I stopped drinking alcohol 1.5 years ago, completely. I feel GREAT, my thinking is CLEAR, and I shed 20 lbs. It’s been a win-win. However, I need to add that I went on BHRT and a carnivore diet. I’m seriously a different 58 year old woman, and I feel 25, again. I’m not even exaggerating.😊

I was engaged and he drank every night. I eventually joined him in his evening cocktails. I eat very healthy and don’t eat sugar or grains (celiac) or most packaged foods, work out faithfully, and am very health minded. But the alcohol. I couldn’t use the same caution. I didn’t drink sugary drinks, usually a shot of tequila in a mineral water with lime, but the alcohol caught up with me. I didn’t feel well and I gained weight, but I couldn’t resist joining. We broke up for other reasons and this was painful, but I later realized that I needed to get away from the alcohol. I can enjoy the occasional 2oz wine tasting these days, but it’s rare, and I don’t keep alcohol in my home. I lost the weight shortly after the breakup. My new boyfriend rarely drinks, and that was one of my requirements in a new partner. I’m grateful to be free from alcohol. Thank you for talking candidly about this topic.

Thank you for being open and honest about your history with alcohol. I stopped drinking completely 5 years ago and sleep better and just feel better overall. My restaurant bill is so much less 😊

Thank you for being so frank about your drinking. I was exactly like you, a couple of glasses every day wine drinker until i got pancreatitis 1st June. That was a real wake up call for me and I havent had a drop since. There are now many 0.0% wines and beers available and really good mocktails. I am sleeping like i never have before and saving so much money as well. There are so many benefits to either cutting it out completely or only on special occasions. I wish Id done it years ago.

Wow, timing!!!! Your channel addresses everything I think about! I have never been much of a drinker but during Covid restrictions, found myself having a glass of wine or two nightly. I got Covid a year ago and decided to stop that habit. Now I drink a non alcoholic beer if I want something or a hop tea. Once in a while I have a glass of prosecco in a restaurant.I went out last night with friends who ordered skinny margaritas by the pitcher. I thought I would sip on one glass but it kept getting refilled. I didn't sleep well last night and feel sick today. I won't let that happen again. A sip is as good as a glass! Susan I so appreciate your voice to normalize Not drinking!! It is so needed. After following you, I went back on hormone replacement at 65 and for me the uplift I have gotten completely takes away the need for an alcohol lift. Thank you so much for your voice and your channel!!! xo

Thanks so much for confirming to me why I felt a strong need to quit alcohol completely about 3 months ago, after years of daily "sundowners". I functioned fairly well, ran about 8 km every morning, did my job without fault, but was definitely drinking at least 3× the weekly limit. Got to 51 and realized it really isn't working for me anymore...poor sleep, increased migraines, mood swings, the guilt etc. ..feeling so much clearer & in control of my mind now. Also setting a better example for my young adult kids who seem to have realized before me that alcohol really isn't a positive substance. ❤

Really great delivery on a really important topic. I am currently working on alcohol consumption in my life… this information was really eye opening. Thank you!

Alcohol is a poison. I stopped completely 20 months ago when I realized all of this. I read a lot of what it does to your mind and body and what your body has to pass through to get rid of that poison and I decided to stop completely. It is a fantastic gift that I offered myself. I am very proud of myself. I drink Kombucha now and I love it. It is about time that somebody talks openly about that subject 😊

I enjoyed this, great info thank you!

Highly recommend This Naked Mind by Annie Grace if you want an in depth understanding of all the reasons alcohol is a toxic substance to be avoided. I quit 20 months ago after reading this book, best thing I ever did! Thank you for sharing this information, Dr.Susan

Love your honesty about this topic. I like you had increased my intake after retirement. The weight gain was the real push to cut back considerably. Thanks for the humorous and realistic talk❤😊

This was very sobering. Thanks for sharing.

Appreciate you being so vulnerable in this and can completely relate to all of your personal experiences with alcohol.

I stopped in Feb 2021. I wanted to see if it had any effect on my sleep. Not only did stopping alcohol improve my sleep, my low level anxiety disappeared, my brain fog disappeared, and I can’t describe how much better I felt. I had a huge increase in energy after the first 6 months. I just could not believe the calmness I felt. Now, it did affect some of my friendships in the negative ….. old childhood friends found it hard to be with me when I wasn’t drinking. I FELT SO MUCH BETTER I DIDN’T CARE WHO LIKED IT OR NOT! I’m so glad I gave it a chance. One of the smartest things I ever have done.

