I am in control, I am accountable – Claire Jones

I didn’t find the challenge particularly difficult – the benefits showed up fast

I joined OYNB after a culmination of events. I had watched a much-loved family member slowly decline because of alcohol. At the same time, I was a daily drinker myself, on blood pressure medication, overweight and unfit – yet still telling myself I was “fine”.

Seeing the OYNB member testimonials in my Facebook feed stopped me in my tracks. I kept going back to read their stories and look at their photos, quietly wondering:

“Could I do this myself?”

That’s when the seed was planted.

Why I decided to take a break from alcohol

I wanted what I saw others achieving:

• freedom from the constant presence of alcohol in day-to-day life

• proof that I didn’t need it to cope or to socialise

• a healthier body and a clearer mind

It felt like alcohol was everywhere – normalised, encouraged, expected. I was ready to challenge that in my own life.

Starting the 28-Day Challenge

I signed up for the 28-Day Challenge and posted in the OYNB Challengers group for the first time.

Within minutes, the replies started pouring in.

“It became obvious I was not alone in this.”

Sitting in a supermarket car park before going in to shop, I read message after message of support. I walked round the store with tears streaming down my face, feeling:

• understood

• encouraged

• stronger in my decision

That very first wave of support cemented my choice.

Navigating real life while alcohol-free

My partner carried on drinking exactly as we used to drink together. But this time I felt strongly:

“This is my decision. I’m not asking him to change before he’s ready.”

We kept going out, kept socialising. To my surprise, our local pubs had:

• solid alcohol-free options

• AF beers and other drinks I genuinely enjoyed

That made a huge difference. I could still join in, still raise a glass – just without the alcohol.

And the challenge? Honestly:

“I didn’t find the challenge particularly difficult as the benefits were very apparent, very quickly – and I wanted to keep building on what I had achieved.”

Feeling good became the new addiction.

The mindset shift: choosing differently, every day

The biggest lesson running through my journey has been choice.

I realised:

• I always have a choice

• every small decision impacts how I feel mentally and physically

• I can choose the option that supports my long-term health, not just short-term relief

That sense of empowerment now shows up in every area of my life.

The health benefits I noticed

Within just two weeks, the changes were impossible to ignore:

• my blood pressure dropped dramatically

• I started to feel lighter and more energetic

As time went on, the list of benefits kept growing:

• 16 kg weight loss

• stable, healthy weight for the first time in years

• clear, brighter skin

• a body I actually like looking at in the mirror

• 8 hours of quality sleep most nights

• waking up feeling genuinely rested

I also made one of the bravest decisions of my life:

I left my safe, well-paid job with a great pension to focus fully on my two businesses.

Alcohol-free clarity gave me:

• confidence in my thinking

• trust in my own judgement

• the courage to back myself

I feel in control and accountable. I no longer want the lazy, easy option. New ventures excite me; I want to learn, grow and make the most of my time.

Reclaiming my time, energy and joy

Once alcohol was out of the picture, I was astonished by how much time it had been consuming:

• drinking

• thinking about drinking

• preparing to drink

• recovering from drinking

“I have learnt I will never waste my time like that again.”

With my energy levels surging, I filled that space with movement and the outdoors:

• I started running – something I used to hate

• I ride my bikes regularly

• I walk my dogs every day

• I began outdoor swimming

• I spend more time at the beach and in the mountains

These aren’t occasional activities now; they’re part of my daily life. I’m also no longer on high blood pressure medication – all from one decision to take alcohol off the table.

What helped me succeed

Several tools made this shift sustainable:

• Daily journaling – especially in the early days, to process emotions and track progress

• Recommended reading – quit-lit, mindset and behaviour change books

• Daily emails – consistent reminders of why I started and what I was gaining

• Audiobooks – listening while walking or before bed kept my head in the game

• The OYNB Facebook community – motivation, honesty, shared experience and support

• 
  

My relationship with alcohol now

Today, it’s very simple:

“I do not miss alcohol at all. I have no intention of drinking alcohol again.”

I can clearly see:

• alcohol adds nothing positive to my life

• everything I wanted – health, energy, confidence, freedom – arrived after I removed it

My relationship with alcohol has completely changed.

It’s gone.