any struggling alcoholics/addicts here?

Hello there!!

It does make the struggle a bit more difficult, it seems.

I was in active addiction for almost twenty years. I used heroin and crack. I’ve got almost five years recovery.

So that being said, I went twenty years of cycles of gaining and losing fifty pounds. Probably around ten times. My bones, hair and teeth suffered. I have binge eating issues and emotional eating disorders. I’m allegedly Bipolar Type 1 with manic episodes, but don’t all crack users have manic episodes?

So we have addiction to a substance to struggle with. Which puts our usually subsequent food addictions on the back burner. Which means they don’t go away, they just simmer.

It’s taken me the full five years to get to the point where NOT relapsing on drugs has finally become second hand and I can now fully focus on recovering a healthy weight.

It takes time. Lots of time. And self love. At times tears. And there’s always the addict in me who occasionally suggests that smoking crack will shed the fat easy peasy.

I’m sharing this so that you will know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Recovery IS possible.

There are going to be many many times in which recovery is more important than weight loss. Again, it takes time. If it takes getting fat to stay off your drug of choice, do that. Then keep trying. I mean, death is a sure fire way to lose weight, but there’s a better way. Never give up on YOU.

Recovery should always be top priority.

Also, exercise is beneficial. It fights the depression we feel when we kick the habit.

Good luck and blessings to us all!!

Hi. I'm an alcoholic 70 days sober. It has been hard, but gradually getting better and better. Recognizing my problem and then resolving to change it has been the best decision I've ever made. Please feel free to add me. Also, the thread Julie is referring to has been a great place for me to share, commiserate, and get inspired.