Life After Alcohol: Navigating Thoughts About Drinking Without Drinking

Episode #335  Drinking thoughts can be frustrating after you stop drinking. I have had many conversations with women recently that prompted this episode.  If you're in "them", you're going to get through them. Drinking to quiet the thoughts only makes them stick around.  In this episode, I talk about the most common thoughts many midlife women experience, like "I could have just one," "I deserve a drink," and "Why can’t I drink like others?"  I share a walk-through of what my day looked like after I stopped drinking—from waking up proud of not drinking, through the growing anticipation and stronger thoughts by afternoon and evening, to making it through despite the discomfort. I talk about some of the reasons why these thoughts come up and why they did for me personally. And, I share ideas to help you navigate these thoughts without drinking and remind you that, in time, they won't be as consistent.  If you're in "the thoughts", you're going to get through them. Drinking to quiet the thoughts only makes them stick around.  I'm with you!    Download the free Daily Sobriety Toolkit here.    Mentioned in this episode:  Article: Imagining Future Events Changes the Brain to Improve Healthy Decision Making Send me an email ✉️ [email protected]   Private Coaching for Midlife Women  You and me = a Team to help you create and live an alcohol-free lifestyle.  I'm so passionate about the work that I do. I would love to help you if you are looking for guidance in either getting started or maintaining your sobriety.  You are not alone in this. If you would like to learn more about private coaching, please schedule a complimentary discovery session here.  Join my Community   Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free.  Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today!  Go here to enroll

Episode 334  Hello! Thank you for being here today.  This episode offers hope to anyone seeking to change their drinking, as well as to family members who wish to support their loved ones through the process with compassion and understanding. I'm honored to welcome our guest, Amber Hollingsworth, to the podcast.  Amber is a master addiction counselor, founder of Hope For Families Recovery Center, and creator of the YouTube channel Put The Shovel Down. With over two decades of experience, she’s helped thousands of families navigate addiction recovery using innovative, relationship-focused strategies like the Invisible Intervention. Known for her relatable, no-nonsense approach, Amber's philosophy is centered on empowerment and compassion, believing that people don’t need to hit rock bottom to recover and that recovery is about redirecting addictive energy toward positive, fulfilling life goals. She emphasizes that individuals and families have the influence and strength to create lasting change through trust, safety, and a strengths-based approach, rather than relying on shame or control. You will hear Amber talk about: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The true process of changing your drinking—and where to begin by taking intentional breaks from alcohol p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The early signs it may be time to rethink your drinking, and what Amber calls “stage three” p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why is moderation so challenging, given how alcohol impacts brain chemistry and self-control p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How to navigate what Amber describes as "the bargaining stage" to stay alcohol-free p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What to expect in early sobriety and how to approach a break from drinking p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The instincts family members have that can unintentionally hinder progress—and what they can do to truly support a loved one Amber offers hope, insight, and actionable tools for anyone facing change or supporting someone they love. Click here for Amber's YouTube playlist.  Connect with Amber  Hope For Families Recovery Center    Connect with Lori  Private Coaching complimentary discovery session  Join my community Team Alcohol-Free  Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit     

Episode #333 Hey there! I'm so happy you're here.  Today, I'm talking to two of my favorite people, Leigh and Anne Walkup. The sisters are back on the podcast to share their thoughts on aging (the joys and the challenges), perimenopause, and we talk about the different seasons of life.  We also talk about recovery and sobriety in the news - it's good news and it's here to stay, as you will hear. The sisters share their thoughts about what recovery is like and why it's beneficial to embrace. They also share their favorite beauty product at the moment, what they're reading and watching, and the latest from their Fall issue of Front Porch Life Magazine.  It's a fun episode! Thank you for listening!    Mentioned in this episode:  Front Porch Life Magazine The Southern Lady Cooks Wow hair product  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly    Leigh and Anne’s past episodes: Build More Discipline When Alcohol is the Reward Forgiveness, Messing Up, and Moving On The Benefits of Going All In    Enroll in Team Alcohol-Free  Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free.  Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today!  Go here to enroll  

