What REALLY happens to your body, mind and waistline when you give up alcohol… This is how long it took me to feel free from ‘hangxiety’ – but pitfall means you might not lose as much weight as you hope: GEORGINA FULLER

As the minute hand of the clock passes 6pm, I am overcome by a very familiar urge. Crispy gin and tonic or a refreshing glass of malbec? Which one will it be?

Then I remember it’s the first of the month and I need to do Sober October. To curse.

I never did Dry January because my birthday is in the middle of the month and the weather is so dreary and miserable, why would I make it worse? But in recent years I have denied myself a few times during October and found it helpful to reset and reshape my attitude towards drinking.

I do this primarily for health reasons; At 47 and in the throes of perimenopause, I’m increasingly aware that daily drinking is affecting my sleep, my skin, my anxiety level, and my weight (10st 5lb at the beginning of October). As someone who routinely goes back to 14 to 16 units a week (that’s about seven to eight medium-sized wine glasses), I know I need to cut back.

In fact, a study by the British Medical Journal showed that abstinence from alcohol for a month in moderate to heavy drinkers can help with weight loss, reduce the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and even reduce the risk of cancer.

After doing the Sober October reset last year, I managed to endure another six months of what I would call a semi-sober regime by quitting drinking Monday through Thursday. As a result I lost around 21lb and had the joy of weighing just under ten stone almost this spring – right in the healthy BMI range for my 5ft 4in frame.

I also felt better than I had in years. I was sleeping well, my skin was glowing, and I had so much more energy.

All of this was derailed by a delightful summer of booze – rosé in the garden, cocktails in the Caribbean and generally having a very good time left me half a stone heavier.

Sober October 2025 was my chance to take back control. So how did I deal with my weight, my skin, my sleep, and more?

week one

I spend the first week replacing my usual favorites with some no and low alternatives. On Wednesdays, I find a glass of Domaine, a very good non-alcoholic wine, hits the spot when I’m trying to achieve that slightly hazy state of calm forgetfulness that I usually get from wine.

It won’t help me save money though: at £29.99 for two bottles, it’s more expensive than the real stuff I usually buy.

I also sample a few so-called ‘functional’ drinks; These drinks are intended to have certain health benefits and, in this case, help give you natural energy. One of my favorites is Sentia Spirits, £32 a bottle. It’s supposed to help calm the brain’s neurotransmitters and contains the stress-relieving herb ashwagandha to aid relaxation.

It goes well with toner and is only nine calories per 25ml serving, while also being good for the waistline. It might be a placebo effect, but I’m sure I felt calmer after a few glasses. It doesn’t give me the same buzz I get from alcohol, but I do feel pretty chilled, as if I’d just taken a yoga class.

Still, I find myself making the usual Sunday lunch. I normally open a bottle of wine for the sauce and drink a glass while cooking. I am aware that this has become a ritual now.

I manage to distract myself by taking my two Labradors for a walk, and when lunch is over I’m ready to take a nap.

second week

I realize that I drink largely out of habit, to help blur the hours between helping my three children (Jemima, 11, Eddie, 13, and Charlie, 16) with homework and dinner, and the end of the workday. Once I get over the initial urge to drink, everything gets easier.

I notice that the brain fog I often experience is gone and I feel much sharper. It usually takes me a long time to get to work on Monday morning, but this time I’m raring to go.

On the weekends, I have girls’ nights with three of my friends. We inevitably down a few bottles when we get together, which means I’ll be the party pooper this time. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed at the prospect of a night without alcohol, and I’m wondering if this means I have a bigger problem than I think.

I decided to bring along a nice bottle of Wild Idol (£29.99) which looked as good as champagne or cream but contained no alcohol. I also buy cans of Jukes Cordialities which taste a bit like healthy cider and are quite plentiful.

As the evening progresses, my friends get a little drunk and I have to resist the urge to join them, especially when they’re screaming in the jacuzzi.

But when everyone wakes up with a headache the next morning, I feel incredibly smug. Plus, instead of waking up early like I usually do after my skin, I sleep until 8 a.m. and feel great.

third week

I feel calmer and look forward to an early night with a good book. Normally I’d stay up doomscrolling until 11pm with a glass of wine in my hand, but now I’m in bed at 10:30pm.

Two of the children have a two-week semester break. After the juggle of working from home and keeping them busy, I would often reach for a refreshing beverage to help get me through a stressful day.

My oldest and I booked a day trip to London to see an exhibition. After drinking coffee and walking around Soho, we set out for Tower Bridge. We even visit a rooftop bar where my Amaretto Sour cocktail tasted so much like the real thing. While eating the salted caramel mochi, I realize that I am eating more sweet things instead of drinks. This will not help my weight goals.

Georgina brought a bottle of Wild Idol to the girls’ night out, which looked as good as champagne or cream but contained no alcohol

fourth week

I am lucky to have a business trip to Dubai in the second week of the semester. I find it very difficult to resist wine on planes and in all-inclusive hotels, but I resist. Sigh.

Luckily, this is a Muslim country so there are lots of cocktails available and I really enjoy the non-alcoholic mojitos. I’m even developing a taste for sparkling jasmine tea, which is delicious.

I don’t miss the “boredom” I often experience on these trips. For example, during my Caribbean summer vacation, I sent regular photo updates to my friends, only to wake up the next day in the grip of sleep—worried about being seen as unbearably vain.

On the penultimate day of October, I finally succumbed to temptation when I was offered a cold glass of sauvignon blanc on the flight back from Dubai. But I made it until the 30th, right?

Two days later, I hold my breath and weigh myself. I was disappointed to see that I only lost 2 kilos. Frankly, all those sugary cocktails and desserts didn’t help.

On the positive side, I feel calmer. I think clearer and sleep better. I’ve noticed that I’m less prone to anxiety, which is a welcome respite.

Are many middle-aged women, like me, obsessively questioning their behavior after a drink or two? I think most of us are.

Best of all, I am proud of my accomplishment as I managed to stay sober for 30 days.

Now it’s November, I’m back to drinking, but I’m pacing harder than I did before Sober October.

I’m glad I gave my liver a rest before the Christmas celebrations begin in earnest.

That being said, next time I feel that familiar urge for a G&T at 6pm, I might make it a non-alcoholic one.

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Beat boredom and sugar cravings

I wonder if my anxiety is caused by alcohol? General practitioner and women’s health expert Dr. I forwarded it to Deepali Misra-Sharp. Alcohol can make anxiety worse, she says, and it’s a common symptom for middle-aged women like me.

He says: ‘Alcohol initially relaxes people, but it disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood and anxiety. This is because it enhances the action of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a calming neurotransmitter, and suppresses glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter.’

So, although a glass of wine may initially feel relaxing, the neurotransmitters become dysregulated. This can lead to tension and anxiety. Alcohol also triggers a temporary increase in dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical, and affects serotonin, which helps elevate your mood, but once alcohol leaves your system, your dopamine and serotonin levels drop, leading to low mood and anxiety.

What about my sugar cravings? General practitioner and dermatologist Dr. Thuva Amuthan says cutting out drinking can lead to sugar cravings.

‘Alcohol is metabolized into sugar, so when you stop drinking your body may want a quick energy replacement. “Choosing slow-release carbohydrates and high-protein snacks can help balance blood sugar and reduce sweet cravings,” she says.