Hi all, not sure if these questions are considered 'off topic', but here goes -

I've noticed that many members of this forum seem to be consistent exercisers, a fact that I find both daunting and inspirational. I have always found (maybe a self-fulfilling prophecy) that my fitness and my drinking do not happily co-exist. For those who exercise regularly, I am curious to know how you maintain this while drinking to excess? What are your tips for keeping at the workouts even while getting drunk several nights a week? What time of the day do you workout vs. start/stop drinking? Is alcohol your only vice, or do you hit the smokes and junk food too?

Personally, my behaviour swings between 'good days' (exercise, alcohol and smoke-free, long sleep, three healthy meals, the odd feeling of joy and accomplishment) and 'bad days' (drinking, chain-smoking, hangover, junk food, barely moving from the couch, feelings of lethargy, depression and hopelessness). Exercise is one of the few factors that can transform a 'bad day' into a 'good', I know this - but when hungover I barely want to move, even to do the most gentle of yoga classes in the community centre literally 100 metres from my door!

I admit I've often made a habit of 'postponing' getting fit, until such time as I quit drinking. Perhaps I have it the wrong way around? What are everyone else's experiences on this subject?
G.

gwyneth,
don't be so hard on yourself, i like you used to find it impossible to make myself "work-out". i smoked for 30 years, which somehow always seemed like reason enough to not exercise!! crazy. it has taken a long time for me to develop healthier habits. but, it evolved pretty naturally. first with daily dog walks, now, after 13 years of that i have firmly made the connection that when i get out for a 40 minute or longer walk i really do feel better. because of my lifelong battle with depression, feeling consistently better is quite motivating. also, now that i am in my 50's i am also motivated to keep my muscle tone and stamina up so that i can enjoy the activities and sports that i love. so, now i actually do exercise in addition to walking, and i am finding that i enjoy it! i have to add though that i wish i had started this earlier, as now i have some minor physical limits that i wouldn't have had at a younger age. ah well, isn't hindsight wonderful?

i say, just find something that you really like to do, don't make it a chore, and it will be much easier to stay with it.
best of luck with this!
path

ps. as a daily drinker, i never have had problems with hangovers, so i didn't have that impediment. once i lost the cigarettes for good i felt much better mentally and physically.

You are a prime candidate for behavioral conversion to exercise. When two behaviors can't coincide, one may replace the other more easily. For those of us who continued to exercise and yet still drink excessively, one behavior cannot extinguish the other so easily. They are psychologically/behaviorally paired with each other, or at least not as opposed to each other as they are in a life-style like you describe. Now, if you add in the phenomenon of up-regulation of dopamine receptors, you have a prime opportunity to replace a bad habit with a good one. Try going to the gym or for a brisk 20 min. walk during your typical drinking time.
Just a thought.
Good luck.

I hear ya gwyneth. I used to be an exercise fiend even when I was drunk, hungover, whatever. I'm trying to motivate myself to get back into an exercise routine and find I have very little motivation to do so. I had a personal trainer for a while which helped, but it got too expensive and I let it slide. I think all of the recommendations given above are good ones-start small and hopefully what has to be forced at first becomes a habit.

Just had a funny vision of a "Fit Drunks" exercise video and infomercial

I am a fitness freak only because I try counter the damage I've done with alcohol. However, I feel it is starting to catch up with me now as my performances playing football are starting to diminish ( I'm mid 30's)

Gwyneth, I binge drink when I'm stressed out or depressed. I recently quit smoking (whyquit.com) and have been trying to exercise at least 4 times a week. Instead of drinking (or smoking) I just go running until I'm tired ala Forrest Gump. But I hear you, it's impossible to exercise if I'm hungover. It's just another reason for me not to drink to excess. I think exercise is helping me with my sobriety.

-Chance