Alongside going to the gym like clockwork, you also need some fun every now and then. For example, going out for a drink with friends. But can alcohol and keeping fit actually go together?
Having a drink every now and then will not directly ruin your health and fitness goals. But drinking alcohol regularly while trying to get fit can be difficult. What we mean is that if you try to get fit, alcohol can counteract your results in more ways than you might imagine.
To start with, it stimulates your appetite, so you suddenly feel like ordering chips or a döner kebab. Your body doesn't register the liquid calories in a cocktail, so it's not as though you eat less to compensate. Alcoholic beverages are a source of "empty calories" because they contain little or no valuable vitamins and minerals.
Finally, if you eat while drinking (which you should do, to stop yourself getting too drunk), this can reduce your body's ability to digest, absorb and store valuable nutrients from the food you are eating.
If you do want to combine alcohol and training at the gym, follow these tips.
Do's and don'ts: alcohol and fitness
1. Stick to one or two drinks. The best way to enjoy alcohol is to do so in moderation.
2. Avoid cocktails. Sweet cocktails often consist of more empty calories and added sugars and fat. And, they are often served in larger volumes. A piña colada, for example, contains 490 calories from fatty and sugary sources such as coconut cream and pineapple juice. For some people, that’s a whole meal!
3. Drink plenty of water. Alcohol can cause dehydration. You should compensate for this fluid loss by drinking water, which also dilutes the alcohol concentration in your blood. Some tips on how to get your quota: take a sip of water before you start drinking, order drinks on ice and if you plan to have more than one drink, alternate drinking alcohol with drinking a glass of water.
4. Drink slowly and mindfully. Your aim is to enjoy a drink in good company, not to get drunk as soon as possible.
By following these tips, you can combine alcohol and training at the gym perfectly! If all goes well, you will wake up reasonably fit and therefore have enough energy to start your training session. So, it is possible for alcohol and training at the gym to go hand-in-hand. Enjoy to the full, but drink in moderation
