Fitness and Beer

If you clicked on this article, then you are probably wondering if there is a way to finally prove that drinking beer has no effect on your fitness result whatsoever. Take it easy…Beer does have it’s positives when considering some health topics but fitness and beer should never be done at the same time. With that said, alcohol in general will effect your bottom line results if you are seriously considering a body transformation.

Having been a bartender in Las Vegas in some of the most prestigious nightclubs and lounges in the world, I have had some experience in the past with my share of respected spirits. I have learned that beer does some good to the body. I also realized that many people have a hard time giving up alcohol when trying to change their body. Lack of education may be a reason. So here are some things to know about some good and some not so good about consumption during your transformation.

There is a difference in which beers do what for your body. Not just any beer is the same as others. For example, Guinness beer, my favorite, or other dark beers have greater health benefits than light beers. They tend to have a greater antioxidant value to them. Micro brews often have more positives than mass produced beers. Reason is some particular pale ales contain 80 times the hops of larger brands. Hops contains compounds that help lower cholesterol, fight cancer, and heart disease.

Moderation is the key if you need to consume beer. Over consumption can lead to feeling sluggish, dehydration, and longer recovery.

Every serving of beer from a 12 ounce standard bottle contains about 12 grams of carbs. Because the way the carbs in beer are processed, most of it is stored as fat. If you decide to drink alcohol after a workout, make sure that you drink water before and after because the alcohol itself will slow down your recovery.

Low Carb – No Carb Alcoholic Drinks | Fitness And Beer

Just like the fat free labels of the 80’s created the obesity epidemic, the alcohol industry had come out with low carb beers and no carb spirits. This is legal as long as they don’t promote it as being an option for weight loss. These labels are out and they are enticing people to think they can drink more of it without side effects just like people did with fat free chocolate chip cookies. We have see what has happened with that.

Wine companies have been trying to push healthy heart benefits to wine drinkers. In order to do this they have to include a little booklet that you see packed around the neck of the bottle for required disclaimers. Although wine does have benefits that help the heart, consumption moderation and servings usually get jeopardized because of how spirits make you think like your unstoppable after a while, therefore defeating the purpose.

Regardless of what the label says, ethyl alcohol is the only form of alcohol that is completely carb free due to the distillation process, but still contains calories. These would be spirits such as rum, gin, brandy, and whiskey.

My point is, is that there are benefits or wine and beer. But let’s face it, the best way to help your body out and achieve your fitness goals would be to minimize or completely cut out alcohol and put in the nutrients like almonds, spinach, chicken breast, tilapia, and others alike. We aren’t fooling anyone but ourselves thinking that we can drown in a 12 pack of Mich Ultra and have no effect on our bottom line.

Alcohol Calories | Fitness And Beer

Nothing ever is all good and perfect so you have to know the bad as well, alcohol calories. Each beer contain on average 120 calories per serving. Some less and some more. So when you consider that you are drinking 4 beers in an hour or two, you are putting down as many calories as eating a burger and fries at a fast food joint. Consuming too many calories leads to obesity, the “beer belly”, and many other health deficiencies. That is why fat free labeled foods created a world of obesity. They tricked everyone in thinking they could eat what they want and never gain a pound of fat. Fat free doesn’t mean sugar free or calorie free, and alcohol is no exception.

My recommendation is to steer away from as much alcohol as possible if you are really trying to change your body through health and fitness. A few glasses of wine here and there or a beer or two on the weekends or your rest days are okay. However, during the week, make a commitment to really be point on with your nutrition and what you are putting into your body.

In the end, the fact is, is that every single thing you put into your mouth counts and does effect your end result. As I said in the beginning, you can have a great fitness journey and beer does have some positive health benefits, but it is in no way recommended by me or any fitness professional out there to include in your nutrition plan or to be used at the same time in any given moment to improve your results.

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