New Moderator

[BradyKelly]

:new: Hi, I would like to attempt a moderation program. I have started on day 1 of a month of AF, which I dont think will be very diffcult at all. It's after that that there are challenged.

I have been drinking a dozen beers a day most of last week and the weekend. I dont get major hangovers, until I thought I'd switch to vodka, and work up the next day having finished the whole bottle the previous night.

This morning I woke at pm feeeling quite shaky, but not hung over, but I also have an anxiety disorder and I think by morning that and mild withdrawals made me decide I don't want mornings like that ever again.

Outside of the house I am normally quite moderate, 3 - 4 beers.

The only time I crave alcohol is the fixer-upper after a heavy session the previous day. If I don't do that, I don't drink, but because I was home last week, that became a bit of a viscous circle. I haven't drank today and feel no craving.

[Zeppie2]

New Moderator

Hi Brad, do your 30 days AF and see how you feel, I can't moderate, don't have the will power to do it. Did 5 months AF then tried to moderate and ended straight back to were I started within days. I now have a year AF under my belt and I don't want to try to moderate again.

There are plenty of people here that do successfully moderate however, you will just have to see if it's right for you.
good luck and welcome

[artsyfartsy]

New Moderator

Hi Brady!

I just started posting here as well and am doing 30 days af with the goal of moderating, but if I need more af time before trying to moderate I'm prepared to take it. I started on Monday and, so far, haven't found it to be too difficult (and I was drinking quite a bit) but the weekend will soon be comin' round the corner and I know that will be a challenging time for me.

I'm with you, I think the 30 days isn't so much the hard part, it's what comes after that is the real challenge.

Good luck!

[FancyC]

New Moderator

Hi guys
I am also new here, didn't do 30 days af, just a couple of weeks. Trying to cut down my intake as well. Right now I am working on being af Monday through Thursday and moderate on the weekends. So far, I have cut my intake quite a bit. I don't have an exact plan in place, but posting here is helping to keep me accountable so far. Hope to hear more from everyone. Good luck!

[artsyfartsy]

New Moderator

Hi Fancy!

I'm still doing my af period, but I'm in the process of coming up with a plan for when I do start modding. What you're doing right now sounds something along the lines of what I'd like to (ultimately) do; staying af Mon - Thurs and then mod on weekends.

How is it working out for you? I'm curious since I'd like to try the same route... :thanks:


PS- Good on you for sticking with your unintentional plan!

[BradyKelly]

New Moderator

artsyfartsy;967199 wrote: staying af Mon - Thurs and then mod on weekends.

Artsy and Fancy (), I can'r speak for everybody, but I would recommend AF Sun - Thurs, rather than Mon - Thurs. For me, there's nothing like a hangover (withdrawals) on a Monday morning, after drinking Fri - Sun, that cries out for a breakfast or lunch beer on Monday, just to fix the nerves.

I know you plan on modding the weekend, but if if you at least succeed in drawing the line between modding and AF, then if you slip on the modding, you still have Sunday AF to recover before facing Monday.

[FancyC]

New Moderator

Hi Brady and Artsy,
Was away on holiday, and didn't find it easy to moderate while away. Am back here, at it again. I think I may need to step it up a notch. I am ready to see more af days on my calendar! I'm thinking your Sunday thru Thursday may be the way to go. For now I am working on gathering af days, anywhere I can get them! Hope you all have a fabulous day!

[mere]

New Moderator

Hi Brady, Artsy and FancyC,
New here have been on the Starting out newbies for over a couple of months and thought I'd like to try to moderate. I've not been drinking Sunday through Friday but had a couple of glasses Thursday this week when I was asked to go out to dinner - not everyone had AL so there was no pressure but just enjoyed it with my meal. Had another dinner last night so had wine and wasn't bad either. So I'll see how it goes.
I haven't been into AL all my life used it more as a stress releaser and now in the past year I've cut way back. So I think between my life getting calmer and stable my AL is going down.
I hope you all have a good day and meet whatever goal you are working on.

[Trixiebelle]

New Moderator

Hi everyone,

I have been moderating for the past couple of weeks, after horrendously embarrassing myself at the staff Christmas party!

My plan is to drink only on Friday and Saturday nights. So far, so good.

I often mix mine and hubby's drinks, that way I only put AL in his and just coke in mine. This way at least I am keeping the AL to more of a minimum (as when he mixes the I get a shot) - its not something that is terribly easy - though I know that I have to do something.

Like you all, I don't want to give up my drinkies, though if not controlled - well look out, and the only way is to sip and not gulp - something I am learning to do after 30 years.

Good luck to all of you, we can do this if we all stick together.:l

[Lalaki]

New Moderator

I'm trying to mod the withdrawal symptoms away. Having a whole day AF seems impossible let alone a whole month.

My problem is that I drink 12 hrs/day, everyday. I drink as slowly as I can. And it's not often that I end up getting wasted and wake up wondering how I got to bed. For me it's the damn withdrawal symptoms. I just can't stand the anxiety, restlessness and weird thoughts popping into my head.

Does anyone know if I have to go AF to get past the dependency? Or would cutting back to 3 drinks / day accomplish it?

[mg72]

New Moderator

Laliki and all,
I do not believe we ever move beyond our dependency. I have come to conclusion after much reading and personal experience that we are hard wired in our brains to how much AL we will consume. The question in my mind is what negative and positive consequences come from drinking. For me the answer is a very specific set of goals for my AL consumption which I track daily. Overall my goal is ten drinks a week, take a least three days/nights a week AF, never drink more than three in a day and never before six o'clock p.m. If I go over this limit it screws with my emotions, disturbs my normal sleep pattern, leaves me sluggish the next day,etc.
I stopped drinking completely for six months and started again in October. I have stayed with my goals since then and if I do not meet them in one week I cut back the next week to get on track. Overall being AF for six months was a very positive experience. This last week was full socially because of holidays so I went over my limit. I have decided to not drink at least until Thursday of next week when I will be on vacation.
Best of luck with your moderation or abstinence plan and I hope you find what is right for you.

[jennyneric]

New Moderator

Lalaki, I think if you cut down to 3 drinks a day you would remain dependent because by definition if you have to have anything you are dependent on it. . .I began L-glutamine recently and it is wonderful. . .try it, i think it would help!

[Lalaki]

New Moderator

I should have worded it better. I'm really trying to avoid withdrawal symptoms. About a year ago I found myself drinking earlier and earlier everyday in order to avoid anxiety. I'd love to be free of those symptoms.

Anyway, I found this:

If you are alcohol dependent you may get drunk regularly. However, you may not get drunk. You may drink small amounts regularly to keep any withdrawal symptoms away. You may then be able to hide your problem from others. However, you are still at serious risk of developing conditions due to heavy drinking (liver damage, cancers, etc).

Alcoholism and Problem Drinking | Health | Patient UK

Describes me perfectly. Sigh.

[KundaliniGirl]

New Moderator

Lalaki, I have just joined this thread and am wondering if you're still posting here. If you are, I just wanted to say that I have been doing really well on moderating after quitting for a while. I would recommend that if you can do it. Since then, I've been able to drink just about once/week or less. You could go the the other threads and post until you can quit for a good chunk of time and then come back here to the moderation threads.