 Hi there, this is James Swannick and you're listening to the alcohol-free lifestyle podcast where you learn how to take back control over alcohol and live a life of health wealth love and happiness Hi, I'm Eddie and I am 102 days alcohol-free as of today Eddie Congratulations 102 days alcohol-free. How do you feel? I feel great. I feel good. I feel more energetic Like I said, I feel great. It's how I feel. I love it overall great mood I love it. So we're talking to Eddie Dominguez who's 67 and he is a restaurant owner From Nayarit, Mexico, which is about a two-hour flight south of LA or a two-day drive south of LA About an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico Eddie You joined our 90-day program and have quit drinking now and you're 102 days straight From alcohol. What was your drink of choice or your drinks of choice before you joined us? Well, actually having a restaurant. It was three drinks of choice so afternoon tequila then you know evening cocktail, which would be usually a Manhattan and then usually a bottle of you know Cabinets having on with the dinner And that was like a daily practice I hadn't even noticed that built into it over the last 10 years with the restaurant But slowly build up and I noticed that it was it became a habit more than a practice from the beginning So I did the beginning of the year I was looking to start off the new year and I said well, I got to take a break And I found the 30 day and so I did the 30 day and while I was on it I found great so I extended it to six weeks and then actually broke it with the valentine's day And then went back and I wasn't back to the same as before But that I said wait a minute. I did well for sweet. I should try 90 day And in that same time that I was looking for a 90 day program myself I noticed that the project 90 so it fit perfectly for what I was up to Yeah, so just context for those if you're not if you're not quite understanding what Eddie's saying He joined the 30 day no alcohol challenge program Which is what I have which is a more of a do-it-yourself-at-home kind of thing you get a video each day And then as Eddie was saying he I guess you could say fell off the wagon is the terminology right on valentine's day You drink again and then later on going down 90 day beyond Program, which is named project 90 So you said you were drinking tequila manhattan's and wine your own a restaurant So why you know all the alcohol is very prevalent How long or how many years was this kind of lifestyle of drinking? Prevalent in your life, Eddie Well, actually if I want to just think of your culture behind it I did 25 years in television media I ran the television stations in southern california in san francisco and as part of the Practice that we would have in terms of I was a general manager So I have my general sales manager taking out some of our top clients We'd always think about dinner and then I would be countless and some of the best wines and So it began as a As part of it was part of the business. It was just what everybody did and that went on for 25 years But when I came here and I decided well It's a small fishing village or used to be a small fishing village and whatever I up to And I one of the things that I did enjoy was going out and eating So I began a restaurant and actually ended up with two restaurants and And it began slow Something that was overnight just noticing that it built up over the last 10 years And you're it also becomes a place where a lot of expats during six months out of the year are here And it's you know, let me buy two to glass of wine. Let me buy two to glass of wine And so it's just it's always in the background. So part celebration and people on vacation And so it's just part of the culture And I hadn't noticed immediately. I mean once in a while you said well, I did too much last night and you know You know, just hold myself together. So that doesn't happen too often. I'm very responsible I own the restaurant. We have like over 20 employees and I'm very involved with community work with the rotary club So and and when I was with the television station, I always had a position of authority or power So I was always publicly responsible in my drinking But I noticed that over the last 10 years and you know, the beach town They got just a little bit out of hand and I thought wait a minute. I can't I can't continue this way I'm going to be I would have been turning 67 Which I I did and I wanted to start getting myself back into Shape at this age if I wanted to stand and have a Longer happier life that that would make a big difference I took on the challenge and I thought it was um, it worked perfectly It worked perfectly and I think one of the things that that worked the most is that it wasn't um It's like alcohol anonymous never called to me It didn't didn't appeal to me. I didn't I didn't feel I was in that realm by any means But I did feel that I needed some sort of support to Not do it on my own doing it on my own is I have no one Accountable, I'm not accountable to anyone and doing it with a group the support group it's a way of sharing and then I'm held accountable just by Publicly speaking that this is from way to be doing and I think that makes a big difference And so with the people that are also involved in the group which many are business owners entrepreneurs people that are successful um They were like-minded people with certainly interest and I think that's what made has made it easier made it a lot easier I think when I finished my 90 days Someone mentioned asked me and I said oh it was very quick was very easy And then I realized that it's easy from the 90 points of view from the 90 days But from day one it seems that it's a long ways ahead But once I've even reached that somebody else challenged me afterwards and said well do another 90 days And so I said yeah, why not it's perfect. So I've taken on another 90 days Oh, wonderful And what were some of the noticeable changes that occurred during the 90 days or as you're Sitting here now talking to me. What happened to you physically what happened to you? Emotionally what's happened to you professionally like what what changes have happened during these 90 days So I think the biggest change is um In my professional would just be much more productive and that has to do with having just more energy I don't get a you know, it's