30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

[Terri1965]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

I think it all depends on the individual. Whatever feels right then do it. We all have varying levels of drinking.

I am happy to have 1 - 2 drinks per night, and abstain for a couple of nights per week, atm. If this proves to be unsuccessful, I will then look at abstaining.

But for now, I am happy with my current plan. Do whatever feels right for you, these are only guidelines.

Hugs
Terri

[boozehag]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Hi Leena
Most people do know that RJ didnt do the 30 days herself although she recommended it - that fact is quite often mentioned in various threads. As you have noticed a lot of people do suggest a 30 day AF period not because it is obligatory or anything just that over time the evidence coming back from people doing the program is that this is a good length of time to give a person starting out a chance to be able to clear their head and their body of the AL and then be in a position to make a decision going forward but there is no hard and fast rule about it. RJ did of course comitt herself to all of the other aspects of the progam she devised for herself so I guess a person intending to moderate may not need the 30 days AF particularly if they are using the meds, supplements, hypno, etc like RJ. Often people are not using the meds or hypno for example and are only using the supplements then maybe an AF period such as 30 days becomes more important. I presume with the Sinclair method you dont have to worry about it anyway as I understand you HAVE to drink!
BH

[frances]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

My experience was that 30 days AF prior to modding helped to break me of the habit I had gotten into of daily drinking for many years. I didn't use any meds supplements, etc. - but my problem was not as much with binge drinking but rather daily drinking of 3-5 drinks or more a day (some binges mixed in there too). The first two weeks of my 30 days AF I was sort of obsessed and thinking all the time of AL and then the next two weeks I found that I thought about it less and less and by the end of the 30 days I really felt like I had changed that habit. The test was when I switched from abstaining to modding. I can't say that I don't think about drinking still, but my norm has been changed, and drinking daily is no longer my norm. I don't know if 30 days AF was essential for me to get there but I do know that it helped me and seems to have worked pretty well for me to continue with having several AF days a week. One of my current goals is to have half the days of every month be AF, and I intend to shoot for even more AF days eventually.

[keke]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Success? I keep reading and am wondering what you mods people are doing to stay or even how you have begun to be successful. My plan today is to do supps, cd's, order naltrexone (topamax sucked), abstain for a week, and not drink until next weekend, and then quit drinking at home. Also am going to put some effort into communicating on this website. Wish me luck and please kick me in the arrrss when I need it. Keke.

[Kid Shelleen]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Good luck, KeKe!

Follow us under the thread "Long Term Moderators".
Go back through the threads, read the recent ones...there's plenty of info and much success.
It sounds like you have a good plan;
stick to it or modify it until it works for you.
Again; Good Luck!
~Kid Shelleen~

[keke]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Thread Killer? Ok, so I remember reading that RJ periodically goes long term AF just to prove to herself that she can. Seems to me 30 days is long term. Right now 2 weeks seems long term, but then again it is the first 2 weeks (lol). Using those tools. I say find whatever works to make your life more manageable. Some of us have been trying different aspects of this program for a while now and I for one am very appreciative of everyones support and the ease of this site. keke

[DancingGirl]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Thread Reviver? Or am I adding a nail?

This a really interesting thread for me as I'm one who hasn't done 30 days AF. I found this site exactly a month ago and found support for my plan and my flood of tears, and have been very, very happy when my words seemed to support my friends here. I came from about 5-6 drinks every evening (couldn't not drink, couldn't stop at 1 or 2) or 30-35 a week to 2 AF days/ 10 drinks week one; 4 AF days/ 9 drinks week two; 5 AF days/ 5 drinks weeks three and four; and am on day 5 AF this week.

I am really aware that it would be easy to become complacent and slip back, and then I would look at the 30 days AF, but it seems to be working for me, for now.

I think, as so many have written here, that it is all about what works. I also think that it depends on one's amount and pattern of drinking. Someone who never drinks at home, but binges at parties or bars needs a different plan that someone who sips discretely from morning to night. And a different plan again is needed for someone like me who managed to stop the lunch drinks years ago, but poured one immediately on coming in the door at 5:30 and then got progressively more toasted until bedtime Some AF is absolutely necessary for everyone (just for health reasons too) but how many days or weeks or lifetimes ;-) is personal.

