Episode 292

I enjoyed drinking alone, and I know that being alone can be a challenge when you stop drinking.

Whether you live alone or find drinking alone an enjoyable "reward," but you don't want to continue drinking, this episode is for you.

Today, I'm answering a question from a To 50 and Beyond listener, Kim, as part of my six-week Q&A series.

Kim sent me an email saying:

I go about 30 days without drinking but find it hard to keep it going, mainly because I live alone. No one will know if I drink, so I often give in and tell myself—I'll have just a little (you know how this goes) or just because I'm bored or miss my nightly glasses of wine. How do I break this habit of giving in because of feeling this way?

In this episode, I discuss the benefits of staying sober alone in midlife: building more trust, pride, confidence, and patience with yourself when you stay true to what you want more than alcohol.

I share suggestions to help you if you're feeling lonely, bored, or in the habit of rewarding yourself with alcohol to create new rituals for yourself.

My message to you is that you are not the only one who feels like drinking alone is enjoyable or lives alone and finds it hard not to give in. "I'll just have one."

Give yourself time and lots of love and kindness to help you find new ways to manage your daily life without drinking alcohol.

I'm with you 100%!

Please contact me if you have a topic for the podcast or need a friend.

Thank you for listening!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Daily Sobriety ToolkitJoin Team Alcohol-Free

If you liked this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don't know there is an "alcohol-free" option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."

Make sure to "follow" To 50 and Beyond to get all the wonderful episodes coming your way. If you don't click "follow," you will miss hearing what's coming up.

Thank you!

Episode 291

Today, I'm answering the question: What if my drinking isn't "bad enough" to quit?

I've heard this question from midlife women for years and asked myself this question for two years.

f you are on the verge of going alcohol-free but aren't 100% certain that your drinking is at a place where you "need" to remove alcohol completely, this is the episode for you.

Even though my drinking was considered "bad enough" to quit on paper and in my heart, it didn't mean that I stopped. For two years, I tried to justify and compare my drinking to others whose drinking was worse than mine.

The purpose of this episode is to share some good news - you don't have to measure your drinking by "bad" to go alcohol-free.

I've got you, friend!

During this episode, you'll hear:

• My story and reasons why I was trying to moderate my drinking and make alcohol "work"

• What I envisioned of someone who had to quit drinking, and why I resisted being a sober woman

• Why the consequences of my drinking and others doesn't make it easier to quit drinking

• The good news! Why you don't have to measure your choice to quit drinking by labels or by comparing yourself to others

• How Gray Area drinking plays a role in our choice to stop drinking on our own accord

• The questions you can ask yourself if you are wondering if your drinking isn't "bad enough" to quit

Ask yourself these questions to learn more about where you are with your drinking and where you want to be:

1. Why are you wondering if your drinking isn't bad enough to quit? Is it to validate quitting or continuing to drink?

2. If my drinking is not bad enough, how bad does it have to get? When is enough enough?

3. What is holding you back from going alcohol-free?

4. What if you allow yourself to create an alcohol-free lifestyle not because your drinking is bad but because YOU want better and different than what alcohol gives you?

Don't compare how you feel about alcohol and your drinking to anyone else - including me. Stay in your lane because that is where you will figure it out. 👊🏻

Mentioned in this episode:

The Hardest Part of Getting Sober

Email me with a question you would like me to answer.

How I can help you:

The Daily Sobriety Toolkit

Join Team Alcohol-Free

Plan A Private Coaching

If you liked this episode and want to take a few minutes to support the podcast, I want to encourage you to leave a positive rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

So many women out there don't know there is an "alcohol-free" option and are struggling with their drinking.

Your support will help these women find the podcast this week and learn about an alcohol-free lifestyle later in life.

➡️Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."

I read my reviews and will hug you when I see yours.

Make sure to "follow" To 50 and Beyond to receive all the wonderful episodes. If you don't click "follow," you will miss out on what's coming up.

Thank you!

If you have a question you would like answered on the podcast, send me an email!

Episode 290

If you are a gal in midlife who is questioning her drinking and having a hard time getting sober, I'm with you.

In this episode, I answer a client's question: What was the hardest part of getting sober for you?

After she asked me this question, I didn't hesitate. The hardest part for me was deciding to stop drinking.

I spent two years feeling stuck in decision fatigue and putting in lots of effort to make alcohol work. On August 11, 2013, I decided to go all in on what I wanted more than drinking alcohol.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How and why I decided to stop drinking

• My take on what it means to "get sober"

• Why it's difficult to decide to quit drinking (spoiler alert: it's not you, it's alcohol)

• The fears that I faced in going alcohol-free, which are shared among many women in midlife

• What it takes to go "all-in" on freeing yourself from alcohol

My message to you…

If you are having difficulty deciding right now, take a walk with yourself and map out a plan. Maybe now isn't the time to take this on, and that's okay - you can't force yourself to get sober - you will figure it out, and you're on your way. I

If you're ready to go all in, you can do it. I believe in you. Be kind and patient with yourself and take it day to day.

Thank you for listening!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Daily Sobriety Toolkit

Join Team Alcohol-Free

Episode 289

Hey there, friend!

This episode comes straight from my heart and is for the moms and grandmas of the world who feel regretful about their drinking.

I share what becoming a mom was like, how I started drinking the day I came home from the hospital, and why I quit drinking for myself, not my son, but stay sober for him today.

I also talk about how I'm living with the regret of my drinking as a mom.

