For me its kicking the habit where I say 'well you've had a tablet so now you can drink what you like', its funny but before TSM I would often have an occasional single drink, like a pint at a pub with a mate or a glass of wine only with lunch, now I am on TSM and have to take a tablet, I usually don't bother with a single drink, so I have a non alcoholic one at a pub, this sounds like progress but in fact its more me thinking I CBA taking a pill for one drink only, which then means when I do have a pill I don't stop at one... oooh no defo not just one!!

Just 1 drink this past week, continuing the good start after my new attempt to limit myself to a single drink on any occasion. The night I had the one drink this week, I didn't enjoy it and it just made me feel kind of gross for the rest of the evening and a little bit the next day. I really don't like the effect alcohol has on me. I hope I can keep this up because I feel like I'm on to something and can see myself totally losing interest in alcohol if this trend continues, but it's early and only time will tell.

Je,

When I forced a limit on myself, that is when I started to see a difference (my rule no more than 3 glasses of wine).

On the Options Saves Lives forum they explain what it means "to drink as you normally do", for it doesn't mean to drink blindly into the night (if that is your norm), for you can drink through the nal. It means to drink with the people, places, and triggers that make you drink, and drink slowly (sips not gulps) and listen to your brain (which it sounds like you have been doing).

That forced limit let me feel that switch being flipped in my brain. I realized I didn't want any more than 2, and lately I think that it just isn't worth drinking (trying to lose more weight and it isn't worth the calories). I still have desire, but it isn't filled with anxiety and that "must have" feelings. It is more of a slight whisper saying a drink sounds good, and logical thought process steps in (which I never had before) and I can say no!

I think you are on the right path, for the nal cannot slap that drink out of your hand. Finding that limit is key for some (I believe), for if we do not respond like Ocean we need to work at it. And that work maybe setting a limit or some other type of trick.

I hope this works for you, for it helped me. The other thing I found is if I drank more than 3 glasses of wine I would keep on drinking (like I didn't have an off button). It isn't like that any more, but I think it took time for my brain to adapt to not to over drink (if that makes any sense).

I hope your progress continues,

Jaba

Jaba, I completely relate to what you are saying. Thanks for the encouragement!

Je.... in looking at your numbers, if just FOUR weeks ago you consumed 150 drinks and this past week you had only ONE, I would say you are a major success story in the making....

MinneMom

Yes je3625 you certainly have an ability for a wide range of experience!! Keep up the good work!! Newlife

Completed third successful week in a row after starting my new plan to limit myself to one drink on any occasion. The great thing about this is that when I know in the back of my mind that I'm not planning to exceed one, I don't even crave or want to have any because I already know there will be no reward. I've had essentially no cravings for the past almost month since I ended up on a binge in early November after allowing my numbers to gradually creep up. And yet, allowing myself to occasionally have a single drink is just way easier psychologically than telling myself to be fully abstinent. I think it's a good trade-off and seems to be working so far.

Je,

I am glad that it is working for you. It seems like that switch may have been flipped, but time will tell.

Keep it up,

Jaba

Just completed my 38th week overall, and my 5th successful week in a row since starting my 1 drink/day limit. This past week I experienced some cravings for the first time since late November. I'm pretty sure it had to do with traveling, being in my old home city, the holidays, etc... But the nice thing was that even though some old thought patterns and cravings came up, I was able to get rid of them by allowing myself to have one drink with Naltrexone, which of course wasn't pleasurable or fun. In fact it only took doing that for one day out of the week to get rid of the cravings. It was definitely reinforcement in action. It just works so much better when I tell myself to only have a single drink rather than allowing myself to have as much as I think I want. That definitely seems to be the trick for me.

je3625 I am so glad that your one drink rule is working for you!! woo hoo!! Newlife