🕒 12 min read | By Kerrie De Palma ~
Can You Have Your Alcohol and Drink It Too?
Welcome to my blog post – Alcohol and Purpose: Can You Have it All?
Ever felt that nagging feeling that your relationship with alcohol isn’t quite… healthy? Maybe you’re questioning those ‘wine o’clock’ memes or wondering if those extra kilos are related to your weekend drinks. I get it. We’re bombarded with messages about ‘moderation’ and ‘balance,’ but sometimes it feels like the whole truth about alcohol is hidden behind rose-coloured glasses.
But what if those glasses are distorting the picture? What if ignoring the more profound impact of alcohol is holding us back from truly thriving, from living our true purpose and following our authentic path? This two-part blog post will first examine the common narratives around alcohol. Then, we’ll bravely remove those rose-coloured glasses and delve into the raw, honest truth about its effects—on our bodies, minds, and lives.
PART 1: Through Rose-Coloured Glasses - Finding Your True Path
Nutrition Studies and Guidelines
Drinking alcohol is a very controversial issue and in Australia, social drinking is so ingrained in our culture that it’s almost considered a rite of passage. When I started Nutrition studies, I thought no way, you can’t drink alcohol and still be the healthiest version of you.
Let’s face it: many of us enjoy a drink or two and we keep hearing ‘moderation is key.’ The Australian Government even chimes in with their guidelines: no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 on any given day. Seems simple enough, right?
But let’s talk numbers. Those drinks add up in kilojoules, and those kilojoules love to hang out on our hips, bellies, and everywhere in between.
Here’s a little reality check:
Wine:
Red Wine (13% ABV): Small glass (150ml) ≈ 490kJ (1.5 standard drinks)
White Wine (11.5% ABV): Small glass (150ml) ≈ 440kJ (1.4 standard drinks)
Champagne (12% ABV): Small glass (150ml) ≈ 420kJ (1.4 standard drinks)
Beer:
Full-Strength Beer (4.8% ABV): 375ml bottle ≈ 570kJ (1.4 standard drinks)
Light Beer (2.7% ABV): 375ml bottle ≈ 400kJ (0.8 standard drinks)
Spirits:
30ml Spirits (40% ABV) + 170ml Regular Soft Drink ≈ 520kJ (1 standard drink)
30ml Spirits (40% ABV) + 170ml Soda Water ≈ 280kJ (1 standard drink)
And here’s the kicker: most of us pour way more than 150ml at home, so those numbers probably aren’t so accurate? Plus, alcohol offers diddly-squat in terms of actual nutrients: empty calories, my friend, empty calories.
I was a huge believer that a red wine here and there wouldn’t hurt; isn’t it full of antioxidants? Unfortunately, in this day and age, some are also full of added extras – preservatives, colourants and even sugar. I don’t feel a majority are as pure as those village-made wines of the past, but maybe they do still have the benefits we’ve been led to believe?
Do I Have to Give Up Alcohol to Lose Weight
Many people wonder, ‘Do I have to give up alcohol completely to lose weight?’ The good news is, not necessarily! You can absolutely enjoy a social drink or two while still achieving your weight loss goals. The key is mindful awareness. Factor in the kilojoules of your chosen drinks when planning your meals, and make conscious choices that align with your overall health goals.
Does that mean you can drink alcohol and still be the healthiest version of you, I’m going to put it out there and say no, I don’t believe so. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t drink, I still have a glass of wine sometimes when I go out, but should I? Probably not, and maybe like you this may be the year that needs to change.
Simple Swaps to Reduce Your Intake
Here are a few simple swaps and strategies to lighten your alcohol’s impact:
- Choose lower-kilojoule options: Opt for light beer, wine spritzers, or spirits with soda water instead of sugary mixers.
- Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks: For every alcoholic beverage, have a glass of water or a non-alcoholic alternative.
- Downsize your drinks: Choose smaller glasses or ask for a half-pour at the bar.
- Be mindful of mixers: Mixers can be loaded with sugar. Opt for soda or tonic water, fresh lime or lemon juice.
- Savour each sip: Drink slowly and savour the flavours.
Potential Benefits of Reducing Your Consumption
While enjoying alcohol in moderation is certainly possible, consider the potential benefits of reducing your consumption or even taking a break altogether. You might be surprised at the positive impact it has on your life:
- Shed those extra kilos: Alcohol can contribute to weight gain, so cutting back can help you reach your goals faster.
- Boost your energy levels: Say goodbye to those afternoon slumps and hello to vibrant energy.
- Sleep soundly: Alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns, so reducing it can lead to more restful nights.
- Reduce binge eating: Alcohol can lower inhibitions and increase cravings, leading to overeating.
