Hey Fit,
I had post-work appetizers and drinks with a girlfriend last night, and as we departed she said she was heading to the gym. Granted, we each had two light beers over maybe an hour and 20 minutes, but it surprised me that she'd go work out after a couple drinks. She said she doesn't do it all the time, but if she's not feeling too tipsy it actually helps her kind of zone out and get into her workout, and by the time she's finished any possible buzz is gone. Is this healthy to do?
— mamasitamalita
There are days when we try to pack it all in: work, catching up with friends, working out. With the recent news that folks who drink regularly tend to exercise more, I suspect this dilemma is increasingly common. To see what I have to say on the matter, keep reading.
While alcohol can make you feel giddy after a few sips, it is a depressant. Alcohol affects your nervous system and acts as a mild anesthetic and tranquilizer. Essentially it slows you down, negatively impacting your reaction time, and impairs your balance as well as your hand-eye coordination. Alcohol also reduces your strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity. It will also interfere with your body's ability to metabolize fat and create muscle growth. Having alcohol in your system when exercising can also increase your recovery period, making you more sore post-workout. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it will increase your need to urinate, and combined with sweating while working out, can lead to dehydration.
Add this to the list of reasons not to knock back a few drinks before hitting the treadmill: the effects of alcohol peak about 40 to 90 minutes after drinking, and it will stay in your bloodstream until the liver can process it. Your friend might not have felt too buzzed when she left the bar, but she probably wasn't feeling the full effect of the alcohol.
Bottom line: I don't think it is a good idea to have a couple of drinks before hitting the gym. You are more likely to injure yourself due to lack of coordination, and alcohol interferes with your body's ability to reap the benefits of the workout.
Mulberry
Velvet
Paul Smith
I agree. I had a friend who would do this as well and I thought it didn't make much sense.
1lol, I could never do that...A) bc i am not that obsessed with exercising I don't feel guilty if I skip a workout. and B) I have no willpower or self control after drinking, thats why i also have gyros or fatty food everytime I am drunk.
2Interesting. Mamasitamalita, that was a good question!
3Also agree. Great question!
The dehydration is the really red flag for me. Also, I think working out probably uses your hypothalamus to regulate your body's systems. I would imagine alcohol interferes from it working correctly.
4thanks! it really seemed weird to me.... I'll stick with sober work outs (unless you count dancing at a bar... in that case...)
5That was a good question! I have been known to head to the gym after one light drink, such as a glass of champagne, but anything else and it seems like a bad idea. Plus, I know a lot of tennis players who are keen on playing while drinking, and it has led to injuries!
6It was a good question. I can't even imagine working out with a little buzz on. but then again I'm very much a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, it doesn't take much lol.
7I didn't know people do this - never even occurred to me to work out after a drink. Although - I do love to go dancing when I drink, and I'm always so sore the next day from it that I think I got a good workout.
8Fit! It's so weird you posted this today, I just did this last night for the first time ever. I wondered if it was ok to do. I'd had a glass and a half of beer from 6:30-8, then worked out about 9pm. I was motivated to workout to deal with boyfriend issues not b/c I can't skip a workout. It actually didn't feel any different than a regular workout and I felt much better afterward. I'm feeling ok today too, but I imagine if I had drank more I probably wouldn't have been doing so good. Thanks for posting the great question!
9It's kind of funny that this question is answered today. Just last night I had a beer with dinner. Only one beer, but it was a pretty strong one (Hitachino Espresso Stout.. mmmm) I was a little buzzed and felt a bit guilty for drinking the extra calories. I would never run on the treadmill or anything like that after drinking, but i did do a bunch of crunches and push ups. woops.
10I'm also glad you posted this today! I think the response was a little harsh though. It's pretty obvious if you're unbalanced, having trouble walking/talking, you probably shouldn't head into the gym with a 10 mile run on your agenda. I had a jack and diet coke about 45 minutes before hitting the gym and honestly felt great (and still do this morning), especially about the fact that I worked out rather than going home and vegging. I personally don't think one light drink will do very much harm, but a sober workout is preferable of course.
11wow this is so interesting that other people have done this or considered it, thanks for chiming in
12I don't think I'd be motivated enough to bother going to the gym, but when I go out I usually dance for hours, so I'm doing more cardio than I normally would at the gym and getting more and more hammered as the night goes on... it's never seemed to hurt me any more than just drinking without the dancing. There have, however, been a few occasions when I've lost track of time playing DDR after a few drinks and woken up with REALLY sore legs
13One more reason to try to get your workout in in the morning, I guess.
14Weird; I'd never consider doing that...it just seems kind of like a really bad idea to me. Alcohol makes me sleepy and calm; definitely not ready to work out! I guess this is why you usually enjoy the booze after you work out, lol.
15for a while i used to work our buzzed. i loved it. i felt like i had more energy. yea, it is probably a bad idea because it's more likely one would injure themselves but i'm just saying it's not that ridiculous.
16Sometimes, every once in a while, I will get stoned before yoga or a long run - it helps me to calm down and focus on the task at hand, rather than obseessing about work or personal stresses. I use a vaporizer though, so there is no damage to my lungs and my breathing is not affected.
17That's a strange combination. My balance is already off as it is. I'm sure I would seriously injure myself if I tried this workup technique.
18It's funny that this question was posted, since I often get the weirdest urge to work out after a few drinks. I thought I was the only one...
19I do something similar to this actually. After a night of heavy drinking, when I wake up in the morning if I am sometimes still buzzed, I will actually go on a run. It is a strange feeling but you really zone out. I most def bring water with me and everything, and though I know it may not be the most intelligent thing, it is a great way to clear my head.
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