LHC Member Mary Margaret

Keep reading this IG Live Recap with LHC Member, Mary, to hear about her journey of being 10+ months alcohol free. We dive into her decision to start, tips for going out and talking about the decision with friends, and how celebrations without alcohol are still fun and possibly even more meaningful. 

Where it all began:

Mary has been alcohol free for a little over 10 months. The catalyst of her decision to cut out alcohol was mainly health-related. She explained that she was not doing well mentally, alternating between being anxious and depressed. She had determined that it took her a long time to recover from a night of drinking, sometimes finding that she still felt off even weeks later. 

Her first time going without alcohol for an extended period of time was when she did 75 Hard, an intense fitness challenge in which one of the rules is to abstain from alcohol. Around 40 days into the challenge, she started to feel really good, both mentally and physically. However, once the challenge ended, she returned to regularly consuming alcohol. She soon gained the weight back she had lost and felt her mental and physical health slowly declining.

The Big Decision: 

As she started working on her emotional and physical health, she realized that her alcohol consumption was hindering her progress. Thus, in September of 2021, she decided to withhold from drinking for one weekend to see what it would be like. This was a large decision for her, as she had always thought of herself as a ‘life of the party’ person who enjoyed alcohol when it was offered. “I could not imagine a life without alcohol,” she stated on the live. “It was the center of every celebration and social moment in my life since I was 18.”

Her decision was not a result of hitting so-called “rock-bottom,” but instead due to a desire to see what her life might look like without alcohol in it. She explained that she now understands why the Alcoholics Anonymous mantra of ‘one day at a time’ can be so helpful. “The idea of stopping drinking forever was too big of a concept for me and felt discouraging. I just needed to focus on each day, weekend, and social event that I was going to make it through without drinking,” she told us. Before completely cutting out alcohol, she tried to drink moderately but it did not work well for her. This is because after 1-2 drinks, she felt it was much harder to say no to a 3rd or 4th drink. 

Life without Alcohol:

Being alcohol free helps put things into perspective for her. “I go to weddings to celebrate the couple, rather than just seeing it as an opportunity to get really drunk,” she explained. In the past, Mary would always be the last person out when drinking, but now, she’s better at listening to her body when she gets tired and going to bed.

She experiences significantly less inflammatory symptoms and her acid reflux is essentially gone. Now that she doesn’t experience hangovers, she has much more energy for her days. She also feels more in tune with her body and her mental health is improved, as she has more time to self-reflect and be alone. 

Mary did inform us that sugar hangovers are a real thing. Having a drink can spike your blood sugar similarly to consuming a piece of candy. Therefore, she recommends being gentle with yourself and embracing your cravings if you decide to cut out alcohol.

Main Takeaways: 

To anyone curious about being alcohol free, Mary recommends reading and listening to different resources regarding the lifestyle change. Her two favorite reads on the subject are This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life by Annie Grace and The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray. “You don't have to have an overwhelming problem with alcohol in order to see what your life would look like without it,” Mary remarked. You don’t have to be all or nothing.”

Mary’s Recs:

App Recs:

  • “Try Dry” app for tracking (works for either cutting back or stopping all together)

  • “Reframe” app (paid) - uses CBT concepts and educates you while also offering community and support (sober or cutback options)

Book Recs:

Podcast Recs: 

Instagram Recs: 

Rachel Johnson