Spoiler alert: I didn’t think I could do it.

I’ve completed four Dry Januarys and a Sober October. But 75 days without alcohol? That was the mountain I didn’t think I could climb. Yet here I am, espresso in hand, microneedled face glowing-ish (we’re in the crusty healing phase), and a whole new appreciation for Diet Pepsi, long walks, and my own brain. The reason I started was to do 75 hard. It’s a challenge that involves 2 45 minute workouts per day (one outside), one gallon of water per day, 10 pages of reading, a progress picture, staying on “a diet” (very lose rule here), and no alcohol. Well, failed the 2 workouts after a few weeks, then I failed the gallon of water. So I decided to stick with the reading and the no booze. Am I a failure? Yes, and no.

So what changed over 75 days of no alcohol? Let’s break it down.

How My Body and Mind Changed

Clearer Thoughts + Less Fog: I feel sharper. Annie Grace’s voice from This Naked Mind still echoes in my head—and she’s not wrong. Removing alcohol gave me space to actually think.

Better Sleep: Alcohol may knock you out, but it wrecks deep sleep. Once I got through the first few weeks, my energy in the mornings became much better.

Reduced Inflammation: I only lost about 3 pounds, but somewhere around day 45, people started telling me I looked different. Less puffy, especially in my midsection and face. Honestly, they didn’t like the answer when I told them what I was doing. There’s no magic pill or workout, just removing a poison from my life.

Mood and Emotional Control: That phrase “regulated nervous system” started to click. I don’t spiral as easily, I laugh more, and when I’m upset, it’s usually not followed by a glass of something. I was really able to control my emotions and think through situations in a way I haven’t in a long time. I de-stressed by reading, walking, calling a friend, not popping the cork on a bottle and wasting away on the couch in front of a Netflix series.

Bonus Brain Facts:

  • Alcohol shrinks your hippocampus (memory & emotion), even in “moderate” drinkers.
  • Your brain starts rewiring itself in as little as 30 days sober—improving decision-making and reward response.
  • 11 grams of alcohol (aka one drink) raises breast cancer risk by 13%. Yep. That was from the Huberman Lab podcast on alcohol. I broke it into 3 parts to listen to it. Boring? Yes. Life-changing? Also yes. The last 30 minutes are a must-listen.

Moments I Almost Cracked (But Didn’t)

  • Softball Tournament Weekend, Week 2: Sitting on the beach, watching the waves, I told my husband, “No one would know if I had one.” He goes, “Only two weeks?” Ouch. But true. I cracked a Pepsi instead.
  • Easter Sunday, Day 30: Normally filled with mimosas and chaos—I gave myself permission to drink, but I didn’t. I even apologized for the party not being “as fun.” But it was. It really was.
  • Memorial Day Weekend (Day 65-ish): I imagined this moment—a cold beer with my family by the ocean. But I stopped short. Diet Pepsi again. Sparkling water on the beach. And you know what? The fun still happened.

Conversations That Stuck

I told my 10-year-old daughter that I was taking a break for 75 days.
She said, “I know.”
Then, “Why?”
I told her, “It didn’t make me feel good and I was tired a lot.”
She said, “That makes sense.”

And it really does.

Other Things That Helped

  • Sober Mom Podcast – Real stories from normal moms who’d just had enough.
  • Mel Robbins Podcasts – Especially the episodes on women’s friendships, dealing with difficult people, and letting go.
  • Books + Audio – I highly recommend This Naked Mind by Annie Grace, especially the audio version. Her voice? Calming and honest.

The Weird Stuff

👻 Phantom Hangovers – I’d stay up late with friends, wake up feeling “off,” then realize… wait, I didn’t drink. Just tired. You’re fine. Go brush your teeth and get an espresso.

🍦 Sugar Cravings – Oh, I ate ice cream like it was my job. Also: full sugar Pepsi in mini cans, coconut water (had a few different types, but 100 coconuts from Publix or Amazon slapped), and THC drinks like Plift and Keef.

What’s Next?

I honestly don’t know. Am I done drinking forever? Probably not. But I’m also not racing to pop champagne tomorrow on day 76.

Something changed.

My mind is learning that fun isn’t in the drink. It’s in the people. The music. The memories. The laughing-until-your-cheeks-hurt kind of nights. And waking up the next day feeling strong, happy, and like yourself.

Thinking About Taking a Break?

You don’t have to have a “problem” with alcohol to want a break from alcohol. If that quiet voice inside is curious, I get it. I’ve heard the whisper for years. Below are some things that helped me:

📚 Resources:

🥤 Drinks I Loved (all linked on my LTK):

  • NA Corona
  • Coconut water in a can (the fancy kind)
  • Mini Diet Cokes and Real Sugar Pepsi
  • Plift + Keef THC drinks
  • Sparkling water, always

Final Thought

I did this to detox my liver, yes—but also my life.
To be a better wife, mom, friend, and human.
And somehow, with all my mixed feelings, I feel more like me than I have in a long time.

So that’s where I’ll leave it. For now.

Cheers (with Diet Pepsi),
Lindsay

Non- Alcoholic Sips

75 days without alcohol

I’ve completed four Dry Januarys and a Sober October. But 75 days without alcohol? That was the mountain I didn’t think I could climb.

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