About Simon Chapple – The Quit Alcohol Coach
My name is Simon Chapple, at 44 years old I decided enough was enough and quit the alcohol forever, red wine was always my drink of choice, in quantities of ‘as much as possible’.
I had spent over 20 years drinking red wine every night, usually two bottles or more every evening. All at the same time as running a business, bringing up my Son and embarking on my hobby as a slightly above average marathon runner. I was a functioning alcoholic enthusiastic drinker trudging my way through each and every day. Was I happy? Not really, no, not at all.
During my drinking years my life was ruled by alcohol, anxiety, mood swings and emotional instability.
I believed that alcohol was getting me through the challenges I experienced, I didn’t realise it was causing them. But eventually I became sick and tired of the daily cycle of addiction and living a colourless and unhappy existence and started to look closer at the impact of my drinking.
- Born As: Simon Langmead, I changed my name to Simon Chapple when I was 7 years old after my father left the family
- Lives in: Surrey, UK
- Would like to live in: California
- Married to: Michelle
- Children: One son, (I know, it refers to my daughter in my books, long story…)
- Food of choice: Mexican
- Drink of choice: Botanical (alcohol-free of course) drinks, Seedlip, Borrago or Caleno with tonic water and a slice of lime.
- Mission statement: To share the joys of living alcohol-free and help anyone who wants to change their drinking behaviour.
- Loves people who: Are able to see the opportunity in any situation or challenge.
- Worst habits: Trying to control everything, using Americanisms, losing things, being clumsy and biting my nails.
- Scared of: Horror movies with jumping out scenes.
- Favourite hobbies: Riding my Peloton bike and listening to audiobooks, I also love long-distance running but injuries have sidelined me.
- Favourite book: Aside from numerous brilliant ‘quit lit’ books it would have to be one of the gritty John Niven novels.
- Favourite movie: Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street
- Favourite music: Too many to list, everything from Biffy Clyro and The Stone Roses to Foo Fighters and Simon & Garfunkel (and almost everything from the 1990s).
- I am proud of: Having the opportunity to share my work and my message with so many people, especially through my books.
- My biggest inspiration: I have a few, Annie Grace the author of This Naked Mind has been a huge influence on me and my work as have so many other people in the sober community.
Speaking at This Naked Mind Live in Denver
I have always been an ‘All or Nothing’ type of person. I have completed 15 marathons so far, every one of them that I ran before I quit alcohol involved me drinking the night before to ‘calm my nerves’ and drinking afterwards to celebrate my success.
After I stopped drinking I was diagnosed with ADHD and complex PTSD from emotional neglect and trauma related to my childhood, this explained a lot, including my all or nothing nature.
The more I explored my past, the clearer it all became. I started to see my world with new eyes and make sense of why I had used a substance to numb myself out from the uncomfortable feelings and emotions that were too painful to look at.
Alcohol had a really tight grip on me and breaking free was one of the hardest, yet most rewarding things I have ever done. Before I got sober the thought of even one day without drinking literally filled me with dread. But with commitment, hard work and the right tools, tactics and support, I did it and if I can live a happy alcohol-free life, believe me, so can you!
And guess what – it actually wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I have since created a clear structure and process for stopping drinking that I believe anyone can follow if they want to change the way that alcohol features in their lives. Take a look at my stop drinking programme to learn exactly what worked for me.
The benefits of quitting alcohol have been enormous, I have experienced everything from better skin, improved relationships and health (mental and physical) through to incredible changes in my levels of happiness, freedom from anxiety and of course, no more hangovers!
I started blogging my experiences almost from day 1 after quitting to share them with other people who are questioning their own relationship with alcohol and I also started my own Be Sober Facebook group, which is now one of the fastest growing and most active sober groups on the internet, you are welcome to join (details below).
I have discovered that millions of people are drinking far too much and don’t know how to get out of the alcohol trap, my life mission has become all about spreading the word about the benefits of an alcohol-free life and sharing the best methods of breaking free from the tight grip of alcohol.