- Lower your risk of disease: Reduce your risk of liver disease, heart disease, and certain cancers.
- Save money: Those drinks add up! Redirect those funds towards something meaningful, like a well-deserved holiday.
- Improve your relationships: Enjoy a better relationship with yourself and those around you.
PART 2: Removing the Rose-Coloured Glasses - Reclaiming Your Purposeful Path
Now let’s remove the Rose Coloured Glasses
We all have stories about alcohol and how it’s affected our lives, whether directly or indirectly. Alcohol has played a big part in my life; I was unfortunately born into it, you could say. My father was an alcoholic, and I remember him as a very young girl coming home drunk from the pub. As you can imagine, he was quite the absent father.
In doing some work around alcohol myself, even in the last 12 months, I saw myself as a very young girl being called out of bed by him to dance when he came home drunk. At the time, I thought it was funny – as a 4-year-old, I was getting to stay up late like an adult and dance, how cool, hey!
It’s not so cool when that’s a snippet of some of your only happy memories of your father that came out of all those younger years. Alcohol and its effects have rippled through my life even today. I’ve done some deep work around alcohol; it’s a demon I still face to this day. The visions I’ve seen of past trauma, of my ancestors, are heavy, too heavy to reveal in this blog post.
Motivational Driving Force
However, you use it as your driving force, a motivation to find your path forward and live your life, to become the best version of you.
So, if you’re reading this blog and thinking, “What does this chick know about alcohol and the trauma it can cause?” trust me, I know what the abuse of alcohol can do to a family, and I understand the hurt and effect it can have on you. I’ve had many lessons around alcohol, and some I’ve repeated, so I’m no Mary Poppins, that’s for sure.
Now Let's Put Pen to Paper
I want this blog post Alcohol and Purpose: Can You Have it All? to be an action-taking blog for you, especially if you do drink alcohol, so don’t just read it; I’d like to invite you to put pen to paper.
Question 1:
Ask yourself, WHY do I drink alcohol?
To get you started, it could be that you drink alcohol because it helps you cope with stress, relax, be confident, allows you to numb out, and escape social pressure; your friends do or any number of reasons. Let’s grab a pen and paper and start writing. If you feel the need to write more when answering these questions – even better, write to your heart’s content:
Why do I drink alcohol?
Question 2:
How do I FEEL when I drink alcohol? Lay it all out…
Question 3:
Now ask yourself the question again – WHY do I drink alcohol? Don’t just brush the surface; I want you to go even deeper with your answer and your writing now. Why do I drink alcohol?
Question 4:
How do you FEEL the next day and during that week after drinking alcohol? Don’t hold back…
Question 5:
What would your life look like if you didn’t drink alcohol anymore? I want you to go to town with this one > write down EVERYTHING that comes to mind, then keep writing.
Question 6:
What would happen if I cut back completely or gave up alcohol TODAY? Don’t be shy; write until you’ve got nothing left.
Question 7:
It’s 3 months from now – you’ve cut back or entirely given up alcohol.
Close your eyes and ask yourself: How do I feel, and what does my life look like? Now write…
Question 8:
It’s 6 months from now – you’ve cut back even more or completely given up alcohol.
Close your eyes and ask yourself: What is happening in my life now that alcohol isn’t playing such a huge emphasis? What am I doing? Where am I going? Where am I working? Who am I hanging around with? What am I spending my money on? Now write…
Question 9:
It’s 12 months from now – Who have you become? How do you feel? What are you enjoying the most out of life now? What HUGE milestones and victories have you had over the last 12 months? Write it all out, use all your senses, and really enjoy this part…
Question 10:
Gently come back to the present moment – to the here and now!
Ask yourself: How will my life be better if I CHOOSE ME and not the bottle?
To love me in my entirety, forgive myself for any past hurts or mistakes, and CHOOSE ME? You know what to do: How will my life be better if I CHOOSE ME? Write and let it all out…
I hope you completed this writing exercise for yourself and got some really great insights to work with out of the process.
I encourage you to continue writing and journaling every morning when you wake up, or even better, do it straight after your 10-minute meditation – where you’ll likely have even more intuitive flow that wants to come out onto your paper.
Please try and use pen/pencil to paper, not your laptop or computer, as something miraculous happens in your brain when you physically put pen to paper.
Alcohol and How It Impacts Your Path of Well-being.
Mental Health:
Let’s be real – alcohol is a depressant. It can make your anxiety go through the roof, your depression feel like a bottomless pit, and your sleep? Forget about it. I’ve been there. I remember those nights, staring at the ceiling, heart racing, music still beating in my ears, visions swirling in my head like some underground world trying to pull me down. Alcohol can play a significant role in taking you down into a deep dark place that can be really hard to come back from.
