A man who went sober after 45 years of drinking has shared the thing that shocked him most after he gave it up for good.
Ian Callaghan was in a destructive routine before he took the decision to stop drinking for good, and after nine months of sobriety, he's been sharing some of the major differences he has noticed.
Drinking culture is rife in the UK and it's something we're almost expected to do from the minute we turn 18 (or probably far sooner), to the day we die, even though there's some huge health problems associated with alcohol.
The likes of Sober October and Dry January have become more popular in recent years, and while there's some benefits to giving your body a break for a month, you may only start to notice the significant differences if you stick to being sober in the longer term.
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That's exactly what happened with Ian, as he managed to get out of the cycle of pints and takeaways, and now feels like a new man after avoiding alcohol entirely for the last nine months.
On his TikTok channel, the sober coach was asked if he was feeling better physically after ditching the daiquiris.
He said: "It's no myth, it's a biological revelation. For decades, I accepted sluggishness, fogginess and feeling 'off' as ageing.
"I was wrong, it was the poison. The first couple of weeks were a battle, but then changes began like an avalanche of wellness.
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"The most shocking physical change wasn't weight loss (though I lost midsection bloat), but the quality of my sleep.
"I'd forgotten what it was like to sleep through the night and wake up truly rested, not just less drunk.
"No more low-grade headaches or groggy dread; now I wake clear-headed.
"My puffy, blotchy face transformed - redness faded, jawline reappeared, eyes bright and clear.
"Chronic acid reflux, medicated for years, vanished within a month."
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He added: "But the energy... that's the real shocker. It's not jittery, but a calm, sustained, reliable energy.
"No more 3pm slump or needing naps. I can walk after dinner, work on projects, and feel capable. After 45 years of physical decline, removing alcohol felt like winding the clock back 15 years on my health. Miraculous."
Ian isn't the first and he won't be the last to notice these sorts of differences, with Love Island's Dr Alex also sharing the benefits he's noticed with the world ever since banishing the booze.
And even if you aren't that bothered about sleeping better or feeling more alive, just imagine never having a hangover again?
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Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Alcohol, Health, Dry January
James Moorhouse