Motus Est Vita. Weekenders Thread November 16-19
 

Hi, weekenders!

It’s me again)

Wait, MB. What? Why, in the world, you are writing in Latin now?

This weekend I would like to offer a natural progression to getting unstuck – MOVE!

But move where? How? In what direction?

Relax.

We are not overcomplicating anything. It’s a weekend, after all.

It’s time for sober high-quality fun.

Move your body!

From my previous posts many of you may know that I am a huge fan of exercising. I am at a stage where it is not “punishment” any more for which I deserve a reward later. It’s reward in itself.

But forget intense goal-oriented workouts for now. Just for this weekend.

Reframe your perception of exercising.

Don’t stress over it because it’s supposed to be an inhumane ordeal to hit your desired weight.

Let go of outcomes and expectations which inevitably poison all the fun.

Your mission for this weekend – have fun when moving your body.

Let’s define exercising as any activity which makes your heart beat faster. Which injects you with a handful of endorphins and take you out of funk and overthinking.

What is more – treat it as an extremely powerful tool in your sobriety kit.

Struggling with insane urges and cravings? Blast upbeat music and go crazy. If you are at work, put on headphones and imagine yourself dancing like no one is watching (no one does, actually, they are glued to smartphones).

Dance through those 10 minutes when cravings seem to be impossible to resist. Let music and movement take you through those cravings waves.

Depressed? Go for a walk. Don’t fight your emotions. Just go. Move. Move. Move. Away from overthinking. Away from Addictive Voice.

In doubt? Move. It will pump oxygen to your brain and clear your head.

Choose any kind of exercising which is fine with your health and overall condition. Be creative.

Walk 3 steps up your stairs. Imagine you are Rocky and you are on the top of your destination. For today. One step at a time.

Play with your dog.

Make sprint runs in a backyard.

Anything.

You will feel better. Momentarily.

Our bodies are designed to move. Movement is natural state. The body craves movement every day. Indulge in it.

The Latin proverb prover which opens this post - “Motus est vita” – means “Movement is life”. So true!

Invigorate your life with movement. This simple tool is always with you.

I don’t remember a single time when I said after exercising “I regret it”.

The opposite is always true “I am so glad I made it to the gym!”

If right at the moment nothing particular comes to your mind, here are few challenges from a great book by a neuroscientist Jane McGonigal “Superbetter” (Great read. Highly recommend):



When we move we send our brain a message: “Hey, I am still alive, and kicking, and fighting. Let’s wake up and move out of despair and darkness towards the light and hope”.

Turn on that switch. Turn on the light. Move.

Here’s one of my go-to songs to make me move doesn’t matter what.



Do you have 10 seconds? Good! Hit the Play button and move.

Your recovery will say Thank you!

What is your favorite exercising activity?

Have a great weekend!

:Squat::dance8::Dance7::vd

Shotgun....this is going to be a fun weekend. My favourite exercise activity is Running. Thank you MB x

I'm in!

Awesome! MB, thank you for opening again!! I am SO IN for the weekend. Now to go back and read/digest the opener!

“The body craves movement every day. Indulge in it.”
I like how you said that.

I’ve seen Jane McGonigal on youtube Ted Talks. Didnt know she wrote a book.

I have no doubt I have more sitting and thinking to do about movement/exercise and my recovery. Coffee first. I will report back!

Mish - Congrats on Shotgun! And have fun with running!

Andy, Bix - Great to see you)

Im in day 23 for me. I like running and indoor cycling classes.

I am IN! Thank you MB great post :You_Rock_

I think just reading your opening post has tired me out for the weekend MB :D

Congrats on Day 23, HAS! Keep it uppppppp!!!!

Indoor cycling is great. I love it.

How's so, Andy? :c041:

Movement has gone hand in hand with my abstinence. I made a pledge to myself that I would not only not drink but that I would do a minimum of 10,000 steps per day from August 21st onwards. Going strong on both fronts so far.
I am IN.

Now, that's discipline. Kudos to you, Downthepath!

:You_Rock_

I’m in, too.

Hey guys I have not seen Dee is he okay:)

Agree i need to move more i feel i gained weight i am eating a lot now :) but being unfit messed up with my self-esteem. I will start running daily again!

