Alcoholic beverages are a staple in American culture, so no wonder why some people might be curious to see if you can consume alcohol while lifting weights, doing cardio, or simply doing a few warm-up exercises.
Now, you might be asking yourself, “Drinking alcohol before a workout?! You have got to be pulling my leg here, why would anybody do such a thing?” But there are some people interested in this topic and I’m here to provide them with the interesting evidence that I have found while scouring the internet.
A Few Drinks Wouldn’t Hurt, Right?
Alcohol is not a drink to be used as a replacement for water, because alcohol is a diuretic, which means that your kidneys will produce more urine and leads to you becoming more dehydrated since your body needs to work harder to push the alcohol out of your system, according to INDI.
“Alcohol dehydrates you. This is because it is a diuretic, which means it makes your kidneys produce more urine. Therefore drinking too much alcohol can lead to dehydration. Exercising soon after drinking alcohol can make dehydration worse because you also sweat during exercise.”
Consider this, if you are consistently drinking alcohol while working out, you are actively dehydrating yourself, whilst also sweating, which will result in you having less stamina and strength which would impact your performance immensely causing you to tire out quicker.
Liquored Up?
We now have shown you how alcohol can impact your system during a workout routine, but now let us see how alcohol can impact your body during a workout session, according to INDI.
“If your liver is not producing enough glucose, your body will become tired as it works to expel the alcohol, making it even more of a struggle to keep up the pace.“
Alcohol interferes with how you make energy. If your liver is not producing glucose, your body will start to collapse under the intense workout regime, meaning less muscle growth and less time spent on working out, since your body is trying to pump enough blood to the needed areas that you’re working out on and also trying to expel the alcohol in your system.
Alcohol can also relax your body, which is great if you are partying with friends, but if you really want to get serious with your workout routine then alcohol would not be a great way to synergize your routine. Especially if you want to have an intense workout, it will make it harder for you to complete your reps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, alcohol is not a good substitute for a protein shake or water. The point of a workout is to maximize your time in the gym, not have a drinking fest with you and your buddies.
If you really want to drink alcohol, you could always finish your workout session and head off to your local bar or outdoor gathering with friends at a later time make sure to remember to be safe and drink responsibly.
