I am officially one year alcohol-free. (WOW – that is weird to say)! And I have gotten TONS of questions about my relationship with alcohol, why I stopped, how I did it, and what’s next for me. I made this podcast episode sharing all about my experience, and I wanted to share with you. 

In this episode, we’ll dive into my journey with alcohol-how it once held a big piece of my life, and the helpful steps I took to finally break free!  We’ll talk about how alcohol changes how we see ourselves and how it also affects our eating habits. 

Let’s Start at the Beginning… High School Party Girl Vibes

First things first, let me take you back. I started drinking in high school, and for me, it wasn’t about getting wasted, but more about fitting in. I was the fun, outgoing party girl—sports star by day, social butterfly by night. It was all fun and games, right? But looking back, I realize drinking became my thing. It was how I connected with people, and how I felt liked. And let’s face it, when you’re a teen, who doesn’t want to be liked?

This pattern carried into college and my early twenties. No, I wasn’t the girl pouring vodka on my cereal (thankfully), but weekends were all about partying, and alcohol was always at the center. I mean, how else are you supposed to have fun, right? 😜

Alcohol: The Frenemy I Didn’t See Coming

As I hit my late 20s, my love affair with alcohol started to sour. Sure, I wasn’t downing drinks every day, but when I did drink, something shifted. It wasn’t just a hangover. Oh no, it was a hangover on steroids. Picture this: I couldn’t get out of bed, I couldn’t stop crying, and my anxiety would skyrocket through the roof.

I’ll never forget one specific CrossFit morning. After a night out, I thought I could just “sweat it out” (LOL). Spoiler: that did not happen. Instead, I found myself sobbing on an exercise bike like some kind of sad workout montage. (Not the transformation we all dream of.) I left the gym in tears, went home, collapsed on the couch, and bawled my eyes out. My husband sat there, probably wondering, “Is this about the squats or something deeper?” Spoiler alert: it was deeper. Way deeper.

The Food & Booze Tango

And you know what’s wild? Drinking made my binge-eating worse, too. (As if one vice wasn’t enough, right?) I’d wake up surrounded by the food I didn’t remember eating, sometimes even leaving the fridge door wide open. Let’s just say, when your parents start finding spoiled food because drunk you forgot to close the fridge, it’s not the best look. My weekends became this weird cycle: drink, binge-eat, feel like garbage, repeat. Yeah, not the highlight reel of adulthood.

Fast Forward: My Ah-Ha Moment (aka the Aperol Spritz That Changed Everything)

Fast forward to July 2nd, 2023. Picture me out to dinner, sipping two Aperol spritzes, enjoying life—or so I thought. By the time I got home, my skin was crawling, my anxiety was spiking, and my head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. (Seriously, how does alcohol manage to make your brain hurt?) My kids were in the backseat, and there I was, crying to my husband like, “I am SO done.” And that was it. No big rock-bottom moment, just me being absolutely fed up.

The next day, we went on a family vacation, and guess what? I didn’t drink. Not a single person noticed. Not even my family. If you told me that a year earlier, I’d have thought you were lying. But here I was, sober, happy, and finally in control.

The World Didn’t End—And No One Cared What Was In My Cup

Now, let me be real for a sec. I thought quitting alcohol would make me some kind of social outcast, but, shocker—people really don’t care what’s in your cup! And if they do? That’s their problem, not yours. I went to parties, family trips, weddings, even business trips where I barely knew anyone—and no one blinked an eye when I didn’t drink. In fact, the only person who made a fuss about it was some random mom at a kids’ birthday party. (And honestly, who has the energy for that?)

Alcohol-Free Doesn’t Mean Fun-Free

Do I miss alcohol? Sometimes, yeah. I miss that 15-minute buzz before everything goes downhill. But here’s what I don’t miss: the hangovers, the anxiety, the crying sessions on gym equipment. Oh, and did I mention the sleep? Waking up without a pounding headache and being able to actually function—now that is priceless. Plus, my mental health? Way better. Now, I spend my mornings reading, meditating, and actually enjoying time with my kids instead of feeling like a zombie.

Wrapping It Up: You Do You, Boo

I’m not here to tell you alcohol is evil or that you need to quit. This is just my story, and if you’re wondering about your own relationship with alcohol (or food), you’re not alone. You can totally enjoy life without the booze, trust me!

Follow me for daily tips on Instagram! @kellylwellness

Are you ready to stop overeating and finally be in control around food? Watch my FREE training How to Stop Binge Eating (Without Cutting Out Your Favorite Foods) to learn how it’s possible!