Being conscious of improvement
The prevailing theory is that there is a strong link between OCD and SUD. Makes sense to me, as when I stopped drinking, I started progressive overload strength training, and doing HIIT workouts, lots of walking, for almost 5 years, and it was my new “thing” lol. I think a lot of us here probably used it that way: the combination of adrenaline and endorphins making you feel better; and exercise’s effects speeding the healing of your body. Especially increasing cardio health helps most folks feel much better.
I feel so strong and healthy and happy, don’t have to lie to my doctor anymore or be scared of annual labs. Any minor boredom or whatever I have I can take, rather than give my general good health over for alcohol.
On the subject of good food choices, and how that affects the whole health picture, for me whether I drank or not I made about the same food choices but they were badly timed and my ratio of food to booze calories was quite poor. I understand that booze calories don’t “count” like food ones. When alcohol comes on the scene, other processes like digestion slow to let more energy and resources go to de-poisoning you. So food sits and insulin builds. It was a huge help for me to learn and physically appreciate the difference in my gut happiness. To visualize the real effects, any time I’m tempted to drink and consider if I do, how many days or hours before I would have to scratch and claw again to get back to where I am *right this minute*. My resting heart rate while I’m drinking daily is 64 bpm, when sober at least a week, 46. Huge difference in anxiety that makes.
Consciously considering all this strengthens my resolve a ton.
Just some deep thoughts going into what can be a tempting weekend for me and others. Happy weekend and be safe. IWNDWYT