My Love Letter to Prosecco
The honest truth about hormones, anxiety, and learning when that drink helps and when it hurts.
If you have followed me for more than a minute, you already know I love my Prosecco. Not in a bottomless brunch kind of way, but in an I earned this moment of peace kind of way.
I am a nurse, a coach, and a woman in perimenopause trying to survive mood swings, macros, and emotions that feel like a roller coaster built by someone who hates me. Some days, I have full anxiety over deciding between asparagus and broccolini. Other nights, I wake up at 2 a.m. pacing the kitchen, thinking about everything and nothing, angry that my partner is peacefully asleep while I am unraveling over a glass of water.
And sure, alcohol plays a role in that. I am not pretending it does not. Sometimes I drink it and instantly regret it. Sometimes I skip it and still feel like I got hit by a hormone tornado. It is a love-hate relationship. The truth is, it is about timing, moderation, and knowing when that glass adds joy and when it just adds fuel to the fire.
So no, I will never tell you to quit drinking completely. What I will tell you is to get honest with yourself. Ask if that drink is helping you connect, relax, or celebrate, or if it is numbing you after a week of chaos. Either answer is okay, but it matters to know which one it is.
You can absolutely make progress and still have a life. You can train hard, eat food you actually enjoy, and also have a glass of something cold and bubbly without guilt. Just plan for it, hydrate, and be aware of how your body responds.
This is what I teach my clients. Real-life flexibility. We track, lift, eat, rest, repeat, and sometimes we toast to surviving another week of hormonal chaos and unexplainable feelings.
So here is to strength, self-awareness, and the sanity that comes from realizing it is never just about the drink. It is about learning to live in your body again, one Prosecco at a time.
Cheers,
Susan 🥂
Originally published on the Hormone Hangover Substack.
This Week’s Hormone Hangover Tip
If you plan to have a drink this week, do it like someone who knows her hormones might start acting up afterward:
Eat before you drink. Get at least 25 grams of protein and some fat before that first sip. It slows alcohol absorption and helps prevent the blood sugar crash that leads to the 2 a.m. wake-up.
Drink one glass of water for every drink. It keeps your body from mistaking dehydration for anxiety.
Add electrolytes before bed. Magnesium glycinate or a high-quality electrolyte drink can help with that middle-of-the-night heart racing and restlessness.
Skip the sugary mixers. They spike blood sugar and mess with your sleep. Stick with Prosecco, wine, or clear spirits with soda and citrus.
Move your body the next morning. Even a short walk or light lift helps your body process alcohol faster and resets your mood.
Progress comes from awareness and recovery, not punishment.
