EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON EXERCISE:
You’ve heard that alcohol is bad and that you should only drink it in moderation or perhaps not at all, but many people still choose to drink too much alcohol and then wonder why they aren’t seeing fitness results. This article is going to enlighten you on the effects of alcohol on exercise, and I’m not going to “lecture” you…just inform you.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, HOW MUCH CAN I DRINK?
In order to put a perspective on the effects of alcohol on fitness we need to know how much alcohol is too much. Check out the link below for a quick graphic to see how much you should generally drink.
Moderation Analysis (<<Click the Link)
ALCOHOL WILL WRECK YOUR BODY:
Alcohol will beat your fitness goals into the ground like bag of fast food on the freeway. Drinking in 
moderation can be ok, but to put it in perspective: for those of you who like to use supplements, drinking alcohol is like using an anti-supplement. Why would you want to counteract any benefit you can get to build muscle and strength? If you’re starting to get mad at me because you like to drink and don’t want to believe what I have to say…check this out…
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS:
If you drink a lot of alcohol chances are that you are already “living in the moment” but what does “the moment” mean for your body? In the short-term drinking before a workout can cause dehydration during the workout due to increased body temperature and because alcohol is a diuretic and will make you go to the bathroom more.
Alcohol gets in the way of absorbing nutrients and other processes of recovery due to the body’s desire to get rid of the poison you just put into it. When you drink alcohol your body puts a priority on getting rid of it above many other processes that would have helped build muscle, endurance, and overall fitness.
Your liver produces glucose for you to use during your workout routine, but with alcohol being metabolized in your liver the liver can’t produce the glucose necessary for an intense workout. This can cause your blood sugar to become low (hypoglycemia) and will utterly put a stop to any potentially beneficial exercise.
If this isn’t bad enough having the stuff in your system makes getting rid of lactic acid extremely difficult. Lactic acid is responsible for delayed recovery and assists in muscle soreness. If there is one thing I learned, it’s that getting rid of lactic acid as soon as possible will enable you to work much harder the next day.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS:
One of the other effects of alcohol on exercise and fitness is that alcohol contains a ton of calories. A standard 12oz beer contains about 220 calories on average. While some of you who want to bulk up might get excited about this, let me assure you that you don’t want these kinds of calories. These calories are terrible for gaining muscle but excellent for gaining fat. Of all the effects of alcohol on fitness getting fat might help most people stay away from binge drinking. So if you want to get fat then maybe drink some alcohol. If you drink consistently while maintaining the same diet you will gain fat like a lard-addicted couch potato.
Besides getting a beer belly there are other health problems previously hinted at above. These include liver damage, heart disease, and increased risk of cancer.
CONCLUSION: EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON FITNESS ARE?
- Get fat
- Trouble absorbing nutrients
- Low blood sugar
- Liver damage, heart disease, and potentially cancer
- More muscle soreness and lactic acid
Ok, so you might not go completely sober after reading this article but you can use moderation from here on out. If you have the discipline to workout then you have the discipline to control those alcohol urges. Don’t fall victim to the effects of alcohol on your fitness and personal health.
Do you have experiences with alcohol and exercising? Let me hear about it! Comment below