luggage and tired I'm able to be much more focused and so I'm able to accomplish a lot more My commitments on a daily basis. I think that was the biggest change The the personal challenge that I had is that I also wanted to lose weight which it looked like it was too far out to reach But it did happen and it happened a little bit later on um So that was something that came out one of the benefits came out afterwards But I think I don't think I know that the biggest benefit was just having much more uh clear and clarity and focus in what I'm doing and what I'm up to and seeing that uh drinking got in the way and I and Noticing how much it got in the way. It wasn't just a little bit It was quite a bit and since I have quite a few commitments that I that I'm up to in life It made a big difference The last it happened that uh the pandemic had at the same time and been involved with rotary We began a fundraising program to solicit funds from catheter from the u.s To be able to provide food baskets on a weekly basis And so to date we've have fed over 1500 families We've also helped with the students to kitchens that we're doing So doing that I have a construction project going on that I'm involved in and um, that's coming along managing that at the same time and then managing 20 employees 20 plus employees that were out of work and how to How to help how to still maintain them on salary at least a part of those three months that we were off And then preparing for post-covid as we come back into into business And I'm not sure I would It might have been easy doing the all-way honor just dragged myself So I wouldn't think about it But I think this way was being very clear about it much more clarity much more focused as I keep mentioning the same But that's that's what comes up is what was very clear to me And I think I think what helps a lot is Working in in groups and get on on the phone calls with others That are also in the program drinking is is is one of the main Issues but I think what we'll truly have to we're all people that are up to big things and that and that comes up as the conversation and the drinking Gets in the way or bad in the way And I think that's that's what I make that's what I see that becomes very valuable Yeah, wonderful. Tell us a little bit more about uh, what happened with your weight and with and uh while this Well, there's a couple things When I took on the program I always like metrics I came out of corporate America So I always do metrics and so I did my cholesterol levels and dropped that down by 28 points I did I had written that I would wanted to swim At least eight laps a day three times a week. I ended up doing 20 laps a day every single day It took but it built up. It didn't happen overnight Um, and so with the weight loss it wasn't it wasn't easy I did start overeating a bit and maybe it was just the same anxiety or substitute But as I heard others in the group talking about it, I was just much more conscious of it And then I wouldn't say miraculously but the last 90 days it began to shut off much much faster And I also began to put much more Focus on it in terms of what I was eating keeping a food log of what I was eating So just being much more conscious of of that and that made that made a big difference I think as I go on to my next 90 days That could now be a bigger focus than it was the first 90 the first 90 was just No alcohol and that that has made a big difference I don't know if you're being deliberately cagey eddie, but you haven't told us how much weight she lost Oh 15 pounds So it it did move from like three or four pounds for the first You know six weeks or so and then I didn't want to get back on the scale So just two weeks before and then I noticed that I dropped on 10 or 11 And then the last two weeks it just the other four pounds came off. So Yeah, I love that. So why don't you just say just just say this just say In 90 days I lost 15 pounds just say that So in 90 days I lost 15 pounds that's five pounds a month Amazing. No, no, that's more of it. Yeah Yeah, good on you mate. It's incredible. And then and then what happened with your cholesterol? You said that you dropped 28 points. So just tell us what what happened with that your cholesterol went from where to where so From 188 to 160 From I'm sorry. So your cholesterol went from where sorry From 188 or 190 and I got confused. I don't have it in front of me Or 198 to 160 when it was seven it was 20. So that was 78. Yeah 160 to 188 Actually the other way around, sorry 188 to 160 Oh, I love that. So just for that I know that if you're listening on the podcast now you you're you're understanding this but just for the benefit Can you say can you just say My cholesterol went from 188 to 160 So my cholesterol dropped from 188 to 160 Just by not drinking So good. I love that. So your cholesterol dropped from 188 to 160. You dropped 15 pounds any other markers any other noticeable markers? um I think those are the the exercise the increase in the amount of exercise that I set out to do so I surpassed The I didn't put any any Amount of dropping my cholesterol But it was 28 points, which is is pretty phenomenal I've been you know, I've done statins before and it takes a year to just maintain it It only drops to two three four points at a time So that drop made a big difference and I don't have the triglyceride, but that one was huge That one was also huge. It went down. I want to say like 50 points So those are markers that I didn't expect but I was very pleasantly surprised with the results So you said your triglycerides went down about 50 points. Is that right? Yes, that's correct I'm just going to get you to say that actually so can you just say my triglycerides went down about 50 points? My triglycerides went down about 50 points Incredible. So my cholesterol went down my triglycerides went down Yeah, that's just from stopping drinking Yeah, incredible I know if you're listening on the podcast the reason I'm asking Eddie to do this is because we're going to take a little Recording of some of these things that he's saying and stick it in a case study video And so rather than him having having him say, oh, yeah, it went down from 188 to 160 I'm trying to get him to say my cholesterol went down from 188 to 160 So when I insert that section into a little video we're going to make about him the viewer understands