Pre-TSM: 45 5.5-6.5%, 12-oz beers.

First week. Started Friday night. I only took 25 mg as a precaution against side effects. Bought 12 pale ales to see if I'd have any left. I think I was drinking a bit slower, but then I got on the phone with a good friend until 2am. All beer gone, but it might have felt different.

Saturday. Drank 9. 5 still in the fridge! That's something. Didn't have an appetite. Felt a little weird all day. Had friends over and still didn't over do it.

Sunday. Had 5, drank 5. But I didn't consider going to buy more and didn't freak out when I had finished the last one around 7.

Monday (today). Bought some at 5:15. Took my pill and waited an hour. Took an hour to finish my first one. Usually takes 10 minutes. Took an hour to finish my second one. Sometimes finishing up a six-pack after 2 hours. Gonna drink a third and hit the sack, but I good do without and not be stressed. I had a rough day at work, too. Usually I'm salivating for one after that. It's early and a small sample size, but I'm optimistic.

Total through 4 days: 29, with 3 weekdays to go.

That sounds very promising, bmorri3! Not to be a Deena Downer but do not get discouraged if you are currently in a honeymoon phase. After my initial downtick when my numbers started going up again I got depressed and stopped logging my drinks. DO NOT DO THAT! A honeymoon phase is to be expected and is a good thing. I am glad you started a progress thread. It will be helpful to look back and see how far you have come several months from now. Keep posting!

A link to my intro, just so I have everything in one place.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4807

Thanks Deena!

I have read a little about the honeymoon phase. I have definitely been effected by the pill. I didn't think about a beer until after 3pm today and that was just the realization that I hadn't. I've been home for an hour and am just starting on my 2nd beer.

Can you tell me more about the honeymoon phase, specifically why it happens? Is it mental, physical, combination?

I'm just excited that I feel something, especially so early, because it makes me feel like it's going to work, eventually, even if I backtrack over the next week or two. Long way to go, but I'm ready.

Frequently drinking takes a pretty good dive at first, then the brain reaches out for it's "favorite toy" and drinking levels climb back up. Slowly, as the old routine fails to satisfy, the brain begins to forget that alcohol and pleasure are connected. Eventually the craving for alcohol is weakened and replaced with other behaviors that are more healthy. You may notice smaller fluctuations like this along the way, a drop to a new lower level of drinking, followed by a spike back up, then another drop.

Are there people who don't experience the resurgence in drinking (after the initial awesomeness)? I was thinking, on the way home today at 6pm when I hadn't had a pill yet, that I vaguely remember what it was like to not be thinking about my next beer all day, every day. It's been at least 15 years. Amazing feeling. This feeling is enough to keep me going, no matter how long it takes. Pretty incredible!

I've seen some that start TSM after abstinence (Bardo, for instance) that get control very quickly, but it seems most find TSM to be a roller coaster to one degree or the other. There probably are some that had a nice smooth curve, none pop to mind at the moment. But then I've only read a fraction of the stories here.

Hey b...I also responded very quickly to the nal and after being on it for 8 weeks I am still doing very well. Like you I am also astounded by how much I don't think about alcohol anymore and how long it takes to finish one drink (hour+). However I also follow the protocols very closely. Number 1 is, of course, I always take a pill at least one hour before I plan on having a drink. I keep a daily record of AF days and the number of drinks I do have on days that I partake. I consciously take small sips and savor the flavor (I like good wine mostly and craft beers) and then put the glass down. If I find myself reaching for it too soon I stop. Since my brain is no longer getting the endorphin kick it is pretty easy to do that.

I am also journaling my thoughts, feelings and perceptions about the process but I don't think that it's necessary. A diabetic doesn't have to do this to make the insulin work. I just like to journal.

I am much more engaged in and enjoy socializing with people now that alcohol is no longer my main squeeze. And in the last 8 weeks the most I have had to drink on any day is 4 spaced out over 5+ hours, but 2 or 3 is mostly the norm. Nor have I been drunk, hung over, had blackouts or driven impaired. With these changes I don't have the anxiety, guilty or shame that I had before. I feel that I have regained more power in my daily choices.

My weekly average is about 12 with 3 or more AF days. When I averaged the total I've had over total days that included AF days it comes out to 1.6/day.

Weeks 4 and 5 were my heaviest drinking ones with totals of 17 and 18 and only 1 AF day each. This had mostly to do with my schedule and the holiday weekend but it did concern me. Still it is important to have compassion for yourself if and when you backslide and keep focused on your goal whether it is to drink lightly or moderately or to eventually quit. Beating oneself up doesn't help. Following TSM does.

Sounds like you are definitely on a good path!

That's awesome! I suppose my posting here is a bit like a journal. I also have a very supportive girlfriend and a few other friends with whom I can talk openly.

I haven't been limiting my drinking. In fact, I had more the first day than I normally would as an experiment of sorts. I've also had 3 each day this week (4 last night) when I could have stopped at one or two. I guess I figure that the more drinks I have, the more the Nal will work and the faster I'll reach extinction. On the flip side, it would be good to begin good habits, like you said you do. I'll probably start that today. My goal/hope for next week is 20 drinks and at least one AF, down from 45 and 0 or 1 AF. I don't really want to set that though, because in the past, if had had leftover drinks rationed, they'd all be consumed on the last night. If I have the two in my fridge tonight, that'll be 36, which isn't that much less, but feels like miles apart. I know the 36 could have very easily been 26.

What was your pre TSM drink count?

"I've also had 3 each day this week (4 last night) when I could have stopped at one or two. I guess I figure that the more drinks I have, the more the Nal will work and the faster I'll reach extinction."

Actually, if your brain is telling you to stop, go with that. That's indifference and it's exactly what you're shooting for. You'll have gotten to extinction when you're indifferent to alcohol every day, so it's important to watch for indifference and respond to it by putting down the bottle.