Exercise and Working out

[sct]

Now that the city's no longer being threatened by tornadoes (at least- not today) I'm looking forward to being able to run outside, and play futbol and basketball with my friends and sponsor.

[redshift]

I used to be a pretty good distance runner in my day. Not so much for the past four years, but a funny thing happened when I decided to quit drinking... I gradually started getting back into running, and two months later I ran a 10 mile race - and destroyed my old personal best

I'm just getting over a relapse now, but getting out to run early in the morning has been really comforting. So nice to be up and about early again, instead of passed out in bed.

[dave47]

I definitely find that exercise is great for keeping me positive. Even if I physically feel ready for the knackers yard, mentally I am alive.
I started running at the tail end of last year and could only manage about 10 minutes. I progressed to 30 or 40 minutes and was happy with that but having bought a bike about a month ago the running has gone to another level. I run now for about an hour and a quarter and hills and windy conditions are no problem. I think cycling in those conditions is hard going and without realising, that has helped my leg muscles immensely. At 45 years old exercise has suddenly become a big buzz in my life.

[VengeanceofRain]

i exercise 6 days a week now.. i think i'm addicted to it.. better than being addicted to crack.

I will have 6 months clean on august 12th and I have no doubt that if I didn't work out as much as I do I would have slipped. I feel too good about myself everyday to go out and use. you use to feel better. I feel good already. when i get down, i work out. i'm in pretty darn good shape now, clothes fit me better, i even have a semi 6 pack now. that does wonders for a person's self esteem.

[Nainoa]

I've been clean 13+ years...

On day 41 after the withdrawls settled away, I was 6'4" 165 pounds and 8% body fat.

Flash foward now 13+ years later... As an amature Body Builder, I'm 6'4" 255 pounds and 12% body fat... With my birthday coming up on August 21st I'm going to make another fitness push... Going to get down to 8% BF again, and I've got about 5 pounds of Muscle that I've let atrophy... Just to make a statement to myself.

Then try to add another 5 pounds of Muscle by May... All realistic goals, as long as I don't falter on it.

*****

The bodybuilding and fitness lifestyle is great for recovery, beyond just the obvious health reasons...

I've always said that the biggest gains that come from the BB-ing lifestyle are mental... It's just the physical ones that are easy to see.

The kind of stucture you get from it is also very mentally condusive to recovery.

[ByHisBlood2]

I'm taking Muay Thai kickboxing and I have lost 20lbs in a little over 2 weeks, I got another 50 to go but I have no doubt that doing this 4 times a week will get me there. I'm already in the best shape I have been in cardiovascularly in about 6 years!!!! Working out is the best way to stay clean for me!!

[Glenn67]

If it was'nt for weight training I would have gone crazy.I lift 4 days a week.
Its a real stress buster.Heavy 2 days and light 2 days.If you feel sluggish a cup of coffee before always helps out.

[rjw1482]

hey guys, I use to play semi - pro rugby league and play a high level of cricket aswell as get in the gym n smash weights about 4 days aweek depending on my teams training schedule but slowly as the drink took over i lost my will to get into the gym so much n dropped my level of performance on the field coz id be playin hungover or still on a come down.I was once 96kg at about 12% bf n now im a skinny and embarressing 80kg.... the will to train n get back into sport is slowly coming back but have u guys got any advice on weight gain ?

we fight our own battles but we all fight the same war

[trio313]

weights helps me relieve stress.
it is the only way for me to sleep at nite.

[nogard]

I run a lot and work out in teh gym twice a week.

I ran the Melbourne Marathon in Oct this year and hope to go to the US and run in either the Boston or LA Marathon.

Hoping to meet some SR members including best and Done.

I try to keep a balance in all things, but I must admit being this fit especially at my age does get a little obsessive at times but thats ok as I have the program to re-balance me

[Will47]

Great posts. Exercise has been a tremendous tool in aiding my well-being and sobriety. I lift four times a week and meet a group at the Y to basketball on most weekdays (this is especially helpful as it the first social/recreational activity I've found that has nothing to do with drinking). I'm also training to compete in my first triathalon next summer.

[Elefino]

There is no doubt that excercise can be a plus in recovery. It's a real feel-good for an ex-drinker like me. Now my treadmill is once again an important tool in my quit smoking program.

[Darylord]

Weightlifting for sure. I want to compete in an amateur bodybuilding contest this year if I don't chicken out! LOL

Far cry from where I was 2 1/2 years ago!

[coming_clean]

excersising helps to keep the happy juices going in ur brain , it makes you fitter, energetic and perhaps more confident about your physique.

I do strength training twice per week. I swim once a week. Perhaps now i'm in the full storm of recovery i will do some running too when i feel depressed or anxious.

[SHawk25]

Yep I'm a gym rat. Well getting back into it, slacked off for a couple of years.. Too much partying..

Love lifting weights.. I have a 6 day routine that I love.. 3 weeks heavy, 1 week higher reps..

How everyone elses workouts going? Anyone have any goals?

[SHawk25]

Good idea with the pics.. I'll have to throw some on here..

I want to be leaner, but most of my goals are strength related.. Now with drinking out of the way I'm really gonna focus on them..

I want to bench 405 that's my main goal.. Everytime I get close I would be content then slack off.. No more, I'm going full board..

[getr345]

I'm finally back in the gym too after a really long time away from it. My first day back was on the recent spring equinox on 3/20/09, really loved the symbolism of returning to the gym on the first day of spring. Right now, I'm just getting the pain out to get to the point where I can actually do a more complete workout. So, for now, 2 miles on the treadmill, then 30 minutes or so on various nautilus machines working arms, legs and upper body, nothing too crazy yet. Hope to gradually increase and build up some muscle mass and a more lean, fit body.

Leaving the gym I feel higher than any drug or drink ever got me.

[SHawk25]

Originally Posted by getr345

Leaving the gym I feel higher than any drug or drink ever got me.

Exactly.. Love that feeling...

[SonofaMess]

I love working out and helping other people workout and get healthy, but lately it seems like a lot of people are anti workout. Yesterday a girl friend (just a friend) called me to go to lunch. It was kind of last minute and I said I'm going to workout soon do you want to do it after or push it to a dinner maybe? She got *pissed*. Just flat out angry. People don't respe"K"t discipline hahaha.

I really gotta start toning up a little more I'm starting to get very bulky. No bueno for summertime beach.

[SHawk25]

I can relate.. Beer made me softter through the years.. Got to get the lean look back..

[SonofaMess]

Originally Posted by SHawk25

I can relate.. Beer made me softter through the years.. Got to get the lean look back..

That's the thing......It's not from drinking or lack of diet. it's just my genetics. Not like I wish I drank too much haha but it's like theres not much more I can do ya know? I don't like sweets or pop or junk food either.
I'm only at 9% bodyfat but it doesn't look like it. All the men in my family have big arms broad shoulders and barrel chests. Which is nice but man I have to kill myself to get that real good definition.

I'm eatin carrots right now. I feel like bugs bunny.

I just worked out with my buddy. He eats a snickers for like breakfast and looks like leonidas from 300. bastardo.

[Fubarcdn]

I go to the gym 5 days a week, always have off and on. I am more interested in a lean muscular look so my goal is to stay at the top end of the BMI scale which is 170 lbs for my height with body fat in the 10% range.
No heavy weights for me. I do lighter weight with more reps ( 140lbs for bench press for example). I think this is the healthiest for me.
I am in my 50's so I will leave the muscle mass look to you younger men.
I still have a ways to go to lose the beer gut but I am at the weight I want to be so I have to gain a bit of muscle and lose a bit of fat.

[livingsober]

I worked out regularly - weights and running - in my twenties and then gradually replaced it with progressively heavier drinking over the course of 10 years or so. I did so to the extent that by the time I quit drinking 6 months ago, I almost never made it into the gym. Since then I've been working out about 3 times per week. I was malnourished and emaciated when I quit drinking and have put on a quality 15-20 pounds since then.

The amazing thing is that my workouts are so much more efficient now than they were in my early twenties, even though my drinking had not yet blown up by then. At that time, I partied like many twentysomethings do a couple of times per week, but the disease had not progressed. It's pretty obvious and not surprising how the full-blown alcoholism that developed later destroyed my workouts - especially since I couldn't even make it to the gym. But I also see now how even when I was a more normal drinking younger guy, my drinking evidently seriously compromised the gains of my workouts. Now, working out about 3 times per week at a much older age for 5 months, I'm at about 85-90% of the strength (and still haven't plateaued) I once had. And at that time, I worked out about 10 times a week (between running and lifting sometimes twice per day) in what should have been my physical prime.

The point is that I'm convinced now that young athletes who party - even if they are not alcoholics - are likely hurting their performance a lot more than they think. If my experience then is indicative, this is true even if their drinking does not affect how they feel day-to-day.

Most importantly... for me now, I'm a lot better off having come out on the other side than I would have been had the disease never progressed, and I had just continued drinking "normally". I never would have realized the effect even relatively normal drinking can have. So for that, I suppose it's not just cliche to say that I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. It's true.

[marty888]

I have been lift hard and drinking hard for 20 years. Always thought I trained well, but since I am off the drink I am tearing the gym apart. Wish i did it years ago !!!!

[marty888]

Hey Phal, I checked your pics, you are making great progress mate