I’d like to start off by saying that this article is written from my point of view. It is based on my personal experience and a collection of scientific research. I am not a mental health professional, and if you choose to participate in a diet and exercise program, make sure to consult your physician first. The information provided in the article below was a result of additional forms of therapy as well as diet and exercise and it should not be mistaken that diet and exercise will cure any mental health or other disorders or diseases.
My Journey
My name is Matt and I am the co-founder of My Truly Fit Life. A company founded on the passion of helping people achieve their healthiest, happiest self. My fiancé and I are on a mission to share our life experiences in order to show the real benefit of making healthy life choices. Personally, I have had issues with my mental health for the past decade or so. And I am a recovering alcoholic who has turned his life around to become a productive member of society, passionate about contributing to the well-being of others.
After graduating college, I went down a dark path. Although I was “getting by” in life—managing to marry my soon-to-be ex-wife and holding a steady job—I was slowly killing myself and dragging my family down with me. My life felt like a roller coaster of emotions, mostly at the bottom. The fleeting highs were short-lived, produced only by the dopamine hit from another drink.
Turning Point
It took me a long time to get out of this stage of my life, but I am proud to say that I’ve been able to overcome the lowest of the lows. Now, I can feel the highest of the highs for what they truly are—a blessing. Many factors contributed to my life-changing transformation, but today I’d like to talk about how a healthy diet and exercise program aided my journey.
The Role of Exercise
Exercise wasn’t foreign to me when I started to get healthy. I played sports my whole life and was well aware of the benefits of exercise. Through various attempts at getting sober and overcoming depression, I used exercise as a release. However, I only exercised and ate healthy when in a drug and alcohol rehab center. It wasn’t until I made the choice to make healthy living a part of my life that everything truly changed.
While the program of Alcoholics Anonymous helped me get sober many times, it didn’t keep me sober. A healthier lifestyle is how I was able to achieve long-term sobriety. When I decided to fundamentally change my behaviors, everything changed. The first step was a solid, sustainable fitness program. After many attempts at quick fixes that led to relapse, I realized I had to make a fundamental lifestyle change.
Implementing the Change
I went to the gym, pushed myself hard, got stronger, and felt physically better. I ate healthy meals, cooked my own food, and cut back on sugar. And I lost a ton of fat and gained mental clarity. Exercise became my outlet beyond therapy, helping me work through stress and anxiety. I gained confidence in my ability to get healthy and self-esteem in my appearance and discipline.
The Science Behind It
Scientific research supports my experiences. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve mood, and enhance overall mental health. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that physical activity can be as effective as medication for some people with depression . Additionally, a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins has been linked to improved mental health outcomes .
Exercise as Meditation
For me, exercise became my meditation. In the gym, I could empty my mind of all the chaos in my life. This mental clarity helped me work through significant life events, such as my grandfather’s passing, my wife’s departure, and the death of a friend. A healthy diet helped clear the fog that clouded my judgment. Although I didn’t replace therapy with diet and exercise, these habits complemented my therapy sessions, enhancing their effectiveness.
Building Confidence and Self-Esteem
Not to mention the confidence and self-esteem that I gained. When I started to see changes both physically and mentally, I realized I was capable of making positive changes in my life. This newfound confidence and self-esteem made me comfortable in my own body—a feeling that was very foreign to me.
Nostalgia and Purpose
There was a sense of nostalgia that came with working out again, both in the gym and outdoors. Outdoor runs, sprints, cone drills, and ladder drills reminded me of old football workouts. In the gym, replicating volleyball workouts brought me back to my high school and college days. This nostalgia helped me remember life before alcohol took control.
Finding Purpose and Passion
The biggest reason diet and exercise helped me overcome my mental health disorders was the sense of purpose they gave me. Initially, it gave me a reason to wake up in the morning. With sobriety as my primary goal, I wasn’t actively seeking a career. The gym became my purpose—to become the best version of myself. This purpose turned into a passion when I realized how much better I could feel through healthy eating and regular workouts.
Conclusion
Here I am, with over two and a half years of sobriety, starting my own business, and traveling the United States. My goal is to create a community that offers support, education, tools, and resources for people to build the best life possible. Diet and exercise may not be your ultimate purpose, but they will give you the clear mind, courage, and confidence to make meaningful changes in your life. These changes will compound, increasing your quality of life and lifespan. Embrace a healthy lifestyle, and you might just reach your healthiest, happiest life and become the best version of yourself.
