Opps…I did it again!!!
No I'm not talking about the Brittney Spears song. I'm referring to the massive amounts of drinks that were consumed over the weekend!
It’s Monday – You bust your chops all weekend long! Sacrificing your time and energy! Striving for perfection in each workout... then the weekend shows up. Ah those marvelous two days you pray for all week long are finally here and what do you do to celebrate?!?! You throw all that hard work and dedication away on an insignificant Saturday night that you’ll only remember through embarrassing photographs.
“Oh great! First you take my McChickens away from me… now my beer too?!?!”
Listen, I blog for three reasons;
1. I like listening to myself talk
2. I utilize any opportunity I get to display my corny jokes
3. To make you THINK
Alcohol consumption holds many adverse effects on all the vital requirements for muscle growth; hydration, recovery, focus, energy and anabolism (NOT to be confused with cannibalism! People should never be included in any diet – let alone one striving to maintain a healthy lifestyle).
“It’s not like I'm going to take shots of tequila for my pre/post workout shake”
Even though some guys yell, scream and throw weights around the gym like they are intoxicated, not too many people think about drinking right before a workout. Studies have proven that even having a few drinks a night or two before a workout can hold negative effects on your performance.
“I heard one drink a day is god for you. Aren’t there antioxidants in red wine that have been proven to help your heart and promotion relaxation?”
Well, well, well. Look at you Mr. Statman! However, we might have a slight case of selective hearing.
…Call My Bluff?
Yes, SOME drinks such as red wine hold MINIMAL health “benefits” – I use the term “benefits” loosely – but study’s show that around 2 – 3 cups (beer)/ shots (liquor) of alcohol is when dehydration starts to set in. Since alcohol is extremely hard on your kidneys, any water that is in your system during this time travels straight to your kidneys in an attempt to re-hydrate them instead of delivering nutrients throughout the body like it is suppose to do. So in short –
Water; the Taxicab of the Body
It could take up to 2 days for your body to recover 100% and become re-hydrated which is a necessity for an ample performance in workout. So “Mr. I’ll Listen When I Want Too”, even though drinking red wine in small doses can be argued as “not that bad” for you – not drinking the wine is even better! There are much more natural – healthy sources that provided the same antioxidants as wine without the preservatives. Activities such as Yoga or meditation are far more effective in the promotion of relaxation then any "Soap Opera and Red Wine" fixture you can come up with.
“…I hate you so much right now!”
That’s okay :)
Now before you send out the “boo birds” and write me up bad reviews let me clarify that I realize you are only human and most humans find difficulty in quitting drinking cold turkey.
All I ask is that you think about the trauma you’re putting your body through by getting grade nine stupid drunk every weekend. Maybe help it out a little by having a bottle of water after every 2nd drink and most importantly; know your limits!
It’s your life all you have to do is live it!
So in the words of my good friend Bobby Boucher;
“Now that’s what I call high quality H20”
