THE WIND-DOWN DRINKER

‘It didn’t change how I feel, but it’s changed how I think’

Sharon Gethings, 55, lives in London with her partner. She drinks up to 25 units a week

‘Fetching the corkscrew is how I celebrate the end of the working day. That first sip draws a line between work-time and me-time. If I’m with family or friends, or it’s the weekend, I might have two or three glasses of wine. I like the taste, the social aspect and the fun I have when I’m drinking – why stop doing something I enjoy?’ says Sharon, a freelance marketing and brand copywriter.

‘It’s also my only vice; I eat an incredibly healthy diet and go to the gym five times a week. That said, I know I’m drinking more than I should and sometimes for the wrong reasons. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with MS, which can make walking difficult at times, and I’m aware that I sometimes open a bottle of wine when I’m feeling a bit down in the dumps about it. I know it doesn’t help in the long-term but, somehow, a glass of wine makes me feel like the fit, energetic and sporty woman I used to be.

But, like a lot of people, I do worry about the headlines reporting that alcohol can increase your risk of everything from cancer to heart problems. Also, my partner’s teetotal and I know he’d like me to cut back.

The Fibroscan showed no lasting damage but did indicate that my fatty liver readings were borderline. In other words, it would be a smart idea to get my alcohol consumption within healthy levels.

During the challenge, I didn’t notice a big difference in how I felt, but there was a definite change in how I thought.

Without a glass of wine to lift my mood, I was suddenly more mindful of my moods and how that lacklustre feeling at the end of the day was a sign that I needed to take better care of myself: to go for a walk, get some more exercise or throw myself into a good book.

My skin glowed like it hasn’t done for years – the effect was better than any expensive cream! And my follow-up Fibroscan showed that my liver was much healthier, too. I’m not going to go teetotal for life – I enjoy good wine too much – but taking a month off has worked by switching off the autopilot that made me reach for a glass of wine. Now, I’m going to have the very minimum of two alcohol-free days a week. I’m also going for quality rather than quantity on nights out, ordering a glass of Champagne and really enjoying and savouring it. Both my liver and my mindset are healthier for it.’

THE EXPERT’S VERDICT ‘Sharon has had a great reduction in liver fat and has been inspired to think carefully about why and how she’s been drinking. She wasn’t necessarily drinking a lot of alcohol each time she drank, but because she was drinking daily, it was adding up. By breaking the cycle of nightly drinking, Sharon will be able to reduce her intake to the recommended maximum of 14 units a week.’

My skin glowed like it hasn’t done for years