Gonna try moderation

[renewal]

Hello there, this is Renewal. I joined this forum a month ago. I started a thread (Newbies Unite) and have gone 28 days AF as of today....after day 31, I would like to try moderation. Before this month, I hadn't gone 2 days AF in many years, so this has been a blessing. I saw on this thread something about 'count'....what does that refer to? Any tips for moderation? I appreciate your input.
Renewal

[LVT25]

Wow Renewal you have really done well!
You have been an inspiration to so many! I'm not a great one to give advice on moderation though. I thought I could do it when I first started--still lacked control when I drank socially, so since June 1 I have been AF. It's weird--I don't care if I drink anymore. I hate the thought of a hangover! I had to quit drinking in order to be successful at quitting smoking, and I guess I don't feel ready to push that yet!

Many moderate successfully, I'm hoping you can be one of them if that's your goal!

Keep up the great work!!

[Beaches]

Renewal congrats on your AF days that is great. I am not sure what the "count" is either.

Just be careful with the mod's as AL can creep back up pretty quickly as it did for me. I had never been AF for 30 days however did very well at moderation then had a major set back. I am now on track again and have ordered the supp's. Don't let the program slip like I did while you are trying moderation. I got to cocky and ended up at the beginning again.

Best of luck to you!!

[DeeBee]

Hi Renewal, well done on going AF for so long, it is something I am still aiming for!!

Are you referring to the unit counts? If so there is a UK website Drinkaware - Home where you can measure how much you actually drink. When I first heard about it and went online and measured I was horrified at what I thought was ONE glass of wine was actually 2.3 units and the goverment recommends 2 or 3 units a day so here I was thinking I was way BELOW the recommended limit and I was only within.

I am also taking the supps, don't know if I could do it without to be honest, oh and the Topa!!

My new mod goal for next month is to go AF durning the week ....

[renewal]

Thanks for the feedback guys......any other moderators out there willing to share advice or tips on moderation?????
Renewal

[renewal]

C'mon moderators.....any tips for moderation from those of you who have tried it???
Renewal

[boozehag]

Hi there renewal
I have been following your progress - is it a month already since you joined - wow that went fast and bloody well done you. I have been moderating for July after 60 days more or less AF/NF.
I have had only one minor slip really and that was more cigarette related rather than stricly an AL slip - like LVT I am also off the fags so my mod situation is probably a slightly different scenario to your own. Seems some of us drinker/smokers are quite lucky as without the double whammy of the nicotine hit there is not much desire to drink although if you go over the moderation limit then the cig desire kicks in so you gotta be vigilant. Having said that moderation has not been that hard for me as I was a binge drinker rather than a daily drinker and as such the 60 days got rid of the binge habit. Most people who try moderating have different strategies depending on their own particular habits and triggers and what might work for me might not work for you. My main thing is that I never buy any take away alcohol and I never have any in the house. I only have/buy a drink if I am out socially and then I make sure that I eat. So far (other than recently when I forgot to have something to eat) it is working very well. I have had a couple of drinks quite a few times whilst I have been out and have been more than happy with one or two and stopping after that. The lack of nicotine does help here though I must admit as if I had a cig I know I would just go mad and drink for Ireland and be back to square one.
Hope this helps.
BH no more

[vlad]

Hi, I've been modding quite successfully for over 6 months now. I want to stress though, its not been easy for me and feels more like a restraining order rather than moderation - at the moment I'm still not at the stage were I can take it or leave it. I find myself avoiding situations to avoid slip ups, for example I made an excuse recently to avoid a works do in May. I have already abstained from AL twice (first for 50 days and then 40 days) and probably need to do another stint to kill off that obsession!!! I just know that even now if there's a crate of beer or a bottle of vodka in my house, I'll just drink and drink (because it's there). My ground rules are to have no AL in the house, no drinking before 8.30pm and only buy what I'm going to drink. I try and have 3 AF days a week because I don't want to be drinking everyday (as I know it will just spiral out of control again) but I struggle sticking to this - I can only manage 2 days out of the 3 at the moment!!! Anyway I wish you the best of success in your plans, keep us posted!

[noma'am]

Hello,
I was alcohol free for 2 weeks and have been moderately drinking for 2 weeks and I plan to continue. Basically I save the times when I drink for "occasions" and I have not drank 2 days in a row. I'm usually alcohol free for 4-5 days between drinking days. For me knowing that I have a drinking day coming up really helps me stay alcohol free on the other days. I often wish I could drink when I'm not supposed to but it passes. I do have to be careful now because my tolerance has lowered and it's easier to wake up hung over.

[renewal]

Great input....I really appreciate you all taking the time. Today is day 30, so I've gotta have a gameplan real quick here....any input helps....thanks again,
Renewal