What Happened When I Quit Alcohol (…and What to Drink When That Craving Hits)

There’s a lot of talk right now about quitting alcohol, and for good reason. The truth is, alcohol might feel like it helps you unwind, but it’s quietly holding you back from your full potential.

I didn’t have a problem, however I was living what most would call a dialed-in wellness life: eating clean, biohacking, tracking my sleep, lifting weights, stacking peptides…the whole thing. Ninety-minute training sessions, five days a week religiously, and working hard. Without question, I enjoy the taste of a good glass of wine. Of course, I miss it sometimes, but when I had a drink or two, something consistently felt off. My recovery lagged, the definition I expected from the workouts wasn’t showing up, and I’d look in the mirror thinking, Wait, where are the results I should be earning?

Then it hit me: maybe it’s not about training harder, maybe it’s about removing what’s slowing me down. So I quit alcohol cold turkey, and everything changed. Within weeks, my body started responding differently. The “cuts” came faster, my sleep deepened, and my energy skyrocketed. I realized I’d been asking my body to perform at its best while secretly running it at a deficit. Alcohol wasn’t just taking my energy it was stealing my progress, and I wasn’t even drinking a lot.

Let’s be real, the cravings are real. Around that 5–7 PM window when everyone’s reaching for a glass of something, that’s when I had to get smart. Here’s what worked: I stocked up on non-alcoholic wines and beers, and not the sad ones from ten years ago. The new brands are shockingly good. Pouring a crisp 0.0% white into a beautiful wine glass, or a cold NA beer into a frosted mug, completely killed the craving. And here’s the thing I hate to admit, sugar craves sugar. And alcohol is loaded with it. Once I cut it out, the late-night snacking disappeared too.

There was more, or should I say there were no more sluggish starts, no dull headaches, no pretending dehydration was “fatigue” after I had a couple. Everyday I wake up ready to move, ready to create, ready to lead fully clear, fully present, fully me. Mental clarity is consistent, focus is laser sharp, and my mood stabilized, which is important especially for peri & menopausal women. Now, I’m fully aligned.

Here’s the real takeaway: I’m not preaching sobriety. I’m talking about vitality about showing up in your body the same way you show up in your business: intentional, energized, and sharp. For me, quitting alcohol wasn’t about restriction; it was about elevation. It was about living at a higher vibration fueled by clarity, strength, and genuine wellness.

If you’re curious, give yourself thirty days. You might just meet a version of yourself you’ve been trying to find all along.

💬 Just curious, have you tried cutting out alcohol? What changes did you notice in your body or mindset?