A fitness educator and former PE teacher is urging Australians to re-think their alcohol consumption after noticing the worrying impact it was having on her body at 46.
Belinda Norton, a mum-of-two from Queensland, rarely drank alcohol during her 20s and 30s but everything changed when she turned 40 and her kids were slightly older.
Alongside her job in the fitness industry, Belinda had helped build a wine business alongside her then-husband - a project that saw her flung knee-deep into a drinking culture she wasn't used to.
'It was my new environment and I truthfully thought it was making me grow up and build a future... plus drinking is seen as an Australian "right of passage",' she told FEMAIL.
'We get to a certain age and it is acceptable and encouraged to consume alcohol often and it is used as a celebration of completing the day. If I didn't drink I was "too different" and/or "not sociable".
'This was never who I was but our environment changes every part of us.'
Her drinking, while never problematic, became more regular after she went through a divorce.
'We [women] are generally primary carers and it is like we use alcohol as an opportunity to seek freedom,' Belinda, 47, said.
A fitness educator and former PE teacher is urging Australians to re-think their alcohol consumption after noticing the worrying impact it was having on her body at 46
'I had inflammation in my joints, muscle stiffness and sore points. I continued to complete my daily training but it wasn't as easy,' she said (left at the end of 2023 and right, today)
'I'd already watched the effects of alcohol during my childhood and I detested it.'
The first change she noticed to her body came in the form of a 'foggy mindset'.
'[I was] making mistakes more often, having mood swings and being triggered more easily. I am very attuned to my body and have been for my whole life so this was a shock,' she recalled.
'I had inflammation in my joints, muscle stiffness and sore points. I continued to complete my daily training but it wasn't as easy.'
'The most notable part was when I hit 45 and my pelvic floor and bladder became sensitive. I had not encountered this before so I went to see a gynaecologist and she discussed my bladder lining thinning due to the toxins in alcohol.'
As Belinda puts it, the alcohol was 'poisoning' her body and mind, her relationship with herself and her relationships with others.
In March, 2024, she knew it was time to give alcohol up for good - bar the very occasional glass of high quality French Champagne at a special event.
'I saw the toxic relationship I was in for what it was, I had a hard look at my life path and decided this would not be my future or a future I wanted my teens and young adults following,' she said.
'[I was] making mistakes more often, having mood swings and being triggered more easily. I am very attuned to my body and have been for my life so this was a shock,' she recalled (pictured in December, 2024)
'It did not align with my values; I had simply fallen into a pattern that was not optimal.'
The changes were lightning fast and visible within days.
Within the first four weeks she lost weight, especially around her torso, and her skin was far more radiant.
'Alcohol slows the metabolism by making your body work harder to process it through the body before food,' she explained.
Then came her mood. Within weeks it improved due to reduced cortisol levels and she was better hydrated and endured no more headaches, dry mouth or dark circles around her eyes (caused by a lack of REM sleep).
'My deep sleep quality improved and there were no more 2am wake ups as my liver detoxed. My energy improved and I performed better at work but more importantly my personal relationships with my close friends were better as they knew this life was not my best,' she said.
'Within six months my liver health boosted,my eyes brightened and all internal inflammation decreased.There was no more lingering fluid and my body felt taut and lean.'
'It has anti-aged my brain function and my body has responded so quickly to the anti-inflammatory aspects of removing the toxins,' she said (left in 2023 and right,nnow)
As Belinda puts it, the alcohol was 'poisoning' her body and mind, her relationship with herself and her relationships with others
The little-known impact alcohol can have on the bladder over 40
Alcohol can have several short-term effects on the bladder, (this was my biggest body alert) including:
- Increased urination - Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production and the frequency with which you need to urinate
- Bladder irritation - Alcohol is acidic and can irritate the bladder lining, causing pain similar to a urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Bladder spasms - Alcohol can cause the bladder muscles to contract, which can lead to sudden, sharp pain
- Dehydration - Alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead to darker, cloudier, and more unpleasant-smelling urine
- Increased risk of UTI - Urine that sits in the bladder becomes more concentrated and can irritate the bladder lining, increasing the risk of a UTI
- Worsening of overactive bladder - Alcohol can make bladder leaks worse for people with an overactive bladder
We women encounter menopause onset rapidly; it also makes menopause symptoms worse and the real noticeable difference is the alcohol sugars stick to us like glue,making us feel sluggish. Alcohol also inhibits folate (required by women) for competitive inhibition,leading to higher rates of inflammation and hormone production like our estrogen and deprivation of testosterone.
Bladder symptoms can improve within two weeks of stopping drinking alcohol,but it can take up to three months to see lasting changes
The most important aspect,she said,was her ability to run,jump and bounce again as the sugar and toxins in alcohol had decreased bladder strength,causeing incontinence.
'My body and skin flushed more easily and I has less fatty deposits like cellulite - I just felt vibrant,' she said.
'The effects of peri-menopause decreased and I wasn't numbing myself anymore.
'It has been over one year now and I have aged backwards. Not only that but I have saved a lot of money. Life just got easy.'
Belinda is also surprised by how quickly the toxins filtered out of her body and urges others to remember it's 'never too late'.
'It has anti-aged my brain function and my body has responded so quickly to the anti-inflammatory aspects of removing the toxins,' she said.
To those considering ditching the booze or reducing their intake, Belinda suggests asking one question: Did the alcohol work yet, or did you wake up with the same worries, pain and/or issues?
'Numbing yourself is not the way forward for you or for your kids. By numbing we find ourselves in an endless pattern of fear that we still need to move through to solve the issues at heart,' she said.
'It has been over one year now and I have aged backwards. Not only that but I have saved a lot of money. Life just got easy,' she said (pictured in November, 2024)
'Alcohol is one of the creators and fuel makers of mental illness. We must seek to feel the thing we are running from within ourselves. The only way to feel more energy and less tired is stop poisoning yourself every weekend.
'It is slowing you down and sabotaging your level of success and achievement but more importantly pausing your present life and relationships.'
'Astounded' at the lack of education around alcohol in Australia,Belinda is now on a mission to spread the word about the damage it can cause over time.
'It alters our body and brain yet in Australia it is encouraged and glorified. Would we encourage other drugs use so prevalently?' She asked.
'Do yourself a favour and try 10 weeks. Take note of the changes and see how you feel after.
'Please, Australians, stop putting people down if they don't drink and instead seek to see an opportunity for yourself to be a better and more vibrant you.'
Belinda's tips for swapping out alcohol
- Drink lime sparkling water with ice
- Try coconut water with crushed ice and lime
- When you are out with friends get a short glass of sparkling water with lots of lime or try a mocktail. Many bars are creating the most beautiful luxe recipes that entice any non-drinker
- If it is a super special occasion like a wedding or it is the ultimate celebration I will drink one glass of French Champagne
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015.