The Emerging Cancer Link:
Remember those scary cigarette warnings? Well, brace yourselves because the truth about alcohol and cancer is starting to emerge. Studies are showing links between alcohol and an increased risk of several cancers, including breast cancer, bowel cancer, and mouth cancer. It’s a sobering thought. It makes you wonder how much damage drinking has really done to our bodies? On top of that, Alcohol abuse is increasingly recognised as a significant contributing factor to Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is just the tip of the ice-berg.
Alcohol is a Mind-Altering Drug:
As much as we dress it up in fancy glasses and call it “socialising,” Alcohol is a mind-altering drug. It messes with your brain chemistry, impairs judgment, and can lead to dependence. I used to think a glass of wine helped me unwind, relaxed me and made me feel more confident, but it was just masking deeper issues I needed to address. Is this truly the path we want to be on?
The Devil’s Drink?
I’m sure you’ve heard alcohol being referred to as pure poison, or the devils drink. When I think about alcohol I feel it has probably ruined more relationships than it’s helped. It fuels arguments, blurs boundaries, and can lead to serious, regrettable decisions and health issues. I’ve seen it firsthand, both in my own life and in the lives of those around me.
Alcoholism:
In Louise Hay’s book ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ she refers to alcoholism as a feeling of “What’s the use?” Feeling of futility, guilt, inadequacy and Self-rejection which is something I refer to in my book DIVINITY.
The affirmations Louise states that you can embody are:
I live in the now. Each moment is new. I choose to see my self-worth. I love and approve of myself.
Any one of these may resonate with you, and really think about what it means and why it’s coming up for you. I encourage you to pick and use one or all of the affirmations daily and really embrace them at the core of your being.
Alcohol and Weight Loss:
If you’re trying to shed those stubborn kilos, cutting back on the booze is your new best friend. Not just because of the empty calories and kilojoules per drink but because alcohol messes with your willpower and makes it harder to stick to your goals. Add on those nights, after one too many drinks and the next day, eating greasy take away, and anything else you can lay your hands on to make yourself feel better, only to feel even worse. So if weight loss is what your after, even cutting back on the drinks will be a game changer.
Finding Your Path: A Life Beyond Alcohol
While societal messages often paint a rosy picture of alcohol, and I can happily say although I’ve had a lot of trauma around alcohol, I’ve had some very funny nights drinking too, which are some of my fondest memories with my friends. However, it’s essential to look beyond the surface and understand how its actually impacting our lives, to make conscious choices and prioritising our well-being, so we can create a healthier and more fulfilling relationship with alcohol – or choose to live without it altogether. This is a crucial step on the path to healing, becoming the best version of ourselves, and living our truth.
We all need support to thrive and not just survive in life; it’s not a case of having to do it alone. If you are thinking of giving up alcohol, there is help, and it comes in many forms, whether discussing your intentions with family and friends and asking for their support or through organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous, the community, a group, a coach, or a mentor.
Another great resource is Alcohol Think Again with plenty of resources under the ‘Get Help’ section too.
If giving up alcohol is one of your main priorities to get your life back on track heading into this year and making it your BEST YEAR YET, please reach out to me at hello@kerriedepalma.com.au, as I have a breakthrough program that can help you do just that.
Together, we can work through your mindset. We’ll work through the story you’re telling yourself around alcohol and any limiting beliefs you have, clear out any trapped emotions you need to release, work through the memories and the habitual patterns, and we’ll retrieve those aspects of self we need to call back in to help you be the very best version of you, the person you were born to be without all that weight on your shoulders that you’ve carried forth to this day.
When we retrieve, work through and heal those fragmented parts of our souls that have been lost along the way, we heal ancestral wounds from the past and for our future, and we’re doing that not just for ourselves but for our family and loved ones.
I strongly believe in this lifetime, we are being called to do the work on ourselves, the work that our family and ancestors haven’t had the opportunity to do in the past. The deep work that wasn’t spoken of, you didn’t talk about because feelings and emotions were for the weak, right? – Wrong! Feelings and emotions are for the strong, for those who are ready to stand up, fight and take back control of their life and be a role model for those around them.
If your struggling with Alcohol, are you going to fight back and take control of your life? Are you ready to step onto your true path and become the best version of yourself?
My wish for you, if you are fighting those demons around alcohol, is to CHOOSE YOU this year. Choose that beautiful little being within you, as there is always someone who needs that version of you, including yourself. You are worth it, more than you will ever know, and you’ll likely be a catalyst for the next person who needs your support or reaches out to you for help. Be that version.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post Alcohol and Purpose: Can You Have it All? That’s a question only you can answer, may you choose wisely.
If you’ve been following my blog posts, you know my motto: ‘Do what you Love and Live your Best, Abundant life!
Kerrie xx
