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The writings of a former wine mom and sometime supermom maintaining weight loss, workouts, and wits. Started One Year Alcohol-Free on July 5, 2018.

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Hi, I’m Jen.

An occasional supermom of two aspiring superheroes, I have been known to polish off a jar of Nutella and/or a bottle of wine in one sitting.

But after six years of motherhood under my too-tight belt, I decided to cut the Nutella habit and invest in self-care. In 2017, I lost 25 pounds with Weight Watchers and started exercising regularly again. In 2018, I am hoping to maintain my weight loss, ramp up my workouts, as well as explore my relationship with wine.

Having completed Dry January and then another 76-day alcohol-free stint in the spring, I committed to One Year Alcohol-Free on July 5. ONE WHOLE YEAR WITHOUT WINE. It’s on.

Find me on Instagram! @maintaining_mama

Grateful to be looking forward to my morning cup of coffee and kickboxing class instead of pounding several glasses of wine because [insert any one of several excuses I used to use: I need to de-stress; it’s the last night of vacation; our flight was late; I deserve it; #imomsohard]. I wasn’t even tempted to open a bottle of wine tonight and that still feels like a miracle, considering any one of the aforementioned excuses would have been enough for me to head straight for the wine fridge - and all of those excuses combined would have meant a crushing hangover tomorrow. Instead I’ll be crushing the heavy bag as best I can🥊 considering I have hardly worked out in two weeks and have another week minimum of no exercise after my leg procedure on Tuesday. But I’m going to make the most of the four days I have before then! No more pity partying! 🙅🏻‍♀️ This month has been quite the roller coaster 🎢 More hills and drops and twists and turns ahead. Self-care is critical. Gratitude is critical. One day at a time 👍🏻 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

Our last full day at Disney and we made the most of it 🎢🍿😲 We are all exhausted, but we have color back in our cheeks and we are ready to go home. I am so grateful that alcohol has not been an option on this trip. Even though I’ve been sick, if I were still drinking I would have spent SO much time and energy trying to strategize about when, how, and how much I could drink. To think that a little over a year ago, I truly believed that alcohol enhanced life and that a hangover was the price to pay for having fun. I also believed that alcohol was a survival tool and reward, helping parents cope with stressful family situations. This trip would have ticked so very many booze boxes for me. I have saved so many calories and so much money by not drinking here. But, more importantly, I have been completely present for the entirety of this trip. The good, the bad, the brutal, and the beautiful. My husband didn’t drink either (he is the epitome of a “take it or leave it” drinker). And so our kids have another AF vacation in their brains. There was no reinforcing the neural pathway linking booze to vacation in their subconscious minds. It was just us (and, admittedly, a lot of ice cream) making the most of our time here. Making wonderful memories that will hopefully eclipse the less magical moments. My husband and I just took our kids to Disney for the first time, and alcohol played no part in our adventure. I’m really proud of that. And happy to be going home tomorrow with a clear conscience 💫 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

Today I am grateful for 2️⃣3️⃣0️⃣ AF days 🔟 hours of sleep 2️⃣ healthy, happy children 1️⃣ amazing husband and the ability to taste food again 😋 I just need this vacation to be twice as long so that I can actually relax for more than two days 😅 Disney is exhausting and expensive and hot and overwhelming and overcrowded. But there have been moments of pure magic - and it’s worth it for those. Not just the manufactured Disney magic, but the simple magic of experiencing this place through my two kids. My two kids splashing in the pool, and laughing at something only they can understand. My two kids holding hands as they walk back to the hotel. My two kids beaming with pride as we let them go to the breakfast buffet by themselves and they returned to the table with a plate of fruit loops and bacon. Now that I am almost fully functional again, I am going to spend the next day and a half with my eyes and heart wide open, ready to receive these moments as the previous gifts that they are 👐🏻🙂 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

Feeling a wee bit better but I still have a long way to go. Fortunately our kids have finally gotten the memo that this is a very special trip and they should show gratitude before attitude. Making progress and memories here folks ✅ Ah, and wine pangs. For the first time in forever (not really but couldn’t resist a Disney quote) I have had strong, momentary pangs to drink. They go away as quickly as they come on, and I am in no danger of breaking my AF streak. I’m observing these moments with curiosity and without judgement, just like the exceptional people-watching here at #DisneyWorld 😎 Like, hmm, interesting: I’m on vacation but stressed, it’s hot, and many adults around me are drinking. Four simultaneous triggers are apparently enough to jolt my subconscious. And then immediately on the heels of that thought train comes an avalanche of reasons why I don’t actually want to drink, and why it would be a bad choice for me right now. The triggers are buried in an instant and the moment passes without any sort of strife, and I am grateful. Gratitude before attitude, indeed 🙏🏻 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

