Fitness for recovey???
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by FreeOwl 
Exercise is definitely a great support to sobriety.
Frustratingly, my fitness is pretty low this time round, though my sobriety is growing and stable. This time, my energy is just so depleted and my mood so depleteD. The two are no doubt tied together. Exercise would help boost mod and energy but I am struggling to get back to a routine. I am a marathon runner, crossfitter, weight lifter and martial arts practitioner.... But these past months its all I can do to run five miles or make it to the gym twice.
I really hope I manage to get through this stage of recovery and back to fitness sooner than later.
Frustratingly, my fitness is pretty low this time round, though my sobriety is growing and stable. This time, my energy is just so depleted and my mood so depleteD. The two are no doubt tied together. Exercise would help boost mod and energy but I am struggling to get back to a routine. I am a marathon runner, crossfitter, weight lifter and martial arts practitioner.... But these past months its all I can do to run five miles or make it to the gym twice.
I really hope I manage to get through this stage of recovery and back to fitness sooner than later.
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,499
All the best with the triathlon LimaBean3000! What a fantastic goal. It just turns out to be my goal too, so I am looking forward to both of us achieving it ... sober!
Because health was my main priority to go sober (there are other important ones, but this is key), I am counting on my fitness goals to keep me motivated. In a way, I used my exercise regimen as a crutch (I must be healthy if I exercise regularly, I told myself) but that was rubbish! I ran a decent half-marathon 4 years ago because I cut out the booze a week out, but I've become a slower, more lethargic and less enthusiastic runner of late, precisely because there was no joy running with a damaged body! No more! My body doesn't deserve that. I want the true fitness of a clean machine.
I've signed up for a 10 km in two weeks' time and I'm looking forward to it like I haven't in a long time.
All power to you, LimaBean! Keep us posted on progress!
Because health was my main priority to go sober (there are other important ones, but this is key), I am counting on my fitness goals to keep me motivated. In a way, I used my exercise regimen as a crutch (I must be healthy if I exercise regularly, I told myself) but that was rubbish! I ran a decent half-marathon 4 years ago because I cut out the booze a week out, but I've become a slower, more lethargic and less enthusiastic runner of late, precisely because there was no joy running with a damaged body! No more! My body doesn't deserve that. I want the true fitness of a clean machine.
I've signed up for a 10 km in two weeks' time and I'm looking forward to it like I haven't in a long time.
All power to you, LimaBean! Keep us posted on progress!
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,375
Originally Posted by LimaBean3000
That's what my husband said HOU! And by the way...I'm not planning on doing an Iron Man! Lol. The Tri my husband wants to sign me up for is a mini-Tri. (1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike ride, 5k). :-)
The feed back was great. I can understand that exercise alone may not be enough for some people to maintain sobriety (or even me) but I was just wondering if exercise WAS enough for anyone? (In addition to SR) :-)
Have a great day ya'll!
The feed back was great. I can understand that exercise alone may not be enough for some people to maintain sobriety (or even me) but I was just wondering if exercise WAS enough for anyone? (In addition to SR) :-)
Have a great day ya'll!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 636
Fitness is one of the main reason I want to quit drinking. Lifting weights with a hangover is not good. I lift 5 times a week usually first thing in the morning but my drinking has caused a negative effect on my body. I took this week off to gather my thoughts and focus more on sobriety, but I can't wait to train tomorrow morning without a hangover.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 2,391
I was running Marathon's in active addiction.
I wasn't using while I was running a race, but I did during training.
Gosh that sounds crazy when I type it.
I keep saying I'm going back to running but I think I'm actually going to take another path. I'm not sure what. Too many triggers.
I think physical health does help with mental health. I have a physically demanding job so I stay in pretty good shape as of now.
There are a few articles that do talk about the endorphins from working out doing good things for our alcoholic/addict brains...
I wasn't using while I was running a race, but I did during training.
Gosh that sounds crazy when I type it.
I keep saying I'm going back to running but I think I'm actually going to take another path. I'm not sure what. Too many triggers.
I think physical health does help with mental health. I have a physically demanding job so I stay in pretty good shape as of now.
There are a few articles that do talk about the endorphins from working out doing good things for our alcoholic/addict brains...
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,375
Originally Posted by Latte
I was running Marathon's in active addiction.
I wasn't using while I was running a race, but I did during training.
Gosh that sounds crazy when I type it.
I keep saying I'm going back to running but I think I'm actually going to take another path. I'm not sure what. Too many triggers.
I think physical health does help with mental health. I have a physically demanding job so I stay in pretty good shape as of now.
There are a few articles that do talk about the endorphins from working out doing good things for our alcoholic/addict brains...
I wasn't using while I was running a race, but I did during training.
Gosh that sounds crazy when I type it.
I keep saying I'm going back to running but I think I'm actually going to take another path. I'm not sure what. Too many triggers.
I think physical health does help with mental health. I have a physically demanding job so I stay in pretty good shape as of now.
There are a few articles that do talk about the endorphins from working out doing good things for our alcoholic/addict brains...
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,177
I decided to train for a 50k after quitting drinking.
While drinking I was training for a 1/2 marathon so I figured I had to raise my goal now that I'm alcohol free. Also, since I'm not coming home from a run and rehydrating with beer (absurd!) and needing to plan training runs around around beer (also absurd!) I figured I'd give an Ultra a go!
