 Hi there, this is James Swannick and you're listening to the alcohol-free lifestyle podcast where you learn how to take that control over alcohol and live a life of health wealth love and happiness Hi, I'm Roseanne and I'm 112 days alcohol free today Roseanne incredible 112 days well done. How do you feel today? I'm feeling pretty good James. Thank you Amazing and I know that over 90 days of not drinking at least with my help inside of my program you lost 21 pounds your blood pressure and your resting heart rate went down considerably as well and You look terrific. Not that you didn't look terrific when when you started, but it's noticeable, isn't it? You're before and after photo They really are. Yeah a lot has happened and Physically in terms of my health over 112 days and the 90 days different things happened. I actually started with the 30 day program And then about 20 or 21 days and then I joined the 90 Yeah, yeah amazing. So just tell us a little bit about yourself and What you were drinking and what your drinking habits were before you decided to take action Um, I was I've for several years Pretty much was drinking every day and I really didn't like how bad I think over the years My tolerance just increased and increased and increased I wasn't It wasn't a drunk per se, but I could drink a heck of a lot, you know Um It was kind of weird because I don't think people really understood how much alcohol I could consume in a night What were you drinking? I had a weird combination because I loved wine until I got to about three glasses So I drank three quarters of a bottle of wine and then somehow would transition to maker's mark on the rocks so Yeah, I was pretty good at doing some strong stuff over you know over the years Was a white wine or red wine you were drinking? Uh, depending on the Time of year in the summer. I loved my white and with a nice steak. I like my red so I could do both And was it part of a nightly routine for you? To wind down after a day or was it a something that you'd white do with friends? Like what were the circumstances around you drinking the bottle of wine and then moving to maker's mark? Um, I think I It's oh, you know, you know, I could go back to drinking when I was in college, right and uh at first it's just party and gone and it's not and then you could work And it's more stress relief and get home and relax and And then it's kind of a difficult marriage and it's numbing yourself from the pain of the marriage or the loneliness And you know year by year by year. I mean, I just think I was noticing You know issues with it I hate to say it but maybe up to 10 years and just gets worse and worse until you feel Horrible and you understand it's controlling your life And you feel like a fraud um to the people that you represent um You know, I had a a terrible mantra Uh within my brain happening that when people You know just really connected with me or liked me. I'd still go home and go. Yeah But if you knew me You wouldn't you know, because it's just that big secret that you're keeping and it's just a big weight um That's present with you Um, it was difficult for me to like myself after a while And how long did you feel that way? Huh Uh way too long Way too long. I mean definitely uh Five years, you know, and it just gets worse it starts with something little It's just like drinking it starts with something nothing and then it grows into something Bigger and the longer you let it wait The bigger it becomes And to be clear you didn't feel like nor are you what society might deem an alcoholic It was just you as someone who drank too much consistently. Is that fair? I I appreciate you asking that question because My vision For my life was always to be in a bar with my friends And just choose to be alcohol-free And for some reason I was really stuck. Well, I know what reasons now are for going through the program but um I couldn't get there, you know what I mean, I didn't you know, I didn't want to For me a a was Was like there was a stigma and And you had to acknowledge that there was something wrong with you and I was already kind of too hard on myself to Go there. So that wasn't an option for me. So when I saw your program I was like, hey, I like that. That's what I've been dreaming about for myself like To be around my friends and just not have alcohol Father me not, you know, not be involved with that but still be involved with them Yeah, great Well, we'll get into the to the nitty gritty of the transformation in a second, but maybe just tell us a little bit about What was the final catalyst for you taking action? I know you said that initially you may have seen some facebook ads of mine online and you joined 30 day no alcohol challenge and then ultimately you joined the 90 day group Which is more hands-on coaching or what was the catalyst for you finally doing something about it? Uh, truthfully it was COVID and my fear my health, um alcohol depresses your, um Your uh Pulmonary system it affects your immune system I used to smoke for 35 years. So, um I have to deal with that and I was like, you know what I gotta solve this and now because You know, this is a pretty serious thing and it was a it was a good catalyst for me personally Just help yeah, and you know, and I'll be honest the other thing was I'm divorced and um, you know considering dating other people, but I didn't feel good about Going out into the world because they hadn't defined who I was was I a drinker and a partier or was I An on drinker and just like, you know could go out in social occasions. And so I think that was also Getting in the way of me Figuring out what direction I was going with my life. I just wanted I wanted a direction and I didn't feel comfortable You know going in the party direction because it was becoming too big of an issue for me personally And being involved with somebody like me because not going to help me You know Let's skip over to the amazing results that you got and then we'll come back and we'll talk about how you got them through the 90 day group but I mentioned at the beginning You lost weight your blood pressure went down your resting heart rate went down So just tell us a little bit about you know, your physical markers or what happened to you physically as a result of being alcohol-free now for 112 days right well, I I've always been kind of concerned about my health and um Don't remember the reasons I got a blood pressure monitor It was probably oh actually it was because I started to get higher readings at the doctors and she wanted me to monitor it. So