I'm busting the myth of the overnight transformation and getting into the real reason why you might not feel amazing right away: it's not a moral failing, it's chemistry.

When we drink regularly over time, alcohol takes over jobs our brain used to handle on its own — dopamine production, GABA regulation, stress response, relaxation. Our brain, always trying to conserve energy, stops producing those chemicals itself and relies on alcohol to do it instead. So when we remove alcohol, the brain doesn't just snap back into full production mode. It waits. It recalibrates. And that takes time.

In this episode, I cover:

I also share what helped me personally (including going through a gut detox after years of damage) 

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

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In this episode of Sober Fit Life, I'm joined by one of my most dedicated coaching clients — Sandra Draper, joining me all the way from Western Australia. Sandra holds a senior leadership role in the Western Australian government, supporting innovative companies as they grow, and she is one of the most committed people I've had the privilege of coaching.

Sandra shares how her relationship with alcohol shifted gradually — starting as a social habit in her late 20s, becoming a coping mechanism after her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and eventually growing into something that was quietly working against everything she valued. She wasn't losing everything on the outside, but on the inside, she was out of alignment — spiritually, professionally, and personally.

What I love about Sandra's story is how she approached change: not with shame, but with curiosity. She started by getting educated on the neuroscience of alcohol, and that shift in perspective — from a willpower problem to a brain science conversation — was the turning point for her.

In this episode, we talk about:

Sandra's advice for anyone quietly questioning their relationship with alcohol: take a step back and honestly ask whether alcohol is giving you what you think it is — or taking more than it's giving. And then get curious about what the best version of you could look like.

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

Book a FREE Discovery Call

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I am so excited to share this episode with you because it's one I've been wanting to do for a while, a real, behind-the-scenes look at what the coaching process actually looks like from my client's perspective.

Michael Levins is one of my coaching clients, and he came on to tell his story completely unfiltered. And honestly? I think so many of you are going to hear yourselves in him. Michael was a social drinker, loved the Friday exhale, the weekend fun with friends, and drinks at work events. But the mornings after were quietly adding up.

Then came the golf tournament. He overslept, missed most of the round, let his partner down, had his wife panicking trying to reach him, and felt too physically wrecked to even feel guilty about it. That was his moment.

What I love about Michael's story is how he and I actually met, a chance encounter in a gym class in Lake Tahoe, a full year before he ever called me. You'll have to listen for that one. And then how, after that golf trip, his wife remembered my name and sent him my link. A year later, here we are.

In this episode, we get into what coaching actually looked like week by week, the education on what alcohol is truly doing to your brain and body (the blood-brain barrier conversation still gets me), the personalized toolkit we built together, and how Michael went from dreading a big football weekend with his college friends to coming out the other side completely alcohol-free... and nobody even noticed.

One of my favorite things Michael said is that he thought getting support meant admitting he had a problem. I hear this all the time, and I'm so glad he said it out loud, because that belief keeps so many people stuck for years, sometimes decades. We get coaches for golf, for fitness, for business.

This is no different. If you've been in that gray area, asking yourself the same questions on repeat but never quite taking action, this episode is for you.

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

Book a FREE Discovery Call

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I'm so excited to share this conversation with you! I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend Christy Osborne, and let me tell you, her story is incredibly powerful. I've watched some of her journey firsthand, from writing her book to creating the 40-day fast that's now changing thousands of lives. 

Christy is a Christian sobriety coach, author, and host of the Love Life Sober podcast. Christy shares her incredible journey from being a glamorous blogger in London to finding freedom from alcohol through faith and neuroscience-informed practices.

Christy opens up about the complicated layers of her drinking story—from postpartum depression to the devastating loss of her mother. She reveals what life looked like behind the glossy Instagram posts and champagne glasses, and the divine moment that changed everything on the two-year anniversary of her mother's death.

You'll hear about Christy's book "Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind," and learn about the upcoming Lent Fast starting February 18th—which I'll be coaching in alongside Christy! I'm so honored to join her. 

This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered if they need to change their relationship with alcohol, especially Christian women who feel alone in their struggle. The next fast won't be until October, so if you've been thinking about this, now is the time!

On the fence about coaching with Maureen Benkovich? Hear what it’s really like—from an actual client.

Trina Dolenz is a couples therapist and relationship expert (VH1’s Tool Academy), author of Retool Your Relationship, and a familiar voice from the Dr. Drew universe (including guest hosting Loveline). And in this episode of Sober Fit Life, she’s not here to “teach”—she’s here to share her real experience being coached.

Connect with Trina:

https://www.couplestherapyannapolis.com

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/trina-dolenz-washington-dc/91622

Trina talks about her European upbringing where alcohol felt cultured, sophisticated, and nostalgic… and how that story can quietly turn into habit. You’ll hear what surprised her about a science-based, non-judgmental approach, why she didn’t want an all-or-nothing rulebook, and what it looked like to take a mindful break with structure.

We get honest about the moments nobody posts about—being alone, being bored, and learning how to build new rituals and replacements that actually feel good. Trina also shares what she noticed in her attitude, presence, and gratitude as a grandmother, plus her therapist's take on how alcohol can quietly impact connection in relationships.

If you’re thinking, “I know I’m drinking too much… I just don’t know how to change it,” this episode is for you.

✅ Take the quiz: Am I Drinking Too Much? https://www.soberfitchick.com/ami

In this episode of Sober Fit Life, I’m breaking down one of the most overlooked reasons people keep drinking, even when they don’t want to: people pleasing disguised as politeness.

