re: Alcohol & Fitness

There is certainly no blanket answer that fits everyone.

I have no doubt that if you drink a 'substantial' amount and are way overweight, cutting out the drinking is probably one of the easiest and quickest things you can do to start to reign yourself in.

That being said, drinking for me doesn't keep me from staying in shape. Sure, it's probably keeping me from being a 7% body fat, shredded hunk of head turning beach bod; but I can easily maintain <15% body fat while drinking whatever the heck I want. I'm talking 5 beers a day kinda stuff (I'm not advocating that, just using it as an example). Last year I was able to get down to 10-11% body fat without changing my drinking habits. This year I cut my drinking WAY back and did not notice any substantial benefits in weight loss, strength gain, energy, or sleeping habits.

Point being, yes if you're out of shape and trying to help yourself in every way possible eliminating drinking should be at the top of the list. But some people can definitely be fit and in better shape than most people while still putting back a cold one whenever they feel like it. Just have to be able to stay in control and not let it lead to other bad habits (go to the gym when you're supposed to, don't get drunk and have a 4th or 5th meal, etc).