Sober at 55: How Quitting Wine Helped One Mom Heal Her Body, Mind, and Relationship with Food
When is “just one glass of wine” not just one? When it’s part of a quiet ritual that slowly shrinks your life down to something you no longer recognize.
In this episode of Sobriety Uncensored, we sat down with Sarah, a 55-year-old mother of two, who recently hit her 68th day sober. With no dramatic rock bottom or intervention, Sarah’s story is rooted in everyday truths—grief, parenthood, disordered eating, and finally, the decision to choose herself.
🎧 Watch the full episode with Sarah on theSobriety Uncensored Podcast:
From Wine O’Clock to Wake-Up Call
Like so many moms, Sarah’s wine ritual began harmlessly enough—5 PM, a bottle open, dinner simmering on the stove, music playing. But what felt like self-care soon became a silent habit that chipped away at her emotional presence, health, and clarity.
“I’d tell myself, ‘You’re fine. You go to work, you work out, your numbers are good.’ But deep down, I knew.”
The shift? Her mother’s unexpected death, compounded by alcohol-related health issues, made her stop justifying. Instead of processing grief, she drank more. Until one evening, she looked at her family and said, “Tonight’s it. I’m done.”
Grief, Guilt, and the Moment Everything Changed
Sarah didn’t quit after a DUI or a hospital visit. She quit quietly, during a regular Saturday evening with her family. But the loss of her mother made her reconsider the cost of avoidance.
“I drank to grieve. But now I think I have to grieve again—this time, sober”
What followed was a bold ask: “Help me find something to get me through this week.” Her husband found her THC drops and non-alcoholic wine. That small step became a turning point in reimagining her evenings.
Disordered Eating and the Wine Equation
One of the most powerful segments of Sarah’s story is her honest look at how drinking distorted her relationship with food.
“I used to count wine calories into my daily intake. That meant I barely ate. I’d have half an avocado and a piece of cheese and call it a day.”
This isn’t uncommon. In fact, there’s a term for it: drunkorexia—restricting food intake to offset alcohol calories. For Sarah, this was compounded by years of fitness training and diet culture. The wine took priority, and food was the sacrifice.
Since quitting, she’s dropped the obsession with counting macros and calories. Her focus now? Eating to feel good. Letting go of “bad food” labels. Even enjoying a bit of dark chocolate—without guilt.
Mom Guilt, Drinking Culture, and the 21st Birthday Moment
One of the most heartbreaking parts of Sarah’s story comes from a moment many parents might relate to. Sitting at a sushi bar on her son’s 21st birthday, she pressured him to drink.
“I said, ‘Come on, drink, drink!’ He didn’t want to. And now I see how messed up that was.”
Her son doesn’t drink, and she believes—at least in part—it’s because he saw the effects of alcohol up close. It’s a painful realization, but Sarah’s honesty offers something we don’t hear enough in mom circles: owning the harm and choosing better.
68 Days In: Fog Lifting, World Expanding
In early sobriety, Sarah expected fireworks. What she got instead was… exhaustion.
“I felt so tired in the beginning. It was frustrating. I thought quitting would mean more energy, not less.”
But she stuck with it. Now, she’s walking instead of running. She journals. She bakes again. She even waves to herself in the mirror each morning, finally recognizing the person looking back.
“My world used to be so small. Now, it’s expanding again.”
When "Healthy" Isn’t Actually Healthy
Even while drinking, Sarah considered herself health-conscious. She worked out, drank water, and avoided sugar. Her labs looked good. But she couldn’t shake the weight gain in menopause. So she asked her doctor for Ozempic.
“He told me I needed a therapist more than a prescription. And he was right.”
That moment cracked something open. It wasn’t the weight—it was the wine. She wasn’t fueling her body. She was just surviving the calories.
Now? She eats. She lifts heavy. She walks. And the five pounds she wanted gone? They’ve fallen off naturally.
5 Practical Tools That Helped Her Get Through the First 60 Days
| Tool | Purpose | Why It Helped |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Alcoholic Wine | Replace the ritual | Helped simulate the habit without the effect |
| THC Drops | Sensory transition | Softened early cravings at 5 PM |
| Walking | Gentle movement | Replaced “wine time” with fresh air & clarity |
| Journaling | Emotional processing | Writes to her late mother as a form of healing |
| Podcast Community | Accountability & support | Gave her connection when she felt alone |
“Every day I didn’t drink, I saved $20. Now I transfer that into savings. At the end of the year? That’s a vacation, or something just for me.”
A Note on Non-Alcoholic Drinks (NA)
There's debate in the sobriety world about whether NA wine or beer is “allowed.” For Sarah, NA wine was a short-term tool—not a crutch.
“I used it for about two weeks. Then the itch started fading. Now, I don’t really need it.”
What Would She Tell Other Women Over 50 Still Drinking?
“You have to fall in love with how you feel sober.”
Sarah’s message is clear: this isn’t about deprivation. It’s about reclaiming. Waking up clear-headed. Enjoying chocolate. Going to bed proud.
She urges women not to wait until their families are begging them to stop. “Quit before you need the intervention.”
The Illusion of Wine’s Magic
What’s so haunting is this:
“The wine really only made me feel good for 20 minutes. That was it. Then came the shame, the bloating, the fog. Was that 20 minutes worth the damage?”
In sobriety, those 20 minutes are replaced with all-day energy, creativity, and a return to self.
Ready to Begin Your Own Journey?
If Sarah’s story spoke to you—and you're a woman navigating motherhood, midlife, or food struggles while trying to break free from alcohol—you're not alone.
For coaching, tools, and resources that can support you through your first 30 days and beyond, visit The Sober Strong. Whether you're just curious or ready to commit, there's a community ready to meet you where you are:
👉Qutting Alcohol? 1:1 Sober Coaching: https://soberstrongcoaching.as.me/
👉More Sober Content: https://www.youtube.com/@Soberstrong
👉Be a guest on the Sobriety Uncensored Podcast: https://thesoberstrong.com/sobriety-uncensored-sober-strong
You’re not giving anything up. You’re getting your life back.
