#Fit614: Take fitness resolution straight, no mixer
Hard day at work? Wind down with a glass (or three) of red wine.
Best bud gets a raise? Celebrate with a cold one.
Reunion with old college friends? Pitchers of margs all around.
No matter the occasion, there’s always an excuse to drink. And while there are some positive health benefits to alcohol, we always manage to find a way to abuse it. We’re not here to preach to you—we’re all adults here—but if you’re not drinking smart, you’re basically raising two, big middle fingers to your New Years resolution of improving your health.
What’s going on inside when you drink.
When we drink, our bodies literally stop everything to get those poisons out. Depending on what you’re drinking, the amount of calories you’re consuming varies. However, Lindsay Mathes, a nutritionist and dietician from Columbus, says every single calorie we consume through alcohol is empty. Not only does your alcohol consumption interfere with your digestions, but it also leaves your body with less nutrients than it started with.
And what about your sleep?
Let’s just say after a few too many drinks, you won’t be counting too many sheep because they’re drunk too. Though alcohol can make us pretty drowsy, Mathes says it can prevent us from reaching our deep stages of sleep. Even though you sleep till 2pm, we assure it wasn’t restful.
Oh, and the hangover.
Goodbye Planet Fitness, hello fourth cheat meal of the day. When you wake up with a hangover, you’re bound to spend the day on the couch, scrolling through UberEats to find the most greasy food known to mankind. Plus, your plan to hit the gym is 110 percent shot.
We don’t expect you to stop drinking.
We’re not unreasonable, we too love to indulge in a frosty pint of CBC IPA from time to time but there is this notion of “drinking healthy.” Rule of thumb: avoid sugary cocktails and dark liquor whenever possible. When the hankering for a little liquid coolant/confidence comes a-knocking, spring for any of the following low-cal bevs:
- Champagne: 84 calories
- Rum and Diet Coke: 85 calories
- Vodka soda: 97 calories
- Gin and diet tonic: 115 calories
- Tequila and soda with lime: 95 calories
- Bud Light: 110 calories
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