Vigorous gardening during detox

[pinksky]

Hi everyone,

I'm here for, oh, probably the hundredth time. One of these times I'm going to get this licked.

I've been a heavy, heavy drinker. I know I should probably be in a detox/rehab center, but I've tried those many times and they just are NOT for me. So I'm going it alone with a supply of Ativan. I'm only on day 3. The morning's not over but days 1 and 2 met with me hanging over the toilet. Ugh. I'm not feeling horribly awful right now but I do have pretty significant tremors that Ativan does nothing for.

I did make it to the farmers' market yesterday. (Thankfully, I'm only a few blocks from it.) I felt like a stumbling Frankenstein getting there and back, but I needed food. I also couldn't resist getting some veggie starts for the garden plots they just this year put in for us at the apartment complex here. On day 1 of detox, I went out to start loosening the dirt in the plot. Not so smart since it was the heat of the day (and it's be very hot and humid here.) The dirt is also very--and I mean VERY--well packed. I had to stop after each turned shovel of dirt (packed sand and clay, really).

What I'm wanting to know is if anyone has recommendations on the safety of undertaking vigorous exercise--or vigorous gardening--so early in detox. I've read that days 3 and 4 are the worst. Given how many times I've tried to detox, you'd think I'd remember whether this was the case for me, but I don't. I am eager to get to work on the garden, yes, but I'm mostly concerned that if I wait too many more days my plant starts will be dead, and I really don't want to lose them. But I also have no desire to pass out or seizure, which has happened several (or more) times in the past (though not when doing anything close to physical activity).

What a longgggg-winded question. Any advice or experience with such a thing would be greatly appreciated.

PinkSky

P.S. I neglected to mention that one of the other reasons I'm considering getting out to the garden again is because I seem to be going nuts holed up in my apartment. It's only two rooms and I just pace back and forth and back and forth and back and .... (Sadly, my only friend in town is a raging alcoholic himself, so I don't exactly want to give him a call.) I'm just far too antsy to read or do any of my artsy stuff or cook or anything. Just pace. Ugh. I hate it since I am usually a do-er.

[spuddleduck]

Vigorous gardening during detox

hi pinksky. sorry i cant offer any advice on exercise during detox, im sure others will come a long with experience.
what i can do though is say great on the gardening, i find it really theraputic, you can look at the plants growth like your own growth. if you cant do your planting im sure the plants will be ok if you just keep them well watered, ive neglected plants for ages and they have survived if i keep them watered until i can get round to planting them out. and look forward to the day you will be pottering about sober tending to your new veggies

[hillsidetime]

Vigorous gardening during detox

Hi Pinksky, I don't have a medically based answer here either. If you are hydrated, eating healthy food, I don't see why you can't exercise (unless you have pre-existing medical issues that are not related to booze).

I really does sound like for your health, you need to gain control over alcohol. You can do it, and we are here to help. Stay strong.
Hill

[BlondeAFAmbition]

Vigorous gardening during detox

Hi Pinksky! I think the gardening will do you good, both physically and mentally. Just take it at a slow, steady pace and make sure you are drinking enough water in that heat. I over-did it last week (although not detoxing) in the yard as it was very hot and I worked in severe heat of the day from 10-3...lost track of time but that always happens to me in the garden. Sometimes that's a good thing as more time in the garden is less time thinking about booze! The next day I felt wiped out and although I had to go to work, I wished I could just stay in bed (I think the combination of labor intensive gardening in the sun...I mean digging up new turf and taking grass out to make a flower bed type of digging) plus drinking that evening was certainly not a good combo!). Now I am back to detox myself and plan to do a little gardening today but not too much and not in the prime hours of sunshine! Good luck and happy planting! PS, I wish we had more farmers markets...ours doesn't start until end of June when we finally have some locally grown veggies in New England!

[Barbara1234]

Vigorous gardening during detox

Hi Pinksky,

Gardening is also my passion. I would soak the ground you plan on working on in the evening just as the sun is going down, don't forget to mix in some good soil with the sand and clay. There's nothing worse than putting time in the garden only to see there are not enough nutrients to grow your plants. Then get up early as the sun is rising and plant your starts. Mornings are cool and a wonderful time to putter in the garden. You won't be stressing out your body in the heat, dehydration will sneak up on you while you work in the sun especially if you are doing something you really enjoy.
I used to sit in my garden in the mornings or evenings and enjoy looking at what I had planted and watch it grow over time. There's nothing more rewarding than the mature garden, that you started! Good Luck!

[BlondeAFAmbition]

Vigorous gardening during detox

I, too, am finding gardening to be more of a passion this season than any other in my life! I immerse myself with gardening books and plans and can't walk past a flat of flowers at the store and not think how I can noodle them into my current garden scheme! I am relying on this new found passion as a good sub for my old bad passion of wine consumption taking up most of my evenings!