That is what I am trying again too. Best o luck to both of us. I have just recently admitted to myself that it is time for me to do something

Any step is a step in the right direction. I know that being here is my first step. Realizing that I'm not alone in my loss of control has made it easier to make that first step. A few weeks ago I couldn't imagine a life without drinking. But it is possible. A lot of people here have done it and so can we. Good luck in your journey :)

I completely agree and i really do believe in the power of habit...2 months ago i couldn't imagine not having a smoke first thing in the morning. Now every day is easier to not smoke until 12 pm. I really believe I can achieve the same with drinking. It might be baby steps but really working for me and i think it can work for you guys as well.

Yep! I love the positivity both of you put forth! The last thing I need right now is meaness and negativity.

It doesn't matter that you don't drink on Monday or wait until noon to smoke. You are addicted to both alcohol and nicotine. All you are doing is controlling when you take the drugs. Once you realize this, there is freedom in stopping all together as you will no longer be controlled.

Reducing the harm from a behavior is a good thing. However, if you see it start to move back in the opposite direction then abstinence becomes the imperative, IMO...

I agree with Zach. Any backing off of stuff not good for us is a step in the right direction.

I quit smoking just the way you describe. First started by putting off the urges. Then stopped buying ciggies, to occasionally bumming one.

I also started a pretty rigoirous fitness regime running and lifting weights.

As my body began to feel better from working out my desire for the ciggies considerably.

And there are still some days when I would love to lick one up again but I never will . Now on to alcohol. This one is going to be harder for me but I just can't WAIT to start feeling better. Heading for the treadmill now. Later Gaters

I think your moving in the right direction.
Good goals that's what counts
Maybe one day you will be ready for AA
All the best to you

Yes its a good step. Especially when you can't stop on a Monday and realize...that if you are alcoholic, the only hope is total abstinence.
But I had to go through all sorts of moderation before I got there too. No drinking on week nights. That didnt work. No drinking before 5 p.m. (just meant I drank harder after).
No drinking without a glass of water between each drink. Disaster.
No drinking for 3 months. Declared myself cured. Disaster.
And on I went until I gave up.

Half measures availed us nothing.
We stood at the turning point.
But theres something about this "half measures" passage that stuck with me.

First of all, it seemed unfair. After all, half measures should avail us half. I would have been willing to get halfway sober. But it was true that all my half measures--cutting back, switching drinks, timing drinks, changing patterns--resulted in no change at all.
Nothing.

I am cutting down until I quit. I WILL make it work and I am feeling quite good this morning.

I have known a lot of ppl who have quit drinking and have seen it accomplished in many different ways.

This is my way and I am going to make it work because I am READY

The easiest way to break a habit is to replace it.

You can replace a glass of wine while you are cooking with water. You can replace a morning cigarette or any drink with a few deep cleansing breaths.

I see no reason why reducing gradually wouldn't work. Not how I did it, but I know others who have to make the detox process safer.

TroJanThunder,

I agree with ExJerseygal. I fully support your decision and it works as well as anything for some people, but please be mindful of the fact that if drinking does increase during the taper period the plan to become abstinent might need to be accelerated.

Should it become necessary to reassess one's strategy in the face of a new realization it is not a personal failure, but a sign of willingness, openness, and honesty. Carry on my friend...

P.S. The taper method worked for me once when I quit smoking, but unfortunately I went back. Drats...

Thanks to all for there support here and I'm sure most people here know more about this than i do but this is working well so far so I am sticking to it...its amazing how almost everything we do is habit including addictions.

Thanks Ex and Zach. Have witnessed several family members and friends taper off and quit.

For some it was AA and church.

For some cold turkey home alone hanging on by a thread.

Yesterday I drank much less that my usual and today I am already starting to feel better mentally as well as physically. But yes. If I catch myself falling back into bad habits I will SOOOO put on the brakes!!!!