excersise during withdrawal
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 226
excersise during withdrawal
Hi all,
Im say 7 sober, went through a lit of anxiety, panic attacks, nausea.
Im on the way up, feel a little yuk at times. Just wondering when you introduced exercise and what it was like for you?
Im say 7 sober, went through a lit of anxiety, panic attacks, nausea.
Im on the way up, feel a little yuk at times. Just wondering when you introduced exercise and what it was like for you?
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
You posted in our Daily Support forum - you'll get more response here mrjustin.
Congrats on 7 days
Your mileage may vary but by a week I was usually ok to do most of my routine exercise things again
D
Congrats on 7 days
Your mileage may vary but by a week I was usually ok to do most of my routine exercise things again
D
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: California
Posts: 2,693
I had to wait about two weeks to exercise. My blood pressure near the end reached "stroke level" according to my doctor. 181 or 182 over something during a panic attack in her office. I had to let my nervous system calm down before working out.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
Hi mrjustin - great on 7 days
Sadly, I lived a very sedentary life during the last 3-4 years of my drinking. I actually moved to a new place ~a year before I quit drinking, as part of my self-inflicted "treatment" of a bad depressive episode, and started walking to work and back home daily - that's an hour of walking for me in total. I still do it whenever the weather is good enough.
About a month after getting sober, I started running outside (mostly outside, not much in gym, I tend to go to the gym only when I travel and I'm in a hotel). I was a long distance runner also in my youth, did cross country races etc, so it's been a pretty enjoyable activity for me to resume. Then started taking yoga classes (another old interest, but this one I never explored much until my recent sobriety this year). There is hardly a day now when I don't do at least one of these (walking, running, yoga). Again, it was ~one month into sobriety when I started.
Sadly, I lived a very sedentary life during the last 3-4 years of my drinking. I actually moved to a new place ~a year before I quit drinking, as part of my self-inflicted "treatment" of a bad depressive episode, and started walking to work and back home daily - that's an hour of walking for me in total. I still do it whenever the weather is good enough.
About a month after getting sober, I started running outside (mostly outside, not much in gym, I tend to go to the gym only when I travel and I'm in a hotel). I was a long distance runner also in my youth, did cross country races etc, so it's been a pretty enjoyable activity for me to resume. Then started taking yoga classes (another old interest, but this one I never explored much until my recent sobriety this year). There is hardly a day now when I don't do at least one of these (walking, running, yoga). Again, it was ~one month into sobriety when I started.
totfit
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ft Collins, CO
Posts: 1,273
Now is a good time to start. Do what you can depending on your current health and level of fitness. You don't have to "hurry up" to get super fit or reach any certain level. You have the rest of your life to carry out an healthy lifestyle. Exercise for me is the key to both physical..........AND mental health and likely the primary factor in my continuing sobriety.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 174
I started at about 5 days after withdrawls were gone and i was off the medication. Exercise is an excellent way of speeding up recovering. It will increase blood flow to all vital organs speeding up toxin removal. As an added benefit it will give increased energy and uplifted mood. Just begin easy and build on it. Great job!
Sober
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 80
I'm on day 6. My exercise consists of going for a walk a lot. I love the cold and being outside. It really helps with the withdrawal. My withdrawal is almost completely mental and the walks really help me feel better both physically and mentally.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Montreal
Posts: 135
It's always a good time to start....
I never stopped exercising, feeling withdrawal symptoms or not, I was at the gym doing my thing, sweating this poison out...
I notice a major rise in physical condition around the 3rd week of sobriety, crazy energy and stamina at the gym!!
Enjoy!
I never stopped exercising, feeling withdrawal symptoms or not, I was at the gym doing my thing, sweating this poison out...
I notice a major rise in physical condition around the 3rd week of sobriety, crazy energy and stamina at the gym!!
Enjoy!
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,510
I started walking on Day 1 and haven't stopped yet.
Long walks in the early days did so much for my emotional state. They helped me to reconnect with nature, to pay attention to my body, and to just be quiet and think.
Long walks in the early days did so much for my emotional state. They helped me to reconnect with nature, to pay attention to my body, and to just be quiet and think.
Living Sober
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 555
Hey mrjustin-
I was actually active before I stopped, and I continued through the withdrawals. At the time I was doing some hard hill cycling.
However, during the first week or so it was pretty strange (and looking back, dumb of me). I was very unsteady on the rides and not really able to focus. I also had some very minor hallucinations. Specifically, I would see, out of the corner of my eye, what appeared to be something about to cross in front of me, such as a person or an animal. They were exactly like when I worked a graveyard shift, where I drove at night while very tired. We use to call them "graveyard ghosts." These were the illusions that sort of appeared as we were in a tired daze.
So, for me I'd say after a full week I would have been fine. Looking back I should have waited, but I thought the cardio would help me sleep better.
Lusher
Just wondering when you introduced exercise and what it was like for you?
However, during the first week or so it was pretty strange (and looking back, dumb of me). I was very unsteady on the rides and not really able to focus. I also had some very minor hallucinations. Specifically, I would see, out of the corner of my eye, what appeared to be something about to cross in front of me, such as a person or an animal. They were exactly like when I worked a graveyard shift, where I drove at night while very tired. We use to call them "graveyard ghosts." These were the illusions that sort of appeared as we were in a tired daze.
So, for me I'd say after a full week I would have been fine. Looking back I should have waited, but I thought the cardio would help me sleep better.
Lusher
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
Congrats on the first of many sober weeks! I do a lot of walking, both with my dogs and without. It's low stress exercise and does a world of good. Not only does it improve your physical health, it helps improve your attitude too.
I do a lot of walking, both with my dogs and without. It's low stress exercise and does a world of good. Not only does it improve your physical health, it helps improve your attitude too. Guest
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Montana
Posts: 151
I'm trying to get back in shape too. I ran for 20 minutes then did 3 sets on the bench and almost passed out. I'll go easier next time but I felt like I needed to prove to myself that my body was stronger than I thought. I do not recommend this.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Boston, Mass
Posts: 1,004
A couple of days for me. After the initial horrific hangover I start with some light cardio, I have a stationary bike at home that I use. One of my big problems during the first week or so of not drinking is not being able to sleep. Wearing myself out a little bit physically helps with that.
Pushups and some light dumbbell work 2X a week, stationary bike 5X a week. Would like to get back in to jogging and doing some heavy lifting days, but I've not only gained weight over the last couple of years but my muscles have atrophied. Probably be a couple of months before I'm ready to really hit it hard.
Pushups and some light dumbbell work 2X a week, stationary bike 5X a week. Would like to get back in to jogging and doing some heavy lifting days, but I've not only gained weight over the last couple of years but my muscles have atrophied. Probably be a couple of months before I'm ready to really hit it hard.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Washington, MO
Posts: 2,306
My only worry would be the loss of electrolytes in the first coupla days. For me there was sweating aplenty at first. One could possibly deplete faster than they could replenish. It has taken me 4 months to get up to 3/4 mile at full incline on my treadmill every other day but exercising willingly is a relatively new concept to me. I always feel better afterwards. From what I've read here serious exercise has helped many in their recovery.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Washington, MO
Posts: 2,306
Hijack and double post! Yesterday I pushed through and did a mile in 18:13 on full incline! I'm more stoked about this than coming up on 6 months. It's not a lot but it is measurable progress in a time-frame I can see (I tend to like things NOW). I wish I had started sooner.
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