PACE Yourself: Alcohol, Addiction and Exercise

by Megan Johnson Mccullough EdD

Overview

PACE Yourself: Alcohol, Addiction and Exercise provides qualitative research about the influence of exercise on alcohol use disorder (AUD) recovery. In addition, the author explains how someone can benefit from exercise and explores how the PACE method could help keep new addictions at bay. PACE is an acronym for Proactive Awareness Controlling Excess. The author has developed an app of the same name which is available in the Apple store. Exercise is medicine when it comes to the recovering body and mind of an alcoholic. Physiological and psychological changes as a result of moving the body contribute to prolonged sobriety and deter the cyclical threat the nature of alcohol abuse can pose upon person in recovery.

The struggle to never become powerless to alcohol again can be kept at bay when the benefits of exercise over power the benefits alcohol used to have. However, the addictive mind can find a new habit to replace the old one. The PACE method proposes steps to become aware of replacement type behaviors with the understanding that anyone can become addicted to anything.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780443133534
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	03/29/2023
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Megan Johnson McCullough is a Doctor of Health and Human Performance and owner of Every BODY’s Fit in Oceanside, CA. She is an elite NASM Master Trainer and professional natural bodybuilder. Dr. McCullough is certified from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA). She is also a certified Group Exercise Instructor by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), as well as being certified in Aqua, Cycle, Yoga, and Zumba. Megan also holds titles of Corrective Exercise Specialist, Drug & Alcohol Recovery Fitness Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist and Senior Fitness Specialist. Megan is a Wellness Coach as well as a Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist. She is a world champion natural bodybuilder, fitness model and author of 6 books. Dr. MuCullough also has a strong social media presence with over 30K Instagram followers.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Study
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. Data Analysis and Findings
5. Discussion and Conclusion
6. PACE Method

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From the Publisher

A guide for persons in the addiction and fitness related fields to better understand the nature of alcohol use disorder (AUD) recovery

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Sherie Huber, MS Education Admin, MS SEL(Benedictine University)
Description: This book is a published qualitative study using Proactive Awareness Controlling Excess (PACE) as a treatment method for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Diagrams, journal entries, and chapter layouts visually connect the transtheoretical model (TTM) to the elements of PACE.
Purpose: The author chose qualitative data to support previous quantitative data collected by researchers studying success rates of various treatments for AUD. The book's information is limited by the small sample group solicited from networking, with subjects working in the same field as the author. The book does meet its objective from a qualitative perspective. In searching for support to change addictive behavior, this book can be used for a step-by-step process of change. By providing the author's stepwise intervention methodology and research tied to this PACE program, the book successfully documents the thoughts and perceived benefits of participants.
Audience: Certified personal trainers and professionals in the fitness industry working with AUD populations can benefit from this research. The author is a certified personal trainer and drug and alcohol recovery fitness specialist, and has personal family experience with alcoholics. The author developed PACE and works with subgroups to help those in recovery see the potential benefits of replacement behaviors, including exercise.
Features: The study is well organized, enabling interested readers to skip chapters and find discussion on topics of interest to them. The quantitative research discussed in the review section is current and the methodology is clearly organized with numbered steps. The qualitative pieces are verbose, but can be skimmed and understood. The final pages include references and an appendix with coding analysis and suggested pieces developed by the author for anyone interested in building groups using PACE. The limitation is the small study group drawn from a small group of professionals that networked together.
Assessment: As a qualitative study, this book reads well, and participant accounts help bolster the research. The ties to the specific methodology of the PACE program's incorporation of exercise benefits and relation to TTM are clear. The author clearly states the need for more research in this area and stresses incorporation of this method with other proven support systems for AUD. This book will spark a new way of looking at behavior replacement in a structured manner.

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