Episode 15: Breaking Free from Alcohol with Maureen Benkovich

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, Rebecca Snider sits down with Maureen Benkovich, a certified alcohol freedom and wellness coach, to explore the intersection of fitness, mental health, and sobriety. From the pressures of corporate drinking culture to discovering the truth about alcohol’s impact on brain chemistry, Maureen shares how understanding dopamine helped her find joy beyond drinking. She offers practical tools for breaking free from the detox/retox cycle and reclaiming a life of clarity and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Maureen Benkovich is a certified alcohol freedom and wellness coach.
• She transitioned from a corporate drinking culture to sobriety.
• The detox and retox cycle is common among health-conscious individuals.
• Alcohol disrupts dopamine and brain chemistry, impacting mental health.
• True empowerment comes from understanding what alcohol does to the body.
• Community and connection are vital in sustainable recovery.
• Nutrition plays a key role in mental and emotional balance.
• Self-awareness and spiritual grounding strengthen sobriety.
  
  

Timestamps:
00:00 — Introduction to Maureen Benkovich
02:04 — Maureen's Journey: From Fitness to Alcohol Freedom
10:56 — Detoxing and Retoxing: The Cycle of Alcohol Consumption
16:03 — Understanding Alcohol's Impact on Mental Health
24:01 — The Science Behind Alcohol: It’s Not Your Fault
29:56 — The Role of Coaching in Alcohol Recovery
32:45 — The Cycle of Alcohol and Mental Health
34:35 — Empowerment Through Knowledge and Choices
39:32 — Rebuilding Dopamine Production
46:50 — Finding Joy Beyond Alcohol

Resources & Links

• https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life.

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, host Karla Adkins sits down with Toni Will, the first female general manager of a professional hockey team. Together, they explore what it means to lead with authenticity, transform weaknesses into strengths, and redefine success in a male-dominated industry. Toni opens up about her decision to quit drinking, how it changed her sense of self, and the power of breaking the silence around alcohol. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth and empowerment often begin where fear and honesty meet.

Key Takeaways

• Quitting drinking can lead to deep personal empowerment.
• Women do not need to drink to succeed in their careers.
• Shame and silence can hold us back from authenticity.
• The 10x mindset fosters exponential personal growth.
• Setting boundaries is essential in challenging environments.
• Embracing individuality fuels both confidence and leadership.
• Cravings are normal. They don’t define your progress.
• Living alcohol-free opens the door to a fuller, freer life.

Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction to Toni Will and Her Journey
01:48 — Transforming Weaknesses into Strengths
05:22 — The Power of Quitting Drinking
10:39 — Navigating Challenges as a Woman in Sports
14:13 — The 10x Mindset and Personal Growth
20:47 — Embracing Change and Overcoming Doubts
23:45 — Normalizing Cravings and Thoughts
27:15 — Breaking the Silence Around Alcohol
30:15 — Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers and Telling Stories

Resources & Links

• https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life.

Episode 13: The Heartbreak of Broken Promises

In this episode of The Zero Proof Life, host Karla Adkins explores the emotional weight of breaking promises around alcohol. She introduces the concept of fading effect bias and how it impacts memory, decision-making, and the pull of romanticizing past drinking experiences. With compassion and clarity, Karla helps listeners understand the triggers and habit loops that contribute to relapse and highlights the importance of accountability and self-forgiveness in recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Breaking promises about drinking creates deep emotional pain.
  
  
• Fading effect bias can distort memories of alcohol use.
  
  
• Romanticizing past drinking experiences increases relapse risk.
  
  
• Triggers and habit loops are central to drinking behavior.
  
  
• Self-forgiveness and compassion are crucial for healing.
  
  
• Accountability builds strength and resilience in recovery.
  
  

Timestamps:
00:00 — Understanding the Struggle with Alcohol
02:53 — The Emotional Weight of Breaking Promises
05:45 — Fading Effect Bias: A Psychological Insight
09:05 — The Role of Memory in Alcohol Use
11:54 — Understanding Triggers and Habit Loops

Resources & Links

• https://www.thezeroprooflife.com/products/zpl-monthly-subscription
  
  
• Follow ZPL: https://www.instagram.com/thezeroprooflife/
  
  
• Follow the coaches:
  
  
  • Brandi Babb – @littlebigleap (https://www.instagram.com/littlebigleap/)
    
    
  • Karla Adkins – @karlakadkins (https://www.instagram.com/karlakadkins/)
    
    
  • Carolyn Bennett – @thesoberempath (https://www.instagram.com/carolynbennett2.0/)
    
    
  • Becca Snider – @becsnider (https://www.instagram.com/becsnider/)

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review so more people can discover The Zero Proof Life.

Reflection Prompts:

1. What led me to drink again?
   
   
   
   • What was I feeling just before the decision?
     
     
     
   • Was it stress, loneliness, social pressure, celebration, or overwhelm?
     
     
2. What did I hope alcohol would help me feel—or help me avoid?
   
   
   
3. What positive memories did I recall in that moment that may have influenced me?
   
   
   
   • Were they accurate… or softened by Fading Affect Bias?
     
     
     
   • What parts of those past drinking experiences do I tend to forget?
     
     
     
4. What was the full truth of this experience?
   
   
   
   • Emotionally, physically, mentally—what actually happened after I drank?
     
     
5. If I were to tell the full story—not the edited memory—how would it go?
   (Write it like you're explaining it to your future self.)
   
   
   
6. What “job” did alcohol try to do for me in that moment—and what else might have helped?
   
   
   
7. What’s one thing I learned about myself through this experience that I didn’t know before?

Reframing Statement:

“This moment isn’t a reset. It’s a window into what I truly need—and how I can better support myself next time.”

Write your own version of this statement.

A Note on Cravings vs. Cues

These acronyms can help you recognize when what feels like an alcohol craving…
might actuall