Very informative video Dr. Susan. Thank you for that. I don't currently consider myself a big drinker, but if not mindful, that could change. That casual drink after a hard day at work can very easily turn into a habit. When I do have a glass of wine and then have to drive home, I really try to have that drink early on in the evening, like a before dinner drink, and then try to have a coffee before I leave. And I'd like to add that I'm sorry for the loss of your dear friend Dominique Sachse's mom, Audrey. Peace be with all of you at that time.

I didn’t realize how much I was drinking until watching your video. It was so helpful and informative and I have already made a plan to cut my consumption down to a much smaller “healthier” amount. Thank you

This has inspired me to take a closer look at the amount of alcohol that I consume. I don’t drink wine a lot, but I do love it. My drink of choice is a good vodka with bubbly water and a wedge of lemon or lime. I also really enjoy sipping a good tequila now and then. This should be eye-opening. Thanks for the info.

As a 40 year old and a first-time mom with a 1 year old, I am really starting to question my relationship with alcohol. I always (since I was in my early 20's) drank 2 or 3 diet vodka tonics a night. I am really starting to question if this is a sustainable practice. Thank you for being so honest and providing such excellent information as I consider what I need the new relationship with alcohol to be. I always assumed that because it is low-sugar, vodka tonics weren't 'that big of a deal', but I am finding my body processes the alcohol so different postpartum and I don't feel good when I drink. Thank you!!

Most of my adult life I hardly had any alcohol. Maybe once a year. My biological family has genetic predisposition to addiction, mental illness and abuse. I always admire Europeans for being able to stop at one or two depending on the their gender. The problem I ran into was feeling like I had to finish an open bottle. So I just decided it was easier to not have it. Then I discovered Coravin wine preserve. You can pour fine wine one sip to one glass as time. Exactly five ounces. It seals up and stays fresh for years. Now I have a glass three times a week. I also take a whole hour to have my glass with food. I don’t have any temptation to pour a second glass. Find your happy medium. Whether that’s none at all or some. I’ve come to discover that wine could be hobby for me. When it’s hobby you’re not getting sloshed all the time. You’re enjoying and being mesmerized by something.

Excellent video and perfect timing. I do enjoy a drink or two when we go out to dinner but now that I’m getting older 2 drinks completely wreck me throughout most of the next day. I sleep poorly and tend to be very hungry the next day craving carbs. I am currently trying to cut any alcohol consumption to just once a week and even then, I know I’m going to sacrifice a little sleep for it.

I quit over two years ago and it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. Better sleep, better skin, less sugar. Thank you for this video! PS I highly recommend the Hello Someday podcast with Casey Davidson. Perfect for Type A, overachieving women who don’t match the description of a “problem drinker” but could benefit from questioning/changing their relationship with alcohol.

I love your honesty!

Thank you for your honesty!

This totally resonates with me, thank

Such a good video! Thank you for your honesty and transparency, I was shaking my head to several of the CAGE questions especially while on summer vacation. I’ve noticed the weight gain in the belly that I attributed to menopause but could/most likely be the extra glass of wine. Can’t hurt to take a weekly inventory and make positive changes. Thank you for always raising the question and offering solutions.

I’m starting to realize how much alcohol I was consuming. Being on estradiol now I’m a little worried and have decided to decrease my wine habits.

Thanks for this video, Dr. Susan! Some good information. I’m currently using an app called “Sunnyside” which helps you track your drinking and tries to help reduce my alcohol consumption. I’ve developed quite a drinking habit. I need to cut WAY back. I need more self-control.

Good video! Thanks!

Thanks very much mdam about this …

I’m new here for your channel I spotted searching because I need to know my cholesterol thanks 🙏…

After i lost my fiancé to a car accident I was going out and drinking every night now I go out but not at much I took up boxing and that occupies my time and releases anger

Does alcohol consumption affect transdermal estrogen absorption?

I definitely can't drink as much as I used to. I'm 63 and liked to have 250 ml (8.5 oz) (in Sicily these containers come in packs of 3) of wine when cooking dinner. Got to be a habit. Any more than that, I would be wiped out the next day. Just this week, I decided to give it a break. Last night I slept 8 hours with 2 breaks. Usually it was every 2 hours. I'm not on HRT but looking into starting now. I thought it was a menopause symptom but maybe it's the wine. Probably both.