Quitting Drinking

I’ve never really been a big drinker. Yeah I’d have a glass of wine or a white claw now and then, but it wasn’t something I genuinely enjoyed. Still, for a long time, I felt like I had to drink. The whole getting weird glances as a woman or being questioned about it – sometimes it was just easier to order a drink than make a spectacle of it.  Whether it was business events or meeting up with friends, alcohol always seemed to be a part of the picture, even though it never quite felt like it fit into mine.

Then came my Garmin watch, and it became the ultimate truth-teller. I started paying close attention to my sleep score, and every time I had a drink, I’d wake up to see numbers in the 40s and 50s, which was way off from my usual 80s and 90s. It was a wake-up call. I knew I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but even that occasional glass was seriously messing with my sleep. And for me, quality sleep is everything. So, I finally decided enough was enough. I noticed one drink was causing me issues, and multiple drinks was causing me issues for days. 

The Peer Pressure Factor of Drinking

It wasn’t just about not liking alcohol—it was the social pressure that came with it. I’ve always felt a bit out of place when it came to drinking, but what really got to me was how often I felt like I had to justify not drinking. I can’t count the number of times I was asked, “Why aren’t you drinking?” or heard, “Just have one!” I didn’t enjoy alcohol, it didn’t like me, so why was that so hard for others to accept? I remember being at a stagette and choosing not to drink and being told i’m a bad bridesmaid because of it. 

Social Isolation After Quitting Drinking

In my younger days I noticed that because I didn’t enjoy drinking – I didn’t get invited to as much stuff. My social circle prioritized drinking as a social event and it was a bit isolating at first. At the time I was busy with University and other priorities so it was pretty easy for me to look past the isolation. 

It wasn’t until my husband quit drinking that I really started to see how bad the isolation can be. He definitely liked drinking more than I did – and all of his social interactions were centered around alcohol. His friends quit answering their phones to hang out – even when he said he doesn’t mind if they drink around him. 

That’s when we made a big change. We actually picked up and moved to an entire new city. We wanted to be closer to the mountains and start over with a friends circle with healthy habits. It wasn’t immediate – but after a few months we started to make connections and within a year or so we had a solid group of friends who we shared common interests of snowboarding and biking. 

My Husband’s Journey: Quitting With an App 

I’m not going to lie- my husbands journey was a lot more difficult than mine. For me, saying no to alcohol was more difficult because of the social stigma. For him he truly enjoyed alcohol so he needed other methods to aid him in quitting. He used an app called Quit Drinking, which helped him track his progress and stay motivated. It wasn’t easy for him, but eventually, he realized how much better he felt without alcohol. We both found that life just felt lighter without it.

The Benefits of Quitting Drinking: A Timeline

After 1 Week: Immediate Improvements

1. Better Sleep: Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, which is essential for feeling rested. Quitting drinking can improve sleep quality almost immediately.

   • Source: Alcohol and Sleep: What You Should Know (Sleep Foundation)

2. Increased Energy: Without alcohol in your system, your body doesn’t have to work as hard to detoxify, leaving you with more energy during the day.

   • Source: How Alcohol Affects Energy Levels (WebMD)

3. Dehydration Recovery: Alcohol is a diuretic, and quitting helps your body rehydrate, leading to less fatigue and headaches.

   • Source: Effects of Alcohol on Dehydration (Healthline)

After 1 Month: Noticeable Changes

4. Improved Skin: Alcohol dehydrates your skin, and after a month, you’ll likely notice clearer and more hydrated skin.

   • Source: How Quitting Alcohol Can Improve Skin (Self)

5. Weight Loss: Cutting out alcohol can lead to significant weight loss due to eliminating empty calories.

   • Source: How Alcohol Affects Weight (NHS)

6. Better Digestion: Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining. After a month, your digestion should improve as inflammation reduces.

   • Source: Alcohol’s Impact on the Digestive System (Harvard Health)

After 3 Months: Long-Term Benefits Kick In

7. Improved Mental Health: Alcohol is linked to increased anxiety and depression. After three months, you may notice a boost in your overall mood.

   • Source: Alcohol and Mental Health (Verywell Mind)

8. Lower Blood Pressure: Regular alcohol consumption can elevate blood pressure. By three months, your blood pressure may begin to normalize.

   • Source: Alcohol and Blood Pressure (Mayo Clinic)

9. Better Immune System: Excessive drinking weakens your immune system. After quitting for three months, your immune response may strengthen.

   • Source: How Alcohol Impacts the Immune System (Healthline)

After 6 Months: Sustained Health Benefits

10. Improved Liver Function: Alcohol causes fatty liver and inflammation, but after six months, your liver begins to regenerate and function more efficiently.

    • Source: The Liver and Alcohol (DrinkAware)

11. Reduced Anxiety: The longer you go without alcohol, the more stable your mood becomes as your brain chemistry adjusts.

    • Source: Alcohol and Anxiety (Medical News Today)

After 1 Year: Significant Health Milestones

12. Heart Health Boost: A year without alcohol significantly lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke.

    • Source: How Alcohol Affects the Heart (American Heart Association)

13. Lower Cancer Risk: Regular drinking increases the risk of various cancers. After a year, your body’s cancer risk begins to decrease.

    • Source: Alcohol and Cancer Risk (American Cancer Society)

14. Better Cognitive Function: Long-term alcohol use can affect cognitive abilities. A year of sobriety can improve brain function and memory.

    • Source: The Brain and Alcohol (Alzheimer’s Association)

New Priorities, New Life

For me, quitting drinking wasn’t just about improving my Garmin sleep score—it was about living a more fulfilling life. Since making the switch, my husband and I have replaced nights out with fun adventures like biking, snowboarding trips, rock wall climbing, or even just walking the dogs. We’ve discovered that you don’t need alcohol to have a good time, and honestly, it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

If you’re curious to know more about how embracing a healthier lifestyle changed my life, check out some of my other stories, like how mountain biking changed my perspective on aging or the time my husband tricked me into mountain biking.

And if you’re into tracking your fitness progress like I am, I highly recommend using a Garmin watch to monitor your sleep, fitness, and health. It’s been a game-changer for me, and it could be for you too.

The bottom line? You’re never too old to quit drinking, pick up a new hobby, or just start living a healthier, happier life.