This episode dives into what to do when someone you care about shares that they don’t think you need to cut back or wishes you wouldn’t cut back or dismisses your desire to quit or cut back. Mostly, when people dismiss your desire to cut back it’s just because they don’t want to cut back. They don’t want anything to change. So when you say you are going to do something differently, it often will make them look at their own habits around alcohol. And they might unconsciously feel a bit...

This is a HOT episode friends, you must listen ASAP.  Have you secretly done something for someone else whit it's really what YOU want?  Truth telling time!  You must turn in to hear about this very sneaky behavior that I'm guessing WE ALL SHARE.  Especially, people pleasers!  I share a story of when I recently asked my son if he wanted donuts and discovered that I was doing that because I WANTED DONUTS.  He didn't even ask about donuts, but I pretended it was something that he would...

I was scrolling through some of my favorite sober Instagram accounts the other day and came across a graphic that said  ‘5 ways to stop drinking.’  The first one was ‘prioritize yourself.’  I thought, yah, I know what that means but if you are reading a post on how to stop drinking, it’s likely YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.  So, I thought, I’d explain if for y’all in this podcast episode.  Often when we see, hear, or read these messages of advice, we think in big extremes.  Ok, I gotta...

This week’s episode talks about the creeping effect of drinking alcohol.  Have you recognized:  1) Your drinking has increased over time in how many days a week you drink or how many drinks you have each time you drink?  2) When you try and cut back and then you are ‘loose’ with your rules around alcohol, you notice it creeping back in to your old habits?  Tune in and hear how I describe this phenomenon.  Alcohol is invasive it’s like a weed with a strong root that takes hold, and...

This is another question I received and wanted to dive into this specifically.  This can feel like a dilemma. You notice someone you care about over-drinking. Maybe they are stumbling at the end of a night out. Maybe they can't drive to pick up their kids, maybe they get really sad or cry after a night out.... and it's not just a one time incident. You notice this frequently.  Do you say something?  Do you not?  Is it your place?  Will you be able to change them?  Tune in and I address...

I'm answering another listener question today on the podcast. I am diving into this question:  'I think the thing I wonder most is "is it truly possible to go from decades of nightly wine addiction to moderating easily". 'Are there people that can switch to drinking 4 or 5 times a month without thinking about it constantly? I'm so tired of thinking about it all the time. I sometimes think it'd be easier just to quit all together.'  Tune in this week and hear what I think about moderation...

I'm answering more listener questions on the podcast today!  Today is all about food! Many people transfer one over consumption to another.  Today's episode is about food and how you can use the same tools that I teach about alcohol to how much/when you are eating.  I address these questions:  SO my question is, how do I transition this to food....I have found that I snack like it's my job now that I'm not drinking. I'm stuck here..I thought it could just apply the same principles for...

Another great listener question getting answered today. Here's the question: Why everyone thinks you are over-drinking because of some trauma in your life or some emotions you are trying to cover up... how to deal with over-drinking because you simply LOVE the buzz. In this episode, I explain why you get a buzz and why we get addicted to it. I also share ways to regulate your dopamine levels and add smaller doses of pleasure into your life so that you aren't searching for the big hit of...

What do you want to hear on the Stop Over-drinking and Start Living podcast?  Today, I'm answering this question:  How can you positively influence someone you care about who is over drinking such that it is negatively impacting not only your relationship with them, but many areas of their life and how they show up? How to support and inspire positive changes?  Tune in and hear the answer! Also, will you share my podcast? Chances are you know a lot of people that struggle with...

Happy 'Love' month! I like to focus on self-love this month. I don't think anyone needs advice on how to love their friends and family more.. I think we could take a tiny fraction of the energy we spend loving others and focus it on ourselves. THAT IS NOT SELFISH. We have been programmed to believe that doing anything other than acts of service for other people is self-ish, especially as women. So, I declare February self-love month and inside my Alive AF! membership, we take it to the next...

In this week's episode I dive into the shame we carry about having issues with alcohol.  In the podcast I remind you that 1 - there is nothing wrong with you. You have a human brain that is literally wired to get addicted. And #2 our society has programmed us to associate alcohol problems to be the 'person in the gutter.' And the truth is, MORE people have drinking problems that we will ever realize or know because everyone is so ashamed of it and they don't speak up or out.  Also, I...

Join me for a workshop that helps you evaluate the full month and decide what you want to do with alcohol as you start a new month. We discussed and reviewed the 6 tools I teach to help you stop over-drinking. We evaluated our wins, misses, and made commitments to ourselves on what we would do differently next time, whether you are still on a break from alcohol or not. I would recommend listening to this episode while sitting with a notebook and pen and do the prompts that I suggest! Alive...