I have since gone on to become a certified quit alcohol coach and joined the team alongside the inspirational Annie Grace at This Naked Mind (what do you mean you haven’t read the book???).
I have also talked about my own sobriety on stage at This Naked Mind Live in Denver and The Club Soda Mindful Drinking Festival. I have appeared on TV and radio talking about the benefits of an alcohol-free life and the best methods of quitting drinking for good.
Stop Drinking Books by Simon Chapple
In 2019 I released my first book – The Sober Survival Guide – which I wrote to share my experiences with anyone who is questioning how alcohol features in their life. It is full of tactics, advice and strategies to enable readers to find freedom from alcohol, along with happiness and peace in their lives.
The book is split into two parts. The first provides readers with all the guidance and tools they need to stop drinking long-term.
The second part deals with the challenges that come up when we become sober, such as how to go on holiday and still have a great time, Christmas parties, socialising, coming out as sober and a whole lot more besides.
The Sober Survival Guide is out now – click here to navigate to Amazon and order your copy.
The Sober Survival Guide by Simon Chapple – click here to download the first 10 chapters free
In 2020 released my second book which was published by Sheldon Press an Imprint of Hodder & Stoughton – How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days.
“A powerful book. Simon tells it like it is but combines it with a level of care and skill I have not seen in other quit alcohol books” – Neil M.
‘An inspirational manifesto’ – Annie Grace author of This Naked Mind.
DO YOU FEEL TRAPPED BY ALCOHOL?
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF THINKING ABOUT DRINKING TOO OFTEN?
DO YOU PUT ALCOHOL AHEAD OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE?
If so – here’s some good news. You can quit drinking, and it’s not as difficult as you think.
Simon Chapple is a Certified Alcohol Coach who has helped thousands of people change the way that alcohol features in their lives. In How to Quit Drinking in 50 Days he’ll give you a structured way to find complete freedom from alcohol – for now, or forever.
This 50-day journey to freedom is split into two parts. Days 1-25 will ask you to take an honest look at the impact alcohol has had on your life, to examine the reasons for your drinking, and will arm you with the best strategy for quitting alcohol successfully. Days 26-50 will ask you to make the commitment to taking a break from alcohol – taking each step with one chapter a day, and answering the questions that come up.
There are strategies for dealing with challenges and setbacks, and a wealth of resources for finding support and inspiration. Above all, there is a genuine passion for the sober adventure, and the huge rewards of an alcohol-free life – a life of freedom that’s waiting for you.
Above – Me running a recent marathon – one of the few I have done without a bottle of wine the night before!
Watch my video below – How to Quit Alcohol – 10 Tips for Success
Don’t Miss Out – Subscribe to my YouTube Channel below – New Quit Drinking Videos Every Week.
How to Quit Alcohol in 50 Days by Simon Chapple – click here to navigate to Amazon and get your copy
If you are worried about what you drink
If you find yourself worrying about your drinking like I was, don’t despair – that can be the hardest point in the journey, when you are aware there is a problem but you don’t know how to fix it, well now you know there is an answer and you have a wealth of tools and support at your fingertips right here on my website.
Join my Be Sober Facebook group (it’s totally free) and become part of a unique and supportive community of people looking to quit drinking and enjoy a wonderful new sober life. You can join the Be Sober group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1960061840706240/
The Facebook group is ‘closed’ which means none of your friends can see that you have joined or anything you post within the group, only other members can see your activity.
The group aims to be a caring, supportive community who look out for each other and provide advice, tips and help on everything related to the sober journey.
I update this blog a couple of times a month and there are loads of older posts from the early weeks and months that I hope will serve to help and answer common questions and concerns about stopping drinking.
I also have several programs and courses that you can access through the resources tab in the menu on this page.
If you want to get in touch by email you can send a message to: info@besober.co.uk
Simon