Friday, May 9, 2014

Better Health

A big step in restoring health happens when we address our primary issue: our addictions.

Many of us took this step only when life forced us to change. We lost our job. Maybe we lost our home. Our health was failing. Perhaps we picked up a DUI. Maybe we separated from our mate. In any event, things were bad. Then we decided to change.

So we cruise along for a while in recovery. We go to meetings. We get a sponsor. And life becomes better, much better. Our appearance improves.

But many of us don't go much beyond our recovery in dealing with our health. While it's a great thing that we put down drugs and alcohol, there's more to living healthy than just not drinking or using.

Many addicts come in all sucked up because they haven't eaten for a while. So they make up for lost time. And before long it begins to show. It's not uncommon for those who come to us to gain 15 or 20, and sometimes, as much as 100 pounds within a couple years. They continue to smoke. And most don't exercise.

We have clients who've been with us a while who develop either adult-onset diabetes or heart problems. And in most cases these are lifestyle issues, as opposed to something they have no control over.

One of the more challenging issues we face is how to help people with health issues. Many don't feel they have the power to change. They've never been into fitness or nutrition so changing anything about their health seems an insurmountable challenge. Their mode of living has been all about self gratification – anything involving self-denial or self-discipline runs counter to that.

However, there are good books on how to improve health, including how to reverse diabetes. Click here for one of them

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