This conversation is about what happens when alcohol becomes a social smoothing tool—not because you’re craving it, but because you’re trying to manage other people’s comfort, avoid awkwardness, or prevent imagined judgment.

I share real coaching examples from clients who drank after months or even a year alcohol-free, not because they wanted to, but because they didn’t want to seem rude, difficult, or judgmental. We unpack the mindset behind those moments, why your brain treats assumptions like facts, and how “mind-reading” leads directly to self-sabotage.

You’ll learn why this isn’t a willpower issue and how automatic negative thoughts quietly drive drinking decisions in social, personal, and professional settings.

We also talk about:

Why drinking to keep others comfortable is actually self-abandonment

How alcohol solves discomfort for 30 minutes but creates regret for days

Why confidence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a practiced decision

How to stop apologizing for not drinking

This episode is packed with practical coaching questions, mindset reframes, and simple scripts you can use at dinners, parties, and business meetings, without over-explaining or feeling awkward.

If you’ve ever found yourself drinking just to keep things “smooth,” this episode will help you pause, choose differently, and build real self-trust—one moment at a time.

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

Book a FREE Discovery Call

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Welcome back to Sober Fit Life! It's been a while, and there's a reason for that. 2025 threw me some major curveballs—two spine surgeries, a booze-filled cruise, and turning 60. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly what I learned navigating all of it completely alcohol-free.

I talk about the mental work it took to recover from surgery without numbing out, what happened when I was accidentally served alcohol on a cruise (and the thoughts that went through my brain in those split seconds), and how I'm reframing what it means to celebrate a milestone birthday without a blowout party.

If you've ever wondered whether you can handle life's biggest stressors, travel, or major transitions without alcohol, this episode is for you. I'm sharing the tools that got me through, the mindset shifts that made all the difference, and why I'm more confident than ever stepping into this next decade alcohol-free.

I've been alcohol-free for years, and I'm still using those same tools my coach passed on to me when I first quit drinking. In this episode, I'm sharing some of them with you. 

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram 

In this episode of Sober Fit Life, I’m joined by my friend and former client Carrie Chojnowski, who returns to the podcast 14 months after completing my Six-Week Alcohol Reset. Carrie originally joined the reset out of curiosity, not because her drinking looked “out of control,” but because alcohol no longer aligned with the life and health she was building.

Carrie shares what’s shifted since removing alcohol, from improved sleep and brain clarity to calmer relationships and deeper self-trust. As a holistic health coach with a background in speech pathology, Carrie opens up about why alcohol was the one health habit she avoided questioning—and how finally addressing it changed everything.

We talk about gray area drinking, the detox-retox cycle many health-minded women fall into, and why sustainable change doesn’t come from white-knuckling or shame—but from curiosity, data, and self-awareness.

This episode is for anyone who feels “fine” on the outside but knows something still feels off—and is ready to explore what life could look like without alcohol in the way.

What gray area drinking really looks like for high-functioning women

Why Carrie joined the Six-Week Alcohol Reset despite already living a healthy lifestyle

How alcohol quietly impacted her sleep, brain fog, anxiety, and relationships

The surprising confidence boost that came from skipping alcohol at a family wedding

How her children and husband noticed changes before she fully did

Why boredom, stress, and connection needs often drive drinking

Navigating social situations, travel, and airports alcohol-free

The power of “data points” instead of shame when experimenting with drinking less

How quitting alcohol made her a better coach and business owner

Why removing alcohol helped everything else finally work

Website

Instagram

My Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram 

In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact strategies I teach my clients when the holidays start holiday-ing a little too hard. Think: bottomless drinks, unending invitations, and that tiny inner voice that whispers, “We’ll deal with this in January.” (Fun fact: "January You" strongly disagrees.)

We cover the tools and mindset shifts that help you move through this season with more clarity and less autopilot drinking. These are the same practices my clients use to feel better in their bodies, protect their sleep, stay connected to themselves, and truly enjoy the holidays — without slipping into habits that leave them feeling wiped out or disappointed.

Here’s a snapshot of what we explore:

• Why the holidays turn so many of us into “default drinkers.”
• Why your sleep will thank you for drinking less
• The HALT method and how it helps you pause before you pour
• My Three P’s: Partner, Plan, Path — a simple strategy that removes pressure at parties
• How to enter social events with more confidence and less anxiety

Listen for more tools on boundaries, nervous system support, and noticing your patterns with compassion instead of self-judgment.

If you enjoy having something festive in your glass, I share one of my favorites:
Prima Pavé Blanc de Blancs, an alcohol-free sparkling wine handcrafted in Italy. It comes in a beautiful bottle and feels celebratory without the after-effects. You can find it at BetterRhodes.com.

Join my 6-Week Alcohol Reset with Group Coaching.
We keep the group small, so you get meaningful support, weekly live coaching, access to my FOUR “R” Method inside the course, and a connection with others who are walking the same path.

👉 Register here: https://www.soberfitchick.com/alcohol-reset 

Let me know if today’s tools help you — I love hearing what shifts for you, even the small wins.

Wishing you a holiday season that supports your body, your health, and your peace.

In this episode, Maureen sits down with Becca Stahl, the editor behind Sober Fit Life. What started as a casual conversation about sobriety turned into a powerful story of transformation that needed to be shared.

Becca opens up about quitting drinking in her late twenties while working in the alcohol industry, how she discovered the concept of sober curiosity before she even knew what it was called, and why her version of "rock bottom" didn't look like what most people expect. She shares candidly about managing OCD and trauma, and why she's grateful she made this change before becoming a mom.

This is a story about curiosity, self-honesty, and the courage to question everything you thought was normal.

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz  

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday 

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram