Exercise and Working out

[sbp]

Hey are any of you guys into Working out, weight lifting and exercise ?

I'm an alcoholic who has found exercise to be helpful in staying upbeat and positive.

Your thoughts ?

[tkdan]

Hey sbp and welcome to SR. I like to workout for me it kind of goes hand in hand with trying to live a healthy life. I've done marial arts for the past three years but during times of drinking I could barely make the minimun classes to be eligible for belt tests. During sobriety I take extra classes and go to the gym for weight and cardio training also. Exercise is a good tool for feeling better about yourself. Keep it up bro.

[Blake'sTyger]

In the times I've managed to keep sober, I've found exercise to be unbelievably helpful.

No weight gain, I smoke fewer cigarettes, feel better, etc etc.

Personally I've taken up rock climbing over the past six or so months. Hanging from a rock several hundred feet in the air will not only remind you of your mortality and scare the desire to drink out of you, but getting to the top of each route feels like a small personal victory.

Also, when I DO screw up and drink or do some kind of drug, I always feel especially terrible while exercising it out. I'll be running and my insides will feel downright dirty. A nice little reminder of why I quit doing the one and started doing the other.

[nolonger]

I do. I notice the difference from working out, in every area of my life, not just the physical. I think it can make a huge difference in staying sober. It's not just about narcissim (though theres a litlte bit of that too...) - I feel I am actually living more fully in my body now. When I was drinking, I was vandalizing it.

[Blake'sTyger]

Originally Posted by nolonger

- I feel I am actually living more fully in my body now. When I was drinking, I was vandalizing it.

I doubt anyone could put it better or more concisely.

[utopia]

yep feels great to be in shape, plus taekwondo was amazing for letting go of a lot of fear and built my confidence a lot.

[Mr H]

just started working out myself to help with the old cravings, i find im happiest now swimming and walking rather than just sitting around

[spen71]

I think this is going to be one of the ways I am going to deal with the boredom of being sober. With me I think it difficult the first time after I get over the worst of the withdrawals. That and finding the money as I have agreed for my missus to have all the dosh.

[Time2Surrender]

Exercise and working out is the best therapy.

[bob_sapp]

I've been weight lifting and training muay thai all through recovery. If it wasn't for exercise, I'm sure I would have gone back or killed myself.

[soidog]

Although I exercised when I was drinking, now that I am sober I am doing it much more often and enjoying it so much more. Since I am not hung over every morning, I can wake up early and get to the gym before the crowds start coming. I've also found daily exercise to be pretty important to getting a good night's sleep as well, which was one of the reasons why I began drinking in the first place.

[tonys76]

I love working out and exercise, gets you so energized in ways you can't in really anything else. I found working out when i first wake up is a great way to stimulate your body and avoid needing stimulants (like coffee).

[GlassPrisoner]

The health benefits and other perks of routine exercise are undeniable.

Mountain Biking was my outlet for years. I was in the top 10 riders in the expert class in my area.

But, as a program of recovery, it failed .

[sailorjohn]

Originally Posted by sbp

Hey are any of you guys into Working out, weight lifting and exercise ?

I'm an alcoholic who has found exercise to be helpful in staying upbeat and positive.

Your thoughts ?

We have a gym at work, so I try to lift 5 days a week. The really amazing thing, when I'm down before I start I usually always feel better afterwards, think it has something to do with the brain releasing certain chemicals, a natural high.

[coming_clean]

heya,

I excersise three times per week, lifting some weights and doing cardio too. So far this hasn't helped me to quit my drug of choice, marihuana. However, it helps making me more sequre about myself and it keeps me active enough so that I have strenght to not entirely mess my life up.

So it does have positive effects on me,

[kmill]

One of my goals now is to work out and get fit. I used to play rugby at a semi-pro level and can't wait to get into that shape again.
I built a gym at home over a year ago but had only used it to drink cocktails in when it was too cold outside. So I'm dusting off the bench and going for it.

[PaulL]

Good thread SBP,

Here's a contrary post

I stopped drinking(last month)...now I don't feel like exercising any more!!! :wtf2

I've been a lifetime fitness runner/lap swimmer + daily morning push-up and crunch sets for THIRTY years!

First, a botched knee surgery 6 months ago stopped the running. I substituted running with increased "de-stress" drinking 'til I finally quit last month.

But, I can't even get the motivation now to do the morning pushups or crunches...

I'm up 20 lbs!

I'm hoping that it's a passing phase.

[dislipson]

Not sure if it has been mentioned but when I was in the Navy I always felt absolutely great after working out, I mean I hadn't been so cheerful in years! The Officer that was in charge of our PT told me that when you work out the endorphins you produce make you feel great.



Since I have decided to stop drinking my gift to myself is a Trek 4.5 Road bike and I plan on working out and getting back into shape and trying a Triathlon....not an Ironman but a short one for weekend warriors.

[navysteve]

Its easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape. That works for the program as well.

[sct]

I started working out for my physical and mental health when I got clean- partially as a measure to keep myself clean. Simply put, I hit the treadmill until I was just too damn tired to get up and go out to score. Probably also helped me sweat out some of the last 12 years of using that I'd built up too... Once I had been clean for a while, I noticed that working out made me feel better mentally too. Gotta love endorphins for that.

[PaulL]

I don't know what the deal was with my first month after quitting (3 posts up),
but now after 2 months, the old working out is back (though I still can't run)

After morning coffee: 3 sets push ups & crunches as follows:
40 p.u. & 100 crunch 5 min. ( I could do 50 once upon a time :-(
35 p.u & 100 crunch 5 min
30 p.u & 100 crunch 5 min
The whole thing finished in 15 minutes! No break between the 5 min sets. Try it, it's a burn!

Also have brought a single dumbbell to the office. Do curls & shoulders at my desk, at various times throughout the day just to kind of get the blood flowing. It's good.

[Mallshopper]

I do a lot of walking and just taking in the sites around me. Nature is a wonderful tonic for the soul.

[Stamps43]

I had begun working out and running before quitting drinking. The amazing thing was that when I did quit I was way more capable. I now shock the hell out of friends as I run triathlons and marathons. I have more energy than ever and feel amazingly good all the time.

[Slowbriety]

I run, its great for my head.

[renemar]

swimming is the best exercise for me.