In a month where America celebrates independence, Patricia Heaton said she is celebrating a different freedom — from alcohol.
The former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star took to Instagram on Saturday to let her followers know she’s marking three years sober.
“It’s July where we celebrate our nation’s freedom, also celebrating three years of freedom from alcohol for me,” she said.
Heaton, 63, said she had just finished a 3.5-mile walk and encouraged her followers to message her if they were thinking of kicking the habit or needed some encouragement.
Last year, Heaton told Parade Magazine she decided to stop drinking after she realized she was looking forward every night to cocktails.
“I miss it terribly, but at the end of the day, I feel better,” she told the outlet. “There’s an actual statistic that women who were moderate drinkers in their 30s and 40s often become alcoholics in their 50s and 60s.”
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“You’re a little bit at sea, and so you reach for the bottle to dull the uncertainty. I sensed that a bit with myself. And as your hormones change, you can’t really process alcohol the same way you did when you were younger. I’ve stopped, and my life has improved significantly,” she told Parade.
Heaton is married to David Hunt, an English actor and director, and they share four sons.
She released a book last year, “Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Reinvention,” that looks at navigating life during pivotal transitions.
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Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.