I do wish you luck.I think this might work for very very few.I know it would never work for me.If I could drink moderatey I'd drink ever night.
Therein lies our paradox

Happy Thanksgiving. Me personally I am not supporting or discouaging your decision.
According to health professionals, 2 is the max a day.
At times, I wish i could have just 1 or 2. I have tried that before on more than one occasion. It does not work for me. I end up right where I was, thinking it is ok to have 1 or 2 and sooner or later ened up right where I started. Which for me is drinking non stop like a fish. I have done other 'activites' in my life where I would say 'oh just 1'. The ened result would me having an all nighter then saying to myself 'OMG, what did I just do'? I am not implying this is you.
IMO, you are spending alot of time thinking about alcohol. Please do not take this comment the wrong way, I mean no harm.

That would just be a teaser for this booze hound. I have a compulsion that once I have one, I can't stop. I wind up having more and more. My disease needs more. I turn into a selfish b stard.

1-2

And I do things I regret. I don't miss the three horsemen of shame, guilt, and remorse. It's not worth it, for this alcoholic.

Denial dies hard, but it takes whatever it takes

That's wrong to point the finger and call someone in "denial" just because they choose to try to moderate.

The truth is that many alcohol troubled people can learn to moderate.

I support any effort to get the problem under control.

One needs to follow his path, not mine. I cannot cut down on my drinking. If it worked for me, I would be there now. Othershave been successful in cutting down their drinking. I am not going to say that I could not do it therefore none one can do it.

For those of you wondering . . .

I did moderate . . . but slightly different than I envisioned.
I will be completely honest, and fess up to the one "shot" of vodka before dinner, to calm my nerves (dinner at my house - I was cooking).
What's bad about that, is that is was "on the sly" and I knew it.
That's where the bad drinking comes from. If nobody sees me drink - it didn't really happen.

Then I got straight with myself, and I had one cocktail (martini) with family just before dinner, and one cocktail after. All on the "up and up" by the way.

That was it. I never got drunk. Just relaxed.

I am only a little disappointed that it was really more like 3 than 2 . . . but I did moderate.
Without that in my head, it would have been 5 or more . . .

I am thinking I should start a 10 day "dry" spell again tomorrow, rather than wait for Monday.

It was just "too easy" to "slip" an extra drink in.

I have a feeling that most of you can relate.

Don't want to jinx you, but slowly but surely it has already crept up on you. You said 2, you had 3. You are trying to justify your drinking. People who do not have an issue with alcohol do not think the way you do: ie, planning how and when.
I hope your plan works for your sake.

If you can moderate and enjoy yourself....good for you!
I could moderate for a time and it was very unpleasant. I didn't enjoy it so why bother? And I didn't....I increased again till after a period of time I was drinking way more than was moderate.
That's why I'm alcoholic. For me one isn't worthwhile and was never the plan.....and as the saying goes .... I'd take a drink, the drink would take a drink, and the drink took me. Some times over the course of weeks but always with the same end....obsessing over booze.
Today I'm free of that a and so very grateful!

The fact that a shot, martini and a final drink did not get you drunk means you may have a tolerance.

Personally, yes, I love the taste of it, but I know I drink to get drunk, so moderation for me is not an option.

If you "need" it to calm your nerves, then you are self medicating, period...

Better to stay sober and deal with those feelings. Otherwise, you are just running and will never improve the quality of your life.

Just my opinion, but I needed to say that.

I admire your trying and your honesty. That took courage.

Hugs.

I know most posts say it wouldn't work for them- as is the case with me. I tried lots of methods- changing from hard liquor to wine, drinking every other day, you name it.

In the end for me, I came to understand that I have the disease of alcoholism and the only treatment for me is total abstinence.

For each of us, we are on our own path and I wish you nothing but the best on yours.

In answer to the question "how did it feel stopping" - the answer is good. Actually, I felt good about myself for knowing it was time to stop and stopping.

My mind was telling me "that's enough" and my body was telling me "that's enough" - the only thing to "overcome" was that little voice - I think it was coming from inside the bottle - which said "just one more and you'll feel great." That's the weird thing about booze. Intellectually, physically, spiritually, logically and rationally - I know when it's time to quit.

Then there is this emotional component - and I don't have a clue where it comes from - that drives me to drink beyond what is reasonable. I say emotional - because emotions do not follow logic. That's the beast I need to tame. And it's not just booze. When I get "into" something - I tend towards excess.

Thank you all for your comments and insights. I feel like I can be completely honest here, and not be judged. Which gives me a new thought - drinking is the only thing that turns "off" my inner critic. Just shuts it down. Another clue as to why I do what I do.

Hi needhelp! I don't post too often, I'm more of a "lurker", but I wanted to add a couple things to what has already been shared here.
In your profile you say that you have quit before but always go back to drinking. Did you seek outside help like AA or other programs for recovery?
I know for me I was unable to stay alcohol free on my own terms because left to my own self I will drink in excess eventually. I hope that is not the case for you; however, what I am reading that you yourself has written makes me think that your plan of moderation isn't going to work.
I pray you find a way to deal with your drinking before it is too late!

It sounds like you are drinking out of a need to self medicate. When you do that, you cannot grow emotionally. If you feel you have to drink every time you cook out of a fear that others will dislike your dinner, then that's a problem.

You just need more emotional support so you can face your fears without the need to take a drink. AA is a great support network, and I highly recommend!

God Bless!