The Recovery Elevator Blog
Numbers | Running Reclaimed in Recovery
Four years ago today I ran 26.2 miles in three hours, five minutes, and 42 seconds. It was and still is the shortest length of time it has taken me to complete that distance. I am extraordinarily proud of that personal record, but I feel as though it should have...
The Calm During the Storm | Life on Life’s Terms in Sobriety
So when I think about my mind, I imagine myself paddling a canoe, with the water beneath me as my thoughts. Sometimes it's a pleasant current underneath a warm sun. Other days, it's a bit rainy, maybe a few waves, but manageable. Today, on the other hand, I was...
Recovery Excavation at Five Months Sober
I have returned after a long absence! Things are proceeding along for me, and I’m over five months sober–157 days. My neighborhood is surrounded by a major construction project, one of many throughout our fair city. I have determined this to be more than the usual...
Your Body In Recovery | The Effects of Alcoholism on Our Bodies
I remember the first 60 days of recovery like it was yesterday – and that's a good thing! It's one of the memories of my sickness that keeps me from going back to the bottle. The emotional side of alcohol recovery is hard enough – feelings of depression, sadness,...
Made It Through the Woods, Fell Into a Bottle | Relapse in Alcoholism
On January 16, at 18 days sober, I got up before dawn and drove 50 miles outside of the city to toe the line for a 25K trail race. I had no competitive goals; I just wanted to enjoy racing again. And...I did. It was invigorating, challenging, and at times even...
Goodbye Alcohol: A Breakup Letter | Alcohol and You
Good-bye alcohol. It's just time to let you go. You've been a loyal friend for all these years, but our relationship is getting way too toxic. You were awesome in the beginning, steady in the middle, and unpredictable towards the end. But damn, in the last 8 months,...
Nutrition in Recovery | How To Deal With Sugar Cravings In The Early Stages of Alcoholism Recovery
The brain sees sugar, opiates and alcohol in a similar way – as mechanisms to improve our moods and “take away the pain” from memories of our past and the current state of our lives. While many alcoholics have never concurrently abused other substances, it is not...
Time To Take Charge
As much as we learn “Let Go” in recovery we must learn to grab a hold of life by the,..well...grab life by the horns I guess. That’s what I’m focused on today - The Right Now-ness of Life. There have been plenty of days where I just la-de-da’d my way through “wearing...
What Are You Missing Out On? There’s an App For That! | Using Apps During Alcohol Recovery
Roughly 20 years ago, I recall sitting around our favorite round table, at our favorite sports bar, on our favorite (weren't they all) night to party. A sweaty draft beer in front of me, I pondered just how much money I had spent during all years of drinking. At that...
We Loved It, We Hated It | The Confusing Dynamics During Early Alcohol Recovery
I'm an alcoholic. Okay, so that probably didn't really get your attention since this is a blog about that very subject. Let me say that another way, and note that I will use the past tense. I LOVED alcohol. I loved the way it made me feel. I loved to hold it. I loved...