In honor of Mother's Day and where I am today on my motherhood road, I wanted to talk about this topic to let you know you are not alone.

My favorite thing I said in this episode (yes, I'm quoting myself) is: I have never regretted the decision to stop drinking.

Thank you for being here.

I appreciate you!

How I can help you:

Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit.

Schedule a Discovery Session to enroll in private coaching.

Get coaching and make new friends inside Team Alcohol-Free.

Bonus episode

Hello friend!

I'm popping in today to share with you a new free resource I created, The Daily Sobriety Toolkit.

I'm so excited to share this toolkit with you!

The Daily Sobriety Toolkit is your trusted companion to help you plan your day and stay connected to the reason why you are choosing yourself over alcohol today. Not forever.

You can grab your toolkit here.

Thank you for listening!

I will be on a break until May 8, 2024. See you back here then.

Do you need extra support in going and staying alcohol-free?

Learn more about my community, Team Alcohol-Free.

To learn more about myself and my coaching, visit my website here.

Episode 288

I first came across Dr. Dawn's Instagram account and was immediately drawn to her passion for helping others and the way she teaches and shares her wisdom - which is why I reached out to invite her back to the podcast to help us understand more about what hormones are the hormones that are the key players during menopause and how alcohol affects our hormones during this time.

Dr. Dawn is a Naturopathic physician with extensive experience in the treatment of substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, and is doing work in ketamine therapy, which she talks about in this episode.

This episode is for you if you are a gal in perimenopause and beyond. It's also for you if you're not sure.

About Dr. Dawn:

Dr. Dawn is a licensed naturopathic physician in Arizona. She has specialized in addiction recovery for almost two decades, first as the medical director of an eating disorder treatment center and then as the medical director of a residential program specializing in addictions and trauma.

She is passionate about transformation and believes integrative medicine is an important component of addiction recovery.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The different stages of transition into menopause

• What hormones play a key role during perimenopause and beyond

• The hormones effected by alcohol during menopause

• How to approach your doctor and share about your drinking to get help

• The best course of action to take when it comes to your drinking

• Dr. Dawn's services, including her latest research into Ketamine therapy

Find Dr. Dawn here:

Dr. Dawn's Website

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Dawn on To 50 and Beyond #165

Join Team Alcohol-Free

Episode 286

I invited Sarah Rusbatch to the podcast to talk about Alcohol Use Disorder and share how alcohol impacts women as we get older.

Sarah is a Gray Area Drinking and Menopause coach, as well as the author of the book Beyond Booze: How to Create a Life You Love Alcohol-free.

Sarah and I discuss the importance of addressing alcohol use disorder for women in midlife, exploring coping mechanisms, societal pressures, challenges, and the benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle.

We also talk about the effects of alcohol during perimenopause and how to emphasize self-care, empowerment, and building resilience for those contemplating reducing alcohol intake.

You can read this episode's show notes here.

Are you ready to get support in going and staying alcohol-free?

Join Team Alcohol-Free today!

Team Alcohol-Free is a safe and private community forum for women 35 and over who are curious about sobriety or already living alcohol-free.

To learn more, click here.

Episode 286

What does it mean to drink moderately?

Hello! I'm glad you're here.

This episode will help you understand what it really means to drink moderately. I will share the latest research, and then we will look at what it looks and feels like to be the moderator of your drinking. I'm going to share my experience with trying to be a moderate drinker and why I couldn't.

I talk about the "moderation game" I played with myself and why just a little alcohol wasn't enough.

This episode is for you if you're working at drinking moderately and disappointing yourself because you can't moderate your drinking and feel bad about yourself that you can't.

This episode is not meant to make you feel bad about your drinking.

You are not alone if you are having a hard time drinking less. I'm with you.

Read this episode's full show notes here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Florence And The Machine: Moderation

Do you want help in creating a plan to stay alcohol-free in April?

I will help you create a simple and flexible plan in April and every month after inside my community Team Alcohol-Free.

You are not lacking willpower, but chances are you may be missing out on a plan, and a supportive community to help you see it through.

Join Team Alcohol-Free today!

Episode 285

Hello, friend! I'm glad you're here!

If you have ever found yourself saying, "I deserve a drink," or feel deprived when you stop drinking because you think of alcohol as a reward, you are not alone.

You will appreciate today's episode with two of my favorite people: the twins are back!

Leigh and Anne Walkup are the Founders of Retro Rodeo Publishing, LLC and Front Porch Life Magazine.

They drank together and got sober together. They know a thing or two about using alcohol to treat themselves.

In this episode, you will hear the signs of viewing alcohol as a reward and how to change your perspective to find new rewards without drinking.

You can read the episode's full show notes here.

Thank you for listening!

Find Leigh and Anne here.

Ready to get support to help you go and stay alcohol-free?

Learn more about joining a community of women who understand where you are and have your back!

Join Team Alcohol-Free 2024

Episode 284

Hello, friend!

A short and sweet episode for you today where I reflect on what I needed to hear before I stopped drinking.

One of the things I needed to hear before I quit drinking, wasn't easy to hear, but it was the catalyst for me to get to sobriety two years later.

This episode goes out to those brave souls who are standing at the crossroads of sobriety. It is a nudge, not a push, to listen to more of what you're saying to yourself because chances are that is what you need, and deserve to hear today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join my email community to receive my new freebie coming next week: The Daily Sobriety Toolkit, and to learn more about Team Alcohol-Free 2024 enrollment coming March 20th!

Join here.