The No More Wasted Days Podcast

Ep. 179: The Truth About Being a Beachbody Coach: We Sold Fitness, Drank Alcohol, and Called It “Balance”

Ready for a real reset this summer? Join the Dry July Challenge, a 30-day alcohol-free challenge with daily support, coaching, mindset tools, and community. Stop white-knuckling, break the start-stop drinking cycle, and see how good you can feel without alcohol. Click the link to sign up today. www.nomorewasteddays.co/dryjuly
In this episode, Sara talks with sober content creator and author Hadley Sorensen about quitting drinking, blackout drinking, moderation, mommy wine culture, and the pressure to make alcohol part of a “healthy” lifestyle.
They also unpack their complicated pasts as Beachbody coaches, including the ways alcohol, fitness culture, and MLM-style marketing became intertwined. Hadley shares why she chose an alcohol-free life without identifying as an alcoholic, what socializing looks like now, and why none can be easier than trying to moderate.
Follow Hadley on Instagram: @hadley_sorensenGet her book: The Dirty Truth on Social Drinking: Everything in Moderation and Other BS
 
Sara’s Favorite Things: https://nomorewasteddays.co/favorites/
 
Support the Podcast:If you love the No More Wasted Days podcast, please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate and comment on Spotify. It helps more people find the show and begin their own alcohol-free journey.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial
 

Ep. 178: The One Mindset Shift That Finally Made Quitting Alcohol Easy

Let's stop wasting our summers to hangovers! Get early access to the Dry July challenge. --> https://nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglistSara discusses the mindset shift that helped her quit drinking effortlessly. She shares strategies from her personal journey, including writing daily affirmations, developing an unwavering commitment to sobriety, and adopting new identities.
 
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:29 Early Days: Building Momentum
00:54 The Game Changer: 100 to 150 Days
01:09 Mindset Shift: Practical Steps
02:52 The Power of Affirmations
05:18 Deciding to Quit Forever
11:22 Identity and Willpower
12:52 Planning for Success
20:27 Creating a Support System
24:08 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
 
🎧 Mentioned in this episode:
10 Mantras for the Beginning of Your Alcohol Free Journey - CLICK HERE to download the 10 Mantras that Sara used at the beginning of her alcohol free journey.
Dry July Challenge - CLICK HERE to get early access to the Dry July Challenge.
🧠 Sources & Further Reading
If you want to dig deeper into what’s really happening in your body during a hangover — from dehydration to acetaldehyde toxicity — here are the research-based resources referenced in this episode:
Patrick, V. M., & Hagtvedt, H. “I Don’t vs. I Can’t: When Empowered Refusal Motivates Goal-Directed Behavior,” Journal of Consumer Research, 2012.
Pignatiello, G. A., et al. “Decision Fatigue: A Conceptual Analysis,” Nursing Outlook, 2018.
Evans, D. R., et al. “The nature of self-regulatory fatigue and ‘ego depletion’,” Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2016.
Cooke, R., et al. “The effect of forming implementation intentions on alcohol consumption,” Health Psychology Review, 2022; see also 2023 update.
Malaguti, A., et al. “Effectiveness of implementation intentions on substance use,” 2020 review.
Milyavskaya, M., et al. “Saying No to Temptation: Want-to Motivation Improves Self-Regulation,” Journal of Personality, 2015.
Larimer, M. E., & Marlatt, G. A. “Relapse Prevention and the Abstinence Violation Effect,” overview.
💬 If this episode resonated with you: Leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's one of the easiest ways to support the show!
 
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🌟 Want deeper support on your alcohol-free journey? Come join us inside the Day Makers Community — my private coaching space where you’ll find weekly group calls, book clubs, reflection prompts, and real connection with people who get it. Whether you’re just starting out or years into your sobriety, this is where you’ll find the tools, strategies, and support to keep moving forward.
👉 Learn more and join us here: https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community/
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 177: Coming Back After a Relapse w/ Laura Van Antwerp (aka: Your Sober Pal)

In this episode of the No More Wasted Days Podcast, Sara sits down with Laura Van Antwerp, also known as Your Sober Pal, for an honest and funny conversation about moderation, relapse, and finding your way back after drinking again.
Sara and Laura talk about why so many of us try so hard to moderate, the rules we create around drinking, and the moment when it becomes clear that moderation is taking more work than simply quitting. Laura also shares her experience with multiple day ones, what helped her keep going, and why relapse does not mean you have failed.
They also talk about sober joy, sober retreats, backpacking adventures, and the power of finding people who remind you that alcohol-free life is not boring. It can actually be bigger, freer, and a lot more fun.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why moderation can feel like a full-time job
The red flags that show alcohol may no longer be working for you
What to do after a relapse
Why “never give up” can be more powerful than “never drink again”
Laura’s sober adventure retreats and backpacking trips
The importance of connection and sober community
 
Follow Laura:
You can find Laura on Instagram and TikTok at @yoursoberpal and learn more about her retreats, backpacking trips, scholarship program, and free monthly sober hangouts at www.yoursoberpal.com.
 
