Even though our bodies mostly use carbs and fats for energy, they can also use ethanol, the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks. Due to its toxicity, ethanol is processed in the liver. Once it’s in the bloodstream, alcohol spreads to all body parts and goes into all tissues containing water. Because alcohol is carried by blood, it is delivered quickly to organs with many blood vessels, such as the brain, lungs, and liver. Therefore, during alcohol consumption, the liver prioritizes the breakdown of ethanol into byproducts that can be utilized by the body or excreted.

In this case, our body shifts away from using fat as its primary energy source to using ethanol instead. Unfortunately, this means that when we drink alcohol, the liver has a hard time converting fat into energy because it’s focused on using and removing ethanol.

When you drink, it increases the desire for foods that are calorie-dense and highly palatable. Once you have that one drink, it gets increasingly difficult to make healthy food choices. Does this make it better if you don’t end up drunk or with a hangover the next day? Not really! Having alcohol in your body means you will not perform at full capacity. You will not have the same energy to function correctly, impacting your gym performance.

Your sleep and ability to recover are also affected. You’ll find on occasion that you could fall asleep quickly, but that does not mean you’re getting restorative sleep. Lack of sleep will affect your ability to get the best out of your workout. Alcohol can also affect your hormones and your ability to burn fat and build muscle.

You will also find that alcohol impacts your goals because it causes you to feel and look bloated. Again, it’s a toxin; this isn’t surprising.

I’m not saying all of this to demonize alcohol. However, it’s good to understand how alcohol impacts your goals. Knowing these details will make you aware and take steps to minimize the negative impacts. Many are not aware of the effect it can have on their weight loss journey. If you struggle to reach your health and fitness goals , consider reducing your alcohol intake. This will allow you to spend calories on nutritious foods and give your body what it needs. If you make this small change, I promise your body will thank you!