Let Them Eat Cake--But No Drinking
You’re better off having a piece of cake than 2 or 3 drinks. While a piece of cake (350kcal) may have more calories than a vodka soda (90kcal), it certainly doesn’t have more than a frozen margarita (700kcal). So yes, it depends on how many and what kind of drink you have that form the basis for the preceding statement. But calories aside, alcohol has terrible post-consumption effects!
Alcohol causes dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Not only are you likely to have a headache from the dehydration, you are likely to have false hunger pains and desire salty and fatty foods! Dehydration makes you hungry and because one of the 4 basic electrolytes is sodium, the body begins to crave foods with salt, which combine fat, protein, and carbs. This is why it’s more appealing to hit up Fuddruckers when hungover as opposed to whipping up an egg-white omelet.
Alcohol is a heavy diuretic. When you are dehydrated, the brain shrinks away from the skull and the blood vessels in the head expand, giving you a headache. "The body’s capillaries begin to shrink, leading to mild hypothermia, or that cold, sickly feeling," says DrinkTHC.com. "Dehydration starts as your liver processes that 1st beverage, but other effects begin several hours later, as the alcohol makes its way through the small intestine." The site warns, "Alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, which the body attempts to expel because it’s toxic. Fat builds up in the liver as well, reducing some blood flow and preventing toxins from being flushed out of the liver.
"Also, alcohol inhibits the metabolization of glutamate, one of the body’s main stimulants. In the beginning, this inhibition makes the imbiber feel nice and mellow, but as the alcohol wears off, the body overcompensates for the lack of glutamine by producing more of it. This makes it hard to sleep."
When I do personal training or nutrition counseling, I always ask my clients not to drink. It’s not just because of the empty calories, but because they are likely to indulge after drinking as well. In addition, they can’t have a good workout (or one at all) with a hangover and lack of proper sleep. If you are really committed to losing weight and training, ditch the alcohol. It’s not worth it.
