Sober Fit Life

I'm so excited to share this conversation with you! I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend Christy Osborne, and let me tell you, her story is incredibly powerful. I've watched some of her journey firsthand, from writing her book to creating the 40-day fast that's now changing thousands of lives.

Christy is a Christian sobriety coach, author, and host of the Love Life Sober podcast. Christy shares her incredible journey from being a glamorous blogger in London to finding freedom from alcohol through faith and neuroscience-informed practices.

Christy opens up about the complicated layers of her drinking story—from postpartum depression to the devastating loss of her mother. She reveals what life looked like behind the glossy Instagram posts and champagne glasses, and the divine moment that changed everything on the two-year anniversary of her mother's death.

You'll hear about Christy's book "Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind," and learn about the upcoming Lent Fast starting February 18th—which I'll be coaching in alongside Christy! I'm so honored to join her.

This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered if they need to change their relationship with alcohol, especially Christian women who feel alone in their struggle. The next fast won't be until October, so if you've been thinking about this, now is the time!

Join The Fast

Get Christy's book

💬 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

On the fence about coaching with Maureen Benkovich? Hear what it’s really like—from an actual client.

Trina Dolenz is a couples therapist and relationship expert (VH1’s Tool Academy), author of Retool Your Relationship, and a familiar voice from the Dr. Drew universe (including guest hosting Loveline). And in this episode of Sober Fit Life, she’s not here to “teach”—she’s here to share her real experience being coached.

Connect with Trina:

https://www.couplestherapyannapolis.com

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/trina-dolenz-washington-dc/91622

Trina talks about her European upbringing where alcohol felt cultured, sophisticated, and nostalgic… and how that story can quietly turn into habit. You’ll hear what surprised her about a science-based, non-judgmental approach, why she didn’t want an all-or-nothing rulebook, and what it looked like to take a mindful break with structure.

We get honest about the moments nobody posts about—being alone, being bored, and learning how to build new rituals and replacements that actually feel good. Trina also shares what she noticed in her attitude, presence, and gratitude as a grandmother, plus her therapist's take on how alcohol can quietly impact connection in relationships.

If you’re thinking, “I know I’m drinking too much… I just don’t know how to change it,” this episode is for you.

✅ Take the quiz: Am I Drinking Too Much? https://www.soberfitchick.com/ami

In this episode of Sober Fit Life, I’m breaking down one of the most overlooked reasons people keep drinking, even when they don’t want to: people pleasing disguised as politeness.

This conversation is about what happens when alcohol becomes a social smoothing tool—not because you’re craving it, but because you’re trying to manage other people’s comfort, avoid awkwardness, or prevent imagined judgment.

I share real coaching examples from clients who drank after months or even a year alcohol-free, not because they wanted to, but because they didn’t want to seem rude, difficult, or judgmental. We unpack the mindset behind those moments, why your brain treats assumptions like facts, and how “mind-reading” leads directly to self-sabotage.

You’ll learn why this isn’t a willpower issue and how automatic negative thoughts quietly drive drinking decisions in social, personal, and professional settings.

We also talk about:

Why drinking to keep others comfortable is actually self-abandonment

How alcohol solves discomfort for 30 minutes but creates regret for days

Why confidence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a practiced decision

How to stop apologizing for not drinking

This episode is packed with practical coaching questions, mindset reframes, and simple scripts you can use at dinners, parties, and business meetings, without over-explaining or feeling awkward.

If you’ve ever found yourself drinking just to keep things “smooth,” this episode will help you pause, choose differently, and build real self-trust—one moment at a time.

💬 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

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