I looked for a separate forum to ask a question to the cured, but didn't see it.

Here is what happened to me last night, followed by a question. Friday night is usually a big night for me to drink. Last night I felt little enthusiasm for it. However, I'm recently single and met a woman earlier in the week who asked me to join her at a bar last night, so I agreed. It was sort of a "night club" environment, with music and whatnot, and I'm never comfortable in that setting so upon my arrival I immediately tossed down a few beers to get loose. But I didn't really WANT the beers nor did I enjoy them as I would have gleefully pre-TSM. As the night went on I noticed how visibly drunk the majority of the patrons were at this bar. Literally half of them were stumbling drunk. Pre-TSM I would have not noticed them because I would have been one of them. I had this weird feeling that I was present, but I was watching myself from outside of my body. And when I watched the drunk people, I was grateful not to be one of them. It was almost comical, me, the regular drunk, feeling critical of other drunks around me. Anyway, I hung out with this woman and it was ok, but she was getting pretty tipsy herself. Pre-TSM I would have insisted on shots by the end of the night and I'm sure she would have happily accepted the offer. In sharp contrast, Naltrexone Nick had two bottled waters. So my question is this: did any of you have a sort of gradual feeling that you were falling out of love with alcohol? Or was it more of the light-switch phenomenon?

Also, something VERY WEIRD happened last night. Others have reported the strong taste of alcohol, something I have yet to experience. But I did experience something similar last night. Three people standing next to me had three shots together, and immediately before slamming them, I was overwhelmed by the strong SMELL of alcohol, so strong it was like I spilled gasoline on my hands while filling the lawnmower. I am wondering if there is some significance to this. In my entire bar/drinking history, I never once noticed the smell of alcohol from someone else's drink. I am assuming there is but don't really understand it. I would welcome any thoughts folks have to offer. And although this question is directed at THE CURED, I certainly would welcome feedback from any of our members.

I can't answer your question nick, I've got one myself.

This "strong taste" thing...weird. I was teaching my mom how to light an oxyacetylene torch this morning and I instinctively reacted and jerked the flame AWAY from my breath. It wasn't rational, as my breath would have never caught on fire, but in that moment I thought it would! I have this nasty taste in my mouth that is SO STRONG and it is alcohol. This hasn't happened to me before. What is this?

You and others can post questions under the Cured section. I would have preferred that there was a subsection that specifically stated "Questions for the cured" like there is a section called "Questions for Dr. Eskapa", but it is what it is.I had days before the switch flipping phenomenon where I really didn't want to have any more alcohol, but they were sporadic. More often, my drinking on days just prior to the "switch flip", always began with a dislike of my first one or two drinks before I broke through a barrier and started to like it. After the cure, drinking is mostly not that enjoyable now, although this past week I had one day where I did like it (they are quite rare now). Ah yes, the strong alcohol taste/smell. In retrospect, I now see that it was a harbinger of the inevitable cure. Firebird described it as paint thinner and I have to agree. You get to the point where you are hyper-sensitive to the taste and odor and it is not appetizing. It's a good sign that you are progressing.

I hope this post answered your questions.

Bob

It's that hyper-sensitivity to alcohol taste and smell that seems to be a precursor to a decline in the desire to drink. Alcohol starts to seem as if it is ruining the taste of the beverage rather than enhancing it. Some of us have experienced that effect, but I am unsure if all have.

BTW, I chuckled when I read "I was teaching my mom how to light an oxyacetylene torch this morning". It just seemed surreal when I consider how most Mom's feel about welding and burning steel.

Bob

You'd have to meet my mom to understand

Based on that single line, I'd like to meet you both!

Here's a questions for all the cured...

Have you noticed that along with being cured, you've lost a significant amount of weight? It just seems logical that if the high numbers of drinks are reduced to low or zero that weight loss would follow.

Now that would be the icing on the cake

(Speaking as someone who carries 10 - 15 pounds more since my habit took over)

Not cured with little experience on this topic, BUT, I did have a couple of month-long stints of sobriety. I was expecting I might lose a little weight but in fact I actually gained a little during my brief sobriety stints -- only a few pounds. I found that drinking often REDUCES how much I would otherwise eat; so when I stopped drinking I ate more. But that's just my anecdotal, non-cured experience and I hope not to rain on your parade.

Don't dash my hopes!!!

Well, I snack a lot more while drinking (cheese & crackers w/ wine anyone????) so I'm hoping for a change..

http://www.johnstonefitness.com

This site changed my life. I lost 55 lbs. In 2 months and 10 days I went from having a belly that would flip the little band of my boxers over to shredded abs. I look like a miniature bodybuilder. And I was chunky, I used to weigh 215 @ 5'9". I was, however, only drinking 1 day a week during my transformation.

edit: I did not lose 55 lbs in those 70 days. That is impossible and unhealthy to try. The whole 55 lbs took like 6 months.