Do you use Bodybuilding/Gym as a crutch?

I have used it as a crutch, don't get me wrong it can relive a ton of stress, but I have to make God and AA the center of my program if I want my gym sessions to go well. Just my 2Cents

I'm trying to post in this groupregularly, one place or the other and hope that I don't become the last to comment on each group. Posting helps me to reflect a lot. A crutch? Good question.

I think it is about the only solid thing with history in my life right now, that is not meant to leave me or might leave me uncontrollably. Assuming that drinking 'had' to leave me, I consider that loss great. My children need to have their own lives, so they 'should' leave me, at least for their own daily lives. My wife sure gives a lot of signs that she is not one for me to lean on right now, so that leaves me. Even my job I let go for sad mistakes, my wife, drinking, etc. I have it back again and I begin on Monday, but that can't really be my support as it is a must and jobs are always subject to unannounced cutbacks. Body building has been an event that I can always do, it is healthy for me and it often attracts positive relationships and/or influences. It does wonders for my self esteem, so I like it.

Crutch! Hellz no. A life style change for sure. You meet new people in the gym and get committed to something that lifts depression and builds self esteem. I had to get rid of face book. Delete every one out of my phone stay away from porn. All fckn triggers for me that i thought i was strong enough to hang with but it plays on your mind till your alone and using again. Had 9 yrs clean in NA and relapsed and lost everything. You guys have seen my struggles on eroids. Last few months started working, hitting iop and the gym. My girl and i are great. Family is great. Saving money. Just bought a 4k tv. Cought up on bills. When im using i steal all day fck work. I hate that person. Love who i am clean. Love u guys. Keep ur head up. Its 630 am on the bus to work cause i lost my driver lis. Blacked out on dope and xanax and hit a few cars woke up in the hospital with a warrant to take blood. Lost alot. A cdl class a lis. Mitorcycle lis. I was so depressed. Its been lifted and i see hope. Although somedays the emptiness calls out to do it 1 more time.keep ur heads up.

It depends. Like when I got off of pain pills I got on suboxon well I ended up getting addicted to that well it was a crutch to get me off of pills but I only traded one addiction for another. But I feel like the gym can be a crutch but at the same time not. But at least it is an healthy one. Anything you trade your addiction for can be a crutch. Now I feel like if you go cold turkey and don't use anything to help you, then you have used no crutch but lets face it how many of us have been able to say that not many I'm betting and if you can than this ol boy sure is proud of you because I sure as hell had to have some sort of help. As Rich say one day you may, whatever it takes. Brother if it gets you off drugs and is healthy and it saves your life then I don't give a shit what anyone calls it fuck use let it help you let it save your life wether its the gym, reading a book or if you like running through the tall grass up a hill side catching butterflies I don't give a shit do it do whatever it takes to get off the drugs. That's just my two shinny penny's worth.

Injury is one of my biggest fears. I worked out the 5 years I was locked up and the three since ive been out. so ive been clean 8 years. I don't think I would relapse if I couldn't lift. I'm just not sure what I would do and would rather not find out. I Need that time to strain, sweat and clear my head. Id find another outlet if I had to but I wanna keep this one for as long as possible. It helps me stay clean, be a good dad, remember to pay bills and gives me something to look forward to. Thanks for sharing guys

To the question of crutches.... everyone has a crutch. I have friends who sleep when their lives or work get too stressful or eat ice cream when they are upset. I think that crutches are ok, as long as they do not affect you or someone else in a negative way. When I used, I spent my money on drugs and it really negatively effected my families finances. I have never felt like such dog shit when I made my wife cry because we had no money to pay our bills. She grew up poor and I had really opened a wound. When I got clean I was determined to right all my wrongs financially. I work a full time job and I have two side businesses. For the last 3 years I have worked 7 days a week. Lately my health has started to suffer a little. I wake up @ 430 go to the gym come home get kids off to school, work until 5 do the dinner home work thing. Get kids to bed then work until 10. Then I work all weekend on my businesses. i just realized in the last month that I am again alienating my family trying to make their lives better financially. I am starting to back off of the side work a little bit. I have taken things too far again, what I am learning it's about balance. My wife and kids need me there. Things seem so obvious when I pause and take a look around. . Anyways I am rambling here, hope everyone has a good weekend.

I believe we are all strong enough to make it without it if necessary. When your ready your ready damn the odds. I have a friend (this is not recommended) but she is a recovering alcoholic and is also a bartender.I asked her if it was difficult for her. She said when she was done she was done and it didn't matter what job she had she would not drink anymore. She is still a bartender and now has 14 years sober.
I do see a lot of people go from one extreme to the next quick. This is our addictive behavior. Moderation is the key. I know a guy who is a chronic relapse. Opiates. same routine relapse get clean one week after detox he is on cycle. Trading one addiction for the other. Then the mail is late or the dog shits in the house and he is using again.
I guess for me its all about being honest with myself. Does the gym make me feel good? Yea. Does it help to keep me focused? Yea. Do I need it to stay clean no.
Thanks Jar.