Fitness Tip Review - Should You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

TLDL - Moderate alcohol consumption can limit your true potential. But not by much so do what works for you.

Alcohol is a toxin and restricting or limiting its consumption will certainly boost health and fitness goal attainment.

Sleep will be better, protein synthesis will be greater, and fat burning will be higher. Having alcohol in your system requires you to burn those calories before burning fat or building muscle. Remember, alcohol as a calorie supplying nutrient IS A TOXIN.

Alcohol is more calorically dense than protein and carbs, keep that in mind. (1 gram carb = 4 calories, 1 gram alcohol = 7 calories).

Consuming 3-5 drinks per week (wine with dinner, beer while grilling meat) will still allow you to reach 95-98% of your health / fitness potential.

Consuming 1-2 drinks per week will allow you to reach 98-99% of your potential.

Cutting it out completely can help get you to 100%.

But let’s be real, how many other variables of your life could adjust that will have greater impact than going from 3-5 drinks per week to 0?

That being said, if cutting it completely is something that you know you can do easily, give it a shot. You'll notice the extra boost.

As for me?

During the week I might have a beer while I golf or grill dinner. Maybe a glass of wine or if I am feeling spicy a bourbon or G&T.

However, I will avoid alcohol completely on nights I need to focus on recovery.

For example, I squatted heavy the other day. My body’s focus needed to be on recovery / protein synthesis. Therefore, I had a Topo Chico while I was grilling and some Greek yogurt with casein protein powder after dinner.

And if you screwed up and had a drink after squatting today? Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.

Addendum: You must assess your goals as well. There are plenty of examples of professional athletes that perform at the top of their game with considerable alcohol consumption. Pitchers have allegedly pitched great games in the World Series… after having a bottle of wine with dinner.