Resources and Links:
Join the Day Makers CommunityLooking for alcohol-free support, weekly group coaching calls, and a private community of like-minded alcohol-free badasses? Come join us inside Day Makers. You can try your first two weeks for just $7. CLICK HERE to join.
Sara’s Favorite Things: https://nomorewasteddays.co/favorites/
 
Support the Podcast:If you love the No More Wasted Days podcast, please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate and comment on Spotify. It helps more people find the show and begin their own alcohol-free journey.
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 176: The One Habit Change That Makes Quitting Drinking Easier

In this episode of the No More Wasted Days podcast, Sara talks about how so much of her drinking was rooted in habit, and how learning to change those habits helped her build an alcohol-free life.
Inspired by James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, this episode explores why quitting drinking is not just about one big decision. It is about creating small, repeatable systems that support the person you are becoming.
Sara shares how daily gratitude, affirmations, new routines, and identity-based habits helped her move away from drinking and start seeing herself as someone who simply does not drink. She also breaks down James Clear’s four laws of behavior change and shows how to use them to build alcohol-free habits while making drinking less automatic, less appealing, and harder to return to.
If you have ever felt stuck in the same drinking patterns, this episode will help you see that change does not have to happen overnight. Small choices, repeated consistently, can completely shift your life.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Why alcohol can feel more like a habit than an addiction for many people
How small daily actions compound over time
Why your systems matter more than willpower
How to start seeing yourself as a non-drinker
Simple habit swaps for the hardest craving windows
How to use James Clear’s four laws of behavior change in your alcohol-free journey
 
Resources and Links:
Join the Day Makers CommunityLooking for alcohol-free support, weekly group coaching calls, and a private community of like-minded alcohol-free badasses? Come join us inside Day Makers. You can try your first two weeks for just $7. CLICK HERE to join.
Sara’s Favorite Things: https://nomorewasteddays.co/favorites/
 
Support the Podcast:If you love the No More Wasted Days podcast, please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate and comment on Spotify. It helps more people find the show and begin their own alcohol-free journey.
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 175: The Sobriety Reset You Didn’t Know You Needed w/ Heather Pennell

Heather Pennell is back on the No More Wasted Days podcast, and this episode feels like catching up with an old friend.
In this conversation, Sara and Heather talk about Heather’s five-year alcohol-free anniversary, what life has looked like since stepping away from the podcast, and how she has been rebuilding after a season of burnout, health challenges, major life disruptions, and emotional overwhelm.
Heather shares what helped her begin to feel more regulated, including slowing down, creating calmer mornings, delaying phone use, supporting blood sugar, and increasing her window of tolerance. She also opens up about emotional sobriety, taking up space, letting go of “nice girl” conditioning, and learning how to live alcohol-free in a way that feels grounded, calm, and sustainable.
This episode is a reminder that alcohol-free living is not just about removing alcohol. It is also about learning how to care for your nervous system, protect your energy, and build a life you no longer need to escape from.
 
Resources and Links:
Join the Day Makers CommunityLooking for alcohol-free support, weekly group coaching calls, and a private community of like-minded alcohol-free badasses? Come join us inside Day Makers. You can try your first two weeks for just $7. CLICK HERE to join.
 
Work with Heather 1:1If Heather’s story and coaching style spoke to you, check out her one-on-one coaching options for deeper support on your alcohol-free or personal reset journey. CLICK HERE to work with Heather.
 
Join Heather’s Real Life ResetHeather’s Real Life Reset is a 40-day group coaching program designed to help you feel more like yourself again by focusing on sleep, mornings, food, anxiety, motivation, habits, and emotional regulation. The next round starts June 15th. CLICK HERE to join the Real Life Reset.
 
