Loose Women star Lisa Riley has now been sober for seven years and previously admitted to self-medicating with alcohol. She then made the bold decision to stop drinking and improve both her physical and mental health.
Emmerdale’s Mandy Dingle has hailed the decision to stop drinking alcohol as one of the best improvements in her life.
The actress had previously admitted how her wild nights would make her house look like a “squat” after drunken parties with her friends before making the decision to stop drinking.
Aside from a noticeable glow and a slimmer body, Lisa also shared with her fans on Instagram how she’s now banished the feelings of paranoia the morning after.
Quitting alcohol has a number of health benefits (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Read more related articles Read more related articles How Lisa Riley quit alcohol
Lisa Riley initially decided to stop drinking for nine months because her friends did it because of pregnancy.
While some may decide to gradually reduce their intake, she decided to do it by becoming a total abstainer — meaning she didn’t touch any alcohol at all.
A year later, in 2016, she explained: “All my girlfriends gave up drinking for nine months while they were pregnant so I thought I would do nine months, but it’s almost a year now and I don’t even want to drink anything.” .”
Lisa lost 10 stones and went from size 30 to size 14-16.
On her 40th birthday, she told the Mirror: “I realized there were a lot of empty calories in booze, so that’s why I gave up. If you add up what I would consume in alcohol calories during the week, it was insane. †
Speaking about her sobriety, Lisa said in a 2020 Instagram post: “PARTY. I wouldn’t change it for nothing, my life is so much brighter, happier, got more shine, laugh so much harder, I’ve got the life I’ve always dreamed of, no fake friendships, need someone who NEVER knows when to go home must, don’t cringe when I open my eyes (have I had a fight with someone) don’t remember, that’s the WORST, maybe, well, maybe not really, SURE.
“If you can’t remember, it’s REALLY time to STOP completely!!! Living on stories from the past, they are over, they have happened, move on.”
She concluded her post: “And also just live the rest of your life free from anything fake and false, have a personal awareness that those around you while you’re drinking are more than likely around to the wrong reasons, because YOU are paying alcohol.”
Why should you limit alcohol consumption?
Lisa isn’t alone in giving up or cutting back on booze intake. A 2020 report shows that one in three young adults has drastically reduced their alcohol consumption.
Cutting back on alcohol can benefit your mind and body in many ways.
Research shows that some of the damage done to the brain, liver, cardiovascular system and gut will slowly heal if you stop drinking.
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If you choose to drink, it’s important to have a moderate amount, according to the government’s MyHealthFinder website.
Cutting back on booze is a really effective way to improve health, energize, lose weight and save money, says the NHS.
Here are some of the health risks that increase with alcohol consumption:
Alcoholic hepatitis Anxiety Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) Cancer Cirrhosis Dementia Depression Digestive problems Fibrosis Hearing loss High blood pressure Pancreatitis Sexually transmitted disease Stroke Stop drinking
CEO of One Year No Beer, Ruari Fairbairns, gave top tips to help you reduce your alcohol consumption, including:
Set specific smaller goals to help you reach your main goal Keep appealing non-alcoholic options at home Reconsider your post-work routine Choose foods with a high water content Be aware of peer pressure Think about why you drink Ask for support Treatment
If you depend on alcohol to function, it’s advisable to get medical advice to manage your withdrawal symptoms, the NHS says.
The national health agency added: “Some people may be prescribed drugs to achieve abstinence.
“You may also choose to attend self-help groups, get comprehensive counseling, or use talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).”
To Lisa, she had previously boldly opened up about how she would hide her grief “behind a bottle of wine” after losing her mother Cath to cancer, but now she has a sense of freedom without booze.
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