to cook off the alcohol and then but it on the cake? For I am sure it has it somewhere on the internet about how long it takes to cook off the alcohol content.

Jaba

Maggie,

I found this:
http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questi ... for-brandy

and this substitute (I don't know how to do it though)

Brandy - Water, white grape juice, apple cider or apple juice, diluted peach or apricot syrups. Substitute equal amounts of liquid.

There is also a brandy syrup (like the stuff you would put in coffee) that doesn't have the alcohol.
http://www.amorettistore.com/Amoretti-P ... B00A66UITG

Maggie, don't you have a drink most days and are therefore taking the nal? If so, you are covered for the cake. Also, if you took a nal less than 24 hours before you had the cake, wouldn't you still be covered? Your special cake is a once a year thing and you love it. I would make it as you always have and enjoy it. We must have some joy, don't we?

Yes Deena - and thank you ...... Hugs XX