Connect with Heather:Instagram: @heatherpennellcoaching
 
Support the Podcast:If you love the No More Wasted Days podcast, please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate and comment on Spotify. It helps more people find the show and begin their own alcohol-free journey.
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 174: Sober Sex, Parenting, and Mom Wine Culture w/ Stefanie Wilder-Taylor & Casey McGuire Davidson

👉👉 Ready to take your first step toward an alcohol-free life? This is you last chance to save $20 off  the Reboot & Refresh: 30 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge with the code MAY20. Inside the challenge, you’ll get daily videos, daily emails, a printable workbook, and a mindset journal to help you build momentum and confidence in your alcohol-free journey.About this Episode:
This week on the No More Wasted Days Podcast, Sara sits down with two incredible women in the alcohol-free space:
In this honest, funny, and deeply relatable conversation, they talk all about parenting sober, mom wine culture, getting sober after kids, and the reality of rebuilding your life without alcohol.
They also dive into:
Why motherhood and drinking became so intertwined
The pressure of “mom wine culture”
What changed after quitting drinking
Talking to teenagers about alcohol
Driving drunk shame and sober parenting wins
Marriage after alcohol
Sober intimacy and sober sex
Why alcohol-free life gets better over time
The fear of losing your personality after quitting drinking
This episode is packed with honesty, humor, and so many moments that will make you feel less alone if you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol.Connect with Today’s Guests:
Follow Casey McGuire Davidson:
Instagram: @caseymdavidson
Podcast: Hello Someday Podcast
Follow Stefanie Wilder-Taylor:
Instagram: @swildertaylor
Podcast: The Drunkish Podcast
 
Ready to Start Your Alcohol-Free Journey?
The $20 off anniversary sale for the Refresh & Reboot: 30 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge is ending soon.
Use coupon code MAY20 to save $20 off your enrollment and join Sara for:
Daily videos
Daily emails
Printable journal prompts
A printable workbook
Support and guidance through your first 30 alcohol-free days
This challenge helped Sara become alcohol-free nearly 7 years ago, and it could be the thing that changes your life too. CLICK HERE to join today.
 
✨ If this episode helped you, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. ✨
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 173: The Truth About Long-Term Sobriety Nobody Talks About

Ep. 173: The Truth About Long-Term Sobriety Nobody Talks About 🎉 May is my alcohol-free anniversary month, and to celebrate, you can save $20 on my self-led 30 Day Alcohol Free Challenge with coupon code MAY20. Details linked below.
 
Episode Summary:In this deeply personal episode, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned after 7 years alcohol-free, including what changed dramatically, what surprised me most, and what still takes work.
When I first quit drinking in 2019, I thought I was just taking a 30-day break to “prove” I didn’t have a problem. I never imagined that one decision would completely transform my confidence, relationships, identity, and the direction of my life.
In this episode, I break down my journey in two phases:
Years 1–3: rebuilding habits, learning to socialize alcohol-free, navigating cravings, and discovering who I was without alcohol
Years 4–7: emotional sobriety, nervous system regulation, boundaries, authenticity, deeper healing, and eventually becoming fully sober after quitting weed too
I also share:✨ Why decision fatigue around alcohol eventually disappears✨ What actually gets easier over time✨ The emotional work sobriety doesn’t magically fix✨ How anxiety changed after quitting substances✨ Why self-trust has become one of the greatest gifts of this journey✨ The difference between external transformation and internal transformation✨ What “true recovery” feels like for me now
If you’re early in your alcohol-free journey, sober curious, or wondering whether long-term sobriety is worth it, this episode is for you.
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Your support truly means the world to me.
Links, Resources, and Sponsors:Join the 30 Day Challenge (don’t forget the coupon code MAY20):https://nomorewasteddays.co/30-day-challenge/
Athletic Brewing:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/athleticbrewing
Upper Left Strength Co.:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/upperleft
 
If this episode helped you, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 172: The Truth About Being “Cali Sober” w/ Adriana Cavallo

Ready to take your first step toward an alcohol-free life? During the month of May, you can join the Reboot & Refresh: 30 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge for $20 off with the code MAY20. Inside the challenge, you’ll get daily videos, daily emails, a printable workbook, and a mindset journal to help you build momentum and confidence in your alcohol-free journey.
 
Episode Summary:In this episode of the No More Wasted Days podcast, Sara sits down with sobriety content creator Adriana Cavallo for a raw and honest conversation about addiction, recovery, and what happens when you stop numbing yourself with alcohol and weed.
Adriana shares her story of developing severe alcohol addiction while working in the restaurant industry, being hospitalized for liver failure at 30 years old, and the long road that followed after trying to moderate, becoming “Cali sober,” and eventually realizing she needed to become fully substance-free.
In this episode, we discuss:
What it’s like trying to quit drinking while working in the restaurant industry
Why “special occasion drinking” slowly pulled Adriana back into alcohol
The hidden struggles of being “Cali sober”
Why weed became another form of escapism
How boredom and stillness can actually become peaceful in sobriety
The importance of sober community and support
Why recovery doesn’t have to look perfect or extreme
How both Sara and Adriana learned to finally feel comfortable in their own skin
This episode is honest, emotional, funny, and incredibly relatable for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol, weed, or escapism in general.
You can follow Adriana on Instagram and TikTok at @theadgeofsobriety for more inspiration and support on your alcohol-free journey. Get through your next craving with this recording from Adriana - https://stan.store/TheAdgeofSobriety
Links, Resources, and Sponsors:
Adriana's "Sponsor in Your Pocket" recording:https://stan.store/TheAdgeofSobriety
Join the 30 Day Challenge:https://nomorewasteddays.co/30-day-challenge/
Athletic Brewing:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/athleticbrewing
Upper Left Strength Co.:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/upperleft
 
