MUSINGS

5 Life-Changing Benefits Of Giving Up Alcohol

2. Lose weight without dieting.

Sobriety really is the gift that keeps giving.

If you decide to pursue an alcohol-free life, your life is about to change radically.

Although the first 6 months are a bit of a rocky rollercoaster, with highs, lows, and pitfalls to look out for, it is actually a journey of discovery with amazing treats and treasures to find along the way.

You need to be prepared and keep your eye on the prize if you want to be successful, so here are some of the biggies you can look forward to.

1. You will have loads of money.

This is a fantastic instant benefit. You don’t realise just how much drinking is costing you. It’s not just the alcohol, it’s the taxis, the takeaways, the hangover food, replacing things you lost or broke when you were drunk, or even buying things you don’t need when your drunk (Oops).

I’ve been shocked how much surplus cash I have since I’ve been sober. There has not been one month when I’ve had no money at the end before payday, which was a regularity when I was drinking. I have treated myself to jewelry, designer bedding, fabulous boots that I wouldn’t have dreamt of buying before. It’s a lovely marker of sobriety. Material proof that life has been enhanced. I’m now in the position if I see something I want for myself or a family member, I can just buy it without having to worry if I can afford it. It’s a lovely thing to be able to do.

2. Lose weight without dieting

I lost 17 pounds in the first 8 months and am now not far off my target weight. Hurrah! What a life gift this one is. You do have to be patient though. I advocate not to diet at all for the first 6 months as you need to prioritize your sobriety over everything else.

You may need to treat yourself in the early days if you’re abstaining from drinking and this means pizza and cake. Plus, hunger can be mistaken for alcohol cravings, so eat what you want. I did this and still lost weight but it did take time to see a change on the scales. Be patient as you may not see any change for a month or two, but it will come eventually I promise. Maybe even hide the scales and only get on them when you can feel your clothes getting looser. You may even be one of the lucky ones. Some people lose a stone in the first 6 weeks. Either way, you will get there.

3. Improved mental health

This comes in a myriad of ways. There’s the obvious one: No Hangovers. What a relief not to have to suffer hangxiety ever again. I would say the worry about what I did or said when drunk was the worst part of drinking for me. Thank god I don’t have to go through that torture anymore.

Then there are longer-term mental health benefits. Alcohol is a depressant and you don’t realize how much until you give it up. This is also a bit of a rollercoaster you will have to navigate.

Research says it takes up to 14 months until your brain chemistry fully recovers from drinking, so you need to be prepared for ups and downs. There will be weeks where you feel like your walking on clouds, and then weeks where you feel down in the doldrums. It’s your brain resetting.

But you will notice an overall upward trajectory in your mental health. If you couple this with using your hangover-free days to get out walking in nature, exercising, and doing yoga and meditation, you can speed up your journey to excellent mental health.

4. Become more creative

You have loads of spare time when you give up drinking, so you can fill it with anything you like. I’ve redecorated my house, spent hours gardening so it was stunning in full bloom in the summer months, and have been writing a whole lot more. I feel a lot more fulfilled now, and my surroundings are a beautiful place to live in.

It’s up to you to make use of your spare time, so do something you have always wanted to do. Now is your chance. You’ve got the time and don’t forget all that extra money to sink into your new project. Could be acting or writing, dancing, woodwork, or art. The world is your oyster now, so go out and enjoy it.

5. Find a whole new world

You will be surprised at the size of the sober community out there. There are loads of groups and events going on full of people with their own stories. I’ve found my sober tribe who were were fundamental in getting me through. They are full of people who have walked this journey before you and can give you support, advice, or someone to chat to if you’re struggling.

The best thing about sober groups is that the events are so diverse, unlike when you are drinking when you repeat the same night 100’s of times. Since I’ve given up, I’ve been kayaking, to a water park, sea swimming, and am planning to do a zip wire and a skydive next year.

After a while, you look around and realize everything in your life has changed. You look better, you’re richer, you’ve got new friends and an exciting, buzzing social life. And none of those damn hangovers.

So as you can see the sober life is full of treasures and treats which get better the further along the sobriety path you go and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

If you’re thinking about going alcohol-free, have a read of my blog with tips to get through the first 6 months.

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