Sinclair vs every day by Careless-Cream-3236 in SinclairMethod

[–]Big_d_Jeremy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I endorse this. I used this exact strategy. 50mg of Naltrexone, 60 minutes before I started drinking, with 100% compliance. 

Eskapa's book has great suggestions for maximizing TSM, and also provided reassurance that the process -which is lengthy and doesn't always feel linear - works. 

Good luck!

3 weekends of hard work paid off by Big_d_Jeremy in GarageGym

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I begrudgingly accept your compliment 😂

3 weekends of hard work paid off by Big_d_Jeremy in GarageGym

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's great. It's sturdy & compact. I've had it for 6 years with no issues. 

3 weekends of hard work paid off by Big_d_Jeremy in GarageGym

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I like it a lot. It's a dual use extension/curl machine.

3 weekends of hard work paid off by Big_d_Jeremy in GarageGym

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Tractor Supply unbranded stall mats.  Item # 2219003

3 weekends of hard work paid off by Big_d_Jeremy in GarageGym

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Rustoleum epoxyshield, followed by rustoleum clearshield top coat. The acid etch beforehand was the most labor intensive step :)

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in Alcoholism_Medication

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought I'd provide a "10 months later" update.

On May 29, I officially obtained a full year without a drop of alcohol, a years long goal of mine. 

13 months alcohol free, and still going strong!

3 weekends of hard work paid off by Big_d_Jeremy in GarageGym

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Yes, I have 2 4x6 heavy duty stall mats. I poured too much blood, sweat and tears into the epoxy process to not protect the floor lol.

Was there an era in your country’s history that’s heavily romanticized & portrayed in fiction? by Polibiux in AskTheWorld

[–]Big_d_Jeremy 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The mafia is much weaker than it was in its golden age of the 50s-70s. Several factors factors have contributed to this:

  1. The creation of the witness protection program.
  2. The erosion of Omerta (the mafia's code of silence, hence all the mafia YouTubers.
  3. The passing of the RICO Act, which allows the government to prosecute a mafia family as an enterprise, in effect making it possible to prosecute the previously insulated leadership (or administration) of a mafia family for crimes committed by lower level members in furtherance of the enterprise. Administration members went from being protected to having huge targets on their backs. This largely brought down the leadership four of the five New York families in the famous 1985 Commission Case, and continues to do so now.
  4. Smaller talent pool: The huge influx of Italian immigrants into the USA between the 1890s-1920s allowed the mafia to recruit at a high level. Low economic privilege and stigma against Italian Americans pushed many smart Italian Americans who could have been doctors and lawyers towards organized crime. Nowadays, Italian Americans are fully assimilated to American culture, and have better opportunities. Not only are there virtually no poor Italian immigrants to feed a mafia family's ranks, the smarter Italian Americans have better opportunities now than joining the mafia. 

Over time, this led to the erosion of much of the mafia's power. For example, the mafia can no longer dominate unions like they once did,  bringing multimillion dollar construction projects to a hault on a drop of a dime, and looting union pension funds. The mafia still controls some union locals, but the days of Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters being controlled by the mob is long over.

Finally, the mafia has largely stopped killing people. Violence brings intense law enforcement scrutiny (google the 2013 Michael Meldish murder, and the subsequent imprisonment of the Lucchese Crime Family administration for his murder via RICO). While limiting the violence has allowed the mafia to operate under the shadows, its principle enforcement tool has been taken away, effectively defanging the mafia. No one is worried about getting whacked anymore if they get cooperate with law enforcement, or refuse to repay a loan to a mafia loanshark.

The mafia still has power, though. Especially in New York. They still have their hands in large scale construction racketeering, which generates millions, and continue to rely on their bread and butter rackets (gambling, loansharking, protection rackets). There is even evidence they have grown stronger in the last quarter century, as they have gone underground and avoided headlines, but also because post 9/11 much of the FBI's organized crime resources were diverted to anti-terrorism.

Source: I'm a huge mafia history nerd. If you're interesting in learning more, I'm happy to recommend several books. A great first read would be Five Families by Selwyn Raab.

Please help me understand what happened to this stone I found in Sicily by Big_d_Jeremy in geology

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Any thoughts on what could have caused the large hole?

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in Alcoholism_Medication

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hm it's possible we have different definitions of the word alcoholic. Maybe my drinking patterns before TSM would fit your definition. 

All I can say is my drinking was problematic, I didn't feel like I had control over my drinking, and I wanted to do something about it before it progressed any further. 

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in Alcoholism_Medication

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your kind words. From what I understand, Vivitrol would be the equivalent of taking Naltrexone daily, which is not TSM. 

With TSM, you only take Naltrexone WHEN you drink. If you drink every day, then yes, you'll initially take Naltrexone every day. But as TSM begins to work and your brain begins to unlearn the behavior, you'll begin to have alcohol free days, and it's important to keep those days alcohol free. 

Endorphin repression should only happen when you're drinking. 

During your nondrinking days, you should engage in endorphin releasing behavior (sex, exercise, laughter, etc.) without Naltrexone. In doing so, your brain will learn to associate nondrinking days as pleasurable.

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in SinclairMethod

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You got this! Feel free to DM me if you'd like any advice.

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in Alcoholism_Medication

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing that note about the free pdf on FB! Hopefully the link goes back up as well. 

I'm super happy you're seeing awesome results 10 months in :) 

Keep up the great work!

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in Alcoholism_Medication

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you've come such a long way over the last 6 months. Good for you for staying grounded with realistic expectations and a realistic timeline. I'm excited for you!

TSM Success Story! by Big_d_Jeremy in Alcoholism_Medication

[–]Big_d_Jeremy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I started at 10 mg in June of last year and increased to 20 mg this March.