u/Heavy_Yellow_2016

I am officially 8 days in and I haven't had a drink. I won't say I haven't thought about it but when I go to the kitchen I just pour water, tea, club soda, or a mini dr.pepper. I just don't feel the pull to take my NA beverage over to the bar cart and top it off with a liquor anymore (so far!)

I am not taking naltrexone to fully give up on drinking but to stop the routine of always grabbing a drink after work or in a stressful situation. I have 1 planned drinking day per month planned out (1 Packer's football game at a bar a month) but beyond that I am going to try to stay drink free until Christmas. The main reason for changing my routine was it is/was stopping me from losing weight and getting back to feeling like the old me again :)

But like the title says, three test have been passed!

First one was preseason football; sat down with a Bloom soda and watched my team lose. I think this was the first football game I've watched without alcohol in 14 years.

Second test was the weekend; I don't have many friends in my area and I was afraid being alone on the weekends with no plans would lead straight to the bar cart. Nope. I cleaned, took a fitness class, read a book outside on the balcony, and just played with my dog. It was a very nice weekend :)

Third test was my friend coming over for dinner last night. He is also a big drinker and we will usually enjoy a few cocktails, a few shots, some crappy takeout. He passes out on the couch, I go to bed, and we wake up the next day with half finished cocktails on the counter that "just have to be finished". heaven forbid we throw some bottom shelf vodka down the drain. That usually leads to a few shots and me sneaking away from work early to go play pool and have another few drinks at a bar. I didn't have a single one :) I poured a club soda and watched a movie/chatted without any liquor.

Edit: I'm taking 50mg with breakfast in the morning and have had no side effects besides the fact that I'm not craving food as well. Great side effect since I'm trying to lose weight.

I've started on naltrexone a few days ago to help me stop the repetitive pattern of getting off work, reaching for a cocktail to unwind, not finding the want to eat the food I prepped (and painstakingly planned out macro/calorie wise) so I eat junk food or grab take out. I am really trying to lose weight by not wrecking my diet 4 out of 7 nights and not actually give up drinking for ever.

But I'm also trying to start dating as I begin to feel better in my body. Any advice for a single gal looking to go on dates but not have to have an awkward convo about not wanting a drink on the date? I know I should just order a tea or lemonade and not think twice about it but its causing anxiety that I will be judged and written off.