Everyone enjoys a good night out every now and then, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important to be mindful when it comes to how alcohol can affect your training both in the short and the long term.
That’s why we’re going to go through some reasons why you should moderate your alcohol intake if you want to achieve your fitness goals.
Hydration
Alcohol consumption takes its toll on your kidneys, meaning that it will hugely impact on your body’s hydration. This is because, instead of helping to process other substances, the water that you do have in your body will go directly to your kidneys in an attempt to metabolise the alcohol.
After you’ve drank alcohol, it can take a while for your body to become rehydrated and we all know that hydration is essential when it comes to your performance at the gym.
Protein synthesis
Protein synthesis, is hugely affected by alcohol. Your body will struggle to absorb the protein, not only will this slow down growth, but it will hurt your recovery too.
Energy levels
It almost goes without saying that your energy levels will be at an all time low after a heavy night of drinking. Alcohol limits the metabolism of other substances in the body. You’ll feel so drained to the point where your performance levels in the gym are almost zero!
Strength performance
You’re dehydrated and your energy levels are lacking, so how do you expect to improve your performance? You’ll also find it a lot more difficult to put mind over matter when it comes to reaching new personal bests.
Calories
Don’t kid yourself – the calories you consume in alcohol do count! If you’re on a calorie-controlled diet, think about the amount of calories you’ll be wasting on something that isn’t in any way nutritious.
