Effect Of Booze On Body Building

TGIF. After a week of trudging eight hour days in front of the computer, the weekend is here.

All throughout the week we strive so hard to eat right, take plenty of fluids, have regulars sleep patterns and of course work out. Isn't it weird that after putting in so much effort or five days a week, we end up getting drunk on the weekend?

There was a time when I wasted no time to hit the bar on Friday night. But that was before I realised exactly how much alcohol was hurting the efforts I was putting in the gym. I hope after you have gone through this article you we'll realise the detrimental effect alcohol has on bodybuilders and cut back on your drinking.

Useless calories

Alcohol is useless calories. Absolutely devoid of any nutrients, it has the high calorie value (almost 8 cal per gram). A single shot of vodka contains almost 110 cal. Guys who are trying to lose weight should either give up drinking completely, or learn to live with their paunch. That's because not only does the super high calorie content of booze add to your total calorie intake, but also lowers metabolism rate.

Due to the amount of effort your body has to make to metabolise and digest the alcohol, fats don't get burnt.

Dehydration

As most of you are aware that their hydrated muscles offer an optimal anabolic environment that is necessary for the body to build muscles. When the cells of your body are not able to hold enough water it becomes extremely hard to build muscles. Alcohol also blocks the absorption of a number of important nutrients like potassium, phosphorus and iron, without which muscles simply can't grow.

Lower Testosterone Levels

Alcohol reduces testosterone levels and increases estrogen. At your most intoxicated state your testosterone levels can plunge by almost 25 %. That is actually one of the reasons why guys tend to feel horny after getting drunk. You may feel ready to have a go at your girl, but you'll just end up embarrassing yourself in bed.

While I can't ask my reader to give up drinking, I would definitely request them to do it in moderation. After all, there's no reason to constantly lose the gains you've made in the gym for a few hours of inebriated fun. Cheers.