Why I Need to Achieve Sobriety?
Iāve confessed a couple of times on here that I consume alcohol quite a bit. Thereās even a blog post where I talk about my alcoholismāwhy I reach for the bottle, and how people reveal their true selves under the influence. However, as of today, Iām four days sober. I havenāt touched the bottle at all. For some, that might not seem like much, but for people who rely on substances, even 24 hours can be grueling because of withdrawal symptoms. Iām still experiencing them today, on the fourth day.
This isnāt the first time Iāve tried to achieve sobriety. Last year, I managed to go 104 days sober before I jumped off the wagon. I canāt even say I fell offāI chose to jump off. Since then, my drinking habits have gotten worse. How? I got into more cocktail mixing. It benefits how I make drinks for others, but the reason Iām trying to achieve sobriety again is because of my health conditions. Not caused by booze, but by the autoimmune disease Iāve been managing since my early 20s. Alcohol has more adverse effects on me than on someone without an autoimmune condition.
Since mine involves the thyroid, I need to be mindful of my drinking habits. Iāve listened to fitness influencers mention my condition while being totally unaware of what theyāre talking about. Metabolism is just a sliver of what the thyroid does. The real function is hormone regulation throughout the bodyāand hormones do almost everything people donāt realize is important. Without thyroid hormones, the movement and absorption of essential vitamins like B12 and minerals are disrupted. Even if you eat well, your body may not absorb anything, leading to deficiencies. Thatās why heart palpitations, fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, depression, anxiety, lack of rest, and slower recovery occur. Untreated, it can be fatal. Nails become brittle, hair thins, skin issues arise, swelling increases, and inflammation builds up.
Autoimmune disease is basically the body attacking itself. Iāve talked about this before. Alcohol disrupts my medication and prevents B12 transfer, making it harder for my body to function properly. So, if I want to lean out or build muscle again, I have to control my drinking. When I donāt, my body doesnāt recover. Iāve injured myself many times because my body couldnāt heal from labor-intensive jobs and weightlifting. Poor sleep makes everything worse. When I was at my best physically, it was during my longest period of sobriety.
I always tell people my daily habits and diet are tailored to me alone. My goal is to manage how I feel day to dayābetter sleep, less fatigue, more calm, less stress, and more enjoyment in my activities. Iāve always been active, regardless of body mass. Even at my largest, I could run three miles and lift heavy daily. My job required lifting and moving around 50 pounds for eight-hour shifts, five days a week, often with overtime. Then Iād go home and run three miles to de-stress. I also attended school and walked around campus, often without eating enough to sustain my activity level.
Many people work sedentary jobs, but thatās never been me. I canāt relate to health issues caused by sitting all day. My job, however, did wear down my lungs and joints. I have inflammation in most major joints. Both knees were messed up, but Iām glad I no longer need knee braces or compression sleeves. I can squat and move fluidly again. Iām also relieved my elbows and rotator cuff no longer hurtārotator cuff tendinitis is agony. I chalk up my active lifestyle to my neurodivergence; I canāt sit still for long. But to stay on topic, Iām pursuing sobriety again because the health impacts are too much now that Iām older.
I couldnāt care less about body or weight standards, or the obsession in the U.S. with protein intakeāitās propaganda, regardless of what people think. Sure, consuming more protein helps you lean up, but not for the reasons people believe. Calories are always involved. When you overconsume protein, your body converts it into glucose, which requires more energy (calories) to process than carbohydrates. Thatās why eating more protein naturally creates a calorie deficit, eventually tapping into fat stores for energy. I generally lean up more easily in winterāstaying warm requires calories. I just donāt like hot weather, so I take any chance to jab at summer.
Back to nutrients: people often overlook other macronutrients like fiber and micronutrients. Regions that eat more plant-based diets tend to have fewer deficiencies and better longevity. Lentils are my favorite legume for fiber and protein. Many foods combine both if you pay attention to macronutrients. I enjoy meat, but overconsuming animal-based foods affects me negatively. You canāt get all essential minerals and vitamins from animals, and I need more of certain nutrients because of my autoimmune condition. Plant foods help reduce my chronic inflammation. Yes, organ meats have nutrients, but red meat increases cholesterol and cardiovascular risks. My best self wasnāt just soberāit was when I ate a mostly plant-based diet with minimal red meat. I prefer fatty fish like salmon, eel, and raw tuna because I love sashimi. I rarely eat chicken unless with friends. I eat eggs, but mostly in garden omelets loaded with bell peppers, onions, and spinach. Spinach is incredibly filling. I love misoāitās an excellent probiotic food.
I love food. It took time to rebuild a healthy relationship with it because I enjoy cooking and trying different cuisines. When you worry about how society perceives you, it destroys the joy of living. But Iām four days sober, and hopefully, I can continue this path to feel better and manage my conditions more effectively.
