r/stopdrinkingfitness

Its hot--dangerously hot. Ive been under an enormous amount of stress at work, in other business, and with a sick cat that I ended up having to take to the ER twice this week. I started a new medication for Hashimotos two months ago and my levels are starting to normalize, yet I take several naps a week and feel more tired than before.

I like to get four days in at least, but lately, I've been getting like two or three or doing the bare minimum for me (like interval runs instead of long endurance runs.) I feel guilty and unworthy and heavy when I miss workouts.

Can somebody tell me A) if they get this way sometimes B) how long it lasts and C) am I going to lose fitness?

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

I started walking 10k (I was averaging 3-5k ) in February. In May I added in weight training twice a week, and stopped drinking in the beginning of June. One month sober…. And I am finally seeing the scale move. It was really just the last week or so. I am down 3 lbs! I wanted to share!!!!

I was so certain that stopping drinking would show me immediate weight loss. I was having 3 ish drinks a night. But the scale didn’t move. I think my body was getting used to the weight training.

Anyways! I am so happy that I’ve made these changes. I already feel more comfortable moving, like my waist is tightening, and my mental health is so much better. Also, because of removing alcohol, my energy is better, my evenings are more productive, and my sleep is so good. And I am not hot nearly as much! Even though it is a million degrees outside!

All wins! I cannot wait for next month!

Forgive the gross subject, but I am amazed how "normal" my #2's are now. Between sobriety and working out, it is so satisfying. Is it okay to post this?

Hello everyone! I am just starting my journey with both sobriety and getting fit again. After almost 3 decades of drinking, and Im just fed up with breaking my body. Ive drank myself into bad shape in my 40s now. So I'm just needing a little cheerleading and any advice on starting would be awesome! TIA and good luck on all your journeys!

11 months today.

The strange part isn’t the number — it’s that I almost missed it. A year ago I could’ve told you the exact day count, down to the hours till the next one. This morning I had to do the math twice.

Here’s what helped me come this far - Running! I started running to quit drinking & smoking. And I have completed 3 half marathons on the last 1 year. Life is so much better.

Not a transformation story. Just quieter. I’ll take quieter.

I know it will pass but that shaky feeling you get after a good strength training workout is so reminiscent of withdrawal shakes that it’s triggering. I know I have to work through it but it’s a bit of a bummer. I’m super early in sobriety (again) so I’m particularly sensitive. I know it will pass and will be so worth it.

I lost weight over the past few months with the help of a glp1, but while it helped reduce my cravings to drink at first, I did start again. So embarrassed.

Anyway, I stopped the drinking a few days ago and am hoping to regain lost strength and muscle. Just fighting the post workout muscle weakness.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I will leave these two here...

https://preview.redd.it/tchu7nagmk9h1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=29c30a38c0f1948c3ebb73d310a4712f15db642d

I’m curious to know how long it took to change it and what others’ experiences were after they quit. When I have quit in the past, I usually double down on snacking and cheese/meat based foods. I’ve eaten really healthy before so I know I could do that but since drinking more, I’m losing hope.