I used to be the kind of guy who thought life was a never-ending party. I’d drink every four days a week, like clockwork, juggling bad relationships and sinking into debt. My only saving grace? I was good at my job. But that wasn’t enough to save me from the cycle of spending and self-destruction.

One day, after a particularly wild night of partying and splurging hundreds of dollars on things I didn’t need, I felt the weight of guilt crushing me. That’s when it happened – a sharp, unrelenting pain in my right side. I was at the office, sweating bullets, my face pale as a ghost. The next thing I knew, I was blinking awake in a hospital bed.

The doctor, with a stern look on his face, didn’t mince words. “Listen, buddy, you need to stop drinking or you won’t last long,” he said, handing me a mirror. I barely recognized the man looking back at me – my face and eyes were a sickly yellow, my lips the same. Tears streamed down my face as the doctor explained I was poisoning my liver, and I’d narrowly escaped liver failure.

Life had given me a second chance, and I wasn’t about to waste it. Getting sober was a strange, unfamiliar journey. I missed the wild nights, the carefree laughter, the thrill of the party. But as I settled into a routine, focusing on getting healthy and clear-headed, things started to change.

Some days were tougher than others, with cravings gnawing at me like a persistent itch. That’s when I turned to weightlifting. Just ten reps every hour, but it was enough to steer me back on track. It wasn’t just about losing weight or getting fit; it was about regaining control of my life, one rep at a time.

And let me tell you, life on the sober side? It’s bizarre, challenging, but oh so worth it. Each day, I’m rediscovering parts of myself I’d lost in the haze of alcohol and bad decisions. It’s like waking up from a long, troubled sleep and finally seeing the world in vivid color. I’m building a life I can be proud of, one day, one decision, one rep at a time.