I knew working from home had made me an alcoholic when I started hiding 3-litre wine boxes around the house. But only when I turned 50 did I realise what years of drinking had done to my body

A mother who downed two bottles of wine a day when she began working from home and was drunk ‘most of the time’ ditched booze after doctors told her they were ‘surprised’ she was still alive, lost five stone – and is now celebrating two years sober.

Jennie Mccormack, 52, was always a ‘big drinker’ but things began to take a turn during the pandemic when she began opening bottles of vino regularly and pouring herself large gin and tonics at home.

With little social contact, Jennie’s alcohol intake skyrocketed – she’d start drinking as soon as she finished work at 5pm and booze into the next day to get over a hangover.

Her alcohol intake saw her weight quickly ballooned to 14.5 stone. 

It got so bad that Jennie started buying three-litre wine boxes to hide around the house from her concerned husband, Stephen Mccormack, 55, owner of a mechanical and electrical business, who was pleading with her to stop.

After a routine check up at 50, doctors told Jennie that her ALT (alanine aminotransferase) blood levels in her liver were so high that they were ‘surprised’ she was alive.

This ‘flicked a switch’ in Jennie’s brain and she vowed from that day forward to ditch the bottle.

Since then, Jennie has completely regained her confidence – losing five stone and going from a size 18 to a size eight – and her relationship with her son, Connah, 29, has ‘got better’.

She now walks, goes to the gym, eats lots of fruit and vegetables and ‘bounces’ around with energy.

Jennie, a finance manager, from Liverpool, said: ‘2021 I was at my worst. I was drinking ridiculous amounts every day.

‘I’d be in my dressing gown at home drinking after work from 5pm – I didn’t have to speak to anyone and see anybody.

‘My husband tried to intervene – but that didn’t stop me at the time at the time. Instead I was hiding it from him – I started on wine boxes so I could hide them.

‘I stopped getting invited to family parties because I’d be drunk before we left.

‘Now I don’t miss it one bit at all. I’ve fallen in love with me and my life now – I will never ever go back.

‘I get up every day and the confidence that gives me wearing my new clothes is amazing.’

Jennie’s drinking problem began about 10 years ago – and slowly got worse and worse.

‘I’d always buy bottles of wine on the way home from work and then have them at home,’ she recalled. 

‘Every evening I’d drink two bottles of wine and then Friday and Saturday I’d have gin.

‘But when Covid hit and I was home full time that’s when it really got bad. I didn’t have to speak to anyone and see anybody.’

Jennie’s drinking got so bad that she was vomiting every day.

‘I was so depressed – I couldn’t get out of cycle,’ she admitted. ‘Drink, put weight on, drink more – I couldn’t bend down to put my shoes on.

‘I was vomiting every day at one point, my face ballooned, and I started losing my hair too.

‘If I had a day off from work, I’d be starting at 12pm while watching Loose Women. My husband would come home and I’d be absolutely rat-ar**d.

‘I eventually thought I’d have to stop with the wine and my theory was gin would be better – I was a in a bad bad way. I was drunk most of the time.’

After doctors told Jennie her liver wasn’t in good shape and she could develop cirrhosis – a serious condition where normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue – she decided enough was enough.

‘As soon as I saw that result, I stopped right then. It was like someone had turned a switch in my brain,’ she explained.

‘Three months later I went back to the doctors. I’d lost two stone since. As soon as I stopped drinking, the weight fell off. My bloods were better than normal.

‘I’d recovered, I was feeling good, feeling better and I’ve never touched a drop since. I had my two-year anniversary last week. I’ve been on a holiday and not touched a drink.’

With her weight changing, Jennie also bought a new wardrobe of clothes and got out the house more.

‘Now I’m eating more, I couldn’t before because I was drinking so much,’ she revealed.

‘I go for an hour walk every day, go to the gym and I’ve started meditation. I changed my routine slowly and I’m bouncing round with energy now.

‘I haven’t really dieted as I wasn’t eating much before anyway – other than loads of bread to try and soak up the alcohol – now I eat loads of fruit and veg all the time.’

Her change has also improved her relationship with her husband. 

‘I did put him through some terrible times – he would always have to apologise for me when we went out,’ she said.

‘Now my husband is made up for me – the positivity now to a couple of years ago is amazing.’

Stephen said: ‘In 2023, Jennie said she was quitting alcohol for good. I won’t lie – I’d heard it before. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, didn’t think it would last.

‘But this time, she proved me wrong. Month by month, Jennie stuck with it.

‘No cheats, no excuses – what started as a promise became a full-on lifestyle shift and her energy came roaring back.

‘It was as though she’d found a whole new way of life – one that actually suited her.

‘She looks incredible, but more than that, she carries herself with a calm, steady confidence that’s nothing short of inspiring.

‘I couldn’t be prouder of her – words genuinely fail me sometimes.

‘Her transformation hasn’t just changed her – it’s brought us closer too. We now spend more time walking the dog together, going for meals, or enjoying days out in Wales.

‘It’s reminded me of what’s important in life – connection, health, and the simple joy of being side by side.’