The Importance of Exercise In Sobriety

Let’s face it, drinking alcohol isn’t doing you any favors. It’s shortening your life expectancy, causing stress on your vital organs, and let’s not forget about the uncomfortable hangovers. There are a number of factors alcohol plays on your body that cause long-term health problems. These range from dependency, to cancer, to damage to your major organs like your heart and liver just to name a few! 

Getting healthy is one of the biggest “why”s I see in wanting to get sober. 

Going sober is going to drastically change how you’re physically (and mentally) feeling on a daily basis. Finding a new exercise you enjoy doing is especially important now that you’ve given up the bottle to help take your mind off of it and to help you from relapsing, too.

Don’t worry about doing the ‘right’ workout. You can start as simple as walking the block, some basic yoga or pilates, or up it to your comfortability level. Remember this isn’t a competition. Exercising is supposed to make YOU feel good!

Here’s why I think you should continue to up your fitness game during your sobriety journey: 

1. It’s a great way to work through your emotions. Running, dancing, yoga, it doesn’t matter. Release that tension and anger through your sweat. GET IT OUT.
2. Find yourself enjoying some natural workout chemicals. These natural chemicals in your brain that are released can improve your overall well being.
3. It’s important to fill your newfound time with a positive alternative. Instead of sitting around stewing and wishing you could drink, finding an exercise you enjoy will help fill that boredom and keep you on track with a new routine.
4. Exercising helps you sleep. I can tell you this isn’t always an easy task if you’re used to drinking nightly till you crash out. Tire yourself out in a good way.
5. Confidence. Finishing one workout might leave you exhausted, but it will also leave you with a sense of accomplishment. As you start this new routine of working out, you’ll start to feel pride in yourself for all the times you kept going, and then you’ll start to see results physically!