Tricks to Becoming a Fitness Enthusiast—Even If You Hate the Word “Exercise”

photo of a fitness enthusiast

According to the National Institutes of Health, people who exercise regularly are less likely to abuse illicit drugs. Since exercise induces feelings of euphoria similar to those associated with drug use, working out helps recovering substance abusers stay on the path to sobriety.

5 Ways to Become a Fitness Enthusiast

If you hate to exercise, don’t despair. Here are 5 ways to trick yourself into getting motivated—and even looking forward to your workouts.

  1. Plan ahead. Saying you’ll work out “someday” isn’t good enough. Schedule time to exercise just as you’d schedule a doctor’s appointment, a date, or an important presentation at work. If possible, plan your workout for early in the morning. As the day gets busier and energy levels dip, you are more likely to skip exercising in favor of other tasks.
  1. Choose a workout you enjoy. There’s more than one way to get fit. Even something as simple as a walk around the block or a short bike ride through your neighborhood is a great place to begin. As long as you’re slowly increasing your level of physical activity, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing.
  1. Mix it up. If you get bored easily, build variety into your routine. Lift weights at the gym one day; check out a yoga class with a friend the next. You might surprise yourself by discovering a new favorite way to exercise.
  1. Find a workout buddy or accountability partner. Having someone to exercise with makes workouts seem like less of a chore. If you can’t convince a friend to go along, join a class at your local gym or sign up for a recreational sports team—and meet new fitness-minded friends in the process.
  1. Make yourself a soundtrack. Working out to music is a great motivational tool, but podcasts and audiobooks can be helpful too. Try different options to see what best holds your attention.

Getting the Addiction Treatment You Need

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse, 10 Acre Ranch can help you break free. Our Southern California rehab for men offers personalized treatment, as well as extensive aftercare support to help you maintain your hard-won sobriety. By emphasizing exercise, nutritional balance, and recreational activities, we encourage clients to develop a healing lifestyle that sticks—during and after recovery.

Call 877-228-4679 for program details or to discuss your customized recovery program with an addiction counselor.

Sexual Dysfunction: An Often Overlooked Side Effect of Addiction

photo of a young couple has sexual problems husband has sexual dysfunction due to addiction

Since physical intimacy is a vital part of any relationship, the sexual dysfunction caused by substance abuse can create feelings of shame and embarrassment. Some men also report feeling anxious and depressed by sexual difficulties, which furthers the urge to turn to drugs and alcohol for comfort.

Substance Abuse and Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the most common form of sexual difficulty relating to substance abuse. All men experience occasional trouble getting or keeping an erection, but ED refers to a persistent inability to get or keep an erection that allows for satisfactory sexual activity.

According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol is the most common cause of erectile dysfunction due to its depressant effect. However, marijuana, amphetamines, barbiturates, and heroin have all been known to cause erectile dysfunction in men. Even prescription medications can cause impotence when they’re used incorrectly. Opiate painkillers such as OxyContin can be problematic for many men.

Substance Abuse and Your Libido

Substance abuse may also lead to intimacy problems by lowering your libido. For example, heroin and prescription opiate painkillers lower the production of testosterone in a man’s body—leading to a marked decrease in libido. For men who are currently married or in a committed relationship, this can be a source of tension and frustration for both partners.

Treatment Helps Restore Intimacy

AA has long advocated waiting until you have one year of sobriety to pursue sexual relationships. Most rehab facilities also recommend abstaining from sexual relationships while you are receiving treatment. Getting sober requires you to focus on addressing the specific emotional triggers of your addiction—and sexual intimacy can often be an unwelcome distraction during this time.

Remember, though, that the adverse effects of substance abuse are not permanent. After receiving treatment for your drug or alcohol addiction, your sex life should return to normal. Call 877.228.4679 to learn more about how 10 Acre Ranch’s residential addiction treatment center for men can put you on the path to recovering your relationships—and reestablishing healthy intimacy when the time is right.

New Report Shows Dramatic Rise in Overdose Deaths

A woman lay into the ground having drug in vain in a dark place

Trends show that Americans are choosing healthier foods and exercising more regularly than they have in the past, but a new report from the National Safety Council has revealed a disturbing pattern. Though car crash deaths have plummeted 22% since 2005, accidental deaths have risen 15.5% over the last decade. This sharp increase is attributed to overdose and accidental poisoning deaths increasing 78% over the same period—making them the top accidental killer in the United States.

While some overdose deaths involve children ingesting medications by accident or adults failing to read prescription labels correctly, the majority of overdoses tracked by the National Safety Council are related to chemical dependence.

Opioid Rates Show a Troubling Trend

Opioid overdoses are of particular concern, having killed 13,486 people in 2014. Opioids are a class of medications that includes pain relievers such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin or Percocet), morphine (Kadian or Avinza), and codeine.

Most people who become addicted to these drugs begin with a legitimate prescription for acute or chronic pain, but progress to addiction when they develop an increased tolerance. In other cases, these individuals experience withdrawal symptoms after attempting to discontinue the medication, so they return to a high dose to ward off unsettling symptoms.

Opioid addicts often resort to seeing multiple doctors, forging prescriptions, or stealing medication from others in pursuit of the high they crave. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid addiction may also be a gateway to heroin use.

Don’t Become Another Statistic
Many people perceive prescription drugs as a “safer” alternative to illegal street drugs, but both types of addiction can have serious or even fatal consequences. If you are struggling with an addiction to prescription medications, opioids, or other drugs, 10 Acre Ranch can help. Call us at 877.228.4679 to learn more about our men’s-only addiction recovery program.

Our compassionate, experienced admissions team is available 24/7 to verify insurance benefits or provide comprehensive information about payment options for clients without insurance. Come to the Ranch—and experience the best in evidence-based CA rehab for yourself or a loved one.

“Phubbing” Indicates Growing Rate of Internet Addiction

man infront of a computer addicted to internet

Smartphones have infiltrated every facet of our daily lives. While it was once common to go to a restaurant to visit with friends over a shared meal, today you’ll regularly see people ignoring their dining companions in favor of posting amateur #foodporn on Instagram, tweeting about their wait staff, or sharing memes via Facebook.

The practice of ignoring social companions is referred to as “phubbing,” and many experts believe it is a form of Internet addiction. According to new research from psychologists at the University of Kent, society’s growing obsession with smartphones has led people to experience being “phubbed” in social situations so often that they have normalized this rude behavior.

Is Internet Addiction Real?

Internet addiction doesn’t have a biological basis like drug or alcohol addiction. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t create real problems. An inability to set reasonable limits on the time one spends online or interfacing with devices is evidence of an impulse control disorder similar to pathological gambling. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh and Professor Karen Douglas from the University of Kent School of Psychology say “phubbing” is associated with a fear of missing out—as well as a general lack of self-control.

Like drug and alcohol addiction, an obsession with remaining connected to the Internet at all times can create problems with interpersonal relationships. Physical symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome, backache, headache, and difficulty sleeping are also associated with excessive Internet use.

Get Help Treating All Your Addictive Behaviors

Since people who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction are often prone to cross over to other addictive behaviors, 10 Acre Ranch has developed a comprehensive treatment program that gives men a fresh start in all aspects of their lives. In addition to supervised detoxification, we offer evidence-based programs that treat dual diagnoses like depression, anxiety, ADD, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Transform your life or get helped for a loved one by calling today: 877.228.4679. Our credentialed addiction specialists are available 24/7 so you can access help when you need it most.