I completed my third week counting alcohol units and improved on weeks 1 and 2 which is great news. 36 units in week 3. Consciously counting drinks has made a significant impact. I also observed that I drink wine much slower than vodka. I can easily nurse a 5oz glass of wine for an hour. So 2 glasses of wine puts in 2 hours. For this reason, I've purposely been drinking more wine and that seems to affect my total alcohol intake.

In other news, the USPS attempted to deliver my Nal yesterday but I was not at home. I just got a call that I have to go to the post office and sign for it. What a pain. Anyway, I've almost got it. So it looks like I will be starting the Nal treatment tonight....good times (I hope).

oh, so frustrating! hope you get your nal soon. You'll likely find that this wine/alcohol disparity is enhanced by nal - if you can stick to wine or beer, you're likely to have more immediate success limiting your consumption in TSM.
Good luck!

I am so happy for you! I am sure the wait has been tough. Good luck on your journey!

Nal on!

Well after waiting 26 days, I finally got my Nal 3 days ago. Alldaychemist did a great job of expediting my order (the second time) and I received it in 6 days. After all this, I have yet to start using it(!)

On Wednesday, I wasn't feeling well so didn't want to risk feeling worse taking the Nal. I only drank 4 units that day so it was a pretty good day for me. Thursday, my husband and I joined a health club and I went to my first exercise class (in 2 years) that evening. By the time I got home, it was almost 9pm so had 2 glasses of wine and went to bed. (Lowest alcohol intake in MONTHS.) Last night I was committed to drive my boys to a sporting event and did not want to risk taking Nal and driving. Came home had 3 drinks and went to bed. Tonight a friend is taking me to the theater so it will be another non-Nal night but I figure alcohol will be out of my reach most of the night so I'll get thru it. Even tho my unit intake has dropped significantly, the craving is still there. It's a daily challenge to get into bed before I drink too much. I've been taking a couple herbal sleeping capsules to help me sleep otherwise I'd be going insane lying in bed fighting the urge to get up and have a couple more drinks.

Sunday looks all clear....no commitments so I think that will be day 1 with Nal. I hope everyone else is winning their battles.

Well, you Got the Gene, and now you FINALLY got the nal, great! You are ready to face the beast. I'm very happy for you, and look forward to hearing about your particular journey.

That makes sense, that you would be "still craving" (even more so), after reducing your alcohol intake this week...learning about the alcohol deprivation effect made much more understandable my failed attempts to cut back at times, and how that just back fired on me.

I like that you joined a health club - maybe this will help be a symbolic mental shift for you too, working on several aspects of your life at once, and making new habits and associations.

wishing you all the best,
Chrissie

Glad the Nal's finally with you, and hope tomorrow goes well with it!

That's great that you've been able to reduce your intake without Nal, but do be wary of the deprivation effect. It sounds like you're really committed, and I look forward to hearing your journey.

Last night was "day 1" with Nal. I took half a tablet, 25mg, as people have recommended starting with a half dose the first few days. Fortunately I did not feel any "different" after taking it. I do agree with whomever said the pill tastes terrible(!) I don't know why the manufacturer of these pills couldn't put a thin coating on them so one doesn't have to taste them. But I suppose the flavor of the pill is the least of my worries(!)

Anyway, last night we had family game night---which could cause the sanest of people to drink LOL---and during that time I had 3 glasses of wine. Started feeling tipsy after the 2nd glass and very "under the influence" after the 3rd glass. I really craved a 4th glass but made myself go to bed. Because I was so affected, I did not need a sleeping aid. Felt like I had 5 or 6 drinks instead of just 3.

I woke up in the night with a very slight headache but took some motrin and that took care of that. I am a migraine sufferer which makes being an alcoholic even a bigger "pain".

Will be going to the athletic center again this morning. I think it's Zumba---Lord, help me thru it! I keep waiting for the day when they have the "Light and Easy" class! Have gone everyday since we joined March 1. And the exercise is helping me to feel better physically.

Day 2 taking 25mg of Nal was much like the first; I did not feel any different after taking the pill. My will power to just have a couple drinks however wasn't there. I had 4 1/2 drinks - 2 wine and 2.5 vodka. It was extremely hard to stop at that but I had commitments the next day so needed to be in good shape. I thought the Nal is supposed to help you lose interest in alcohol. My al cravings were very strong last night. Anyway, one day at a time....

I'm in week 5 of counting alcohol units. Week 4 was a further improvement where I reduced my intake to 22 units. Just by counting units, I was able to half my intake over 4 weeks which has been really encouraging. This week, I've had 2 days drinking 4 units and waking up with a bad hangover; having reduced my intake, I'm getting hangovers drinking amounts that didn't even phase me a few weeks ago.

Yesterday was my first AF day in 2012! Woohoo! The numbers are better but I think about alcohol several times every day. My evenings just feel empty and incomplete without a few drinks. What a curse....

Congrats, GottheGene, you're following the program and seeing results. Be prepared for the rollercoaster ride to get there, but it's VERY worth it and way better than where we were, right!

Nal on!
NipIt