63 DAYS – What I have noticed so far.
I had my last alcoholic drink on the 5th of Jan 2026.
It’s a lot for me to say I’ll never drink again, so for now, I’ll simply say, I’m not drinking today. It’s been a long time coming, I’ve slowly been cutting back and realizing that it’s just not for me anymore. So no, it wasn’t a sudden, dramatic decision, it wasn’t something I was convinced to do by a friend or family member. It was a quiet inner voice that over time became louder and louder and I could no longer ignore it. So, my sobriety experiment began.
“Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the decision to act despite it.”
I was not a heavy drinker. I’d say I’ve been a social drinker for twenty odd years. I certainly did my fair share of drinking when I was younger and after becoming a mother, hangovers became less and less attractive. I’m not sitting on some sort of judgmental pedestal, as I love to say, “you do you Boo!”. I just felt like this was the right time, so why not document my experience thus far. Maybe someone out there can relate.
So far, I have experienced the following:
- I’m sleeping so much better – a deeper more restorative sleep.
- My brain seems sharper, clearer, more creative. The ideas really seem to be flowing lately.
- My energy levels are more consistent.
- I have been craving sweeter treats lately.
- I feel more present when I am with my family, especially on the weekends.
- I have had to deal with a lot of my uncomfortable emotions – I definitely used to numb myself with a drink or two when I just didn’t feel like dealing with all the heavy feelings.
- Friday afternoon/evening and Saturdays are the hardest – that drink at the end of a long week was my saving grace, my long-awaited reward.
- Anxiety seems to be more under control – I think sleeping better has a big impact here.
- Social gatherings are more difficult at first – I am naturally more introverted. I love people but my social tank is not the biggest.
- I have noticed a drop in my waistline and belly area – very happy with this result.
- My face seems less puffy. Perhaps reduced inflammation? I’ve also noted that a small patch of eczema which appeared out of nowhere on my right hand has not flared up once since I stopped drinking – interesting!
It’s still very early days but keeping track of how many days have gone by keeps me motivated. I also keep the fridge stocked with fun, fizzy drinks (bubbles are a must for some reason). I’m loving flavored, unsweetened sparking water (Guava and Grapefruit from Woolworths is my favorite), and Sanpellegrino has the most amazing flavors, with some zero sugar options as well. Sometimes I’ll throw a few different flavors and mixers together and make my own cocktail, add some ice, maybe a slice of lemon or blueberries and I’ve got the perfect alcohol alternative when I need a drink.
Why the sudden change. Because surely to have stopped cold turkey as I have, I needed to have a pretty strong WHY. I came across a few Instagram profiles which have been my support through these last few weeks:
Something that really surprised me while reading the information shared by these accounts about alcohol is that the body treats it very differently from food. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, the liver immediately shifts its attention to breaking it down because it’s seen as a toxin. While that process is happening, things like fat burning take a back seat while the body works to eliminate the alcohol. It’s a simple biological priority: deal with the threat first, then return to normal operations. So, after all the effort I was putting in, I was self-sabotaging my own progress.
Alcohol is such a normal part of our social lives that many of us rarely stop to question it. Yet health organizations have spent years studying its effects.
According to the World Health Organization:
- It is linked to more than 200 diseases and health conditions, including liver disease, heart disease and several cancers.
- Alcohol itself is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen (a substance known to cause cancer).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also notes that drinking less—or choosing not to drink—can reduce health risks and improve overall wellbeing.
None of this means every person who drinks will experience these problems. But it does explain why many people are becoming more curious about their relationship with alcohol.
So that concludes my updates so far for now. I’ll keep taking one day at a time and I’ll let you know how things go – let’s say around the 90-day mark.
Ciao for now xxx
Keep going my PC very interesting I am so proud of you love you lots xxxx
Thank you so much Daddy xxx