Sober Curiosity

Sobriety is sought after for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s a necessity: if they kept down the path of drinking, addiction would take hold of them or already had done so. For others, it’s a choice: to lose weight, to see if it’s possible, as a New Years Resolution. All reasons are valid.

Many people pursuing a healthier lifestyle assume that they can’t drink ever or they’re sacrificing their progress. Is there truth to any of this?

The short answer? Yes. And no.

As the most commonly consumed drug globally, according to the WHO, are all “healthy” people supposed to simply give it up? Not necessarily. It depends on your goals, what you’re sipping and how often you seek it out. It’s rare to have a simple answer, unfortunately.

Hard alcohol, meaning the drinks containing rum, vodka, tequila, whiskey, and other similar alcohols, does not have any beneficial factors if your plan is to build muscle and lose fat. Losing or gaining weight in general is a game solely dependent on a caloric deficit or surplus; however, body recomposition in a way that builds muscle, burns fat and increases metabolism, begs for a decrease in hard alcohol consumption. Otherwise, our bodies will be too focused on metabolizing the alcohol in our systems and not focused enough on recovering from workouts and processing the rest of our diet.

Not all alcoholic drinks are pure ethanol, as hard alcohol is, however. Wine does have antioxidants and polyphenols. Beer contains nutrients such as antioxidants, carbohydrates, Iron, vitamin B, calcium and fiber.

Alcoholic drinks can have benefits and they are still energy consumed. You are able to occasionally drink, in a conscious way, while understanding what it is bringing to the table of your body. Know what exactly you are consuming and what nutrients it provides.

If you are drinking, make sure that you properly hydrate and eat a balanced meal between your workout and your beverage of choice.

As they say, anything in moderation.