I got the blood pressure monitor and It was pretty much hovering at that danger zone 140 over 90 sometimes 145 sometimes 150 sometimes 90 93 95 I mean sometimes it registered just under two, but I was just playing with something Dangerous and I probably should have been medicated, but I I didn't want to be so that's what it was before um, I took a picture and posted it in project 90 when I took my Blood pressure is pretty excited. I believe it was 117 over 79 and that's just Now those numbers did not show up Before alcohol free that's pretty good So so just so we're clear. What did your blood pressure go from and what did it go to? Call it 140 over 90 to 117 over 79 I mean those are just readings. They don't stay there, but that's a good example of What could be at one point versus another point? Yeah changes during the day So that's amazing. So your blood pressure went from 140 over 90 to 117 over 79 incredible Resting heart rate uh Again before I used to really be bothered about the fact that if I was wearing one of those watches, it'd be mid 80s 85 81 82 and then um Now I get up in the morning and I look at my walk and it's safe You know, I mean obviously Yeah, so just we're losing a little bit of the um the wi-fi connection might be breaking in and out here But I'll just repeat what you said that resting heart rate has gone from Somewhere what was in the mid 80s to the mid 50s. Is that correct? Yes Okay, amazing and then wait. What happened with your weight? My weight I I lost Just about 21 pounds and inside that that's inside the 90 days. So, um, because I know when I was in the 30 day thing I was eating candy bars. So when I got into the 90 day thing I started to take my weight more seriously Yeah So you lost 21 pep. Sorry. You lost 21 pounds inside of 90 days. Is that correct? Yes And uh, what was interesting Is that you did post a before and after photo inside of the our project 90 facebook group Which elicited a lot of likes and comments and support and Which is pretty amazing because it was a really interesting before and after photo like you can Absolutely a hundred percent noticeably see a big change in you, can't you? Yeah, and you can tell it's recent because it's the same glasses which are fairly new I just cut the glasses. I think in december. So, um, yeah that picture was taken Just 10 days before I quit Got it got it a very fair representation of what life was What was going on in my life then? Yeah What else happened to you physically around maybe sleep or energy hangovers habits Exercising just tell us a little bit about what shifted So many things shifted inside, um Project 90 because it I was held accountable, you know, and and there was always these things like, okay What do you want to think about changing this week? You know and just started with little things being accountable like walking Let's start a walking program every morning. Let's make your bed in the morning. Um Let's clean the kitchen at night because it was too busy drinking To be bothered to clean the kitchen um, just so It's it's kind of cool like all these little habits That I started that really brought tremendous gratification Over time because I'd wake up in the morning Without a hangover be happier see my clean kitchen have more energy not be hungover Um, you know have energy at night to clean the kitchen and maybe things that I hadn't cleaned um You know once you start seeing The results physically it gives you motivation to continue them once you continue them It's just everything builds on itself. You know, you start with little steps Of accountability and then they grow into something bigger You mentioned as well that your confidence in yourself has increased so tell us a little bit about that That's huge huge probably Probably the biggest thing, um There's so many big things, but that's a big thing because um When you drink I think most people can relate to this but When you drink as heavily as I did and then you try and quit and then you realize you're Unable to go alcohol-free for any length of time without being miserable or going right back to where you started You start, um, your self-confidence starts, um, to be lost and I think that's kind of what happens with the weight It's like, ah, I was really good at drinking and then eating salami and cheese too. So they all go well together Um, and then you just you know, you can't Accomplish things in your life when you feel bad about yourself, right and I just as much as I would, um be Successful in life or with my relationships. I always used to think I was fooling people Like and say in my head, but if you really knew me, you know, you wouldn't like what you knew and Through the 90 day process That's completely gone. I I have complete confidence in myself. I You know, when I started it, I it was just about 90 days when I ended it I can look back and go I never ever ever want to go to that place again never and I just You know, I'm not perfect But I like who I am and I like where I'm going and I believe in myself and There's just a lot of upgrades Yeah What have friends or family said to you about what they've noticed in you They're just like wow Uh You know, they're just like your I think mostly they say the confidence is just exudes and the joy Shows and the physical changes show and it's just a wholesale Transformation, um of happiness confidence physically Fitter and looking better and healthier. I just a big package feel I guess They see what I feel And tell us a little bit about the process involved in The 90 day program Why do you think this was effective or what were the attributes of That program that were effective for you this time around when maybe doing it on your own and willpower had been ineffective Yeah Willpower is not the way to go because that's not what this is about. It's about understanding to me understanding the lie that I've been told about alcohol, you know About the advertising and how it's you know good for you and it's how to catch the girl and There's just so many lies about alcohol But it's it's a wholesale change about how you feel About alcohol and how it affects the body it's Being in community with people that are going through the exact same thing where There's you know where you're in the real world and you're worried about Things and you have to hide it Here you can go. Yeah This just and you can just share what's really going through your mind with other people that go. Yeah, that resonates That's me too And then you feel it like you're not alone. You know and you make To me what is I feel like