If this episode helped you, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 171: Feel Bored After Quitting Drinking? Here’s Why (and How to Fix It)

I’m celebrating my 7 year alcohol free anniversary on May 13th, and you’re invited to celebrate with me.
👉 Join the Reboot & Refresh: 30 Day Alcohol Free Challenge Use code MAY10 to save 10% this month.
Inside the challenge: • Daily videos + emails for guidance • Printable workbook + mindset journal • Self-paced, simple structure to get you through your first 30 days
This is exactly how I started my journey, and it changed everything.
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, I break down one of the biggest mindset shifts in early sobriety:
Alcohol isn’t a reward, it’s a sedative dressed up as one.
When you remove alcohol, it’s common to feel flat, bored, or restless. That doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means your brain is healing and recalibrating.
I’ll walk you through how to rebuild your reward system so you can actually feel good again, without relying on alcohol.
 
What You’ll Learn
Why alcohol trains your brain to associate it with relief, celebration, and relaxation
Why early sobriety can feel “meh” (and why that’s a good sign)
The difference between quick dopamine hits and real, lasting pleasure
Simple, repeatable daily rewards that help retrain your brain
How to shift from numbing out to actually enjoying your life
 
Build Your New Reward System
Use this simple framework to start today:
1 Daily Reward – quick, grounding, repeatable
1 Weekly Reward – something fun and intentional
1 Future Reward – something to look forward to
This is how you stop relying on alcohol and start creating a life you genuinely enjoy.
 
Key Reminder
You’re not losing something when you quit drinking.You’re upgrading your entire reward system.
 
Links, Resources, and Sponsors:Join the 30 Day Challenge:https://nomorewasteddays.co/30-day-challenge/
Athletic Brewing:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/athleticbrewing
Upper Left Strength Co.:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/upperleft
 
If this episode helped you, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 170: Healing Your Relationship with Alcohol AND Food w/ Lindsay Sparks

If you’ve ever quit drinking and found yourself struggling with food, body image, or control… this conversation will hit home.
In this episode, Sara sits down with sober dietitian Lindsay Sparks (@soberandnourished on Instagram) to unpack the deep connection between alcohol, disordered eating, and the pursuit of control. From growing up in diet culture to navigating sobriety, Lindsay shares how healing her relationship with food ultimately led her to question her drinking, and later, her relationship with weed.
This is an honest, layered conversation about what it really means to feel at home in your body without numbing out.
In this episode, we talk about:
How body image struggles often begin early and are shaped by culture, media, and family influences
The restrict–binge cycle and how it mirrors patterns with alcohol
Why control (with food or drinking) often backfires
The concept of intuitive eating and reconnecting with your body’s cues
The overlap between disordered eating and alcohol use
Why quitting drinking doesn’t automatically “fix” your relationship with food
Sugar cravings in early sobriety and what your body actually needs
Lindsay’s journey from alcohol-free to fully substance-free (including quitting weed)
The hidden and normalized nature of both diet culture and alcohol use
How to approach health, weight, and body changes without obsession or shame
Key Takeaways:
You’re not “failing” at moderation. These cycles are patterns, not personal flaws.
Control creates backlash. Whether it’s food or alcohol, restriction often leads to overcorrection.
Healing isn’t about perfection, it’s about awareness, consistency, and self-trust.
Early sobriety requires nourishment, not punishment.
You can build a life where you feel good in your body without numbing, restricting, or obsessing.
 
Connect with Lindsay:
Instagram: @soberandnourished
Work with Lindsay through Nourish (telehealth dietitian services)
Website coming soon (link will be added in show notes)
 
Links, Resources, and Sponsors:Join the Day Makers:https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community
Athletic Brewing:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/athleticbrewing
Upper Left Strength Co.:https://www.nomorewasteddays.co/upperleft
 
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
Remember, you only get one life. The question isn’t “why quit?” It’s “why stay disconnected from it?”
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial