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[cyclefan]

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I have found a comfortable level that works for me. I never drink if I know I have to drive. I don't drink if the grandchildren are here. I don't regulate my drinking by saying "I'll have one or three on the weekend" or whatever. I do drink mostly every evening. I usually imbibe over the recommended limit by seven or nine units per week.

Hey ho, I'm happy. My employees are happy. My husband is happy and my children and grandchildren are happy. This is the way my ancestors drank and this is the way I drink. Thanks to MWO I'm no longer a every night blackout drunk. I wish you all success in your journey.

[FancyC]

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Hi. I am also trying to moderate. It is difficult, and I don't always reach my goal. Right now I am trying to stay af Monday through Thursday, and that can be a huge task sometimes! However, there was a point when I did not have any af days in a month. I keep track on my calendar, and it is great to see the change. I know this is not the way for everyone, but it is progress for myself. Just remember, the journey begins with the first step, and the possibilities are endless...you choose. Good Luck.

[mere]

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Hi RC, Momf3,Guitarista, Tripplerett and Canadiangirl!
I've been hanging out on the Newbie forum for a number of months now. Started MWO over a year ago and have significantly decreased my AL content. I want to try moderation.
But I'm out of time and have to get to work so I'll post my story later. Best to all.

[Ringing Cedars]

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Look forward to hearing back from you Mere and everyone else too.

[Eve11]

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Hi Ringing Cedars and everyone else who posted here.

We have a thread on the Long Term Moderator board called Ruby Tuesday where we post our weekly goals and try to answer at the end of the week as to how we did. Sometimes that pacting with each other and trying to be more accountable makes it easier to say no to the next drink that we probably don't need if we've already had two.

RC - Just wanted to let you know that a bottle of wine counts as 5 drinks as per the National Institute for
Alcohol, a 5 oz serving equals one glass. The drinktracker is a good place for moderators to post as that helps keep us more accountable too. I went to a big dinner party last night and that 3rd drink was calling my name but I kept thinking "I hate to post 3 on the drinktracker" and that thought truly prevented me from having that 3rd one. It helps me...maybe it can help you and others.

Thanks for sharing your story and so sorry about your accident. Glad you didn't get hooked on the narcotics - so that's a plus!
:l
Eve11

[Ringing Cedars]

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Hi Eve and thanks for your post. I am aware of the various standards and did originally use drink tracker which was very good. My story did not include avoiding narcotics. It was CG--however at 19 I was given valium for back pain and after a couple doses flushed them. I am well aware of my addictive personality. I posted in the long term moderators not long ago and I will be making a point of reading there more regularly. I may not fit the expectations there either, but I will glean what I can.

[mylife]

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Hello Guys,

I have recently decided to try moderation. I had several periods of abstinence, but always felt deprived and really wished I could drink now and then at least socially. Of course there is loads of literature saying Moderation is impossible once you have a problem, but I guess I just need to find that out for myself. I was a moderate drinker for YEARS and probably developed my problem over the last 10 years or so looking back. At my height, I would drink about 1 bottle of wine per night.

My goal is to have no more than 1/2 bottle of wine or the equivalent once a week with my husband or at a social occasion and that is it. I will see how it goes and if it escalates I will go back to abstaining.

Hope it works -- but if not I'm ready to face the consequences!

Have a great day all.

[KundaliniGirl]

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ML - hey, KG here. Welcome! I'm here for support and am glad to have you and Jenn over here (have missed you both). Of course, more than that, though - I hope you can have success with modding. To me, going completely without EVER was harder than controlling my drinking. That 2.5 months really did it for me. I've been really happy with how my modding is going. I would definitely suggest some AF nights every week, though.

Hugs,
KG

[Tipplerette]

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Sorry I missed all these posts in this excellent thread. Thanks, again, for starting this thread RC. By the way, you asked what my goals were. They change from day to day. I do tend to beat myself up and want to stop then tell myself that 1/2 a bottle most nights is not the end of the world and as long as it doesn't increase on a regular basis, I am doing OK. But then sometimes I worry about my health. It can't be good for me at 130 pounds to drink almost every day. So, to answer your question, I don't really know. I am 54 and think maybe it's time to accept myself as I am. I can't seem to change anyways. Moderation is my goal but I haven't totally determined what moderation is for me.

[KundaliniGirl]

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Tipp, a half bottle is only two drinks. Are you worried just because it's daily? I don't think that's a big deal at all, really. I don't think there's a one size fits all. I feel like I need periodic days off, but a half bottle seems ok to me. I'm no expert, but I think most people would be happy with that.

KG

[gyco]

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hi gang i guess i should put my 2 cents in,hahah,ringing thankyou for mentioning me,somthin ive lerned over the years.you have to feel comfortable in your body,one of the biggest things about addicted minded people,now think,they care to much about everyone else,but themselves,the addiction within us,never stops whether your using or not,but when one can stop for a while and get a grasp on reality or sobriety,what ever that mite be,no one ever said this is a easy journey.i ve been doin this for years,and only more so now and this place ive found peace for gyco, its an interestinf battle evey day thnx

[KundaliniGirl]

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Gyco, you bring up a really good point. We have to do what's right for us, and that might be different from what's right for someone else. Finding peace with our decisions is the main thing.

How much do you drink? Can you tell us a little of your history?

KG

[Judestir]

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Hi Everyone

I just wanted to say hi and thanks for the thread RC. I am 36 days through my 90 day goal of being AF. After the 90 days, I will be joining you all.

I could so relate to your evening out with your girlfriend at the Eagle's concert. That just sounded like so much fun. My best friend was just here visiting for a few days and although we had a great time, I would have been able to relax more and have an even better time if I had been able to join her with a few drinks. It helps relax me and lets down my gurard. I lilke having a slight buzzzzz on.

This is quite a learning jouney we are all on. Hahah actually my goal is 12 weeks so that would only be 84 days. I'll be back to check in, when I get where I am going....

Have a great week all!!

[mylife]

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Good morning Modders!

I was AF last night and had no desire to drink. It felt great and I have to say it was a weight lifted off my shoulders to know that this weekend I can have a couple drinks if I want. I feel like the NO AL EVER thing was making me think about AL all the time and now I can just kind of let that go. Anyway, hope it lasts but I feel great so far! I'm sticking with no AL during the week and no more than 1/2 bottle wine or two drinks on weekend/social occasion. I think for me that's where it has to stay because if I give myself more leeway I will start to sneak up more and more until I'm drinking nightly again.

Anyway, great sleep last night and I'm full of energy today! Great to hear you're all doing well.

[Tipplerette]

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To answer your question Kundie, I worry because my mother drinks every night and she has no energy and no interests except to sit in her chair, drink her beer and smoke her cigarettes. I, in no way, am like her but I AM her daughter. At 80 I want to be out there in the community, active and alive just like I am now. Only half a bottle is OK but ... you know...

Good for you My Life on knowing where your limits are. We should be thankful we can drink at all given what AL has taken away from so many people..

I told myself finally last night that no more negative thoughts about me by me are allowed. I am aware of my drinking and of the escalation that occurs when alcohol consumption is left unchecked. In the shower this morning I told myself over and over again that I am good, I am living a healthy life and I accept myself. Keeping things in check means staying close to this forum. I need to know what it's like on the other side. And believe me, alot of what's said here resonates with me; I am not above overdoing it and must always be aware of not making the overdoing it a habit.