5 Outdoor Activities To Help Your Break An Addiction

April 16, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Breaking an addiction can be a very challenging task, and it is almost impossible to do without finding new ways to spend your time, money and energy. A solid path to recovery can be paved by entering a program such as gulfcoastdrugrehab.com, and by engaging in outdoor activities.

Here are five outdoor activities that can help you break an addiction, in no particular order.

Walking/Jogging

Going for a nice walk or light jog for five days a week is a great way to rejuvenate your body, tone your muscles and clear your mind. The feeling that comes during and after a good jog can actually itself become addicting, which is infinity times better than afflictions such as substance abuse or gambling.

Kayaking

Many people see kayaking as an inaccessible activity that involves high levels of skill and expenses, but the plain truth is that hundreds of lakes all over this fine nation have kayaks available for rent on any given summer day. Calmly gliding through the water is a very peaceful experience, and can do wonders for clearing and retraining the mind into more healthy habits.

Joining a Softball League

Unlike the first two activities, which are often done alone, joining a softball team will allow you to be exposed to a new group of potential friends. Having a few nights a week set aside to do a really fun activity such as playing in a softball game will help to structure your schedule in a way that makes you much less likely to relapse.

Planting/Maintaining a Garden

Creating and caring for a garden has been proven to help people get over addictions and other self-destructive tendencies. Watching something go from seed to fruit is a special experience that often bonds the grower with the Earth, which is another path to the inner peace that will help put addictions in the rear view mirror for good.

This is the least expensive of the activities on this list, and a small to medium-size garden can actually be started with about $20 and a few hours’ worth of enjoyable labor.

Bicycling

Bicycling is another sport that an amateur can fall in love with very quickly. A steady bicycling routine is good for the cardiovascular system, as well as the entire muscle structure. Many people have found solace in riding their bicycle around the park every evening at a time when they would typically do something such as visiting the bar before heading home. Before long, hopping on the bicycle becomes far more enjoyable, meaningful and fruitful than past indiscretions.

About the author: Annabelle Smyth is currently a loving and caring mother of two children. She lives outside of Milwaukee, WI and loves cheering for the Bucks and Badgers. She is a blog enthusiast and loves writing, if she is not writing she is cleaning up after her two lovely angels. She can be contacted at Annabellesmyth@gmail.com

Does Spirituality Affect Your Body?

April 11, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

“Your body is; what your soul believes.”

It’s all within you. You are the master reining over your body and everything your body experiences. Your ‘spirit’ is the key to creating a balance in your body and your life.

You would not consider spiritualism playing a role in your health?

It goes without saying that you do so much to keep the body fit and fine. You see a doctor on regular intervals, practice medication, therapies and what not. There is nothing wrong in it. But, while doing all this, you forget about your spiritual and mental well being. You don’t think about doing something for your spirits, your emotional health, and spiritual emptiness. Being spiritually fit could help you unravel many health complications including weight issues.

Let’s see how: [Read more…]

The Most Important Question

April 10, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

You followed a passage faithfully through a lush forest, now standing at a fork in that path; one bearing leads slightly northwest, the other, tending to the southwest. Standing at this juncture, you place your hand over your eyes to block the glare of the setting sun, and strain while scanning the horizon. Ahead lays a long, grassy, seemingly endless prairie with hills on either horizon, obstructing your view from where each trails leads.

Yet, you have stood in this place before.

You know with certainty that in one direction lays a picturesque, emerald city, chock-full of light, music, and gladness. In that township is great joy and contentment. Should you opt however for road number two, what waits at its terminus is far less glorious, resembling the ruins of the firestorms of Dresden. There lies darkness and foreboding, sadness and frustration.

Although either direction assures you a safe arrival at your destination, the route to happiness is rocky, long, and hilly; it will require effort. Its alternative beckons with a flat, easy-to-navigate, and well-worn, shorter course.

Which path do you choose?

We’d all like to say that we’d choose the first. After all, look what waits at the end of either. It’s a no-brainer.

Yet, when we analyze our histories, the reality is that too often, we opt for the alternative; the smoother, shorter, easier pathway guaranteed to lead in the end to a sense of defeat and unhappiness.

Let’s examine some real-life situations, shall we?

Stick with your diet for one more hour and go to bed happy and proud, or give in and eat the bag of chips now, berating yourself all day tomorrow for tonight’s poor decision. Which do you choose?

Hold your tongue until you can figure out a more productive way to bring up your frustration to your wife, or let loose with a blast of heated epithets driving a hurtful spike in your most important relationship. Which do you do?

Put $200 away into your retirement fund, knowing it will be out of reach for the next decade, or buy a new TV even though you don’t need one. “A” or “B” please?

[Read more…]

Why Rehab Is Better Than Going Cold Turkey

March 23, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

If you have made the decision to stop your drug use, then you should be very proud of yourself.

Now comes the tough choice, how are you going to do it? The two major methods of overcoming a drug addiction tend to be rehab or going cold turkey. Going cold turkey refers to when someone stops using their drug use immediately, while rehab often involves taking the process in steps and having services such as therapy at hand. You might feel desperate to stop your drug addiction and thus think that going cold turkey is the better option for you, as it seems a faster option. This is however not the case, as going cold turkey has many downsides to it. [Read more…]

Before and After Is Here and Now

March 19, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

I have struggled with my weight as long as I can remember.

I always wanted some sort of miracle.

To one day just wake up in a new body, or to be standing there and suddenly have my clothes just fall off of me because they were too big. I needed a breakthrough in more ways than one.

Along the way, I’ve loved reading others’ success stories for inspiration. I thrill at seeing the “before and after” shots. I get such encouragement from hearing different journeys of fellow weight-loss “Becomers”. Sometimes just one little word from them will be just the motivation I need to make it through another day. I think that partly, it’s that commonality that is so comforting. It’s great to know that someone else is going through the same things and maybe even being victorious over some tough issues!

I have noticed one little thing though, that makes me feel like I just don’t fit in.