There are several books about heavy drinkers turned endurance athletes (one extreme to a healthier extreme!)
While drinking I was training for a 1/2 marathon so I figured I had to raise my goal now that I'm alcohol free. Also, since I'm not coming home from a run and rehydrating with beer (absurd!) and needing to plan training runs around around beer (also absurd!) I figured I'd give an Ultra a go!
There are several books about heavy drinkers turned endurance athletes (one extreme to a healthier extreme!)
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
can't wait to hit my first 50k and 50 miler. Bucketlist is at least one 100 miler.
I had a trail ultra on the list for this summer but I did not get my momentum going enough and made the difficult decision not to show up at the starting line. It was a 50k trail race on very technical trail with lots of elevation and rock and plenty of room for injury. I had done a trial marathon earlier in the summer quite unprepared but managed a decent finish time despite two falls on relatively flat, level terrain.
I decided after that marathon that it would be foolish to put myself in danger on the really difficult trail. But, I am shooting to run it next summer. Trying to get my momentum back going into the winter months is going to be essential. With over 100 days below zero last winter and many that were 20-30 below even before wind chill... it can be tough here. This winter is looking to be another frigid one. But, I'm resovled to keep working at it. I know that running is beneficial to my sobriety, to my mood, to my emotions, my spirit and my health. I will get back in my groove.
I had a trail ultra on the list for this summer but I did not get my momentum going enough and made the difficult decision not to show up at the starting line. It was a 50k trail race on very technical trail with lots of elevation and rock and plenty of room for injury. I had done a trial marathon earlier in the summer quite unprepared but managed a decent finish time despite two falls on relatively flat, level terrain.
I decided after that marathon that it would be foolish to put myself in danger on the really difficult trail. But, I am shooting to run it next summer. Trying to get my momentum back going into the winter months is going to be essential. With over 100 days below zero last winter and many that were 20-30 below even before wind chill... it can be tough here. This winter is looking to be another frigid one. But, I'm resovled to keep working at it. I know that running is beneficial to my sobriety, to my mood, to my emotions, my spirit and my health. I will get back in my groove.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by Ultramarathoner
I decided to train for a 50k after quitting drinking. While drinking I was training for a 1/2 marathon so I figured I had to raise my goal now that I'm alcohol free. Also, since I'm not coming home from a run and rehydrating with beer (absurd!) and needing to plan training runs around around beer (also absurd!) I figured I'd give an Ultra a go! There are several books about heavy drinkers turned endurance athletes (one extreme to a healthier extreme!)
Fellow traveler
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: On the road to happy destiny
Posts: 25
Fitness is a huge part of my recovery, and my life. It changed my path in life as much as anything else I began to do, but it is not a stand alone recovery option for me. It is very much an adjunct.
It also has addictive qualities for me, that I must remain aware of.
It also has addictive qualities for me, that I must remain aware of.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: La Ronge
Posts: 16
For the past few months, I could barely workout once a week on my total gym. Sometimes I worked out only once every 8-12 days because I felt so drained. It's almost been a month since I stopped drinking and I have been closing the gap to 5-7 a week which is good and means I'm recovering faster. Included is 5 days a week of 20 minute fast paced walks. I feel better and would recommend exercise as part of the recovery process.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by bm2bob
Fitness is a huge part of my recovery, and my life. It changed my path in life as much as anything else I began to do, but it is not a stand alone recovery option for me. It is very much an adjunct. It also has addictive qualities for me, that I must remain aware of.
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 943
Hi Limabean, I totally vote for fitness to help sobriety, it's the main thing I use that helps. Two books that are worth reading are The Long Run by Mishka Shubaly and Finding Ultra by Rich Roll both are by former alcoholics who became sober and took up ultra running, very inspiring. Hope this helps Peace X
Peace X
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Midwest USA
Posts: 69
Fitness has been important in my recovery but it's only one of many things that serve to keep me sober.
I don't rely on it solely for sobriety because 1) I was somehow still a competitive runner during my binge drinking days, and 2) I think recovery is typically more complicated than replacing booze with exercise.
But...everyone is different - do what works for you!
I don't rely on it solely for sobriety because 1) I was somehow still a competitive runner during my binge drinking days, and 2) I think recovery is typically more complicated than replacing booze with exercise.
But...everyone is different - do what works for you!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by Peacehappyness
Hi Limabean, I totally vote for fitness to help sobriety, it's the main thing I use that helps. Two books that are worth reading are The Long Run by Mishka Shubaly and Finding Ultra by Rich Roll both are by former alcoholics who became sober and took up ultra running, very inspiring. Hope this helps Peace X
Peace XMember
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,177
Originally Posted by LimaBean3000
Really Ultra? Do you know the name of any of those books? I'd love to check them out! :-)
Ultra Marathon Man, Dean Karnazes. "Then again, I was drunk. And depressed. And this girl was really cute". Karnazes ran 30 miles the night of his 30th birthday after deciding against an affair.
The Athlete's Way, Christopher Bergland. "When I finally hit rock botom as a teenager", "I medicate with exercise now"
I'm not making any claim that these individuals have or had problems with drinking. And the books deal cheifly with the running aspects. Just an interesting connection (for me).
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