Those of you who have followed along for awhile know that a few years ago I significantly cut back on how much alcohol I was consuming. Even though I wasn’t a daily drinker (more social settings and out to eat settings for me), during Covid lockdown times my alcohol consumption increased and stayed up more than pre-Covid times. Every year that passed, it just felt harder and harder on my body and more importantly, my brain. I could not ignore what was happening to me anymore and made the decision to majorly reduce and over time my body felt more and more amazing, leading me to consume less and less. I had more energy, better sleep, and just an overall sense of clarity. My fat burning was better and my body looked better too, I’ve documented this in more depth, both with a highlight on my Instagram titled ‘Alcohol’ at the top and I discuss it in Episode 23 of my podcast titled All About Alcohol (this is a good one if you want to hear about how alcohol can fit into your fat loss goals, but I do share truths around my decision to reduce.)
There’s no doubt that the sober curious & sober (shout out to my fiancé who is almost 500 days!!) movement is popping up everywhere, but it’s truly for good reason. More and more research is coming out about the health impacts of alcohol consumption. If you’re in a place where you are ready to hear the truth about the effects of alcohol, this episode from Andrew Huberman is a great place to be informed. Watch that here.
Now, I still love my special occasion drink or brunchy Mimosa every now and then, but these days my version of balance is opting for more mocktails and non-alcoholic options. Full transparency, it took time for me to make this transition. For many reasons…another post for another day I suppose. BUT the main thing I realized is ordering that drink or having it in my hand is simply HABIT. I mean I talk about this all the time in my coaching…so much of what we do, the patterns we repeat…they’re just habits we’ve created.
And what helped me break the habit was simply switching to alcohol removed wines, mocktails, and even just replacing with other drinks. As I’ve shared this I’ve gotten sooooooooooo many messages curious about my favorites (and plenty of unfollows…that’s okay, this is my truth and it isn’t for anyone else to approve. Zero judgment from me but I’m gonna do what’s best FOR ME! And as I mentioned, I still balance and have my drink when it feels worth it!) Because of all the interest, I compiled a list to share so check it out!
Here are the Alcohol Removed and mocktail options I have been LOVING!
–FRE from Sutter Home. They’ve got wine, champagne and I can 100% vouch these are amazing! This has been my favorite so far. Tastes just like the real thing and best of all – no headache or sluggish feeling after!
–Freixenet – alcohol removed wine and they even have a lower calorie option. Sweet but not too sweet and delicious!
–Recess Zero Proof craft mocktails. Canned and ready to go! These give you a relaxing, chill feeling and I LOVED them by the pool this summer. Best part, I slept GREAT and woke up rested and ready to go.
-Apothekary herbal drops – can be added into any drink! This is fun to add to a mocktail out at a bar!
–Corona makes an NA beer that is FAB and low on the calories! Athletic Brewing is also a solid choice.
[AFFILIATE LINK] I have most of these linked in my Amazon Storefront under Food Products! Check that out here.
My other go-to has been simply drinking sparking waters with fresh fruit or kombucha with fresh herbs in a fancy wine glass. It’s more of a placebo effect that helps me turn on that ~*relaxing self-care*~ vibe.
And you may actually be surprised to find that mannnnyyyy bars and restaurants are now carrying NA options and growing mocktail menu as more places catch on. I feel like Arkansas is a little behind the times with this, but my fiancé always asks and we were pleasantly surprised this past weekend when we went to a local restaurant and they had NA wines and prosecco! We had “mimosas” before a concert and this served as a great reminder that it’s always worth it to ask.
If you’ve been feeling like you want to explore cutting back, you may want to start with trying “dry” months or weeks to reset your habits. Or even replacing one night you would normally have your drink for an NA option. Notice how you feel, and go from there in finding the right balance that works best for your lifestyle and health goals.
Cheers to your own journey!
-XO
-Hilary