exactly what we're talking about Um, so we're doing we're doing some video editing and directing as we're doing this interview Eddie You are you used to run tv station, right? You know all about this. I was going to say I know I said I shouldn't have prepared for that. I exactly what you're saying This is exactly what we did for 25 years. I did for 25 years. So I know exactly what you're talking about and I didn't Think about it beforehand Or good, uh And so what have people said to you or noticed about you since you've been on this alcohol free journey? um Just the Complement I get the most is you look great. Your skin is is changed to you. There's a certain glow in your in your look Um, and then they notice the weight the weight it's I Take a lot more Telling myself so I don't see the same way It's like until I get on the scale and then I notice it But people have mentioned it But what comes out the most and they mention the most is what a difference, you know, you look great your face looks great um And what they don't say what I imagine is that it's not puffy and swollen as it probably is in some of the old sport events So that's I mean physically that's what they can see You mentioned uh to me a couple weeks ago that uh, there was You had a conversation I think with your godson and he had referenced something about you not drinking Would you like to share that story? Yeah, um, so I have a restaurant and my godson was named after me eddie He um, he works as a waiter at the restaurant and he has the drinks at the table and then he asked me and I said I'll have a little water with little and he said He asked me he goes are you ever going to drink alcohol again? And it's it took me by surprise because I Out of nowhere. He just asked because he's noticed that over the last few months There's been no alcohol at all and so it made me um think and how long Has this been in his mind prior to the 90 days? So he noticed it without me having to share anything with him just noticing at dinners at home And at the restaurant that I haven't been drinking anything any alcohol or not anything. I haven't taken anything I've been alcohol free the last 90 days. We're now 102 days. So um That just made me think how many more people have I influenced an event? um In my life that noticed my drinking and I wasn't being responsible For it. And so they're able to notice it now just by me not drinking Um, how did your sleep? Change how did your energy levels change over the 90 days? My sleep level, you know, my sleep. I'm not sure I think they sleep they tend to have a restless sleep. So I I don't think that was any major change that I noticed What I do notice is that I'm able to accomplish a lot more in the day And that's just means me having more energy During the whole day, but my sleep. I think I have other I tend to stay up late Except now it's you know with water versus drinking something late at night. So I think that has more to do with My sleeping pattern than just drinking but what is does make a difference is that I'm up in the morning a lot more Peppier more energy than I had been in the past. So that's a lot of doubt That makes that's that's the huge difference What is your intention now with your drinking? I know you mentioned someone's challenged you to go another 90 days, but Let's assume that that happens What do you think is your long-term vision for your drinking habits? Well, um My long-term vision Let me how how should I say this It's I don't have a goal of never drinking again But I don't want to start drinking anywhere in the near future Maybe I'll go maybe another 90 days after the 90 because I want to make sure that it's it's a Responsible for it. Should I ever decide to do it again? But at this point it's another 90 days And with possibility of another 90 days after that I'll pick it 90 days at a time so Yeah, wonderful. That's where I'm at and we saw you um Is part of the 90 day program that I have We have a marco polo group which which means people can send little video messages to one another to other members who are also doing their 90 days and You very kindly shared a marco polo video message a few days ago when you met up with one of our One of your fellow project 90 members rosanne Tell us a little bit about about that story and how you had connected with her I guess virtually on some of the video zoom calls for three months And then finally you got to to meet one of the other members in person So interestingly enough on one of the zoom calls sometimes Getting on the zoom call early. We have a little bit of conversation. And what do you live and what do I live? Is that a living you my arizona? And I said, oh, well, I live in mexico and I And so we've known each other now pretty much the last 90 days three months That we've seen each other on the zoom calls and then sharing on the marco polo and Rosanne shares quite a bit on on marco polo. She's a great great Person to contribute at the share a lot that's going on And so I wrote How did I write I think I wrote in the facebook Or I wrote her notes that I just passed by yuma On my way to los angeles and she said well, you should let me know You could have stopped by so it was a short trip from los angeles three days and so on my way back I wrote her a note. She said you must stop by Even if you don't have time just pull off We'll meet it right at the circle k right off the freeway and we got to just meet each other and It was it's a two-day drive. So I'm always very focused But I said, yeah So I pulled off and we met each other and it was instant We it's like somebody I've known virtually for three months But it was like somebody that I've known all my life coming into contact with each other There's a humanity a Relationship that has built up over this time and it's a shared relationship of People that we have one golden common that brought us together Which has been alcohol-free But I think we've been able to share that with people that are committed to our lives For our family's lives to better relationships To being better persons in our communities and and in the businesses or adventures that we take on in life And so it was a it was a wonderful Idea that she had we did a marco polo together, which is a wonderful App that it's a great way to stay in communication with your friends And we received a lot of response from the rest of the group That