How exercise helped me go alcohol-free

For years i felt torn between 2 identities - someone who thought that he was fit and sport and someone who liked to party every weekend. Basically having 1 leg in one life and the other in a completely different life.

It is safe to say i was not fit but i still tried to exercise as much as possible. I realise now how absurd the situation was but I guess when i was a lot younger i really thought i could pull it off?

It took some time to realise i am not in great shape (to REALLY realise). But letting go of drinking also seemed completely impossible.

As the next step I managed to get myself to so-called moderation but still it kept my 2 identities alive.

One day, when i realised that after doing quite well I had slowly again returned to regular drinking, something switched in me and i had had enough. Enough of constant recovery and feeling down. Maybe a coincidence but i also listened to a podcast with David Goggins at the time and somehow it made sense to decide that i will start running every day! This was 2019.

Fast forward a little bit - i have had slip-ups and i have not run every day. But i became someone who identifies as an athlete and i built my days around training. Not on a professional level and that is not important. What is important is that alcohol had no place anymore. I knew that even a small amount of drinking will mean the next day's training will likely be missed. Every time i want to have a drink i ask myself is it worth it? Almost always the trade-off is too big.

I have always liked sport and also running so perhaps that helped in the process. Perhaps there is something else that lights your fire? The idea is, by giving up a habit it should be replaced with another one and when it comes to giving up alcohol, in many cases the replacement is training or some kind of a physical activity.

I have come along way since then and have also trained as an alcohol-free coach. I am offering a course to help take a 3 month break and see all the great benefits that come along with it. If this interests you, drop me an email laatsingmar@gmail.com or also check my website www.ingmarcoaching.com .

Take it easy!