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A former ‘wine addict’ has revealed how giving up her nightly glasses of chardonnay for 12 months has drastically transformed her appearance and health.
Lyn Battle from Sweers Island off the north coast of Queensland in Australia, said her casual drinking had slowly worn away at her wellbeing before she decided to take action.
The Irish-born woman said she only began drinking regularly when she moved to Australia in 1986 at age 23.
Lyn Battle (pictured left a year ago and right now) said her casual drinking had slowly worn away at her wellbeing before she decided to take action and has now been told she looks 10 years younger
The now 57-year-old revealed that her alcohol consumption intensified once she hit her mid-40s – snowballing from an occasional drink to three or four glasses of white wine every night.
And while Mrs Battle said her drink count might not be reflective of a ‘typical alcoholic’, she said it eventually began ageing her far beyond her years.
But now the resort owner has turned back the clock after ditching booze over a year ago – and has since been inundated with comments from people saying she looks ten years younger.
‘I didn’t drink much at all when I was younger. My first beer was at 17, and the first time I got drunk was on holiday in Spain at 19,’ Mrs Battle said.
Mrs Battle said her drinking escalated considerably in the last five years to three or four glasses every night and it has having a huge impact on her life and health (pictured after being alcohol-free for seven months)
‘Wine was not something that we’d often have back in Ireland. But when I came to Australia, it was far more common.
‘People would bring it to BBQs, they’d have a cask of wine. That was really new for me.
Mrs Battle said her drinking escalated considerably in the past five years to three or four glasses every night.
‘Many women would perceive this as a normal amount, but this number of drinks was having a negative effect on me.
‘I realised I had a problem when my regular favourite chardonnay wasn’t available, and I just started drinking another one that I didn’t like.
‘It was then I realised I was no longer drinking because I enjoyed the taste. I was drinking just to get tipsy, no matter how bad it tasted to me.’
Not only was her wine addiction causing her to experience weight gain, hair breakage, night sweats and elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels – but the alcohol was starting to create tension in her 30-year marriage to husband Tex, 77.
Mrs Battle said her drinking escalated considerably in the past five years to three or four glasses every night
The former wine addict said her husband Tex, 77, (left) warned her years ago her habit was a slippery slope which resulted in arguments between the couple
But since starting the ‘One Year No Beer’ (OYNB) challenge in July 2018, the former wine addict hasn’t looked back – and her appearance, health and relationships with friends and family have never been better.
Mrs Battle said she never imagined the harsh toll alcohol could have on her appearance – but now looks and feels ten years younger since going sober.
She said: ‘I really feel that I’ve turned the clock back ten years simply by giving up my wine habit.
‘I remember a few weeks into my OYNB Challenge, I was washing my face at night and it just felt softer, smoother, plumper.
‘I’d started to notice red blotchy patches on my face. But after a month or so of no wine, the blotchiness disappeared. The dark circles round my eyes disappeared.
‘Since giving up wine, my weight reduced by 6 kg and I’ve shaved 5cm off my bust, waist and hips.
Despite the challenge only lasting for a year Mrs Battle said she won’t turn back to her former lifestyle (pictured now)
‘It might not sound like much, but I’ve dropped two dress sizes and am back wearing clothes I have not fitted properly for years.
The former wine addict said her husband warned her years ago her habit was a slippery slope and it could take a toll on her health.
‘We often ended up having an argument, because of my drinking. We haven’t had a row since I stopped.’
‘I feel, and have been told I look, ten years younger from friends and family. I owe it all to giving up the booze.’
While some might feel ‘left out’ of social situations where other people are drinking, Mrs Battle said she can still enjoy these events, but chooses to sip on alcohol-free wine and beer instead.
Mrs Battle is pictured left at the start of her challenge and right, a year later
Incredibly, Mrs Battle even celebrated sobriety by being the first female in history to circumnavigate the perimeter of the island where she lives back in September 2018 – something she said she could never have done before ditching booze.
Her sea kayak – which she cleverly named ‘Chardo-NAY’ – saw her paddle around the entire 30km of Sweers Island in six-and-a-half hours.
She is now looking forward to a brighter future free of alcohol – and even plans to outdo her kayaking record sometime over the next year.
‘Kayaking around my island was an incredible experience. When you start OYNB, they ask you to do a physical challenge, something that you wouldn’t be able to do before,’ she said.