Hi, Gilmer!

HAS - I believe it's already late at Dee's part of the world. So, he is probably enjoying a good night sleep.

I'm in!

I have been lazy about the exercise lately. My favorite is to get outside and walk. I know it's not a good excuse, but work has been crazy lately and when I get home all I want to do is collapse onto the couch for the rest of the day. I really do feel better within moments when I get out and walk. Winter is setting in here, so getting out will be more difficult and uncomfortable. And it seems like it's always dark. I will think about things I can do indoors - even if it's just running up and down the stairs a few times. I do have a Wii with a balance board - I should dig it out and fire it up. I have lots of exercise "games" for it and I used to use it a lot. I'll make a point of doing that this weekend!

Hi, Marty!

I've never exercised on the board like this. Tell us how it will go!

Motivating and challenging ideas you all are expressing. Hope they motivate and challenge ME! I’m thinking.

I’m working through a relapse prevention booklet someone posted on another thread. I have done plans before, and planning is important to me. I am finding it refreshing to start at the beginning again...beginner’s mind and all that. Physical health and movement figures in this booklet, as in all reasonal planning guides. I need to get with it in a structured way that lasts. Now that my anxiety and stress are less, I have let movement drop out of my day. Not good for me, long term.

Bix - There is a good quote “It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking, than think your way into a new way of acting.”

As much as planning is crucial, I believe it's important to maintain balance of planning and acting. Otherwise there is a danger to dive into analysis paralysis which become a stress factor in itself.

My first boxing trainer told me once: "You are thinking way too much. Punch!"

Another wonderful intro MB.

I also need to get moving again with exercising.

Hello all - I'm in too :)

Upward, Soberclover - Glad you've joined the thread!

I'm in!

Congratulations on shotgun Mish!

23 days is fantastic HaS!

Uber busy at work (it always is this time of the year) Self care and exercise has been of the bare minimum variety.

Hi, Sao.

Hope you'll carve some time for self-care during the weekend.

In!

This is so important to me that I really think it is the #1 most important thing in my sobriety. Exercise.

It clears the mind. It slows me down. It gets my mind off of itself and allows my body to work the way it is intended. I often recommend in Newcomers that a five minute exercise session as soon as feet hit ground in the morning is a cure-all for morning anxiety. It helps regulate my appetite, therefore my weight is stable and healthy.

There is nothing that fills me up more than a walk in Nature. I do it daily, and it is my reliable reset button.

Also...there is an eagle sitting less than 30 feet away from me right now in the tree right outside my window.

...and...the SWFEC eagles are about to lay this year's egg(s). The eagle cam knows all.

Hi, Bimini!

We've missed you last week!

I second what you say about how morning exercising sets the tone for the day.

I will share my new morning routine a bit later.

Now...guess where I am going?

It's an easy guess. Gym. Just one workout for me today - crossfit class. I feel like I am slacking):lmao

See you.

because I'm the lazy type. I know exercise would make me feel better, but I never quite seem to be able to summon the motivation ...

I am back from the gym.

One workout seems like no workout at all) I just enjoyed it today.

Andy - IMO motivation is grossly overrated and one of the biggest scams of modern time. It's like fast high-carb food - it gives a spike of feeling good but doesn't last long. It may work as fuel if all the preparation is done and a person just needs some boost. But otherwise...

I am with Jocko here:

"Forget motivation, you need discipline. Motivation is going to let you down. Discipline will stay by your side."

I mean discipline in a good sense.

It's about creating routine which supports you even if you are tired, hungry, disappointed, desperate, whatever.

It keeps you afloat until you feel better.

Start with a tiny step. Repeat daily, Build on.

Just like sobriety, one day it will pay off. Take my word.

And a little bit of motivation:




I

I think this is very true...and most certainly applies to sobriety and everything else.

“It's about creating routine which supports you even if you are tired, hungry, disappointed, desperate, whatever. It keeps you afloat until you feel better. “

I am off to bed.

Definitely need more discipline with my sleeping routine.

Have fun weekenders)

Thanks Midnight, good night.

Some Tina Marie, unbelievably it is 7 years since she died (nothing to do with drugs or alcohol)