Program + physical workout
 

i entered the program emaciated and now that ive been in it a while ive gained alot of weight. recently ive started working out. i must say working out physically AND working a program is a great combination. due to excessive cigarette smoking and poor eating habits ive gotten out of shape. now i feel motivated to get in shape and its really doing alot for my self esteem. the first year of sobriety working out wasnt an option. i lived in a halfway house and mentally wasnt capable of anything more than holding down a job and making meetings. anyways just thought id share because i really havent worked out regularly since high school when i was on the track team. that was 10 years ago! ive never been as comfortable with myself as im starting to feel. i feel so hopeful right now and excited about the future. skys the limit!

I needed this post.
I gained alot of weight over the years. Almost 100 in the past 6 years.
All from being out for days getting high not eating then going home and strait eating and sleeping for 2 or 3 days. Then back at it .
That was my life for a good many years.
I use to have a bangin body before I got really hardcore in the streets.
I was tiny.
I have been working a diet lately too and changed my eating habits.
I have lost 25 lbs since probably the end of March.
But 10 of that was just from the past 2 weeks.
I cant do any exercise due to the surgery I just had. But when it heals. I am off to the gym with my cousin.
I dont binge eat anymore because I dont be hanging out for days like I use to.
Now my goal is since I wont be hangin in the streets at all that I will be able to keep the plan going.
It does feel good to get a good workout.
I like to ride bikes and play sports.
But that is hard to do sometimes.
I comsume no more than 1500 to 2000 calories a day.
And just about everything I eat is Fat free or Low fat.
Lots of chicken and tuna. And turkey burgers and turkey meats.
You can still eat the yummy stuff..but in moderation. I do it once a week.
One thing a week. Not everything One day a week.
Now if I could quit these cigs I would be good.
Thx Chicago.

Hi Chicago,

Something that I've learned is that for me, a balance is necessary every day. And, that is physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life, have to balance, on a daily basis for me. If things get neglected, then I don't feel well.

I am glad you're feeling good and doing well!

I started excersizing in earliy recovery. I needed to gain wieght.
Eating a couple meals everyday was a challenge for me
There's not a long line of over wieght people in my family to begin with.
I was basically all sucked up and lost a lot of muscle tone.

I knew already that excersize would help curve my depression..
it was just a matter of me getting off of my ass and doing something about it.
I applied the principle of recovery...easy dose it.

just suit up and show up... my goal was to just go to the park
everyday after work no matter what..sometimes I 'll just sit, other times
I'll just walk a half of a lap. The park i go to is baically like a kick ass
golf course...it took me almost a week to just walk an entire lap.lol

Then I'll walk it and jog it. another couple of weeks of that.
Eventaully I was able to jog it completely.
Eventaully I jogged a couple of miles everyday
I can run about a mile..

Then i met another recovery addict doing the samething..We just jog
together and talk about recovery and what not..everyday.
and we notice stuff like normal or heathly people doing the samething.

eventaully..i started do other excersizes..pushs up, sit ups..ect
eventaully, i started lifting wieghts again.
It didn't happened overnite..

i eat a lot...got to change that a little...3 plates of chips...oh no....i'm on the energy booster diet...lol...but i also run, dance hip hop and do martial arts..all of them give me balance..i just need to get myself a schedule..i was also on the navy seal workout..that worked good!

take care

I have nothing against exercise, but in early sobriety I should worry about sobriety.

Overachiever that I am, my plan would probably consist of getting sober, quitting smoking, placing top 10 in a marathon within 6 months, finally getting my degree, switching careers, buying a house and a new car. What the heck, let's go totally abstinent with sex too.

Believe it or not, my first time around sober (dry) was pretty close to that. Guess what happened ?

If it's Gods will for me to get physically fit, I'm sure He will point it out to me. I do plan on eventually getting back into a regular exercise regimen. Only it's going to be with balance and moderation.

Thanks for sharing that, chicago. I feel like I am in a similar situation, and I found that I need to ease off my gung-ho attitude a little bit and focus more on sobriety since it is still so early for me. It's awesome to see someone else with such enthusiasm after 10 years!

I absolutely agree. This is an inspiring thread. I am working to bring balance back into my life and I think I will take a walk now to get some healthy food!

thanks, K