Peloton instructor Leanne Hainsby recently celebrated one year of being alcohol free. She shared the news via Instagram and Facebook, writing in part:
1 year ALCOHOL FREE 🙋🏼♀️
Today marks the day before the day I was told I ‘most likely have breast cancer’. It marks the day before I went for my second opinion and was then sent on to have various scans ahead of my diagnosis a few days later. Today also marks the day I stopped drinking alcohol.
Leanne went on to say that it started out to ensure she was healthy throughout her cancer treatments, but continued it as she saw positive benefits for herself. She said that “it quickly turned into the best decision I made for myself, because everything positive everyone says about stopping drinking, for me, continues to be true.”
You can read Leanne’s full caption at the end of this post.
Leanne first announced she was battling breast cancer earlier this year, just under six months after her initial diagnosis in August of 2022. When making the announcement, Leanne stressed that getting a second opinion saved her life – she was only 35 years old and was at first told “everything was ok” when she found a lump in her breast. It turns out during this time she also decided to give up alcohol, and is now marking one year of being alcohol free.
Leanne went on to note that some of the benefits she saw for herself have been mental clarity, confidence, productivity, better sleep and more.
She said that this is the first time she has publicly talked about her choice to give up alcohol. Leanne went on to share that this was a personal choice, and not for everyone, saying “what works for me, doesn’t have to work for you. We all have our own definition of fun, I’m just redefining mine. ”
Leanne got engaged to fellow Peloton instructor Ben Alldis just over two years ago, and the couple recently shared that they plan on being married by the end of 2024.
Tremendous congratulations to Leanne on this milestone. Below is the full caption from her social media posts:
1 year ALCOHOL FREE 🙋🏼♀️
Today marks the day before the day I was told I ‘most likely have breast cancer’. It marks the day before I went for my second opinion and was then sent on to have various scans ahead of my diagnosis a few days later. Today also marks the day I stopped drinking alcohol.
At first, it was to ensure I was as healthy as possible should I need to to through treatment (which I did, and I really believe I looked after myself as well as I could), and then it quickly turned into the best decision I made for myself, because everything positive everyone says about stopping drinking, for me, continues to be true.
I could deep dive into these benefits, and I will at some point, but the top level game changers for me (so far) have been:
MENTAL CLARITY. The best part.
CONFIDENCE (funnily enough, I’m way more confident without a drink. Who knew?!)
PRODUCTIVITY. Less hangovers, more time to be productive, and increase potential. The ability to have more consistency in my week.
CONNECTIONS AND QUALITY TIME.
Deeper and more purposeful conversations with friends and the people I love. This is a big one for me after losing Danielle. I want to be present at every opportunity possible with my loved ones, and remember as much of the time together as possible.
BETTER
SLEEP,
FOOD CHOICES,
ENERGY,
and SKIN.
I haven’t really mentioned being alcohol free until this milestone. I think my initial reason for stopping drinking was definitely more intense than it would be for most. Deep in the VERY early stages of traumatic grief, and shock, drinking way too much to try and numb an ounce of the pain in any way possible, and then diagnosed with cancer a few weeks later, it could’ve been a recipe for disaster. I don’t think anyone would’ve blamed me if it was.
Instead, I chose to sit with the feelings, as brutal and relentless as they have been. I’ve had weekly therapy, and really lent into the privilege of being able to look after and educate myself and my health, in the best way possible.
I’m not here to point fingers and say you should be doing this too. I’ve definitely learnt that we all have our own s**t going on in life, and what works for me, doesn’t have to work for you. We all have our own definition of fun, I’m just redefining mine. To me, this feels like a great achievement, and a new stage in life that I’m really proud of.
It hasn’t always been easy, and it does takes a moment to adjust and gain confidence in saying ‘I don’t drink’, but as someone who LOVED a party, I really don’t feel like I’m missing out. I still thoroughly enjoy a good time, it just looks a bit different now. Good different.
So let me raise a glass of kombucha (in a lovely glass, because that feels good) to this moment.
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