Does alcohol affect your fitness goals, like with calories or feeling sluggish? Have you cut back or quit entirely to make progress? I am curious how others manage it, as I’m finding it harder to include if I want to reach my goals.
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Alcohol is packed with calories. I like to call it “Irish bulking.”
Try going sober, it’s the best choice!
I have nearly eliminated alcohol from my life. As I’ve gotten older, I have found that even one drink seriously disrupts my sleep and leaves me feeling awful for a day or two. I still have a drink on special occasions, but I go months without one and don’t miss it at all.
I had to quit drinking entirely to give my workouts my best effort. Today marks 90 days sober. I have lost 7 pounds, and I am stronger than I’ve ever been.
I know alcohol can limit my gains, so I usually stop drinking when cutting or prepping for a race. When I do drink, I stay hydrated and take multivitamins to counteract the negative effects of dehydration.
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Oral rehydration salts are essential after a night out. They help reduce the severity of a hangover.
I go for quality over quantity: 1 or 2 glasses of fine wine, a gin and tonic, or a cocktail from a bar, about once or twice a week. Also, the high cost helps me drink less!
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I know it’s the cause of my extra weight but I still workout when I have the time so it doesn’t impact the workout. I just like relaxing at the end of a busy day, with a drink of course.
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I avoid drinking because I always get a headache within the first drink, and it lasts for at least 24 hours. I don’t know about you, but it’s just not worth it for me.
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I had the same experience. The last time I gave in and had a few glasses of wine, I ended up with a migraine that lasted two days.
I feel you. I sure do.
I steer clear of it because it undermines my hard work. If I do drink, it’s carefully planned for very special occasions.
I don’t worry about it, I just drink and deal with the consequences 
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Same here. I have accepted that a flat tummy isn’t in the cards for me unless I cut out drinking.
I used to have two beers every Saturday, but I found it counterproductive. I’d retain water until Tuesday or Wednesday and get back on track by Thursday or Friday. But then Saturday would come around, and I’d have those two beers again, so I never really made progress with weight loss.
I have never been a big drinker, but now I only have a drink occasionally. On average, it’s about once every two weeks, and usually just one or two drinks like a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine. I avoid getting drunk because it’s just not worth it.
I smoke weed instead of drinking, so I drink less. When I do drink, it’s just one. I use a legal vape, so it’s safe and odor-free.
I hardly drink, maybe once every week or two. However, there’s a fitness instructor at my gym who drinks multiple times a week, and often more than one drink at a time. She’s about 40 and in fantastic shape, teaching tough classes and staying active throughout. I’m not sure how she manages it, maybe it’s genetics or she’s very disciplined with her diet.
Even if I stay hydrated and avoid a hangover, it still impacts my performance, especially if I don’t manage to push myself to work out.