While you were drinking or using drugs, your health wasn’t very high on your list of priorities. Now that you’re pulling yourself out of the fog of addiction, it’s time to focus on your body.
One of the best reasons for getting clean is for your health and happiness, so why not take it a step further with fitness and eating well? When you’re just trying to make it through each day, getting up and being active sounds pretty daunting. It can be a struggle on good days, and you’re not alone. The truth is, the health benefits of exercise will give you more reasons to get moving.
Besides being good for your heart, muscles and waistline, exercise is especially good for your brain. A quick bout of 20-minute aerobic activity increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain. It also makes your body release hormones that encourage the growth of brain cells.
Exercise also produces a endorphins, which fill your body with feel-good chemicals and puts you in a much better mood. A recent study in Stockholm showed that the antidepressant effect also caused proliferated cell growth in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain associated with learning and memory.
While you’re improving your movement, try improving your intake of healthy teas. Stinging nettle tea has been known to help with joint and muscle pain from arthritis, irritation from hay fever and urinary issues. Try some parsley tea to cure bad breath and reduce high blood pressure. For a healthier all-around lifestyle, check out Calendula tea, which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.
First, talk to your doctor. She can help you decide what exercise is best for your physical needs and abilities. She will also help you set goals and encourage you along the way.
An exercise regimen starts with the first step. If you haven’t exercised in a long time, that’s okay. Just walk. Moving your body helps it in ways you will notice right away. You’ll feel more alert, more energetic and just healthier. Try new hobbies, such as gardening or cooking. Every bit of movement helps you get started.
If you’re more athletic and need something to challenge you, try taking up a sport, such as tennis, running, skiing, swimming or soccer. Accomplishing a goal, such as walking a mile, running a 10k, playing a tennis match or completing a dance fitness class will give you a huge feeling of accomplishment and raise your self-esteem. You can do things that you had no idea you could!
Exercise also helps control stress, which can be a trigger for some addicts. When the stress builds up, just go for a walk. Take a friend to vent your frustrations or go alone and listen to your favorite music. Exercising will help you feel more focused and give you perspective on whatever is causing you anxiety.
Joining a group or team for exercise can also boost your social circle. If you have a buddy to exercise with regularly, you’ll find yourself with a friend and confidante, or a group that might be going through the same things as you.
At the end of the day, after a good calorie burn, sip a cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile, combined with the exercise you already accomplished, will help you get to sleep faster and sleep deeper. It also helps with headache, fever, earache, gastric distress, stress and even diabetes.
Starting an exercise and healthy living regime will help you improve your body and your life. Your mental health will blossom along with your muscles. And your road to recovery will be a smoother process that leaves you feeling better inside and out.
