As my journey to 100% alcohol-free lifestyle continues, I can only wish that I can sustain it up to my initial 365 days 100% zero alcohol intake then beyond. Let me share how I work to maintain this lifestyle and how running helps me to win each day.
January 2024 when I was diagnosed with fatty liver along with acute gastritis and urinary track infection. I also showed symptoms of gallstones due to excessive fatty foods intake (pares and mami were just too good to ignore during hangover). Despite my medical conditions, I didn't stop my drinking habits. Not until my mental health dwindled to the point that I may not be able to continue life if I keep ignoring its dreadful state. It took me 2 months of constant failure to kick the habit until one day, I finally found a more sustainable solution to "maybe" kick it for good.
If you want to kick something, you use your foot. That's it! All I need to do is use my feet. So I decided to run and that first run attempt in the midst of my withdrawal phase was excruciating that its even painful than break-ups. However, the endorphin, the sudden rush of adrenaline and that unexplainable feeling of joy and fulfillment? I might be hooked up to this activity. So guess what I did the next day. I embarked on another painful run that I started to be concerned about my leg cramps and how I really wished that my bones are made of adamantium coz I felt like they are starting to crack.
With the second day run on the books, I felt like I wanna give up. I started to question if its even worth it. I started to come up with tons of excuses and justification on why should I stop running and why this is not a good idea. I decided to not run on the third day. I said to myself, "I earned this rest" and I may or may not run again the next day. While I was sitting at the same chair where I used to drink alone all the time, the thoughts of drinking came again. I was staring at my table and began to unconsciously imagine the ice cold, sparkling golden liquid that Egyptians introduced to the world along with the pyramids. Im thinking about beer again! Holy smokes and I'm on the verge of early relapse again. "This can't be happening" I told to myself. I got up from the chair, took my shoes and even my feet are still aching, I decided to run that day under the scorching heat of the Philippine's summer sun.
With the heat index so high and the heat of the sun that literally burns my skin like lechon, there I was dragging my body on the concrete road that serves like a grill. I had to stop each couple meters to catch my breath and check if anyone is looking at me whom probably thinking how crazy I was. It only took me 1.5 km to decide that I had enough and this is indeed crazy and I have the right to procrastinate on this weather condition. While under the shade of acacia tree, I stumbled on this youtube channel with David Goggins in it. At first I was just passive and didn't mind what really is going on until the guy started cursing and yelling as if he's directly speaking to me. "You stop when you're done! Not when you're tired!" His words are so moving and motivating that I started to move my feet again and pushed myself each time he yells and curse. In that scorching hot summer day, I ended up running 4 kilometers. That was the start of my crazy running addiction.
Each time that my urge to drink rise up, I run. I don't care what time of the day it is. I don't care what weather condition is, I will run! I would run in the morning or in the evening whether its sunny or raining, it doesn't matter. Baranggay officials even got concerned when they saw me running at 1 am. They thought I was a burglar or something. But they got used to it as weeks go by. Even dogs at first bark at me like crazy but eventually got used to my night runs that home owners started to be concerned about their safety.
Three months quickly passed and I started to notice the changes in my body. I lose weight and my mental state started to improve so well. Some of my neighbors seemed to like what I'm doing that I began to see some of them running as well. One of them even invited me to be in his youtube channel as he saw my progress real time and wanted to feature my story but I politely declined. I said I'm still a work in progress and I'm still battling with a day to day temptations of alcohol. He understood but still offered his channel in case (according to him) I'm ready to inspire people. Inspire people? Talaga ba? But no. I am still far from that kind of recognition.
To date, I still run regularly. I can now run continuously with greater speed and distance than before. I learned how to not make excuses to myself. You know the thing is, you don't need to overthink fitness. Doesn't matter if its just a simple walk or jogging just effing do it. Stop procrastinating and making excuses. Anyhow, this article is not about you and its about me so you're maybe going through some kind of struggles in life and you have your own ways of dealing with them and I respect that. Isn't it sweet though that our paths may cross one day and we'll be able to share good stuff out of our journey towards better health and better life? And I think what's sweeter is, we both know that we didn't just go through a simple change, we went through a brand new lifestyle. Coz we both figured that for something to be sustainable (like on my case, alcohol sobriety) you gotta change your lifestyle. Sure temptations will continuously show up but for me? Tremendous self-respect and absolute commitment to this lifestyle will help me kick this alcoholism...absolutely.
Have a good day! Let's run!
