Alcohol's Effect on Your Fitness Goals

6-months ago I turned 21-year-old, and I am now starting to experience the effects that alcohol can have on one’s body. Excessive amounts of alcohol are obviously detrimental to a person’s health, and the effects are normally immediately felt the next morning. However, drinking alcohol can also hurt a person’s fitness goals. Now, studies are showing how drinking alcohol leads to a slower metabolism and inhibits the overall progress of a successful fitness journey.

Drinking blocks the absorption of nutrients into your body because your body is focusing on breaking down the alcohol before the nutrients. The good things that you are putting into your body are put on the processing back-burner in order for health systems to deal with the bad things from alcohol consumption. Additionally, drinking alcohol most often comes with an obscene number of calories. After thoughtfully planning and executing a diet throughout the week to lose weight or increase health, binge drinking can painfully hurt your caloric intake.

I was not shocked to discover that drinking alcohol can have negative consequences, however, I didn't realize how it can affect an overall fitness standpoint. Drinking is fine in moderation, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Especially with college students, binge drinking is a regular weekday occurrence that is often seen as an activity rather than consumption of calories. As this article states, “alcohol isn’t necessarily the problem—drunk (and hung over) you is the problem.” I agree that we need to make sure to drink in moderation and acknowledge the harm this "extracurricular activity" can effect you and your body.