Darien Personal Trainer Explains How Alcohol Effects Your Body

Alcohol consumption is part of today’s social culture and it has been for a long time. Even the group of personal trainers that I worked with in Darien, CT would go out every now to have our fix. Some of us would actually head out to drink several nights every week, but that’s beside the point. We all know that binge drinking is not good for you, so how about that one glass of wine every night that is supposed to be good for you?

Wine does have its health benefits but alcohol consumption in general will severely impact your ability to get that lean body you strive for. These are just some of the reasons that alcohol consumption should be held to a minimum when you’re trying to change your body.

1. Alcohol contains 7 calories/gram compared to carbohydrates (4 calories/gram), proteins (4 calories/gram), and fats (9 calories/gram). Unlike carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, alcohol has no purpose in our bodies; therefore, the chances are that you’re storing every one of those extra calories as fat.
2. Alcohol can slow your metabolism which will lead to a decrease in the amount of calories that you typically burn in any given period of time. Decrease your metabolism and make fat loss a whole lot harder.
3. Alcohol actually reduces the absorption of nutrients into your muscles as well as decreasing protein synthesis. This combination may leave you in a catabolic state, something that is counterintuitive when your goal is a lean defined body.
4. Lastly, alcohol consumption leads to an increase in estrogen and a decrease in testosterone. Estrogen is feminine hormone which can create additional fat storage among other things. Testosterone is a male hormone which aids muscle growth and fat loss among other things. Both men and women carry both hormones in varying amounts but alcohol impacts this balance in a very negative way.

These are just a few of the many reasons that you need to put the drinks down if your goal is to loss body fat or build muscle. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen in the fitness clubs struggling to succeed because they couldn’t drop that glass of wine every night. Live your life and have fun, but do realize what the effects of alcohol are so you can prioritize what’s more important to you.

Advice from the Top Personal Trainer in Darien