I’m one of those people who is perpetually slightly overweight. I have an athletic build. When I was a kid I shopped in the Husky section. I can’t buy pants off the rack that fit great. You get the idea.
That being said, exercising and being athletic has always been a part of my life. It became more of a struggle to stay fit and focused after my college sports career ended and I started a real career, and a life.
What made it most difficult was that I prioritized alcohol over exercise.
I was the guy who often had a new gym membership, a new workout routine or plan, but then give up on it. Or I’d drive to the gym then sleep in the parking lot, hoping to get some energy to workout, still sick and suffering from the night before. And I was constantly battling my weight. I’d try to eat healthy then ruin all the momentum with a weekend bender, 2am pizza, then disco fries at the diner. It was insanity.
These days, I’ve been sober for a little while and have consistently stuck to healthier lifestyle routines. So, last year I wanted to do something I always tried in my drinking days, but could never accomplish: a full year of exercise. 365 workouts.
In order to do this, I set some parameters: what constitutes a workout? How long should each be? Can I miss a day?
I decided on anything athletic as a workout, except walking my dog. I didn’t belong to a gym so I had to get creative. Yoga, running, swimming, etc. all fit the requirement. I decided that 20 minutes a day in my first 90 days was manageable then I would increase. Last, if I missed a day I could double-up the next day, but no triple-ups allowed.
Committing to these really low bars was just about building good habits. It was also really all I could manage at the time. With a full time job, 6 days a week, I’d often leave for work around 7:00 AM and get home after 8:30 PM. But I committed to this plan and it worked!
My first 90 day of exercise were great! I discovered free online yoga and ran when it was nice outside. I focused on short manageable activities. Sometimes I just did pushups and sit-ups for 20 minutes.
By March of 2020 my 90 days were up and I added 10 minutes per day. We all know what happened that March so I had plenty of time to exercise. All I needed to do was 30 minutes a day, but I found more time than that. I attended 60 minute yoga classes, went on long outdoor bike rides, and found some old dumbbells in the garage. I just enjoyed being healthy.
As the year progressed there were issues…life got lifey, as some people say….but I was able to manage 30 minutes a day and stick to the commitment as best I could. Towards the end of the year, I celebrated a sober anniversary and completed my 365th workout in the same month. I could not have planned that myself or accomplish it without being sober. Committing to manageable goals, and to staying sober, has opened many doors for me. Health is just one of them.
