Ochsner Eat Fit Challenges Louisianians to Go #AlcoholFreeFor40

Take the challenge and measure the benefits for the new year.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Mardi Gras season in Louisiana is filled with celebration, connection and tradition, and it can also be an impactful opportunity to reset and refocus on personal health after festivities end. To support Louisianians in prioritizing healthy habits after Mardi Gras, Ochsner Eat Fit is kicking off its 11th annual Alcohol Free For 40 Challenge on February 19, the Thursday after Mardi Gras. 

Benefits of going alcohol free

Eliminating alcohol intake, even temporarily, can lead to better sleep, increased energy and improved focus within those 40 days. On average, participants in the challenge see measurable health improvements, including a four-pound loss of body fat, a 13-point reduction in cholesterol, a 28-point drop in triglycerides and improvements in systolic blood pressure.

This challenge provides participants with the resources, education and support needed to abstain from alcohol and benefit from a “wellness spring cleaning.” 

“Now in its 11th year, Alcohol Free For 40 continues to resonate because it gives people clear tools and real data to better understand how alcohol affects their bodies,” said Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, Director of Ochsner Eat Fit and Alcohol Free For 40. “Forty days without alcohol is one focused habit change, but it creates valuable insight into sleep, energy and overall health that many participants have never seen before.”

Challenge Details

• The Alcohol Free For 40 Challenge is open statewide with events in six regions: Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Covington, Shreveport and Monroe. 

  • The Lafayette event will take place at Ochsner Lafayette General Orthopedic Center, 4212 W. Congress St. 

  • Pre-challenge metrics appointments will be Thursday, Feb. 19, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

  • Post-challenge metrics appointments will be Thursday, Apr. 2, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• How to join: Enroll on AlcoholFreeFor40.com for the price of $59. Make sure to click on the correct button for your city or region to register. The general registration deadline is Sunday, Feb. 15.

• What’s included: 

  • Receive in-depth pre- and post-challenge metrics including labs, body composition analysis, weight, blood pressure and before-and-after photos to get a clear picture of the impact of alcohol on overall wellness (a $450 value). The lab panel includes a variety of tests that aren’t routine, so even if you have annual blood work done it’s likely that many of these are not included.

  • For more information and to register, visit AlcoholFreeFor40.com.

• Get support: To join the #AlcoholFreeFor40 group on Facebook, click here. You can send messages, ask questions, follow the journey of others and share your own experiences, challenges, successes, zero-proof cocktail recipes and photos. Visit now to see messages from past participants.

Keep the party going! The Eat Fit team collaborates with local restaurants to offer Eat Fit zero-proof cocktails throughout the challenge and provides recipe inspiration with their book, “Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero-Proof Cocktails.”

Visit www.AlcoholFreeFor40.com today to join the challenge. 

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About Ochsner Lafayette General   
Ochsner Lafayette General has more than 5,500 employees and serves 220,000 patients per year. The organization includes Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center (Ochsner LGMC); Ochsner Lafayette General Orthopedic Hospital; Ochsner Lafayette General Surgical Hospital; Ochsner St. Martin Hospital; Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics (Ochsner UHC); Ochsner Acadia General Hospital; Ochsner Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital; Ochsner American Legion Hospital; and a number of clinics, urgent cares and professional centers. Ochsner LGMC is the only Level II Trauma Center in Southwest Louisiana. Both Ochsner LGMC and Ochsner UHC are major teaching hospitals, providing graduate medical education across many disciplines. To learn more, visit Ochsner.org/Lafayette.

About Ochsner Eat Fit  

Eat Fit is a nonprofit initiative of Ochsner Health, designed to equip community members to live their strongest, healthiest lives. The team of Eat Fit dietitians works closely with local restaurants, markets and other foodservice establishments to identify and develop dishes that meet the Eat Fit nutritional criteria. These items are identified directly on restaurant menus with the Eat Fit seal of approval, making the healthy choice the easy choice when dining out.  Eat Fit encourages nutritious choices whether an individual is looking to lose weight, meet fitness goals, or manage health conditions including diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.   

Free to all restaurants and foodservice establishments, Eat Fit collaborates with more than 500 partners across Louisiana. Its reach has grown to include Eat Fit NOLA, Eat Fit Northshore, Eat Fit BR, Eat Fit Acadiana and Eat Fit 318.  

The Eat Fit team connects deeply within the Eat Fit communities, serving as a resource for all things wellness. Download the Eat Fit smartphone app to find participating restaurants with full nutrition facts of Eat Fit menu items, as well as recipes, community wellness resources, and to connect with a health professional in your area. The Eat Fit team also offers recipes for the home with The Eat Fit Cookbook and Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails, available at www.EatFitCookbook.com. 

Follow @EatFitOchsner on Facebook and Instagram and visit www.OchsnerEatFit.com for more information about Eat Fit in your region.