Wow Queen of Cups what a wonderful start!! So happy to read about your success so soon!! Keep up the good work! Newlife

I LOVE to read your last post! It sounds wonderful and I can relate to it so well. Here's to hoping the honeymoon lasts forever. I had to laugh a little about the restaurant seen, I could have written that about myself. OF course I'd have at least 4 beers before going out and would not care at all about driving and I'd probably have a few airplane bottles in my pocket, you know, just in case. The 'just in case' always became the case anyway, sure as hell I'd down those too. I would almost always order the strong IPA's and you know what? I don't even really like those anymore. I still really like beer but I don't like those strong ones that seem to be strong just for the sake of being strong ale's or something.

I can only think of about two times that I felt drunk and it was more like tipsy not drunk, since I started TSM 5 months ago. I've not had one hang over since. Miracle you say? Yup pretty much.

Sounds like you are off to a very good start. Don't get discouraged if it comes raging back. For most it seems to be the case. But just keep plugging away and in time you will see even more improvement.

That's amazing, Queen.... ALL GOOD STUFF! Just remember not to get discouraged if your numbers jettison back up in the event that this is a honeymoon phase! I never experienced "the honeymoon".... my levels have been consistent throughout the past 6 weeks for the most part.

Keep on keeping on!

MinneMom

Hi Queen,

Great start and great descriptions. It is great reading posts because I know how I felt prior to NAL/TSM and how I feel now - but so many people write it so much better than I can every describe. I constantly am saying to myself, "yeah - what she/he said is spot on how I felt!" So thank you and the rest of the great writers. I was a heavy drinker as well and it took a longer time to really starting bringing my numbers down consistently but that control feeling is wonderful. And it is awesome knowing how you actually got to home and in bed.

Congratulations and keep posting as it is inspirational to others and it always serves as a way to go back and see the progress you have made over time.

Thanks for the kind words guys!

Reboot - the feeling of control is great isn't it? I'm glad to see your numbers are moving down. Oddly I'm not that worried about my number of units right now, I feel like getting all the other dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors surrounding alcohol under control is almost more important than just worrying about my # for the day. If those things get sorted out (and it really feels like TSM is making this happen) then reduction should hopefully follow naturally.

Nothing exciting last night. Mr cups ended up working from home and agreed to pick up kiddo from school, so that would normally be a green light for me to start drinking in the afternoon. Didn't feel like it though, drinking before dinnertime has totally lost its appeal (never thought I'd say that - I love day drinking, or even better, the SHOWER BEER!)
I ended up having 5 drinks, and felt a little gross and guilty when I went to bed like I overdid it. Not sure why, a 5-drink night would be a huge victory for me pre TSM. More honeymoon nonsense I guess

Do the side effects get better? I'm getting really sick of dragging my ass out of bed and feeling like a zombie all day. Especially frustrating when pre-TSM I would be waking up feeling like a million bucks with this level of drinking. The appetite loss too, I guess that is a perk for some people, but I don't need to lose weight and it's making it hard to even cook dinner for my family because I can't think of anything that sounds good! I usually love cooking and I can't get away with making any more frozen pizzas this week.
How does anyone handle 50mg? I think I would die.

Since I survived the first week I'll probably start updating a bit less frequently unless something particularly horrible happens

I love reading your posts and can so much relate to the behaviors you talk about and the thoughts your mind has looking for alcohol. I am about ready to head to lunch and took a half pill just in case I drink. Just got some bad news about a friend and that would normally be a possible trigger to spend the rest of the day drinking. But I doubt I will drink more than one.... I often feel committed after I take the pill. Like I need to drink one or two just so my body/brain continues to unlearn the behavior, but am amazed at how easy it is to leave a half glass.

Thanks for your sharing.

Thanks ONM. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, good luck. I know what you mean about the retraining, when I open my first drink of the night I'm just positive it's all going to go to hell, and then I surprise myself and end up drinking much less than I expect. I think it's going to take a long time to get used to this!

LOL the shower beer was one of my favorites. I've not had one since I started TSM. That's one of those easy ones to use a bit of mindfulness and do without it. I mean do I really need a beer in the shower? There was a time that I did especially after a long run or bike race or something like that, but no longer.

Since I started TSM 5 months ago I've not yet taken more then a half pill and even that was only on a handful of occasions when I thought I'd be out late. Last night I took my usual quarter and had a hard time finishing my second beer. I think I'm getting closer and closer to the point when I make that realization that drinking is a waste of time and money. It is a habit though and I really do appreciate a well made beer so... Who knows.

I've not experienced any side affects but the common wisdom here is that they do indeed go away. Most people are able to ween onto the full dose after about a week or two. But if 1/4 dose works for you like it did for me then why bother upping it? The only reason why is because that is what the science behind it has proven to work but for me anyway, and others I've read, lower doses work just fine and maybe that's why I have no side effects.

I feel like it's hard for me to make any helpful statements on this forum sometimes because TSM worked so well for me it is just simply easy for me to say, 'just read the book and do what it says.' Because that is what I did and it worked like TSM 101 text book case. Meanwhile many others struggle to see fast improvements. So I guess what I am trying to say is that to be on the safe side 50mg's is the recommended dose with the caveat that some can seem to get away with less and others need more. In any case anyone seems to be able to ween up to the recommended dose to avoid the harsh side affects.

Welcome QOC. It sounds like you are off to a great start. I went to 50mg after two days on a half tab. I had some weird side effects at first but they did go away. I hope that yours go away quickly.