The Common Denominator: Alcohol

I enjoy a cocktail just as much as the next person but in the past year or so I've cut down substantially on the amount of alcohol I drink. Mainly because I was so confused by my lack of results. I was eating healthy, exercising daily with a mix between strength training and cardio training and I was either maintaining my weight and body fat or sometimes gaining depending on the time of year and many of my clients were suffering from the same. So after assessing my regimens (and my client's) I finally figured out that the common denominator was alcohol. It's a quick and easy way to reverse all that hard work and effort not to mention the results you stand to achieve when otherwise living a healthy lifestyle -- starting with empty calories (and lots of them), interference of a good night's sleep, messing with your metabolism, decreased inhibitions (aka...splurging on chips and pizza), consuming more increased sugar intake and inflammation in the body which leads to bloating, muscle pain and decreasing the body's ability to absorb nutrients from other food. Once I decreased the amount of alcohol I consumed I started to realize the results I was working so hard to achieve. I'm not trying to be a party pooper by any means but it's important to understand the adverse effects that alcohol can have on your body and your results. Your best bet is to drink in moderation with adequate hydration via increased water intake before, during and after you drink to offset all of those less than healthy effects of alcohol. Cheers to moderation and results!