Alcohol and Fitness: Dispelling Exercise Myths

When it comes to staying fit and healthy, it’s important to understand how what you eat and drink affects your body. Alcohol is a common part of many people’s lifestyles, but it can significantly impact your exercise performance and recovery. Let’s debunk some common myths about alcohol and physical fitness to help you make informed decisions and better choices that support your health and exercise goals.

Alcohol and Exercise: Separating Fact from Fiction

• Myth 1: Alcohol doesn’t affect your workout. Some people believe drinking alcohol doesn’t impact their fitness routine. In reality, alcohol can reduce muscle strength and slow down reaction times. It may also leave you feeling tired or less motivated to exercise. If you’re committed to maintaining or improving your fitness, it’s best to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.
• Myth 2: A beer after a workout is a good way to recover. Although a post-workout beer might sound refreshing, alcohol can interfere with your body’s recovery process. It dehydrates you and slows down muscle repair. Rather than reaching for an alcoholic beverage, opt for a healthy snack such as a banana or a protein shake to refuel and support recovery.
• Myth 3: Alcohol helps you sleep better, so you’ll be more rested for exercise. While alcohol may initially make you feel sleepy, it disrupts your sleep later in the night, leaving you tired and less energetic for your next workout. Good sleep is essential for fitness, so avoiding alcohol—especially before bedtime—can help you feel more rested and ready to exercise.
• Myth 4: Alcohol doesn’t really add calories. Alcohol contains a significant number of “empty calories,” which offer no nutritional benefits. Regularly consuming these extra calories may lead to weight gain and negatively affect your fitness goals. Keep this in mind when considering your overall caloric intake.
• Myth 5: Alcohol won’t affect your long-term fitness. Consistently drinking alcohol can lead to decreased muscle growth, poor endurance, and unwanted weight gain over time. If long-term health and fitness are your goals, be mindful of how much and how often you drink.

Understanding the facts about alcohol’s effects on physical fitness can help you make more informed decisions that support your health and exercise goals. Take care of your body by considering what you drink as part of your overall fitness plan!

Resources

If you need help to quit or limit your drinking, the Department of Defense provides screenings to help identify what type of support you need and what treatment would work best for you. They offer inpatient, partial inpatient, and outpatient treatment options.

Military OneSource

Support for Military Personnel & Families | Military OneSource [militaryonesource.mil] is a DoD-supported service offering 24/7 confidential support, specializing in helping military members, families, and veterans. Services are provided CONUS and OCONUS via call-in, live chat, and text on their website and mobile app.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

You may also call the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free and confidential treatment referral and information service (provided in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Check out additional resources for Service members here [ownyourlimits.org] .