"Everything in moderation" is a pretty good rule to live by, especially where alcohol is concerned. Obvious effects of alcohol on the body are high blood pressure (hypertension), which increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke, liver damage and increased risk of cancers. Another, not so noticeable effect of a drinking problem is that sipping too many Margaritas can also cause you to gain a bunch of excess pounds. There are roughly 200 calories in a pint of beer and about 230 calories in 100 grams of vodka.

When a heavy drinker gives up on the alcohol abuse, however, the physical metamorphosis is staggering. Take a look at these before and after pictures of alcohol recovery to see what we mean. Some of the people in the photographs are barely recognizable when compared alongside their former selves, and while some of them complemented alcohol rehab process with exercise, benefits of quitting drinking cannot be clearer by looking at these pictures.

#1

7 Months Sober

7 Months Sober

ghostbackwards Report

Cesi Baca
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy cow! He looks great! All the bloating and redness have gone.

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#2

1 Year Sober

1 Year Sober

silverladder Report

Shane Watson
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for sharing this. By the way, I'm coming up on five years sober (11/29/16). -Shane (Silverladder) fouryearss...b5e167.jpg fouryearssober-5819058b5e167.jpg

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#4

6 Months Sober

6 Months Sober

size16french Report

#5

1.5 Years Sober

1.5 Years Sober

dr_dan_is_sober Report

#6

1.5 Years Sober

1.5 Years Sober

luscrib89 Report

Sergio Bicerra
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the fact there is someone's hand in the first pict, like suportting hi

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#7

300 Days Sober

300 Days Sober

MEATTEO Report

#9

1 Year Sober

1 Year Sober

Beth Leipholtz Report

Koen Vleminckx
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's just the outside. Imagine what it did to their brain ad liver.

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#10

5 Years Sober

5 Years Sober

redlightgreenlight Report

#11

7 Years Sober

7 Years Sober

coolcrosby Report

Tish Ramsey
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bravo. Look at that smile. You're glowing!

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#14

1 Year Sober

1 Year Sober

B-radleybean Report

#16

156 Days Sober

156 Days Sober

Chris20322 Report

#17

500 Days Sober

500 Days Sober

MEATTEO Report

#18

3y 4m 17d Sober Together

3y 4m 17d Sober Together

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Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you! It literally saved his life and allowed both of us to have a life worth living.

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#19

95 Days Sober

95 Days Sober

oberApok Report

#22

6 Months Sober

6 Months Sober

im_twelve_ Report

#23

At 11 Months Sober (3.85 Years Now)

At 11 Months Sober (3.85 Years Now)

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#24

4 Years Sober

4 Years Sober

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#27

7 Months Sober

7 Months Sober

MDCXXX Report

Rajani Sarasan
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dang people are dropping weight like a whole person

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#29

1 Year Sober

1 Year Sober

yourprettygorgeous Report

Natalie
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You look so much more beautiful and healthy now

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#30

100 Days Sober

100 Days Sober

hotdog_love Report

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#32

5 Months Sober

5 Months Sober

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Zugga aka Pia Isabell
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look really young .. all you need is a smile on that healty new face :0)

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#33

5 Months Sober.

5 Months Sober.

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#34

What A Difference 5+ Years Of Sobriety Makes! Sober Date: January 16, 2011. #recoveryrocks #iamtheevidence #gratitude

What A Difference 5+ Years Of Sobriety Makes! Sober Date: January 16, 2011. #recoveryrocks #iamtheevidence #gratitude

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#35

2 Years.

2 Years.

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Rosemary Walsh
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father FINALLY became sober. I will always wish he had done it when I was a young girl.

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#36

151 Days Sober

151 Days Sober

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Caroline Hoxter
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for you! On the left you are in a hospital bed. On the right you are fit and healthy. You should be very proud!! You rock, keep it up.

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#37

21 Months Sober

21 Months Sober

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Natalie
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love your tattoos girl - haters always gonna hate - keep moving n brush your proud shoulders off! Beautiful

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#38

2 Years

2 Years

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#44

9 Years Sober

9 Years Sober

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Caryn Sloan
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You look so vibrant and years younger!

#45

1,5 Years Sober.

1,5 Years Sober.

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Michael Southern
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm thinking the photo on the left is the after photo, and the one on the right is the before photo! Just possibly...

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#46

13 Months Sober .. Not Only Did I Stop Alcohol And All Non Aa Substance I Also Stopped Drinking Soda.

13 Months Sober .. Not Only Did I Stop Alcohol And All Non Aa Substance I Also Stopped Drinking Soda.

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Christina Brault
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're so happy and making so many things happen! So stoked for you girl!

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#50

8 Months Sober

8 Months Sober

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Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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