Episode #332  Hello, friend! Welcome to To 50 and Beyond, where we talk about living alcohol-free later in life. I'm glad you're here! Have you ever wondered whether you should celebrate your sober anniversaries—or those of loved ones? I sure did!  I wasn’t sure if my first year was worth celebrating or how to celebrate it, but over time, I figured it out.  I just celebrated 12 years on August 11, 2025, and in this episode, I talk about my favorite ways to celebrate.  I also talk about:  p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why celebrating every sober milestone, big or small, makes a difference in staying motivated p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Creative and simple ways to honor your journey and anniversaries p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Practical ideas for supporting loved ones who are working on sobriety with authenticity and care To read this episode's full show notes, go here.  Download my free Daily Sobriety Toolkit  Thank you for listening! I appreciate you. If you want to share the ways you celebrate, please email me at [email protected]. Mentioned in this episode: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Counting Crows "Mr. Jones" video p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Life After Alcohol: Learning to Love Yourself More with Paula Muller     Private Sobriety Coaching for Midlife Women Six sessions over six weeks from the comfort of your home to help you remove alcohol, start living alcohol-free, and create a plan that helps you stay alcohol-free beyond our time together. Learn more and schedule a complimentary discovery session here.    Join my online community - the best online alcohol-free community only for midlife women (that’s what makes it the best) Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free.  Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today!  Go here to enroll    

Episode 331  A heartfelt message from me to you.  Thank you for listening to the To 50 and Beyond podcast. Whether this is your first time or over 400th time, I appreciate you more than words can say. I recorded this episode to share my appreciation for you and empower you to keep going towards the life you want in midlife and beyond!  I'm with you 100%!  I will be back with a new episode on August 27th. I'm in my "normalizing breaks and honoring flow" era;)  To join my community, Team Alcohol-Free, go here.  If you would like to share your feedback for the podcast or a topic, please email me here.  Visit my website here.  Please consider leaving a rating and review on Apple or Spotify to show your support for the podcast and mission. It's so helpful for me to know who is here.  Thank you for listening! You ROCK!   Mentioned in this episode:  My First Year of Sobriety: What Helped Me Stay Alcohol-Free    

Episode 330 Hey there! I'm so happy you're here. I LOVE talking about morning routines!  Morning is your time. That’s what having a morning routine is all about. It’s you saying, ‘I matter.’ Everything else can wait. All the responsibilities and to-dos—they’ll get done, just not before you take care of yourself. A morning routine that works for you is not about getting up early—unless you want to. It’s about dedicating at least 10 minutes to doing something for yourself after you wake up - whatever time that is. In this episode, you’ll discover: The signs you may need a morning routine: Signs You Might Need a Routine My story two years into sobriety, when I started my morning routine inspired by Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning. Practical ways to start your morning, all from midlife women who are working on living alcohol-free The importance of being flexible with yourself and honoring your energy every morning to make your mornings work for you   Resources Mentioned: The Daily Sobriety Toolkit Everyday Self-Care to Support Your Alcohol-Free Lifestyle Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy Join Team Alcohol-Free  Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free.  Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today!  Go here to enroll

Episode 329 Hey there!  One of the biggest things I share is what’s helped me stay alcohol free—focusing on why I didn’t want to drink more than why I did. That’s not easy, but it’s powerful. I call it Why Power—something I started saying years ago in a community meeting: Why Power over Willpower. In this episode, I invite you to reflect on your reason why you don’t want to drink. If you’re like me, you could always find reasons to drink—or you didn’t even need a reason. This reflection will help you get started in living alcohol-free or reinforce your choice if you're already living alcohol-free.  I'm with you!    Reach out to me via email for private coaching or to share your "why-power" here.  Read this episode's show notes and download the worksheet included here.    Team Alcohol-Free (TAF) is an online community created exclusively for midlife women who have chosen to live alcohol-free. Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free. Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today! Go here to enroll   Check out these episodes next: Listen When You Feel Left Out Because You Don't Drink Listen to Help You Play the Tape Forward The Bright Side of Going Alcohol-Free in Midlife  

