I’m in the early stages of recovery from alcohol and benzo abuse and have been treated for depression for over ten years. I’ve been in and out of the gym since high school, class of '79.
We’ve all heard how training can be a great adjunct to treatment but the question is: How to I maximize these benefits? More or less cardio v. resistence training, etc. How about diet? My favorite vegtable is macaroni and cheese.
Right now I’m going through withdrawl and post acute withdrawl purgatory to cleanse my body and soul of all my sins of excess but I plan to hit the gym as soon as I feel well enough.
Unless you have a hangover from last night, why wait? Get your ass to the gym today and you will feel better more quickly. Get the blood moving with exercise, drink a LOT of water and stop worrying about how you feel and all the “good” times you will miss without your oral “friends”. In other words, get off your ass. Procrastination is not your friend. It is a kin to the attitude that one little night out won’t hurt my recovery. Move those legs Class of '79!
I too am a recovering alchohaulic/addict. I find regularly making porgress in goals that I enjoy to be the major source of satisfaction which is the most helpful aspect of exercise. To be sure, one also can feel cleaner and healthier after an exhausting work-out, and there may be something to the “high” some atheletes feel usually from doing very painfull exercise (cardio or high-rep lifting). On the other hand, when I first quit, it gave me something, admittedly small, to live for, from one workout to the next to have a clear goal in reps or weight that I wanted to attain. The only recommendation about types of exercises, are do not choose any which you may soon be prevented from doing because of old injuries–that would be hugely frustrating at a time when frustration can be the excuse for a disaster, and otherwise, do whatever you find that you enjoy. I suspect you would do better to focus on fitness and exercise goals (improvemnents in cardio speed, strength, or muscular endurance) rather than the corresponding physique changes which would be much harder to honestly determine, and which can lead more easily into extreme diets, which in turn may lead to stimulants and eventually other drugs. (I have not “relapsed”,but I have gotten very carried away with ephedra use since getting sober…)
well if you pik up a book callec clear body, clear mind…yeah its a William L Hubbard book ( i think that is his name) scientoligists…but it has a good cardio/sauna routine that is geared towards a pretty mean Detox. Having know someone who went through this procedure more something considered a worse problem ( to me all drugs are equal) and he is fine and working out again feeling good.
The research about exercise and depression that I’m familiar with is all about cardio-type exercise. Exercise is a powerful mood elevator, extremely useful in treating depression. I’ve talked with a clinical therapist who also teaches classes at my university. She says that 75% or more of her patients with depression are “cured” with a prescription of exercise.
Also, 75% of patients treated for depression smoke. So, if you smoke, add cigarettes to the list of things you’re quitting.
I would say, start exercising in whatever way is most appealing to you. Experiment with different kinds to see which makes you feel the best.
Your veggie-free diet is also a huge opportunity. I guarantee that you will not BELIEVE how much better you’ll feel if you eat right. Start by reading the 7 Habits article on T-mag and following those principles.
If you want to improve your mood and cut back the depression, try getting out in the sun and getting about 10-15 minutes of UV exposure. I was absolutely amazed at the almost immediate positive mood and metabolic changes I achieved by tanning at a friend’s salon. It all has to do with vitamin D. Getting out in the sun is obviously a lot cheaper. If you can eliminate the depression, you might very well increase your chances of recovery.
Don’t expect to find out about this simple and free treatment from the medical establishment. Just don’t get sun burnt. In moderation, UV is your friend.
Check out Harvey Diamond’s books for info on doing short or long-term fasts. They are great and i can vouch for them, as can my mother. You cannot believe how good you feel after a day or 2 of eating nothing but fruit and veggies.
Matter of fact, i will be glad to give you the basics, its not complicated. That’s If you are interested in this kind of fast.
Thank You, T-People.
All excellent advice. I was a little concerned that if I posted about my recovery I’d get some muscle head tell me I’m weak willed and have morality issues. It amazes me how many still view addiction that way. Addiction is not prejudice. It can strike any demographic from millionaire corporate hotshots to street people and everything in between.
When I was using I was functional and was in the gym 7-9 times a week doing cardio only and lost about 40lbs in about 7 weeks. 50-50 muscle and fat.
Next time around I’ll do more resistance training. I spent $250 on Mag10 last night and will start using that after I’ve been lifting for about 4 months without it.
All I gotta add is to simply stress that you should do the exercises that make you feel the best, lifting does that for me, it releases the beta-endorphins so fast that no matter how crappy the last many months had been, when I finally got back into the gym it all went away. I can only hope it will be that fast for you. Also make a solid plan for yourself, write down in advance what your goals are, and make a food schedule so you aren’t suddenly wondering what to eat and McDonalds is right around the corner and easy to get.
I also like to incorporate a cheat day into my diets so that the cravings for ice cream and donuts doesn’t get too bad, it keeps me balanced and gives me an extra motivation to work hard at the gym.
Bro take it from someone else who has come through adiction. Mag10 is more drugs no it is not illegal(yet), it is still something to stay away from for quiet a while. If you still have anythoughts about any type of drugs or just thoughts of getting messed up in general do yourself a favor and put the Mag10 in the freezer for a few years or atleast a few months atleast.
Also if you do not have a sound diet and a concrete program you will be throwing away most of the $250 you just spent. Mag10 and anyother prohormone/steriods should be used to further your already awsome muscle bound body and not used like a highschool football player looking for the easy street to varsity.
Trust me you cannot use one drug to ween yourself off another, it just doesn’t workout that great.
DA
I just want to second Darkangel’s advice: it will be a waste of the MAG 10 if the you have not already built a solid base and gotten into regular exercise habits. Secondly, the mag-10 may give you unusually good results when you are just starting out, but you would get good results anyway as you are just getting into things, and when you stop taking the mag10, then you will then just be at a far greater risk of stagnation than usual. Finally, while mag 20 has little mood altering effect, I know in my experience, I would have taken anything, just to feel like i was “on” something, when I quit using, and the mag10 may well become a substitute. Most of us just stick with coffee, when just getting sober, and perhaps it would be better to do without the coffee, but it is so routine and everyday, it seems to lead to little slippage into other drugs.