Living in one of the most beautiful areas in the world, wine is embraced a unique part of the Napa Culture. One of the benefits Napa locals have within arm’s reach is our world class wine and food scene. Having a drink with friends or at a networking event is an entertaining experience for many people in Napa. A glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail after work can also be a great way to let off steam. As locals in Napa, we see wine as an expression of our culture. We enjoy it on many occasions and people have integrated wine as a career path to become a significant part of their livelihood.
Our personal training clients in Napa frequently ask, “How much alcohol can I drink without ruining my fitness goals?” The first thing we investigate to help guide people in a productive direction is looking at their decision making when choosing to consume alcohol. While many people participate in activities centered around alcohol as a catalyst to enhance an experience, you pick your poison here. Just like many privileges in life, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.
After an intense, laborious day at work, it’s nice to put your feet up and open your favorite beer. Perhaps going out to a local bar and watching the local sports team play while having some wine or a cocktail is fun. Maybe there are social events involving your work place where a glass of wine while schmoozing with others welcomes new relationships amongst colleagues. This can all lead to a good time. But what happens when one glass of wine turns into two? Or three? Sometimes the environment that we are in can trigger us to have another serving of alcohol.
Consuming alcohol regularly can have the same effect as having regular desserts occurrence or drinking too many soft drinks. Similar to the over abundance of guilty pleasure foods, alcohol possesses extra calories that cannot be absorbed or utilized as energy. Eventually, this excess alcohol intake can trigger the storage of fat underneath our skin. Additionally, the chemical breakdown of alcohol in our system takes longer to metabolize than standard food. Excess sugars from alcohol can stay in our system longer and avoid being metabolized. Just like any calorie in the body that doesn’t get used for energy or rebuilding lean muscle, left over calories will fluctuate toward fat cells. Lastly, regular over consumption of alcohol is a potent diuretic. Meaning that along with the elimination of alcohol in the digestive system, vital nutrients and hydration levels are decreased due to the powerful diuretic effects alcohol influences upon the body.
When answering the, “Can I drink alcohol?” question, we never impose a decision that is against what people want to do. As discussed previously, wine and food are a significant portion of people’s lives. However, as a personal trainer and nutritional consultant, promoting awareness on decisions that affect an individual’s life time fitness goals in critically important to getting the most out the journey to maintain a strong, healthful and happy life. Light needs to be shed upon the events of regular alcohol consumption and how it’s easy to acclimate to over drinking regularly. Alcohol is a barbiturate that has lethargic effects and dampens the desire to perform physical activity the next few days after enjoying a little too many drinks. The desire to relax and sit down more increases when alcohol is continuously present in our social and leisure times, contributing to increased sedentary lifestyles and decrease physical activity. Of course, indulging too much gives us nasty hangovers. And I can’t name one person who enjoys going to work hung over let alone getting a bout of exercise in. These are the downsides of partaking in alcohol as a priority over physical activity.
The solution we always recommend is make your life time fitness goals a priority when the opportunity to enjoy a drink is coming up. For example, on the days that you foresee a work function including alcohol, perhaps you can focus on eating well balanced and vegetable rich meals before the event. When the boys are out to the bar and want to watch the game, maybe you can plan a workout in the night before or even schedule a time to get a long walk in on the same day. By prioritizing a healthy lifestyle before venturing out to enjoy some time having a few drinks, you can enhance your interaction with others.
Increasing awareness and mindfulness of physical activity, healthy eating, and plenty of sleep will improve your mood, give your more energy and help you be an fun, enjoyable person as you are having a few enjoyable drinks on your social time.
Sean McCawley, the founder and owner of Napa Tenacious Fitness in Napa, CA, welcomes questions and comments. Reach him at 707-287-2727, napatenacious@gmail.com or visit the website napatenaciousfitness.com.
