Why I Quit Drinking at 44—and Got My Life Back

For years, I told myself, “I don’t have to drink, I just like to.”

But somewhere between 39 and 44, that “like to” started costing me more than I realized.

I wasn’t getting blackout drunk or waking up with hangovers every day.

But I was bloated, moody, foggy, exhausted, and honestly—unrecognizable to myself.

One glass of wine turned into three.

One skipped workout turned into a week.

And worst of all, my spark was gone.

The Wake-Up Call That Made Me Quit

It wasn’t dramatic. No big “rock bottom.”

Just one night sitting on the couch, wine in hand, scrolling my phone and realizing:

I’m not living. I’m numbing.

That moment of quiet honesty shook me.

And it sent me on a journey that led to the best decision I’ve made in my 40s:

I quit drinking—and took my power back.

1. Hormonal Havoc

Alcohol throws your hormones into chaos.

At 44, my body was already shifting—and wine made the symptoms worse.

My sleep was awful, my skin was breaking out, and my mood swings were real.

Here’s What Alcohol Was Really Doing to Me at 44

This is what I wish someone had told me sooner:

2. Inflammation & Bloating

Even a glass of red wine would leave me puffy the next morning.

My joints ached, my digestion was off, and my face looked inflamed.

3. Weight Gain (That Wouldn’t Budge)

I was eating clean and working out, but I couldn’t lose the stubborn weight around my belly.

Turns out, alcohol slows metabolism, increases cortisol, and stores fat—especially in midlife.

4. Relationship Drama

Wine made me emotional, reactive, and disconnected.

Conversations turned into arguments. Intimacy faded. I was not showing up as my best self.

5. Laziness, Fatigue & No Drive

I felt tired all day, wired at night, and uninspired about pretty much everything.

I wasn’t lazy—I was drained. Alcohol was robbing me of my energy and motivation.

So I Quit… But I Still Needed a Roadmap

Let me be real:

Stopping drinking was one thing.

Staying stopped—and rebuilding myself from the inside out—was another.

I didn’t want to go to AA. I didn’t resonate with the labels.

I didn’t need rehab—I needed a self-led healing path that fit my life.

That’s when I found the Empowered Recovery Course.

And that’s when everything changed.

What I Found Inside the Empowered Recovery Course

This wasn’t just about quitting alcohol.

It was about rewiring the reasons I ever reached for it in the first place.

With each lesson, I:

  • Got clear on my emotional triggers

  • Learned how to regulate my nervous system and mood

  • Rebuilt trust with myself

  • Developed a powerful new identity as a clear, grounded, purpose-driven woman

  • Lost inflammation weight and started sleeping better

Showed up stronger in my relationships—and in my skin

Empowered Recovery Helped Me Become Who I’m Meant to Be

I didn’t just stop drinking.

I started feeling fully alive again.

I finally have the mental clarity, physical vitality, and emotional strength I used to crave—but couldn’t access through willpower alone.

The Empowered Recovery Course didn’t shame me or label me.

It taught me how to heal.

If you’re curious about life without alcohol—or you know it’s time to stop numbing and start rising—this course will meet you where you are.