blasting friendships. I obviously won't know that in time But I just feel like the friendships I've made from people on different continents You know just been really special to me Accountability every week if you're going to say yeah, I'm going to do this You just feel like you need to do it if you say you're going to do it You know The other thing as good as we're all together whether it's day one Day 30 60 or 90 You can see the progress. You can remember where you started You can see improvements in people's skin and physically and smiles and it's just I don't know fraternity sorority, whatever. It's just a great Great mechanism to be a part of when you're doing something that Seemed so difficult at least if you have difficult moments, you know that you're not Doing it alone. And that's the other thing I learned is Life is a bunch of difficult moments. It's how we navigate them That matters and I've learned how to navigate some difficult things alcohol free and Not only is it better, but it's I'm calmer clarity and think through things you don't react you don't Jump and yell and scream. There's just so Yeah, there's a lot of pluses to quitting drinking Going alcohol free I guess but yeah It's it's just fun. It's fun to look at it in the rearview mirror What's your plan in relation to alcohol on going from here and also what's your plan for your life now that you are alcohol free from here I um, I get to go to San Diego for a month So I get to stop my life in Arizona for a little bit and just almost go on a vacation So I get to test myself in other areas with respect to alcohol. That's Not even a question. It's done. It's out of my life. I And and believe it or not that that light bulb didn't occur to me until like Between somewhere between 60 and 90 days in the program But I'm pretty confident about that I um What else am I doing? I'm open to opportunities to do other things to help people to maybe um share my experience with others if they um choose to be interested because I want as many people to know that This is a really cool thing. I know I know because I've been there I can see a lot of people secretly suffering Because this is kind of a big secret for most of us Yeah, wonderful And uh, if someone's listening or watching now and they're thinking or entertaining the idea of quitting drinking whether they're Thinking of doing it on their own or whether they're doing it inside of Getting some help from from me and my team. What would you say to them? I'd say if possible, it's far better to do it in a community. Um like this because there's It's funny James when you talked to me and I was 20 days into it. I was pretty confident I could do this all without you um Looking in the rear view mirror There's no way I would be where I am Without the program so It's just You know, one of the best investments I've made in myself. That's That's for darn sure It can be done on on your own. I know people who have done it. I just for me and my situation um It was a great journey so Yeah, a lot of people a lot of people Feel like they can do it on their own, but then realize pretty quickly that they can't Many people can do it on their own and do do it on their own But those those many people are actually a very small percentage when we look at it statistically statistically speaking Will power And doing it like a a lone wolf has about a less than a 10 success rate In my experience and certainly that's what all the studies Are on willpower in general show When you have accountability community support, it's fun. And then obviously you have skin in the game Like you invested in yourself that seems to be a sweet spot for making sure that you know, you get the result that you want Um Rosanna and congratulations. I'm super happy for you. And uh, thank you for being such a positive member of our community as well We really did appreciate that and thank you for allowing yourself to be coached and also in coaching others It's one of the things I say to people just as they're joining Our 90 day program is At some point you will become the teacher because all the neuroscience shows that the fastest way to learn anything is to teach it Do you feel like you've now become somewhat of of a teacher? Are you sort of stepping into that that kind of role now just by sharing your story a little more? That's what i'm hoping for. Yes, because I just uh I think when you step into something, um, that's so positive. It's definitely something you want to share with other people so in doing this Um, I think that's the step i'm taking is making sure that i'm part of the process um That can help others and hopefully you know help you and and others realize that this is This is worth it. This is a worthwhile investment for yourself Thank you so much rosanna. Congratulations again Thanks Thank you so much for listening I have some free stuff for you if you go to james swanick.com forward slash guide I will send you my formula for reducing or quitting alcohol If you'd like to watch the video versions of these episodes Then you can watch them at my youtube channel, which is at james swanick If you'd like to send me a direct message on instagram, you can do so at james swanick If you would like to try a three day challenge a free three day challenge You can go to james swanick.com forward slash three day challenge If you would like to try the 30 day no alcohol challenge You can go to 30 day no alcohol challenge If you would like to schedule a 15 minute exploratory call with one of my coaches To see how we may be able to help you in your alcohol free journey You can go to james swanick.com forward slash schedule And my request is if indeed you enjoyed this episode or you have enjoyed the podcast Would you please go ahead and rate the show in itunes and would you please write a review A review might just be a sentence saying great. Listen. Hey, this was fantastic Oh, I really enjoyed this whenever you give a rating whenever you write a review It surges our podcast up in the rankings enabling more people to see it and hear it And potentially inspiring someone out there to reduce or quit alcohol and potentially transform their life So yes, while it does help me to get ratings and to get reviews You will actually be directly contributing to helping someone's life by having them discover this podcast So if you are open to inspiring others and to helping me in the process Would you please go ahead and give this episode a ranking and would you please write a review? Thank you so much for listening and I will catch you on the next one