are on in the project 90 group as well as on the facebook page that we have project 90 Love that Uh, I was thrilled to see that video and you were just you were literally driving on on your way back to mexico and you Wow and she Did you have to deviate much to to meet her or did she have to come far to meet you or did it all work out pretty She's she's Very pretty. She said she's a mile from the exit And she said, you know But I knew that if I would accept the invitation to her house It would have been two or three hours and I had to make the border before nightfall because then we have to Anyway, it's too complicated to go through But no, she meant when she said get off at this exit may go around the traffic circle There's the circle cane. I'll be right there and there she was It's literally less than five minutes from her house Wow, it was great Amazing and so we made a promise that next time I go I will Set the time aside to be able to visit properly I Love it. Yeah Well Eddie, congratulations on being 102 days alcohol free as we're recording this I'm sure as someone as someone is listening to this or watching this later on They're going to be curious as to where you are on your alcohol free journey because someone might listen to this six months later And go, I wonder if you're still alcohol free. Maybe you will be I'm pretty confident you will yeah, maybe you're Yeah, you just accepted someone's challenge to do 90 days and then you know five minutes ago You said, oh, maybe I'll do 90 days after that as well Yeah What would you say to some that's a very good possibility? What would you say to someone who's listening or watching right now who's maybe considering either Well, they're probably considering one of two things one is Trying to do it do it on their own with willpower and trying to quit and be really motivated and but you know ultimately doing on their own or Doing it with some coaching and accountability and support Which it seems like you got when you joined our the 90 day program. So what would you say to that person? So I would say two things doing it on your own um I tended to have the The recurring thought and saying well, I will start doing it after there's a An event coming up. There's a birthday coming up on the so-and-so's wedding. Oh, no, there's an anniversary So there's always an excuse to postpone it and put it off Because there's a celebration that's going on And so if you stay in your own head by yourself that the tendency for that to happen will probably happen much more often making a commitment with where you're accountable to A whole group of people that are also making the same commitment and that you're open for coaching So you have to be open to receive coaching You just not just somebody telling you what to do it. There's a conversation that goes on Makes a huge difference. It makes you It helps you and that makes you it helps you reflect on what is that you're doing and why it is that you're doing And why you're making this this decision each of us that come into the program Do it for a different reason although some reasons could be the same A lot of them is relationship a lot of its relationship both with your spouse or with your children With your co-workers a lot of business for health Um, and a lot of it is for business You're up to big things in business that you need to have much more focus and clarity But it's a huge difference doing it on your own than doing it with a group Where accountability is a big difference saying it to I don't know who a number of people are in the program But they're all listening in at one point or another and so we know Who's staying on course and who's not which I'd like to say there's a few people that broke and had a reset and That was very powerful when they share Because it shows the the humanity that each each person is And how frail it is and how important it is to get the support Of all the others in the group and having that person come back on track and coming back stronger And their sharing made a huge difference in the success that each one of us have had In completing those 90 days and then since then a lot of them have completed their 90 days But I think that that that was very, um Powerful to be in a group like that Eddie Dominguez 67 from near read mexico Congratulations once again. Thank you so much for being a such a powerful influence and force in the group as well Thank you for sharing and for helping others I always say when people first join They're very much the student and as they go along they become the teacher Because people join, you know on their first week or their second week And you're now on you know day 70 or day 80 or day 90 Just you sharing what worked for you ends up helping others So thank you for being a great student and then thank you for being a great teacher as well by Um consistently sharing in Marco Polo and in the facebook group and turning up to the calls and supporting other people and asking questions I so appreciate you sir And james thank you. I think um one thing I didn't say earlier was in the beginning part of the program I think the first three weeks or so I wrote an email and asking what else is there And having it in front of me Um and being available the first three weeks and not noticing it and you just pointed out How is it that we can help you you have your calls you have your coaching calls You have your videos we do our gratitudes and um And actually was re inviting me to engage And that re invitation to engage made all the difference and made that huge leap forward And uh being able to achieve the 90 days and making the 90 days go by much faster And much more successful for myself So I want to thank you for that Are you welcome eddie? Thank you, sir. I so appreciate you and congratulations again, and uh, I wish you the best on your alcohol-free journey Great. Thank you Thank you so much for listening. I have some free stuff for you if you go to james swanik.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 swanik If you'd like to send me a direct message on instagram You can do so at james swanik if you would like to try a three day challenge a free three day challenge You can go to james swanik.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 swanik.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. 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