5 Things That Happened As Soon As I Quit Drinking

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I have been sober for one year.

I used to love drinking. It always led to a good time. It helped me loosen up enough to dance on tables and confess my love to everyone, from friends to strangers.

Initially, it was all fun and games. Then, the migraines started. Like clockwork, the morning after I had a drink, my head felt as if an alien was pushing its way out of one side of my skull. Nausea followed, and I started hiring backup childcare to deal with my hangovers. It was getting out of control.

When I had to miss my friend’s wedding due to a post-alcohol migraine, I decided it was time to stop drinking altogether. Surprisingly, these five things started happening right after I quit:

I Enjoyed My Evenings

This was what worried me most. Without the addition of alcohol to help with socializing and parenting (I never envisioned being able to play mind-numbing games like Chutes & Ladders without a little Malibu in the mix), my head was clear enough to actually think — and this wasn’t a bad thing. I even got back into a regular reading routine — something I’d struggled to focus on after a drink or three.

I Lost Weight

No surprise there, but about a month after quitting, I realized that my clothing was fitting much better. By the two-month mark, it was clear that I had lost a significant amount of weight. I always preferred sweet cocktails, which were about 300 calories each. These added up quickly. Research suggests the average person can lose one to two pounds per week after quitting alcohol — and this was true for me.

My Brain Fog Vanished

I had long attributed my brain fog to pregnancy brain, then to newborn parenting brain, then to perimenopausal brain. Turns out, the majority of that brain fog stemmed from the effects of alcohol. A 2025 study published in Neurology links heavy drinking with an increased risk of a brain injury that affects memory and cognition. If you have eight or more drinks a week (roughly one to two a day), you’re at risk. That’s because alcohol disrupts your brain’s pathways, which makes it harder to talk, think and make decisions.

I Made Friends

This one was a major shock. Making friends without the help of alcohol? There’s a huge sober movement happening now, and it’s a lovely community. I joined a few sober groups on social media, and the people there helped me stay true to my goals. After I could relax a bit and not think about my former habit too much, I was able to start attending sober outings with them. My next step is a sober vacation.

I Had Time for Self-Care

Previously, I was too busy planning my evenings of debauchery and then dealing with the migraine aftermath to have any time for self-care. I honestly thought it was a concept reserved for other people — the same ones who promoted eight hours of sleep, supplements and exercise-related highs. I’m now thrilled to be one of those people. Exercise is a daily highlight. I do yoga when I’m stressed, and I take supplements to maintain my health.

Sobriety didn’t take anything away from me. It gave me more: More time, more clarity and more joy.


Have any of YOU stopped drinking? What were the results? Let us know in the comments below.