Tips for Healthy Sobriety Weight Loss

Different drugs have different effects on your body, varying from one person to another. Sobriety weight loss tackles the fact that the effects of a drug on an individual depend on many factors, including their body size, general health, drug strength, and whether there are any other drugs in the system.

People often start using drugs without realizing the potential harm to their bodies. Some think that casual drug use won’t cause problems, leading them to use more until they develop a tolerance to the drug’s effects. Soon, they take higher doses to get the same effects; evidence suggests many drugs lead to dependence after prolonged use.

Common Effects Of Drug Use

The brain is an essential organ of the human body. It can adapt to changes in the environment and helps us learn, cope with negative emotions, and form memories. However, addiction to drugs and alcohol can profoundly impact how the brain works.

Addiction affects the brain on multiple levels. For instance, the brain and bloodstream are affected by chemical compounds in stimulants, nicotine, and opioids, as well as sedatives.

Depressants

Depressants slow down the flow of information to and from your brain, making a person feel more relaxed and less inhibited in small amounts. On the other hand, taking them in large quantities causes nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, and even death.

Alcohol, opiates, minor tranquilizers, and other common depressants can affect concentration and coordination, slowing your ability to react to situations.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens can distort reality. You might hear or see things that aren’t there or perceive things differently. You may also experience paranoia, panic, anxiety, nausea, emotional and psychological euphoria, and jaw clenching. LSD, PCP, and cannabis are examples of hallucinogens.

Stimulants

These drugs speed up the flow of messages to and from your brain, making it easier to feel alert and more confident. It increases heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Taking them in large quantities causes anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, stomach cramps, and paranoia. Common stimulants include nicotine, caffeine, speed, ice, cocaine, and ecstasy.

Addiction Aftermath

Many young people who abuse substances continue to have problems. These include academic difficulties, mental health problems, poor peer relationships, and involvement in the juvenile justice system. There are also consequences for the family, the community, and society.

Other things that happen when dealing with addiction include:

Withdrawal Syndrome

Withdrawal syndrome is a common medical issue when dealing with drug or alcohol addiction. Your body strives to maintain homeostasis; if a chemical is accidentally removed, counter-regulatory mechanisms can produce unwanted effects. Recovery from addiction involves experiencing these varying withdrawal syndromes depending on how dire the substance dependence was.

Internal Effects of Addiction on the Body

The adverse effects of addiction on the body’s major organs can cause heart disease, liver damage, kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, certain types of cancer, overdose, and even death. Alcohol and drugs also affect the immune system, making it more vulnerable to various diseases and viruses.

External Effects of Addiction on the Body

Substance abuse also affects a person’s hair, nails, weight, teeth, and skin. It can cause skin lesions, acne, baldness in some cases, or male-pattern hair growth in others.

Sometimes, when a person is in recovery from addiction, they gain weight due to improved appetite. This weight gain can sometimes cause self-esteem issues. Extreme weight gain may also lead to other complications previously mentioned.

When undergoing rehabilitation, a patient is encouraged to do physical exercises to help their body get back to a healthier state. A sobriety weight loss routine helps ensure a recovering patient’s health.

Weight Loss Routine for Recovery

Dealing with weight gain while sober is difficult, no matter the reason. People in rehabilitation experience excessive weight gain in recovery. After a healthy recovery from addiction, dealing with weight gain is even more challenging, especially when eating disorders and addictions go hand-in-hand.

Here are some tips to remember for a safe sobriety weight loss routine:

Be mindful of what you eat.

You may experience drastic weight loss and a reduced appetite due to drug use. You will likely develop regular eating habits and consume more calories if you stop using drugs.
Sobriety weight loss is mostly about being mindful of what you eat. It’s best to avoid sugary and fatty foods and include brain healing foods such as blueberries and eggs in your diet. You can also try using a food journal to track what you eat and how often.

Set realistic goals.

While the idea of changing your lifestyle and losing weight is exciting, you should not set yourself up to fail. Set goals you can achieve without causing yourself harm.

You may lose more weight than you can lose in a given month. Talking to your doctor is a great way to establish goals for yourself. Your doctor can conduct a physical exam, help you to create a safe and effective plan, and suggest brain healing foods for your diet.

Exercise everyday.

Exercise is a common tip for losing weight early in recovery. But be cautious; your body will take time to heal if you have been struggling with substance abuse for a long time. To start, take it slow and be consistent. Although this won’t result in rapid weight loss, it will allow you to live a healthier life and help you manage your weight during recovery.

Change your diet.

Weight loss is directly related to your diet. Weight loss in recovery also involves controlling what you eat. Even though you could exercise for hours, losing weight is unlikely if you eat unhealthy foods. Talk to your doctor about creating a healthy diet plan and pick the best foods for recovery.

Do not consult the scales.

Obsessing over numbers could lead to an eating disorder. Instead of focusing on the numbers, focus on how you feel. Give your body additional time to heal if you use drugs or alcohol for a prolonged period instead of focusing on weight loss after sobriety.

Ask for help.

Finding the motivation to exercise and eat healthily is challenging. A friend can help you get the support and encouragement you need and get the best foods for recovery.

Let Us Help You Get Back On Your Feet

Haven House’s addiction recovery center in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, helps men overcome their substance abuse. We use the 12-step program to help men detoxify and restore their health. Call us today for more information on our rehabilitation services.