Exercise Helps With Sobriety
Alcohol abuse is associated with a wide range of health problems, including an increased risk of anemia, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, and even cancer.
If you’ve recently given up drinking, the good news is that you’ve already decreased your risk of developing these and other health conditions. Don’t stop here, though.
There are a lot of other steps you can take to improve your health while you’re building your own happy sober life. Regular exercise is great for your health and longevity, and it can also help you to stay sober.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of regular exercise while you’re dealing with problem drinking.
General Benefits of Exercise
There are a lot of reasons to make exercise a regular part of your sober lifestyle.
Exercise can decrease your risk of developing various diseases. It can also help you to feel happier, make it easier for you to lose weight, and improve your energy levels.
Exercise is great for your cognitive abilities and brain health, too. People who exercise on a regular basis tend to sleep better and be more productive and alert throughout the day.
Benefits of Regular Exercise During Recovery
Clearly, exercise should be a priority for anyone who wants to live a long, healthy life. It is especially beneficial, though, to anyone who is trying to overcome an addiction.
Listed below are some of the greatest benefits of exercising on a regular basis while you’re recovering from addiction:
Reduced Cravings
Many people find that, when they start exercising on a regular basis while they’re going through my Quit Drinking Course, their cravings for alcohol are diminished.
There are a lot of theories about why exercise helps reduce cravings.
Some people think that it lowers the levels of proteins associated with cravings. Others credit the reduction with an increase in levels of endorphins, which have a similar effect on the brain as drinking alcohol or consuming drugs (without the dangerous side effects).
Improved Mood
Speaking of endorphins, they’re also responsible for helping to improve your mood.
Many people struggle with issues like anxiety and depression when they stop consuming alcohol on a regular basis.
The endorphins your body gets from exercising on a regular basis can help you to feel happier and less anxious. This, in turn, can increase your chances of staying sober.
Social Support
When you stop drinking, it can be hard to find friends who also do not drink. There’s a good chance you’ll find these friends in an exercise class, though. Health-minded people tend to stay away from alcohol, or they at least don’t make it the center of every activity.
Increased Self-Confidence
Exercise is empowering.
When you achieve something, whether it’s decreasing the amount of time it takes to complete a workout or mastering a new skill, you will feel accomplished and proud of yourself.
Quitting drinking can be a very vulnerable time. Anything you can do to help yourself feel more empowered and confident is great for your sobriety.
Reduce Stress
Many people find that they’re most likely to give in to alcohol cravings during periods of high stress.
Exercise is a natural stress reliever (thanks, again, to those endorphins) and it can help you cope with your stress in a more positive, productive way.
Improve Sleep
Sleep is essential when you’re in recovery.
Not only does getting sufficient sleep help increase your willpower, but it also reduces your cravings and makes it easier for you to manage stress and avoid triggers.
People who exercise on a regular basis tend to sleep better, especially when they exercise in the morning.
Reduced Boredom
Stress can often trigger cravings, but so can boredom.
When you make exercise a regular part of your life, you’re less likely to struggle with boredom. You’ll have somewhere to go where you can get your energy out and spend time with like-minded people.
Increased Discipline
If you have the discipline to get up for a 5 a.m. workout class, you have the discipline to avoid drinking alcohol.
Sticking to an exercise routine helps you develop discipline, which will carry over into other areas of your life and help you become a more structured, reliable person.
Detox Assistance
Finally, exercise can help you get through the detox phase. Breaking a sweat will help you get the alcohol out of your body and minimize your cravings. It won’t take them away completely, but it can be a huge help, especially in the beginning when you’ve first given up alcohol.
How to Stick to an Exercise Routine
Okay, you can see that regular exercise can be beneficial when you’re trying to stop drinking. How do you stick to a consistent exercise routine, though?
Many people have a hard time establishing an exercise routine, but these tips can help to simplify the process:
- Write down why you want to start exercising, then display your “why” somewhere where you’ll regularly see it
- Start slowly with just one or two low-impact workouts per week
- Try different types of workouts to find one that works for you
- Find a friend to come to the gym or a workout class with you
- Write your workouts down on your calendar and treat them like other appointments
- Pair working out with something else, like a coffee from your favorite coffee shop, to increase your chances of following through
Be sure to keep track of your progress in a journal, too. This makes it easier for you to stay motivated.
Need More Help with Problem Drinking?
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits of regular exercise that you ought to consider now that you’re in recovery.
Keep this information in mind so you can establish and stick to an exercise routine.
Do you need more help with your recovery? Are you having a hard time staying motivated?
If you’re having a hard time staying sober, or if you could just use a little extra support, be sure to check out our free webinar online today.
It will teach you everything you need to know about giving up drinking and taking back control of your life and your health.