Highs and lows here at Disney. The kids are adorable and having the time of their lives, and then the kids are acting like entitled cranky brats. The weather is perfect, and then the weather is way too hot. I can breathe clearly, and then the congestion sets back in. I eat a healthy meal, and then I stuff myself with too much food that I can’t even taste. I get a burst of energy, and then I crash so hard I’m actually scaring myself a little and trying not to let my anxiety take over. It has been two straight weeks of illness for me, and several days since I have gotten a full night of sleep. I am trying to focus on the good moments from the last couple of days, and hoping my kids sleep well tonight so that they will be less whiny tomorrow. I am clinging to my 228 AF days and I know that I even though I am in lousy shape, this would all be so much worse if alcohol were in the picture. I’m sorry to be such a downer tonight 🙁 Hoping for a better day tomorrow 🤞🏻 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

My heart is full here at the Happiest Petri Dish - I mean Place on Earth ❤️ Big day today. Big. Huge. I am grateful for safe travels 🛬 I am grateful for my kids’ improved health (even if I am still, somehow, not much better at all 🙄). I am grateful for this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Disney World through their eyes and hearts. It was far from a perfect day, but it was perfect in its imperfections. I love my family so much ❤️ Let’s hope I’m still saying that after sharing a small hotel room for five nights... 😂 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

The children were nestled all snug in their beds... thankfully still completely clueless that their parents are taking them to Disney World tomorrow 🤗🤗🤗 Crazy day to end a crazy week of illness in our house. But we’ve made it to the eve of our trip. One dose of prednisone left and hopefully my lungs will be back in order and my ‘roid rage will calm down. Mickey’s magic and the Florida sunshine can do the rest ☀️ I feel terrible that we are going into this vacation feeling so drained and icky. But it is what it is and hopefully this trip will be exactly what we need it to be - even if I’m so beyond fried right now I don’t even know what that is. Here we go... #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

#ValentinesDay💕 My husband and I don’t celebrate this one, as it’s smack dab between our engagement and dating anniversaries, which we prefer to fête. But I made some goody bags for the kids and otherwise tried to steer clear of treats today. And guess what - I did! It definitely took a concerted effort, but I managed to stay away from any and all junk! Considering I am not really feeling any better physically, I am super proud of myself for not falling victim to junk food because I’m low energy, sick, stressed, and because it’s a chocolate-laden holiday. Equally important is that I took the time to get my nails done 💅🏻 Sounds silly but I mean it. My husband was still home sick from work, so I left for an hour to get a mani, pedi, and massage. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to take time for self-care, and this was an appropriate day for it on multiple levels. Ooh! And it’s my first AF-V-Day! No wine witch willing me to drink because it’s a special occasion or because wine makes me feel prettier or sexier or any of that B.S. The wine witch was nowhere to be found today. Good riddance! I hope you have all had a lovely day of love, whatever that means to you. Manicures, chocolate, exercise, flowers, a romantic date, whatever floats your boat - I hope you are all floating contentedly tonight! 💅🏻🍫🧘🏻‍♀️💐💏 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

T-minus three days to our family vacay. I haven’t even thought about drinking on this trip. All I can think about is sun and maybe a cheeseburger. But booze hasn’t really entered my mind. I know it may not always be this way and that for other trips, "to drink or not to drink" will be more of an issue. I will cross that bridge when I come to it, hopefully gracefully ☺️ But for this family vacation, I am only feeling JOMO, no FOMO, when it comes to being alcohol-free. How many trips have we taken where my husband and I would spend the evenings sitting on the bathroom floor reading and willing our kids to fall asleep in their hotel beds, me with a bottle of wine by my side? Yeah, that’s happened a lot. And it’s never going to happen again. Because even if I do have alcohol at some point in the future, it will never be like that. No more drinking on bathroom floors. No more drinking as a “treat" to deal with the annoyance of sharing a hotel room with our kids. No more drinking #becausevacation. I still stress eat. Did a lot of that today. I’m not proud of it but I am proud of myself for being aware and honest. I do not stress drink anymore. That I can say with certainty. And of the two foes, junk food and booze, for me booze was the more powerful enemy. I also trust in time. Because I have seen what a difference I have made in the 13 months that I have been examining my relationship with alcohol. So I have to trust in time when it comes to food as well. The fitter I get, the more progress I make. And that’s why we are all here. Progress, not perfection. It doesn’t happen overnight. But it happens if we stay honest and accountable 🌟 #oneyearalcoholfree #oyaf #soberaf #indiscovery #iamstronger #jomo . . . #winemom #sahm #mom #momlife #momblogger #instamom #wwmoms #wwfreestyle #healthy #alcoholfree #sober #soberissexy #soberlife #grayareadrinking #sobermovement #fitness #strongisthenewskinny #bettertogether #weightloss #weightlossinspiration

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One Year Alcohol Free

July 5th, 2019

4 months to go.

My Drinking Non-Negotiables

I will not drink to relieve boredom.
I will not drink to relieve stress.
I will not be drunk in front of my children.
I will not drink when I am alone; or alone with my children during the witching hour or any hour.
I will not drink when I have to drive.
I will not drink when I am traveling alone.
I will always put my children, my husband and my safety before alcohol.

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