I achieved all of that and more! – Naomi Morgan

I lost 3.3kg in three months, smashed PB’s at the gym and my eyes really sparkle

I started drinking at the age of 14, mainly White Lightning and Mad Dog 20/20. Like most people, I didn’t drink because I liked the taste – in fact, I hated it. I drank because I liked the way it made me feel: wavy, giddy, and disconnected.

By 17, I was drinking in pubs and clubs, making the most of 50p drinks and buy-one-get-three-free offers. As you can imagine, that led to a lot of drinking to excess and staying out partying until 4am, right through my early 20s.

Fast forward to my 30s

In my 30s, I generally kept my drinking for the weekends. I loved red wine and could put several bottles away on a night out.

I was never much of a “drink at home” person – but once I was out, I stayed out until the end. I was always the one people could rely on to stay out late, even if I was meant to be going home early because I had something important the next day.

Sadly, that meant I turned up to many important occasions fuzzy-headed and overly tired.

I rarely suffered from bad hangovers and almost never got the “beer fear”, so nothing really deterred me from going out and getting “on it” the following weekend. The cycle just repeated itself.

The wake-up call

Deep down, I knew all this drinking wasn’t doing me any good. As my trainer would say:

You can’t out-train all that alcohol and the rubbish you eat the day after.

But I wasn’t ready to listen.

It took my dad having a long and heartbreaking death from a brain haemorrhage and alcohol-induced Alzheimer’s, at the age of 68, for me to decide I wanted to change my relationship with alcohol. That was the wake-up call I needed.

Signing up for the 90-Day Challenge

I signed up to the 90-Day Challenge feeling nervous.

Ninety days sounded so long and I was convinced it would be really hard. My goals were simple but important:

• Get fitter

• Lose some weight

• Have a clear head for the master’s degree I was starting two weeks later

I achieved all of that – and more.

The first month

The first month was the toughest.

• I was counting every single day

• I felt like I was really missing out when we went to the pub

• Soda and lime didn’t feel as “fun” as an AF beer

The second month

By the second month, the sugar cravings kicked in. I wanted all the sweet things I’d usually ignored.

By month three

By month three, not drinking was becoming my new normal.

I was quite happy to leave everyone in the pub at 11pm and go home to my cute rescue kittens. The fear of missing out was gone – replaced by the feeling that I was finally taking care of myself.

The benefits have been massive

I lost 3.3kg in three months, smashed loads of PB’s at the gym, sleep like a baby, have a clear head and great concentration, my skin looks amazing and my eyes really sparkle – that’s actually a thing!

Some of the biggest wins:

• Weight & fitness

  • 3.3 kg lost in three months

  • Smashed multiple personal bests at the gym

• Sleep & mental clarity

  • Sleep like a baby

  • Clear head and strong concentration

  • Able to focus fully on my master’s degree

• Appearance & confidence

  • Skin looks amazing

  • Eyes genuinely sparkle

  • I feel healthier and more confident in myself

Support that makes a difference

The OYNB community has been a huge part of this journey.

• The Facebook group is incredibly supportive – if you’re having a bad day, feel frustrated, or have a question, there is always someone there.

• The daily emails keep you motivated and focused.

• The fact that so many people in the community have been exactly where you are means you always have access to real-life experience, support and wisdom.

That sense of “I’m not alone” is a very beautiful thing – and a big part of why I’ve been able to change my relationship with alcohol so dramatically.