ALCOHOLICS: RECOVERY & FITNESS (Serious Only Please)

[Slider59]

I saw this forum and thought I might sort of fit in here without judgement. My counselor tells me I am what is referred to as a social alcoholic. I seldom ever drank at home. Oh, a cold one after mowing the yard. A rich ale during the holidays, that was it. But sit me down in a bar with the crew and watch me go.
I won't say I don't still have a drink. I will say I never get drunk anymore. I will say I won't touch the stuff and drive, because that is what ruined my life. I lost my house and my job and went to jail. The morning my wife was to come bail me out she suffered a series of five strokes. She lay on our living room floor for two days before friends found her.
Now, one would think that would dry me up. It did for few weeks. Then I went right back to the bar with a vengeance. Then one day I just snapped out of it. When the legal system gave me another chance I took it. Then I had my second heart attack. We moved out of state to be closer to family. I had gotten out shape and ballooned up to 230 pounds. My formerly hard body was gone and if I didn't do something about it I was going to die.
I can't die. My wife needs me. My elderly mother needs me. My adult children were hoping I would change. So I have removed myself from the source of my temptation. From the bar stool back to the barbell. I gotta tell ya, endorphins beats booze any day.
I would like to get into competition shape. Whether I ever step on stage or not I want great health and a strong ripped body. I don't feel like I am struggling with my demon anymore but I am sure it is there in the dark waiting for me to trip.

Welcome back.
I'm going to suggest AA because that's what works the best for the most.

[JRT6]

I forgot to take my meds for a couple or so days and this morning I was in a bad way. Bad. If it hadn't occured to me out of the blue what the problem was crap would have gotten ugly. Otherwise I'm actually doing good. Got a ways to go but I'm getting there.

[DubfromGA]

. So I have removed myself from the source of my temptation. From the bar stool back to the barbell. I gotta tell ya, endorphins beats booze any day.
I would like to get into competition shape. Whether I ever step on stage or not I want great health and a strong ripped body. I don't feel like I am struggling with my demon anymore but I am sure it is there in the dark waiting for me to trip.

Powerful statement!!!

[GreenWave1]

Congrats bro, It's good that you feel the joy of living again.
I hope I'll feel it again one day ( 7 months sober now ).

Thanks man. Congrats on 7 months. It definitely takes time to get the joy back. But you will.

[GreenWave1]

I forgot to take my meds for a couple or so days and this morning I was in a bad way. Bad. If it hadn't occured to me out of the blue what the problem was crap would have gotten ugly. Otherwise I'm actually doing good. Got a ways to go but I'm getting there.

Glad you found the positive path. You CANNOT forget to take your meds. You just can't. Figure out a way to remind yourself. There are a lot of things that keep you on your path. Taking care of your health is a one of them.

[alkemyst]

I will agree on those that say if you are obsessive, you definitely need to replace the bad habit with a good one and let your obsessiveness take over. It takes re-training your mind, but this really works.

[muttytwist]

JRT, remember those meds bro, glad it didn't get to bad for you. Blacksmith and greenwave, congrats on staying sober.

[criminal4889]

Well I am sick and tired of being sick and tired

I don't know what the hell goes on in my mind that makes it seem like getting sht faced is an okay thing to do

Anxiety, depression, through the freaking roof

Well day two

[Slider59]

Well I am sick and tired of being sick and tired

I don't know what the hell goes on in my mind that makes it seem like getting sht faced is an okay thing to do

Anxiety, depression, through the freaking roof

Well day two

Good for you.
Go to AA, get a sponsor and read the Big Book.
It gets a lot easier and a hell of a lot better.
One day at a time.

[JRT6]

Well I am sick and tired of being sick and tired

I don't know what the hell goes on in my mind that makes it seem like getting sht faced is an okay thing to do

Anxiety, depression, through the freaking roof

Well day two

Got to deal w/ your underlying issues. Otherwise you're really setting yourself up for failure.

[criminal4889]

Good for you.
Go to AA, get a sponsor and read the Big Book.
It gets a lot easier and a hell of a lot better.
One day at a time.

I went my first since I started drinking again a few months ago last night

Felt good

[criminal4889]

Got to deal w/ your underlying issues. Otherwise you're really setting yourself up for failure.

Can you explain this?
My underlying issues are all sort of intertwined with alcohol/get worse from alcohol/cause me to want more alcohol

[thor93]

Still havent had an alcohol drink since june 30th. The only time i feel like having 2 or 3 drinks is right after getting off work. I work 4pm till 10 or 10:30pm 5 or 6 days per week. I've been just eating frozen yogurt or other late night munchies in place of drink(thats the only time i WAS drinking anyway). I go on the computer or just watch tv,i'm good,i brush my teeth and go to sleep,thats that. I never crave drinking during the day hours,like i said,only right after work,but i brush aside the craving these days.

I never tell myself i will never ever drink again forevermore,i think that just seems too scarey for too many people,they need to ease into it,like many say,one day at a time.I just tell myself(the inner alki within),when it tries to overwhelm me with temptation,"Some other time in the future", "Not tonight", and i do that night after night,i've done this in the past to enable months of sobriety with relative ease. My girlfriend has gone to AA meetings plenty of times to virtually zero avail,its ultimately a personal inner battle within ones mind, body, and soul imo. She isnt into working out,loves drinking soda,and beer of course,and has alot of painfull memories from her past. I have my share of painfull memories and obviously regrets,but what does drinking ultimately do but add on to the level of painfull regrets,anxiety and depression.

