Every day of the week, with the exception of Sunday, you can find me in the gym. I’ve always been into fitness, but now that I’m in recovery, I work out to maintain my spiritual, physical, and mental health. Exercising helps me blow off steam and gets my endorphins going. It also helps me feel good about myself.

I’d been dealing with opioid addiction for several years. I’d tried 42 different treatment and detox programs unsuccessfully, and had emergency doses of naloxone save my life on multiple occasions. But on March 5, 2016, I finally got off drugs and got sober. It wasn’t easy. Actually, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

And if I didn’t turn to fitness after going into recovery I don’t know if I’d be the person I am today. Working out is such a huge part of my life now.

I work out with two friends, both in recovery themselves, so it’s also a support and accountability thing. We meet up at the gym after work and this is our time to not only exercise, but to talk about our recovery and about life.

The three of us have been exercising together for so long now that if one of us doesn’t show up to the gym, we’ll call that person and say, “Hey, where are you?” So we try not to make excuses. We just show up.

When I first got sober, I had very low self-esteem. I thought terribly of myself and I was my worst critic – typical of most people after they get sober. One of the ways to build my self-esteem was getting in the gym and doing something positive.

I’d been doing negative things to my body for so long that being at the gym and surrounding myself with healthy people has really helped. You’re not going to find someone shooting heroin at the gym.

Six months into recovery, my sponsor told me that one day I’ll stop going to the gym to build my self-esteem, and I’ll go just to be healthy. I didn’t know what he meant back at the time. But now I do. For me, working out is another routine. It’s a routine that will keep me away from the drugs. It’s an outlet. It’s a place where I can go and set personal goals and achieve them. It’s brought additional meaning to my life.

I suggest anyone recently in recovery to incorporate fitness into his or her life. And don’t say you don’t have time. I’m part owner of a business, I practically work 24/7, but I find time. You can make time for this, and it’s absolutely worth every minute you give.

In recovery they teach you to just show up. Get your body there and the rest with follow. Same with exercising. How do you build a routine in the gym? You just show up, every day, one day at the time. No excuses.

September is National Recovery Month. Click here for ways to show your support and to hear more of Mark’s story.

Originally published in 2018.