Episode 328  Do you have a consistent self-care practice? If you said no, chances are there is one thing you are doing for yourself that you may not identify as self-care. By the end of this episode, I'll help you define what self-care is and feels like for you, and start calling out what you're already doing for yourself today. What you'll hear inside: The definition of self-care and how to find the meaning for you  My self-care before and after I stopped drinking Why consistency (in self-care) matters to help you be proactive when you experience drinking urges/triggers The common challenges that women in midlife face in practicing self-care, starting with not knowing how to do it (this is the purpose of the episode) Why most women believe alcohol = self-care, and how to shift your mindset to sobriety = self-care Practical ways to get started with more consistent self-care by starting with what you’re already doing To read this episode's full show notes, go here.  Resources Mentioned: The Daily Sobriety Toolkit The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy

Episode #327 I'm so glad you're here! Please bookmark this episode if you need help in working through the "drinking chatter" and any romantic thoughts about drinking, if you are working on living an alcohol-free lifestyle.  If you’re a woman in midlife working on living alcohol-free, this episode is for you. “Playing the tape forward” is a favorite practice of many women who are working on living an alcohol-free lifestyle. One of the biggest challenges is the thoughts and ideas about drinking - the “drinking chatter” as I like to call it. What “playing the tape forward” means: It’s about being honest with yourself about your drinking. Visualizing what happens after the first sip of alcohol (which I walk you through in this episode) to the last, to help you get clear on what plays out for you. I help you get clear on what happens if you drink versus if you don’t. Whether you drink occasionally or daily, this practice helps you see the real outcome of taking that first sip. I also share a few of my journal entries from when I stopped drinking in 2013 that still help me remember the reality of my drinking.  Click here to read the full show notes.    Join my email community to keep in touch and learn more about upcoming episodes and offers.  Download my Daily Sobriety Toolkit here.  Send me an email for Private Coaching: [email protected] Visit my website       Team Alcohol-Free (TAF) is an online community created exclusively for midlife women who have chosen to live alcohol-free. Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free. Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today! Go here to enroll    

Episode 325  Hello, friend! Thank you for being here.  If you're in your first year of sobriety, congratulations!   I'm very proud of you wherever you are on this road to alcohol freedom in midlife.  During this episode, I'm sharing the things that helped me stay alcohol-free during my first year.  I stopped drinking in 2013, choosing to go it alone. I stuck to simplicity because that is all I knew. I wasn't sure if I was doing things "right," but here we are today, almost 12 years later.  I've been able to sustain sobriety because I've done what works for me. This is what I encourage you to do in this episode.  Here is what I did during my first year: I committed fully to sobriety as my priority, despite not being naturally disciplined. I focused on my why - feeling better, aging better, and not continuing to repeat the same life year after year I celebrated my progress (eventually), saying yay, me! became a fun habit. I protected myself by avoiding situations that might tempt me to drink. I kept busy with my business and productive activities instead of drinking. I started "Project Me" by making exercise my focus and using my gym membership. I read quit-lit books that inspired and guided me through early sobriety. I learned to sit with discomfort instead of numbing out with alcohol. I talked about my feelings instead of bottling them up. I allowed myself sugar and other substitutes without guilt.  Disclaimer: This episode is not intended to be a substitute for any medical advice.  Go here to read this episode's details and show notes. Thank you for listening! Yay, you!!  Please send me an email to share what is working for you.    Are you looking for a community? Join the Team! Team Alcohol-Free (TAF) is an online community created exclusively for midlife women who have chosen to live alcohol-free. Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free. Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. TAF was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today! Go here to enroll