And ultimately,Life is a battle for many,no matter how many inner demons they overcome. If its not one thing,its another.
Listening to the music i enjoy provides a great source of escape from reality. My job is poison to the soul and spawns inner demons from within,but it is part of the hellish tests of this life for me to trudge through and perservere and overcome. When its daytime and i'm home with the music i enjoy,thats my escape,my natural buzz.

[BackwoodsGa]

Back again.hope everyone is staying clean and sober.

[thepowerwithin]

Can you explain this?
My underlying issues are all sort of intertwined with alcohol/get worse from alcohol/cause me to want more alcohol

At one time, even if you removed the drink, I was still left with huge emotional problems. Inevitably, if I didn't come to terms with those issues, I would drink again. For me, it was important to not only sober up, but deal with those issues that were destroying me along with the alcohol and drugs. Therapy works wonders. I see many people who put down the drink, but never address the other stuff, leaving them seemingly to be unhappy sober people. No, thanks.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

x2 the above.

We pretty much quit growing emotionally when we start medicating ourselves with booze, drugs, sex, whatever. Thus, when we sober up, we are ill equipped to deal with the intense emotions. We fear failing. But I swear we fear succeeding even more. We have nearly no experience making healthy choices or having healthy relationships and will often choose the familiar rather than take the risk and try something new.

That is part of why people get a sponsor and a home group, so we can hear about other people walking through their fears and succeeding. And help each other out when we fail.

Therapy of various sorts is also valuable when used correctly.

[BringerOfRain]

Hi Guys. I am new to this site and was just linked to this thread. My clean date is 11/5/11. I am and alcoholic and addict. When I first got clean I gained a bunch of weight and it was getting even more depressing. I started working out in late February and have lost 46 lbs to date. I am on my 9th step and made my first ammends today. I am so glad I was linked to this thread!

[Anthonybc78]

Yeah, I just found this too. I've pretty much "cut back" this year, and have been having severe panic attacks 2-3 days after drinking lately, and I mean I really think I am dying and it lasts for days. Excersice has helped tremendously though and has helped me to drink less, but not sure when if ever I will be able to quit completely. I did AA and such last year but pretty much stopped going. I make it to about 10 days before I start having withdraws, anxiety, depression, lethargic, emotional, headaches, etc...

I was suprised to find this thread in these forums.

[BringerOfRain]

Maybe you should look into a detox facility. Only you can tell if you have a problem though.

[Anthonybc78]

Yeah its hard to say... the panic and anxiety has subsided some (on meds now), and I dont drink every night anymore. On average once a week, and rarely once ever 2. I would feel good i I could do once every 2 weeks consistently. I wouldn't feel guilty for drinking all those empty calories. I also tend to eat more the next day after drinking too

[JRT6]

Next up on list of addictions to break: diet coke. To a lesser extent caffiene also. I still like the stims for hard work days and workouts but taking them every day plays havoc with my anxiety.

[BackwoodsGa]

Hope everyone is staying clean and sober.Remember like life,its all in your head.

[toxicrev]

I am trying to quit drinking after being depressed for about 6 years. Going to gym now. I don't know if after 35 it's possible to build muscle, take away belly and chest fat. However, after every workout I still buy a large beer.

[Slider59]

At one time, even if you removed the drink, I was still left with huge emotional problems. Inevitably, if I didn't come to terms with those issues, I would drink again. For me, it was important to not only sober up, but deal with those issues that were destroying me along with the alcohol and drugs. Therapy works wonders. I see many people who put down the drink, but never address the other stuff, leaving them seemingly to be unhappy sober people. No, thanks.

Great new pics.
Power of sobriety.
And hard work.

[BringerOfRain]

I am trying to quit drinking after being depressed for about 6 years. Going to gym now. I don't know if after 35 it's possible to build muscle, take away belly and chest fat. However, after every workout I still buy a large beer.

Of course you can. Get to a meeting and take direction.

[BeStill]

^^^ Something tells me you're smoking some right now ^^^


So basically what you are suggesting is Marijuana Maintenence.

Giving up one substance for another.
In the medical aspects of addiction that is called Cross Addiction.
As in crossing from one to another.
You can call it an herb rather than a drug if that helps you justify your actions.
And it does help some who need it for certain medical conditions.
But dont come in here like you've just made the greatest discovery on earth.
Many of us have tried and failed.
Switching from scotch to brandy.
From crack to speed.
And Marijuana Maintenece.
Thae problem is that it puts our guard down and if someone were to offer me a drink while I was high.
It would be easier for me to start drinking again.

The only thing that has truly worked for me and countless others is complete abstinence.

Well said and enough said.

[BringerOfRain]

The problem with marijuana maintenance is you aren't learning coping skills and you are still trying to get out of yourself.

[BringerOfRain]

11 months today

Happy 1 year bro!

[dogetta]

Good to be sober today! afternoon everyone

[Djent22]

great for you.. but the question: Is making muscles at mid 30's possible? HELL YEAH.. check out the hodge twins.. they are 38 and are ripped and 100% natural.