A woman has revealed how great she felt and the changes she saw in her own body after just three weeks of refraining from drinking alcohol. Watch as she shows the results in the video below:
Obviously, not having hangovers is a start, but stopping - or even just limiting - drinking alcohol can have a great effect on your body, as Danielle Pierce of Austin, Texas, found out recently.
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Pierce started drinking at around the age of 16, and by 18 she was embroiled in the drinking and partying culture of university.
Now, at 24 years old, she admitted that she'd probably drink two bottles of wine per week, while also enjoying shots and cocktails over the course of a normal weekend.
However, when she started cutting things out of her diet, she decided to drop the booze as well, and saw a remarkable change.
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She told Newsweek that she would spend about $114 (£80) on alcohol in an average week, but found she was left feeling 'grumpy' and 'lethargic' after drinking.
Pierce explained: "I decided to cut out alcohol after having gut/stomach issues. I was starting an elimination diet to figure out what foods I was intolerant to, and I figured I might as well cut out alcohol too.
"My parents have been sober since January and they were a huge inspiration and source of encouragement.
"I stopped cold turkey - I knew I needed a reset and the only way I could do that was to remove it completely.
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"I wasn't feeling like myself. I was lethargic, uninspired and honestly grumpy, and I wasn't able to fit into my clothes and I was not happy about that.
"So I started the elimination diet and cut out alcohol as well to jump start my health journey."
Despite admitting feeling 'nervous' and saying she 'didn't know what to expect' when she stopped, the social media strategist now sees the benefits.
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She had only planned to stop for three weeks, but has continued after that period elapsed because she feels great.
On top of that, she's lost an 'unexpected' 15lbs, is sleeping better, and has better skin.
She continued: "I cannot tell you how proud I was when I hit that 21-day mark.
"I was really surprised that I wasn't jumping at the bit to get a glass of wine, by that 21st day, I had no interest in drinking at all.
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"I never want to feel another hangover again after feeling so good.
"I am so happy with my new lifestyle - like, the happiest I have ever been.
"I wish I would've really taken a look in the mirror sooner and realised that I was not excelling in my personal or professional life due to drinking culture."
She added: "It's a completely personal choice, but I don't feel like I was myself when I was staying out till 4am drinking and then being a hungover mess the next day.
"So many things have changed-I think the biggest thing I noticed is my social anxiety decreased and my overall happiness has increased.
"When I drank I would get so anxious around people and would be a recluse, not talk to anyone at all. So overall, my mental health has improved immensely.
"My stomach issues are gone.
"I would get so nauseous when I ate at any time, and after some research I found that when you drink alcohol regularly you aren't able to digest your food all the way and it creates gas in your stomach due to the alcohol sugar. I am not a doctor but this is what I found on the web.
"My skin is the best it's ever been, and I have been on acne medications for years with no luck. My skin is bright, tight and glowing and I think that has to do with me not being dehydrated all the time.
"My sleep patterns have improved but it took some time.
"When I first cut out alcohol I couldn't fall asleep, which I guess means my body was depending on those nightly glasses of wine to go to bed.
"Once my body regulated to my new diet, my sleep consistency and overall depth improved and I wake up refreshed every morning."
As well as the obvious physical benefits, there have been other observable changes, notably to her mental state.
Pierce explained: When I drank I became really shy and antisocial, and now that I have removed alcohol I am way more outgoing and friendly, which is more true to who I am,
"It was really weird that first weekend out.
"Obviously, when people are drinking, they honestly want you to drink with them too - and not, like, in a bad way, but in a cultural expectation way.
"I found that ordering mocktails makes me feel much more included when I go out and it also stops the weird stares from strangers who are wondering why I keep ordering waters, one after another."
Oh, and she's saved about $1,000 (£700) too.
Now, she's drinking on certain 'planned drinking days' but says she'll never drink again, because she doesn't want to slip back into the old habits and hangovers.
Perhaps we could all do with a bit of that.
You can follow Danielle's journey on her TikTok page.
Featured Image Credit: TikTokTopics: Science, Interesting, Food And Drink, Alcohol, Health