How to Eat to Change How You Drink summary

Could you live without alcohol? Perhaps there’s a part of you that feels your relationship with alcohol isn’t as happy as it used to be. Perhaps that part is questioning whether alcohol is holding you back from being your best self. You don’t need to be a scientist or a doctor to determine whether you have a harmful relationship with alcohol. If you listen to your deepest inner voice, you know the answer.

But being sober may seem like an equally scary option. There’s probably another part of you that’s worried that quitting drinking would turn you into a total bore. A part that believes alcohol is essential for having fun, being social, or de-stressing. No wonder! That’s how alcohol is sold to us by the media, advertisements, and even our friends. 

But have you considered that alcohol is actually making your social life worse? Think about it – would you prefer to spend a night out glued to the bar, waiting for your next drink, or a night out actually connecting with your friends? 

And don’t forget the hangover – the day after drinking, you probably feel sluggish and irritable. You’re more likely to spend the day on the couch than do the workout you planned on doing. Ask yourself whether drinking is keeping you from achieving your goals.

Then there’s the myth that alcohol helps you destress. After a hard day’s work, a glass of wine or two just seems so appealing! But the relaxing effect of alcohol only offers short-term relief. In the long term, alcohol worsens your physical and mental stress.

Not to mention all the other adverse health effects linked to drinking. Did you know there’s evidence linking even moderate drinking to increased cancer risk? Yes, there are some studies suggesting that a glass of wine has a certain protective effect from heart disease. But many of these studies were done in countries where people eat a very healthy Mediterranean diet of vegetables, fish, and whole grains. 

The reality is that not drinking alcohol is healthier than drinking it. And you certainly don’t need alcohol to have a fun, social life. But changing a habit you’ve had for years is easier said than done.

You have to really reflect on why you felt you “needed” alcohol. Was it just for fun? To relieve stress? Or to cope with problems that haven’t been dealt with? Getting clear on your personal “why” is the first step.

Next, think about the person you want to become. How would drinking less allow you to better pursue your goals and live by your values? By constantly connecting your “why” to a vision for your best self, you make sobriety feel like an exciting challenge rather than a deprivation.

Lastly, remember that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Take things one day at a time rather than worrying about “forever.” Before you know it, days will turn into weeks and months. But it all starts with your choice today.