Doncaster man celebrates first sober birthday in 25 years

Paul Huby celebrated his 40th birthday without booze and has been sober for 110 days.

He made the decision to quit after he noticed lockdown was pushing him to drink more.

The 40-year-old from Lakeside said: “I was made redundant in March due to Covid-19 and so that left me with a lot of time to sit and drink in the garden.

“We had such beautiful weather in May that it was just easy to let time slip by.”

Paul was also feeling down as he was about to celebrate his 40th birthday but could not have a party or go on holiday as planned.

He was drinking most days and says that he felt terrible.

“I decided to start reading books and listening to podcasts about sobriety and something just clicked,” he continued.

“I had a small gathering for my birthday and didn’t drink at all which my friends and family thought was weird because I have always been a heavy drinker.

“It was the first birthday in 25 years that I haven’t been drunk.”

Paul started to feel better and began getting up at 5am to run half marathons and has now lost three stone.

He said: “I feel like a completely different person.

“I exercise twice a day and I look completely different, none of my clothes fit.”

Paul has even started trying to help others by starting the No Surrender Bootcamp.

He is a qualified personal trainer and is urging people to start their days with fresh air and exercise with him at Lakeside.

“It makes such a difference,” he continued.

“I was never a morning person when I drank.

“I always had a foggy brain but now I have such mental clarity.

“I never thought I had a problem with drinking but you don’t realise the effect it has on you until you stop.”

Paul says that he no longer craves alcohol and has even been to the pub with friends without fear of temptation.

Find out more about his boot camp on Instagram here.

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