How Quitting Alcohol Improved My Health and Well-Being
“I was surprised at how quickly I saw results after doing the one thing I needed most: stop drinking.”
I officially quit alcohol on June 20, 2024. I feel like I have been practicing for it for a few years now. I’d do Dry January, or take a few weeks off of drinking to “detox” from a vacation. Then, I’d have work stress, or a bad day, and I’d be right back to my old habits—which pretty much meant drinking daily.
If I’m being honest, I think I needed to prove to myself that I could take a break from alcohol, especially since alcoholism runs in my family. What I didn’t expect were all the other positive health effects I’d experience from being sober. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes they’d started sooner, though I know it’s easier said than done for many of us.
On June 20, I had just returned from a trip to California with my husband and was starting a new health plan. I was excited about this one because I had tried literally everything to lose menopausal and Hashimoto’s weight and felt hopeful that this would finally work. As I meal prepped for the new plan, I realized I needed non-alcoholic alternatives in case I felt the urge to drink. So, with the mindset and plan in place, I stopped drinking and didn’t set an end date. That was over 200 days ago now.
What Led Me Here
In 2016, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis while also being in the best shape of my life. I was in the middle of completing my yoga teacher training, but our family was going through a major life change. I believe the stress contributed to me getting sick.
For the last eight years, I’ve researched everything related to Hashimoto’s and tried countless approaches to reverse my symptoms and avoid the inevitable weight gain that comes with this disease. At the same time, I’ve been navigating the joys of perimenopause. Much of what I read showed that the symptoms of Hashimoto’s and perimenopause often overlap—fatigue, inflammation, achy joints, moodiness, to name a few. Unsure of which to tackle first, I tried treating both.
I tried every health plan, workout regimen, and diet out there. I’m not exaggerating when I say EVERYTHING! Whole30, intermittent fasting, macro tracking, paleo, the Autoimmune Protocol, excessive cardio, Orange Theory, spinning, HIIT, walking, weight lifting, yoga, pilates, meditation, and so on.
I’d feel great at first, but when I didn’t see results after a month or so and continued to feel super inflamed, I’d give up and tell myself, “It’s my hormones.” I read that alcohol hinders results, especially with hormonal imbalance, yet quitting alcohol was one thing I never tried.
Alongside my health struggles, I also experienced a traumatic loss. My boss took his life in 2022, and I was asked to run his bakery. This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Running the business itself is easy, especially with my amazing, supportive team, but not having the person who knew the business best, combined with being overwhelmed by grief, felt impossible. I turned to alcohol at the end of long, exhausting days, and my nervous system was not happy.
Where I Am Now
So here we are, 200-plus days of sobriety and I’m down 20 pounds. I feel great! I’m prioritizing protein, getting my steps in, drinking lots of water, and my mind has never been clearer.
I think being sober was the missing link in my health journey. I was surprised at how quickly I saw results after doing the one thing I needed most: stop drinking. Seeing results has kept me motivated to keep going.
My husband and I took a vacation to Mexico at the end of 2024, and it was my first sober vacation longer than a weekend. I was nervous—FOMO, I guess. But getting through the trip without a hangover or an upset stomach showed me that feeling good far outweighs feeling like part of the party. I’m proud of myself and grateful for the resilience and willpower I’ve discovered.
What really helped was having alternatives. Sometimes that meant non-alcoholic wine or beer when I had a craving. (I realize that some of these alternatives contain trace amounts of alcohol, so they may not work for everyone.)
Another thing that helped was not giving myself a timeline. So many friends have asked, “How long are you planning to not drink?” I don’t know! I’ve told myself I’ll keep going as long as I can. If I slip up, I won’t beat myself up—I’ll just try again.
How about you?
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Cheers to doing what you needed most to feel better, Laura. I, too, found that quitting alcohol was life-changing when it comes to both my mental and physical health. Thank you for sharing and inspiring!
This is awesome and so inspirational. I have been sober for 15 days, and I have seen an improvement in my sleep. When I was drinking, which was basically every day, all I could do was toss and turn. And I would stay awake for hours. I thought something was physically wrong with me. I went to the doctor and was given a clean bill of health. About a week into sobriety that is when I started sleeping better. I can't wait to be able to say, "I've been sober for 200 days." Keep up the good work! 😊