EP 335: Kevin Beaufrand’s Recovery Story
Host: Drifter
Guest: Kevin Beaufrand
I grew up in the Caribbeans on the french island of Martinique. I have always been athletic, and for the most part, I had a wonderful childhood playing outside with my friends, climbing trees, and playing hide and seek!
All this took a radical turn when my father suddenly died in a motorcycle accident in 1999. I was only 11 years old back then. He and I were very close, and I desperately needed a father figure at that age, so this was extremely difficult.
I am the youngest of 3 brothers. Both my brothers were living on another island at the time, which meant it was just my mother and I in the house. My mother was very strong; she had to be. I did my best to be a good supportive son, and things went relatively well (as well as can be after suddenly losing your dad) until the age of 13 years old when I discovered alcohol. On that day, I knew right away that something was not right; alcohol made me feel good, way too good. That is when things took a turn for the worse.
I did not fully realize it back then, but that day when I had my first sip of alcohol would trigger a chaotic slippery slope of a long nightmare. For the next 18 years, I would try again and again to quit, only to relapse, to try to quit again, and again and again… between the denial I was in and the amazingly strong grip alcohol had on me, I felt for the longest time as if I would never be able to find long-lasting sobriety. That is until I found my calling to help others!
By May 2019 (when I had my last drink), I had been a personal trainer for 6 years. Those 6 years were some of the hardest. As I descended deeper into my addiction while simultaneously preaching health to my clients, I was a fraud and felt like one. If I wanted to help others, I had to help myself first and foremost!
That’s when I knew enough was enough. I had to make a change.
You see, up until now, I had only used exercise to get healthy, which is just one of the health pillars (foundation). The five health pillars are nutrition, movement (exercise), mindset, sleep, and community. If any of those are not cherished, you can rest assured that you will not thrive. So I put all the chances on my side this time and cherished my health as a whole! I adopted a new mindset, started eating better, exercising, sleeping better, and perhaps more importantly, packed all my belongings, changed my phone number, and moved to North Carolina (from Florida).
I am sure you heard this saying before: “you are who your friends are,” and that is true, especially in addiction. I needed new friends and a new environment if I wanted long-lasting sobriety.
With my newfound health commitment and the support of my wonderful wife and friends, I am approaching 5 years of sobriety. Since then, on top of being a personal trainer, I have decided to become a nutritionist, a sobriety coach, and a mindset coach in order to help my clients cherish all 5 health pillars so they can have lifelong results. Today, I am obsessed with helping my clients find new ways to improve mentally, physically, and spiritually one day at a time.
I never thought in my life that I would find my passion, let alone my purpose. But here it is: my purpose is to help and guide others who are struggling with addiction by eliminating limiting beliefs, and making the most appropriate health choices in order for them to find long-lasting sobriety and unlock their full potential.
We only have one life, and our health is our most precious gift; we must cherish it!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is not my intention to be dark in the description of my life; it just so happens that for 20 years, my life was just that dark. It has been the opposite of a smooth road. I cannot possibly list all of the bumps and obstacles I encountered during my 18 years binge; this will have to be for one of the future books I will write.
So instead, I will leave you with some major timelines of obstacles:
11 years old: I lost my dad tragically and suddenly (he was gone in a few hours, and I did not have time to say goodbye).
12 years old: Started having major panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, first time seeing therapist (first of many).
13 years old: Found alcohol; this started the 18 years of a nightmare filled with lies, deception, puking, and worrying that today may be my last.
17 years old: I lost my best friend tragically and suddenly in a boating accident.
18 years old: Major car crash onto incoming traffic (lost driver’s license after only 3 weeks having it and nearly killed someone).
19 years old: Started acne treatment in France, went terrible, and triggered suicidal thoughts (had to stop treatment early).
20 years old: Moved to Florida and started experimenting with harder drugs.
24 years old: 4 days in hospital due to rhabdomyolysis (deadly condition due to excessive workout and alcohol & cocaine overdose).
30 years old: Went to rehab for 6 weeks but relapsed 6 months later.
31 years old: Clean and sober for good.
36 years old (TODAY): On a mission to help as many people as possible find sobriety and avoid the mistakes I made by caring for their bodies and mind as a whole, loving themselves, and living life to the fullest.
Other Sober Resources:
No Sippy No Slippy. Not Another Drop No matter What.
Remember to Pour The Poison Down The Sink!!
Sobertownpodcast.com
