She's Sparkling AF: Hollie Nicholson
Hollie Nicholson
Owner, Creator & Trainer at STRONG training methods
When did you commit to an alcohol-free lifestyle?
I do everything else to protect my health—work out, sleep, eat well, manage stress… but on the weekends, I still drank. It made no sense anymore.
I went fully alcohol-free for a mix of reasons:
my health
a breast cancer scare
learning how my body wasn’t metabolizing histamines
and honestly… my kids growing up and realizing I didn’t want them thinking alcohol was the “normal” way to socialize or cope.
It was time for this part of my life to align with the rest.
Name some unexpected joys since going alcohol-free.
The whites of my eyes are so much clearer.
My laugh literally sounds different — lighter, happier, more me.
Feeling deeply content — like my insides finally match my outsides.
My marriage was always good, but it’s even better now. There’s a calmness and connection that surprised me.
And this one is wild… my best friend no longer drinks, and neither does my husband. The relationships that mattered most actually got stronger.
Name a hard part about being alcohol-free.
But looking back, the beginning was hard.
Letting go of relationships that were built completely around drinking made saying “no” feel awkward at first. I worried about all the “big moments”: tailgates, vacations, après ski beers… all of it.
And now?
I don’t miss a single one. Not even a little.
Favorite social media accounts, podcasts, or books about sober living
In the beginning, I needed other people’s stories in my ears — it made me feel less alone, like I could actually picture myself doing this.
This Naked Mind — I read it multiple times. It stuck in a way nothing else did.
Suzanne Warye’s podcast — I listened to this nonstop early in my journey. Hearing real women talk about sobriety kept me going.
And now?
I don’t read or listen to anything sober-related anymore. It’s just my life now… it’s wild how normal and effortless it feels.
Favorite alcohol-free drinks!
At this point, I keep it really simple. I love it when a restaurant serves a good alcohol-free beer (preferably Athletic Brewing) — I’ll have one, enjoy it, and I’m completely done. That’s truly all I need.Otherwise, I’m just as happy with a sparkling water or a Diet Coke. I don’t overthink it anymore.
Advice for anyone considering going alcohol-free:
You don’t need a dramatic story to quit.
You just need a desire to feel better — more aligned, more present, more you.
And trust me: nothing you’re worried about missing… you’ll actually miss.
Life gets clearer, happier, and so much lighter.