Hi, I'm Violeta! A nutritionist, certified intuitive eating counsellor and integrative life coach. I've been a grey-area drinker since my early 20s. Drinking in my late teens/early 20s gave me a sense of identity. I was no longer that awkward high school girl and could now give my high school days the middle finger. I was now a party girl. I had found a way out of being shy and insecure. I suddenly felt cool and fit in. Drinking gave me the confidence I never had.

And before I knew it these became a regular part of life....
  🍷 Stopping at the liquor store on Fridays 
  🍷 And eventually weekdays too 
  🍷 Relaxing with a drink at the end of the day 
  🍷 Having a drink before supper to gain an appetite 
  🍷 Drinking at every single social event and vacation
  🍷 Pre-drinks, post-drinks
  🍷 Food pairing drinks
  🍷 It's a beautiful spring day drinks
  🍷 Lonely & boredom drinks
  🍷 Happy & celebratory drinks 

And I quickly fell down the drinking rabbit hole.

I woke up one Saturday morning and felt a desire to talk to someone about my drinking. The thought of it was scary. Not gonna lie. I didn't feel I was completely out of control or anything, but it felt like something I needed to do regardless. Having the 'tolerance of a guy' was not something I necessarily want to pride myself in. In August 2022, I read a book about a party girl and health coach (like me), and described scenarios that were all too familiar. This became my cue to distance myself from alcohol and create some boundaries, but unlike the author, I didn't give up alcohol.  I trusted myself enough to be able to improve my drinking habits without having to quit. 

Intuitive drinking is not a formal term. For me, it's been about exploring my inner world, and gaining an understanding of why I drink. Intuitive drinking is about getting curious, reflecting, and questioning some the reasons we drink. It is an internal exploration, not a set of rules to follow, like in diet culture. It's not cutting back because it's "bad for health". It's more than that. It comes from within. This is the "intuitive" aspect of this journey. It's self-trust and curiosity vs rules and judgement. And this is why I've created the Women Drink-less Intuitively program. It lives in my heart.

If you're someone like me and feel torn about your drinking, I want to say a few things to you...

You don't drink because you're out of control, or wild. You're not undisciplined or weak. You don't lack willpower. You're human - which means you're imperfect. You want to feel good, not pain nor discomfort. You want to connect to your past through your nostalgia. You long for connection and belonging. And alcohol is there for you.  It's consistent and reliable. There is no shame in that.

And I encourage you to join me in this inner exploration.