When addicts flush the drugs and alcohol out of their bodies their health usually improves.
They begin to have more energy. Their thinking clears up after a while. They're no longer using toxic substances and their body responds accordingly.
But this doesn't apply to all addicts and alcoholics. Unfortunately, many of our clients find a substitute for the drugs they left behind. That substitute usually is junk food, sodas, or some form of tobacco.
While most of our addict clients were smokers when they came in most of them end up continuing the habit even after a year of sobriety. Food intake is another thing. While many of us didn't eat much while we were using, most of us make up for the meals we missed in short order. It's not unusual to see a client gain 25, 50 or even 100 pounds after being around a short while.
I bring this up today because we have several staff members who are competing in a "biggest loser" contest; the winner will be the one who loses the largest percentage of their body weight rather than a certain number of pounds. First prize is $250, second prize is $150 and third prize is $100. There are already some clear leaders in the contest. A few had a plan from the beginning and have followed through with it.
But there are those who are seesawing back and forth with what they eat and how much weight they're losing. Among those who are seesawing, the term "self-discipline" often comes up.
And, of course, that's always the issue when we're trying to change from bad habits to good ones. Do we have the self-control and self-discipline to follow through with our commitments and our goals?
I guess we'll see who's able to do that at the weigh-in at the end of December.