Long post - I'll end it by adding my heartfelt appreciation for the support on the site - whoever each of us is and wherever we are in this journey.

[Ask For Help]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Great post. It's all about what gets you there. Many who start out with goal of modding begin the 30 days with zeal and then get in the middle of it and get caught up with if I have one drink I have to start over at day one. You have to be clear what your goals are. If your goal is to break your everyday drinking habit then some go 30 days straight through to really break it, and some build up the number of days AF week by week as you've done. I did a mixture, trying to accumulate the most AF days/week (and the fewest drinks/week I could for 30 days) and for the ensuing months. As long as it's a learning journey, and we're being honest with ourselves and hopefully using a tool like DrinkTracker to hold ourselves personally responsible, I think one needs to find their way out.

Keep up the great work!
Ask

[miss elle]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

I am starting 30days AF from today. I will try anything and see what happens. Each indivisuals are different. Whatever works for "ME" then that will my plan for all my life. Wish me a luck!

[keke]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

Dancing, loved your post. I keep changing the plan when one doesn't work. Right now I am starting the sinclair method with the help of naltrexone. It took me four tries to realize I can't take topomax, no matter how much I hoped it would be my magic pill. So far I'm doing fairly well on the nal. The price is hard to swallow, but then again alcohol isn't cheap. Hesitant to buy the book as I just gave away 4 or more self-help books yesterday. Anyone care to outline it for me????? Hope all is well in modsville. keek

[tipsy]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

o my this site is so amazing! Ifinally can talk about my wine drinking without someone not knowing how hard it is to stop! every day I say I wont but I do, Ihad an AF day the day before yesterday and felt soo god, what did i do? Of course I had a bottle last night you know just to celebrate.

[Mike R.]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

RJ found her own way out... it doesn't apply to everyone.. some can go af for years and if they have a drink... they'll do the whole bottle... I tried to mod.. but failed miserably.. I'm currently a total mess... I drink more vodka then I can piss..

[RejuvenateBodyMindandSpirit]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

DancingGirl;686066 wrote: Thread Reviver? Or am I adding a nail?

This a really interesting thread for me as I'm one who hasn't done 30 days AF. I found this site exactly a month ago and found support for my plan and my flood of tears, and have been very, very happy when my words seemed to support my friends here. I came from about 5-6 drinks every evening (couldn't not drink, couldn't stop at 1 or 2) or 30-35 a week to 2 AF days/ 10 drinks week one; 4 AF days/ 9 drinks week two; 5 AF days/ 5 drinks weeks three and four; and am on day 5 AF this week.

I am really aware that it would be easy to become complacent and slip back, and then I would look at the 30 days AF, but it seems to be working for me, for now.

I think, as so many have written here, that it is all about what works. I also think that it depends on one's amount and pattern of drinking. Someone who never drinks at home, but binges at parties or bars needs a different plan that someone who sips discretely from morning to night. And a different plan again is needed for someone like me who managed to stop the lunch drinks years ago, but poured one immediately on coming in the door at 5:30 and then got progressively more toasted until bedtime Some AF is absolutely necessary for everyone (just for health reasons too) but how many days or weeks or lifetimes ;-) is personal.

Long post - I'll end it by adding my heartfelt appreciation for the support on the site - whoever each of us is and wherever we are in this journey.

I am really glad to see this post & to see how you are making modding for you work.
Our plan is to start w/ 7 days AF to kick it off. Our goal ...my hubby are doing this together...is to shoot for a pattern of occaisional drinking....we haven't firmly defined that yet, but my idea is 2 or 3 drinks a couple a time a month on theatre nights or other specials occaisions.

The story in the books is what inspired us to try...knowing full well we may need to re-evaluate.

Rejuve

[mg72]

30 alc-free Days is NOT a pre-Mod Rule!!!

I am now on day 15 of being AF. I started on MWO over a month ago to help moderate my drinking. I was encourged by sunbeam to look at 30 days AF and decided to do it. I am happy that I started and continuing this. It has been a good two weeks with many positive changes. I am commited to go through Nov AF to see how I feel and act. I am not making any decisions about my future but already have felt the urge to drink decreasing.