You will never be elite if you drink

Have you ever asked yourself "How good could I be… if I stopped drinking?"
In this episode, I dive deep into the truth that few want to say out loud: You will never be elite if you drink—especially if you have asthma or big athletic goals.

I'm Jonny Havey, ultra-endurance runner, asthma warrior, and lifelong student of what it takes to reach peak performance. Today, I’m sharing the honest story of how cutting alcohol helped me go from mid-pack finishes to winning ultra races, why even “moderate drinking” is holding you back, and how the science around sleep, recovery, inflammation, and lung function supports it all.

You’ll also hear how world-class athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo, Katie Ledecky, and Tom Brady manage alcohol in their training (hint: they don’t drink when it’s game time).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why alcohol destroys endurance, power, and sleep quality

• How drinking affects asthma, inflammation, and lung recovery

• My personal story of going from 29th place → 1st male finisher after cutting out alcohol

• Why non-alcoholic beer (like Athletic Brewing) changed everything for me

• What to do if you're not ready to quit entirely (realistic action steps included)

►► Download FREE Guide → How I lost 2 lbs a week as an athlete with asthma: https://www.athletewithasthma.com/healthy-living-guide

Other links from the episode:

Outlive (book by Peter Attia MD) - https://amzn.to/42g7vZW

Athletic Brewing - https://athleticbrewing.com/ 

0:00 Introduction – The Power of Giving Up Alcohol for Peak Performance
2:51 Why I Stopped Drinking – The Turning Point in My Training
5:30 The Science – How Alcohol Hurts Recovery, Sleep, and Endurance
14:33 Proof – Elite Athletes Who Don’t Drink (Ronaldo, Ledecky, Brady)
18:54 Action Plan – Steps to Train Smarter and Perform Better
19:52 Non-Alcoholic Options – How I Stay Social Without Slipping
21:59 Final Thoughts and Healthy Living Guide

DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS MY OPINION AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.