I recognize that being like me might seem ‘impossible’ to you.  It might also seem impossible to you that your  life could look like mine, full of big adventures, travel, successful business, amazing relationships, good health and alcohol free.  I want you to know that I get it.  Before I quit drinking and found life changing tools to help shift my perspective on what is possible, I wouldn’t have believed my life was attainable for me either, I literally thought my life was for certain...

This episode is a rewind from an excellent discussion I had with certified stop drinking coach for men, Patrick Fox.Join my colleague, Patrick Fox, the stop drinking coach for men, and I as we dive into how you can be more successful during Dry January or at anytime you are exploring your relationship with alcohol.We covered: How to handle partners/friends who still drink How to treat yourself well (even if you over-drink) URGES!! How to dig a bit deeper than just counting the days (tools...

This episode is the Dry January Class I taught live last week. I taught coaching 6 tools to help you be successful this month whether you are doing Dry January or just have goals to cut back. #1 Intentional vs Unintentional#2 Prepare#3 Urges#4 Play it Through#5 Fix your Mindset#6 Evaluate Grab a journal and get ready to take notes, you don’t want to miss! Check out the retreat and coaching packages and start with me now and come to North Carolina this...

Happy 2024! What kinds of things do you make preparations for? Vacations? Like, do you look at the weather to where you are going and make sure you have clothes and shoes you want to wear? Do you research some top attractions, check out some restaurants or hikes or tours and make plans? What about your work? If you have a project due at a certain time, are you thinking about everything you need to get it done in advance? Enlisting team members, delegating things, ordering supplies,...

I'm so excited for Dry January and I cannot wait to support women who are taking on the challenge. In this podcast I explain how I can support you in doing Dry January. I tell you about the 2 FREE classes I am holding during the month. One in the beginning of the month to help set you up for success. One at the end of the month to help you decide what to do when Dry January is over. I also explain ALL of the ways you can work with me during Dry January and beyond and how you can get your...

Well, you are in for a very special treat today, my beautiful friends! I was thrilled to have Amy back on the podcast to give you all an update on her journey with alcohol and for her to share her experience with my Sober Cancun Retreat and Coaching program. You might have listened to Amy previously on the podcast when I had her and her sister-in-law both on, sharing what they had done together inside Alive AF! my monthly coaching membership. If you haven't listened to that one, it's also...

Last week, I described implicit peer pressure (internal thoughts/feelings you have when you are trying to cut back or not drink and everyone around you is drinking but not necessarily outwardly 'pressuring' you to drink). This week, I discuss GOOD implicit and Explicit Peer Pressure. This is putting yourself in groups of like-minded people to help support your goals of drinking less or places like a gym where you are challenged a bit more to go the extra mile more than you would on your...

The topic of peer pressure has come up a lot lately, probably since we are full in the holiday season. This episode, I define the difference between Implicit pressure and Explicit pressure. Most of us experience Implicit pressure the majority of the time. This is the peer pressure where it’s more an internal pressure about fitting or or being left out. Explicit is the obvious, spoken words of someone suggesting we should drink. Tune in and see what kinds of peer pressure you experience...

But I want to know if you are lying to yourself, others, and/or me. Listen, we all lie. It's part of the human condition. BUT, when it comes to changing personal habits you don't like (like over-drinking)...... you must commit to telling the truth. So cliche, but the old adage is true ...' the truth shall set you free.' Tune into this week's episode and hear how to know if you are lying to yourself, how to tell yourself the truth with love and compassion, and then commit to stop lying...

This episode gives you permission to not feel obligated to do all the things around the holidays that you normally do 'just because it's family' or otherwise. I discuss how you have free will and autonomy as an adult to decide if you do things or not. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. And yes, some people won't like it and it's ok. If you do decide to do it even though you don't like it, own that it was still your decision to make. You will feel more empowered and better...

I know what it’s like to be stuck and over-drinking and not believing in myself and feeling overwhelmed and anxious and often resentful AND using alcohol for all the good times, too. I know what it’s like on the other side of that, and it’s worth every single penny, no matter how many hours it takes, all the uncomfortable urges you have to work through, and learning how to fail and keep going.. IT’S ALL 100% WORTH IT to be free from the over-desire to drink all the time. I wish someone had...

Oh boy, are you in for a treat today!? I am sharing behind the scenes what's been happening with us on the parenting front. We had a big breakthrough last week and realized that our main focus on parenting was a bit 'off.' And we made a shift, and now our entire family is notably more engaged and happier. I also realized I was people-pleasing around my kids. I was relying on them to be happy and to feel good in order for me to feel good. My energy in making them feel happy or protecting...