Sober Fit Life

Welcome back to Sober Fit Life! It's been a while, and there's a reason for that. 2025 threw me some major curveballs—two spine surgeries, a booze-filled cruise, and turning 60. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly what I learned navigating all of it completely alcohol-free.

I talk about the mental work it took to recover from surgery without numbing out, what happened when I was accidentally served alcohol on a cruise (and the thoughts that went through my brain in those split seconds), and how I'm reframing what it means to celebrate a milestone birthday without a blowout party.

If you've ever wondered whether you can handle life's biggest stressors, travel, or major transitions without alcohol, this episode is for you. I'm sharing the tools that got me through, the mindset shifts that made all the difference, and why I'm more confident than ever stepping into this next decade alcohol-free.

I've been alcohol-free for years, and I'm still using those same tools my coach passed on to me when I first quit drinking. In this episode, I'm sharing some of them with you.

💬 Want to learn more about the tools I offer? 👇

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram

In this episode of Sober Fit Life, I’m joined by my friend and former client Carrie Chojnowski, who returns to the podcast 14 months after completing my Six-Week Alcohol Reset. Carrie originally joined the reset out of curiosity, not because her drinking looked “out of control,” but because alcohol no longer aligned with the life and health she was building.

Carrie shares what’s shifted since removing alcohol, from improved sleep and brain clarity to calmer relationships and deeper self-trust. As a holistic health coach with a background in speech pathology, Carrie opens up about why alcohol was the one health habit she avoided questioning—and how finally addressing it changed everything.

We talk about gray area drinking, the detox-retox cycle many health-minded women fall into, and why sustainable change doesn’t come from white-knuckling or shame—but from curiosity, data, and self-awareness.

This episode is for anyone who feels “fine” on the outside but knows something still feels off—and is ready to explore what life could look like without alcohol in the way.

📝 In This Episode, We Cover:

What gray area drinking really looks like for high-functioning women

Why Carrie joined the Six-Week Alcohol Reset despite already living a healthy lifestyle

How alcohol quietly impacted her sleep, brain fog, anxiety, and relationships

The surprising confidence boost that came from skipping alcohol at a family wedding

How her children and husband noticed changes before she fully did

Why boredom, stress, and connection needs often drive drinking

Navigating social situations, travel, and airports alcohol-free

The power of “data points” instead of shame when experimenting with drinking less

How quitting alcohol made her a better coach and business owner

Why removing alcohol helped everything else finally work

🔗 Connect with Carrie Chojnowski:

Website

Instagram

💬 Want to learn more about the tools I offer? 👇

My Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram

In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact strategies I teach my clients when the holidays start holiday-ing a little too hard. Think: bottomless drinks, unending invitations, and that tiny inner voice that whispers, “We’ll deal with this in January.” (Fun fact: "January You" strongly disagrees.)

We cover the tools and mindset shifts that help you move through this season with more clarity and less autopilot drinking. These are the same practices my clients use to feel better in their bodies, protect their sleep, stay connected to themselves, and truly enjoy the holidays — without slipping into habits that leave them feeling wiped out or disappointed.

Here’s a snapshot of what we explore:

• Why the holidays turn so many of us into “default drinkers.”
• Why your sleep will thank you for drinking less
• The HALT method and how it helps you pause before you pour
• My Three P’s: Partner, Plan, Path — a simple strategy that removes pressure at parties
• How to enter social events with more confidence and less anxiety

Listen for more tools on boundaries, nervous system support, and noticing your patterns with compassion instead of self-judgment.

If you enjoy having something festive in your glass, I share one of my favorites:
Prima Pavé Blanc de Blancs, an alcohol-free sparkling wine handcrafted in Italy. It comes in a beautiful bottle and feels celebratory without the after-effects. You can find it at BetterRhodes.com.

Ready to start 2026 feeling clearer and more grounded?

Join my 6-Week Alcohol Reset with Group Coaching.
We keep the group small, so you get meaningful support, weekly live coaching, access to my FOUR “R” Method inside the course, and a connection with others who are walking the same path.

👉 Register here: https://www.soberfitchick.com/alcohol-reset

Let me know if today’s tools help you — I love hearing what shifts for you, even the small wins.

Wishing you a holiday season that supports your body, your health, and your peace.

In this episode, Maureen sits down with Becca Stahl, the editor behind Sober Fit Life. What started as a casual conversation about sobriety turned into a powerful story of transformation that needed to be shared.

Becca opens up about quitting drinking in her late twenties while working in the alcohol industry, how she discovered the concept of sober curiosity before she even knew what it was called, and why her version of "rock bottom" didn't look like what most people expect. She shares candidly about managing OCD and trauma, and why she's grateful she made this change before becoming a mom.

This is a story about curiosity, self-honesty, and the courage to question everything you thought was normal.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Working in alcohol sales while secretly questioning her relationship with drinking

The moment her boss said quitting was "bad for business"

Why tracking her spending and drinking habits changed everything

The harsh reality of moderate drinking: "This isn't fun when you're not blacking out"

How she and her husband quit together (and the awkward kitchen island habit they had to break)

Managing OCD and trauma after removing alcohol as a coping mechanism

The difference between drinking buddies and real friends

Parenting sober and modeling a different way of life for her daughter

Why curiosity was the key to her entire transformation

💬 Want to learn more about the tools I offer? 👇

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram

Could your struggle with alcohol actually be your brain's cry for dopamine?

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Jheri South, certified ADHD specialist and neurodivergent woman, to uncover the shocking connection between undiagnosed ADHD and addiction.

If you've ever felt like your emotions are too big, your reactions too intense, or wondered why willpower never seems to stick, this conversation might change everything.

What You'll Discover:

Why people with ADHD are 3-4 times more likely to struggle with addiction.

The real story behind "rejection sensitivity dysphoria" (RSD) and emotional overwhelm.

How dopamine depletion drives the constant search for stimulation.

Why boredom feels unbearable for ADHD brains—and leads to self-medication.

The truth about ADHD medication and addiction (it's not what you think).

Practical strategies for managing ADHD without numbing out.

About Today's Guest: Jheri South is a certified ADHD specialist, parent and teen coach, and neurodivergent woman who wasn't diagnosed until age 40. After navigating addiction herself and watching her family struggle, she became passionate about helping others understand the connection between brain wiring and behavior. Jheri has interviewed top ADHD specialists like Dr. William Dodson and believes that understanding your neurodivergence can be life-saving.

Visit Jheri's website

Jheri's FREE ADHD Quiz

Jheri's Instagram

💬 Want to learn more about the tools I offer? 👇

Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz

Six-Week Alcohol Reset

Drink Less By Monday

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Follow me on Instagram