The Fizzy and Free Show: How to Quit Drinking as a Mom

Episode 006: Sobriety, Stress, and Sugar Cravings

In this episode, Ashley sits down with registered dietitian Emily Gozy of Nourished with Emily, for an honest conversation about stress, alcohol, sugar cravings, and why so many moms feel stuck in survival mode. They talk about what actually happens in the body when you stop drinking, why sugar cravings can feel so intense in early sobriety, and how chronic stress keeps so many women trapped in the cycle of reaching for relief at the end of the day. This conversation is practical, compassionate, and full of small shifts that can help moms feel more supported while navigating change. * Why quitting drinking can trigger sugar cravings. * How stress and nervous system overload impact alcohol habits. * Why “just use willpower” rarely works for overwhelmed moms. * Small nutrition and routine changes that can support early sobriety. * How autopilot habits and dopamine-seeking behaviors keep cycles going. * Why shame around food and alcohol often makes everything harder. Resources & Support: Connect with Emily Gozy at nourishedwithemily.com or on IG @nourishedwithemily If you’re ready for support from Ashley, reach out: Email: hello@fizzyandfree.com Instagram: @fizzyandfree Facebook: Fizzy and Free Join the Raising Kids, Not Glasses Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingkidsnotglasses [https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingkidsnotglasses]  If this episode resonated with you, share it with a mom who might need it. Follow the show, leave a review, and remember, you’re not alone in this. Until next time, keep raising kids, not glasses.

Episode 005: The Summer Drinking Trap (and How to Break Free)

In this episode, Ashley shares why quitting or cutting back on drinking can feel especially challenging during the summer. What’s meant to feel fun and carefree can quickly turn into overwhelm, chaos, and exhaustion, especially with kids home and routines out the window. Through her own experience, Ashley breaks down the real reasons it felt so hard to stop and why it wasn’t about willpower. Summer brings unique triggers that make old habits feel automatic, but awareness is the first step to changing them. * How a lack of structure can increase stress and trigger the urge to drink. * Why feeling overstimulated and bored at the same time makes alcohol more appealing. * How the “it’s summer” mindset can lead to relaxed boundaries and drinking habits. * Why alcohol being everywhere makes it harder to say no and easier to justify “just one.” * How one drink can quickly turn into an automatic pattern. * Simple ways to create structure, plan ahead, and reset when triggers hit. Resources & Support: Take the Which Sitcom Mom Drinking Style Quiz [http://quiz.fizzyandfree.com] to discover your drinking pattern and what it’s really telling you. If you’re ready for support, reach out: * Email: hello@fizzyandfree.com * Instagram: @fizzyandfree * Facebook: Fizzy and Free In this episode, you’ll learn: If this episode resonated with you, share it with a mom who might need it. Follow the show, leave a review, and remember, you’re not alone in this. Until next time, keep raising kids, not glasses.

Episode 004: Why Early Sobriety Feels Boring (And What’s Actually Happening)

In this episode, Ashley breaks down one of the most common (and least talked about) experiences in early sobriety. If you’ve ever quit drinking and thought, “Is this it? Why does life feel so boring?”  you’re not alone. And more importantly, there’s nothing wrong with you. Ashley explains how alcohol reshapes your brain’s reward system, why your evenings can feel empty without it, and what’s really going on with dopamine during this phase. This episode is all about understanding the science, normalizing the experience, and giving yourself the patience to let your brain recalibrate. Because sobriety isn’t boring, your brain is just healing. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why early sobriety can feel dull, flat, or unmotivating (and why it’s temporary) * How alcohol becomes the “highlight” of your day and rewires your reward system * The truth about dopamine and why it’s not just a “pleasure chemical” * How your brain starts associating anticipation (not just drinking) with reward * What a “dopamine baseline shift” is and how it affects your daily life * Why normal activities don’t feel exciting at first and how that changes over time * Simple ways to support your brain as it recalibrates * How keeping rituals (but changing the substance) can ease the transition Resources & Support:Take the Which Sitcom Mom Drinking Style Quiz to better understand your patterns and what they mean. If you’re ready for support, reach out: Email: hello@fizzyandfree.com Instagram: @fizzyandfree Facebook: Fizzy and Free (Free Community Group) If this episode resonated with you, share it with a mom who might need to hear this. Follow the show, leave a review, and remember you’re not doing this wrong. Your brain is just learning a new way to feel good again. Until next time, keep raising kids, not glasses.

Episode 003: The Red Flags I Ignored (Until I Quit Drinking)

In this episode, Ashley shares the red flags she completely missed while she was drinking. Not the textbook ones. The real-life ones. The small habits, the justifications, the things that felt “normal” at the time, but looking back, showed just how much alcohol had woven itself into everyday life and motherhood. This episode is an invitation to reflect, not judge. Red flags aren’t about labeling yourself. They’re about awareness. And awareness is often the very first step toward sobriety. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How hiding alcohol, stocking up, or ordering ahead can signal shame and preoccupation. * How trying to control your drinking with limits and promises can signal a deeper struggle. * Why feeling disappointed when you can’t drink points to deeper emotional reliance. * Why rushing through bedtime or structuring your schedule around drinking reveals shifting priorities. * How increased tolerance, early-day thoughts about drinking, and random weeknights becoming routine are subtle warning signs. * How rewarding yourself with alcohol keeps the cycle going and leaves you more drained than restored. Resources & Support: Take the Which Sitcom Mom Drinking Style Quiz [http://quiz.fizzyandfree.com/] to discover your drinking pattern and what it’s really telling you. If you’re ready for support, reach out: * Email: hello@fizzyandfree.com * Instagram: @fizzyandfree * Facebook: Fizzy and Free If this episode resonated with you, share it with a mom who might need it. Follow the show, leave a review, and remember, you’re not alone in this. Until next time, keep raising kids, not glasses.

Episode 002: Loving Through Sobriety

In this episode, Ashley is joined by her husband, Al, for a candid conversation about navigating a relationship when one partner stops drinking. They discuss how alcohol can become woven into daily routines and connection, what changes when awareness around drinking begins to shift, and how sobriety impacts partnership, communication, and family life.  In this episode, you’ll learn: * How alcohol can quietly become a shared relationship “ritual” * What it’s like when one partner stops drinking and the other continues * How sobriety can trigger grief, fear, and identity shifts within a marriage * Why awareness often comes before crisis * How sobriety impacts emotional regulation, depression, and daily energy * Why connection doesn’t disappear without alcohol, it deepens * How kids observe, absorb, and learn from sober choices * Why couples need shared connection beyond drinking Resources & Support: Take the Which Sitcom Mom Drinking Style Quiz [http://quiz.fizzyandfree.com/] to discover your drinking pattern and what it’s really telling you. If you’re ready for support, reach out: * Email: hello@fizzyandfree.com * Instagram: @fizzyandfree * Facebook: Fizzy and Free This episode offers a grounded, compassionate look at sobriety inside a partnership, especially for moms who worry that quitting drinking will change everything. If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to follow, leave a review, and share it with a mom who’s navigating sobriety inside a relationship.