THE ROUTINE DAILY DRINKER

‘It helped fix my cholesterol, sleep and energy – and I lost 10lb’

Sheena Mason-white, 56, lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. She drinks each evening, up to 30 units a week

‘Every night at around 6pm, my husband would come home from work and say, “Would you like drink?” and we’d open a bottle of wine, enjoying the rest over dinner. At the weekend, I’d sometimes enjoy a glass of Champagne or perhaps a cocktail. It’s not just a habit – we enjoy good wine. We’re members of a wine society and enjoy discussing our selection over dinner.

But I had noticed that alcohol had taken a toll on my health. In the four years I’ve been with my husband, when sharing a bottle of wine became our evening ritual, I put on two stone. My sleep also suffered. I had no problem falling asleep, but the wine disrupted my sleeping patterns, meaning I often woke at night and was unable to get back to sleep. This had a knock-on effect on my energy levels and I often found it difficult to get going in the morning.

Thankfully, my Fibroscan results found no damage to my liver, but the readings that indicate the build-up of fat on the liver cells were just on the borderline between the normal and mildly-raised range. A blood test also showed I had slightly raised cholesterol which, in part, could be down to the alcohol-related weight gain.

My husband did the dry challenge with me, which was a huge help as it broke our nightly drinking habit. To my surprise, I didn’t miss the wine one bit. I’d been worried that, by not drinking in the evening, I would feel like I wasn’t fully living, but I quickly realised I lived more when alcohol wasn’t in the equation. Instead of slumping on the sofa after dinner, I started an interior designing course as well as launching my athomewith thecountess.com lifestyle blog.

I felt I had more quality time with my husband, too. Without alcohol preventing us from going out in the car, we both joined a gym and started going

to the cinema. My sleep immediately improved, so much so that I questioned why on earth I’d been drinking in the evenings. At the end of the challenge, not only had the levels of fat on my liver dropped significantly, but I had also lost 10lb, which helped to lower my cholesterol.

I’m so inspired by the difference this challenge has made that I’m now not drinking in the week and I’ll only have one or two drinks on the weekend or on special occasions. For me, there’s no going back.’

THE EXPERT’S VERDICT ‘Sheena has lost weight, helping to lower her cholesterol levels, and her liver is in an even healthier state,’ says Dr Yiannis Kallis, consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist at The London Clinic. ‘She’s sleeping better and has more energy, and has developed healthier habits. Drinking wine at home may seem harmless, but the constant drip, drip, drip of alcohol over the course of a week can add up, so it’s important to monitor your intake.’

I’m now not drinking in the week. For me, there’s no going back