How Exercise Supports Long-Term Sobriety: Building a Healthier You

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Are you serious about long-term sobriety?

If so, you need to start exercising.

You’re probably thinking… exercise? Isn’t that for jocks and fitness models?

Au contraire mon ami. Exercise literally is the best thing you can do for your body– and it’s free!

Actually, when you workout you build more than muscle…

You build a better foundation for recovery.

The struggle is real when it comes to staying sober long term.

Addiction is hard to beat with success rates hovering around 40-60% during early recovery.

But what if there was a way to increase your odds?

Well, there is…

And it’s called exercise.

Let’s dig into why movement is your new addiction…

What you’re going to learn:

• Why You Should Exercise For Recovery
• Science Explains Why Exercise Helps with Sobriety
• Best Exercise For Recovery
• Get Started With Exercise Today

Why You Should Exercise For Recovery

If you ask anyone who works in the addiction recovery field, they’ll tell you…

Recovery affects your whole life.

When you enter alcohol rehab, you aren’t simply dishing out medicine and releasing you on your merry way.

Typically, people recover with a combination of treatments. From therapy to spiritual guidance services and even medical care.

But one thing they all lack is physical fitness plans…

And they should absolutely include them.

Working out helps your mind, body, and spirit. It fills the void that was left by drugs or alcohol. Even better, it gives you something positive to focus on when things get tough.

Here’s the deal…

Addiction affects every aspect of your life. If you want to beat it, you need to fill your life with something just as rewarding.

Get your mind right with exercise.

Science Explains Why Exercise Helps with Sobriety

Allow me to explain how exercising gives you that feeling of happiness.

When you workout, your body releases chemicals called endorphins.

These endorphins are what naturally stimulate happiness in your body. Recovering addicts used to feel that euphoric high from drugs or alcohol.

Now they can get it naturally through exercise.

One study even showed…

A review of 43 studies concluded that moderate exercise—working out roughly 1 hour, 3 times per week for 3 months—led to higher rates of continuous sobriety. (Yes, you read that right.)

You don’t need to spend hours in the gym each day to see results. Just get after it and stay consistent.

Exercise can even help you with withdrawals too!

You probably know withdrawals all too well. From cravings, to anxiety and depression. They all come hand in hand with early recovery.

But working out helps relieve all of those symptoms.

That’s pretty damn awesome.

But wait…

Did you know that working out also improves your sleep quality?

Sleep is HUGE for recovery. Not getting enough shuts down your decision-making process and causes you to relapse.

Working out gets you sleeping like a baby again.

Another way exercise helps with sobriety:

Less chance of relapsing. Period.

Did you know that around 29.3 million American adults have overcome a serious substance use disorder at some point in their life?

That’s awesome and everything exercise played a part in their success.

Here’s how workouts reduce that risk:

• It occupies your time. Recovery is boring at times. Workouts will keep you busy and give you something to look forward to.
• It relieves stress. No more pounding headaches when you go for a run. Exercise sends your cortisol (stress hormone) levels WAY down.
• It boosts self-esteem. FINISHING a workout gives you a sense of accomplishment. The more you do this, the better you’ll start to feel about yourself.
• It provides healthy connections. Ever join a running group or take a fitness class? Working out introduces you to new friends who can help keep you sober.

The most important part about working out is to be consistent. Doing it once won’t change your life.

But making it a habit WILL.

Best Exercise For Recovery

Still not sure what type of exercise you should do?

Don’t worry. There is no wrong answer here.

Simply pick something you enjoy and go from there. You can always mix things up later down the road.

Here are a few great options…

Walking. What gym routine does this require? NONE. Just get outside and walk. Even if it’s 20-30 minutes a day, you’ll still see benefits.

Swimming. Fantastic for people with bad joints or limited mobility. The water will support you while giving you a full body workout.

Yoga. Yoga is special because it focuses on mindfulness while moving your body. Many people in recovery do yoga because of its mental benefits.

Weight lifting. This one is great because you can literally watch yourself get stronger with each session.

Remember

Start small and work your way up. You have no idea how easy it is to go from 0-100 with workouts.

Your body will thank you in the long run.

Ready to get started?

Cool. Here is a simple starter guide to get your body moving.

Weeks 1-2: Walk for 15-20 minutes 3x week. Really let your body warm up to the idea of exercise.

Weeks 3-4: Increase to 30 minute walks. If you can, add an extra day of exercise.

Week 5 and beyond: Start introducing new workouts! Take a yoga class. Lift some weights. The choice is yours.

Once you build that foundation, you’ll be addicted to feeling healthier than ever.

But let’s focus on logging your workouts.

Writing down your workouts will 100% hold you accountable.

Note how you feel before working out and how you feel after. You’ll be amazed at the progress you’ll make over time.

Kicking Common Workout Obstacles

Look, starting a workout routine is not always easy.

Between recovery life and life in general things can get BUSY.

Here are some tips to help you stay on track:

Start small. Go for 10 minutes. You CAN find 10 minutes in your day. Once you start moving, you’ll want to keep moving.

Find a workout buddy. Ask someone else in recovery to be your workout partner. You can keep each other accountable on the days you just don’t feel like it.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Miss a workout? Don’t sweat it. Just pick up where you left off tomorrow.

Remember why you started!

Working out isn’t about becoming a superhero with a 6-pack.

You workout to feel better and stay sober longer!

Wrapping It Up

There you have it.

You now know how exercise can help you with long-term sobriety.

It’s free. It works. And it helps your physical and mental being all at the same time.

Studies have shown EVERYTHING discussed today.

• Exercise releases happy hormones naturally
• Working out relieves cravings
• Helps with withdrawal symptoms
• Logging workouts holds you accountable
• Decreases your chances of relapsing

It’s time to start taking care of YOU.

Recovery is a journey that never ends. But by working out, you’ll build a better foundation than you ever imagined.

Get started TODAY and your recovery will thank you!