A Few Words On Alcohol

I’m often asked whether alcohol is allowed whilst engaged in my coaching service. I don’t think that is for me to say, I wouldn’t presume to attempt to ban it, especially if it plays a role in your social or work life and could actually, through a certain lens, be thought of as a tool to utilise.

However, the reality is that alcohol won’t really have any positive impact on your health. Aside from being rich in calories, it can impact your sleep quality and impair your body’s ability to recover so you’ll want to make smart choices about when and how much you use it. 

Ultimately, we’re trying to build sustainable habits, so it is possible to factor alcohol into your life. Moderation is key, and I would always work on the principle that, if you can adhere to your target caloric intake 90% of the time, then the other 10% will have a negligible impact.

It is important to consider the part that alcohol is playing in your life. To some, enjoying a drink with friends is a good de-stressor or the thought of a glass of wine on the weekend might serve as a good motivator to adhere to a stricter meal plan during the week. Everybody is different, and you need to strike your own personal balance. 

A few final points to consider: 

• Moderation is key: a few drinks aren’t going to set you back, but a complete blowout is going to have an effect for a few days. 
• Don't calorie swap with alcohol: Although the caloric intake may be correct, don’t substitute a meal or healthy snack for alcohol. In making these substitutions, all you're doing is robbing your ability to recover, making you fatigued and eventually you’ll burn out or compromise your immune system. If you do want to try and offset your alcohol consumption, you can increase your fasting window (if you have one) and steady-state cardio, but don't overwork yourself. 
• Be mindful of what you are drinking: For many, wine is a healthier choice as it is easier to digest and has antioxidant properties. Try to avoid drinks with high sugar content or yeast where possible as these are not only higher calorie but will likely negatively affect your digestion as well. 
• Consider your relationship with alcohol: If alcohol is becoming a ‘crutch’ and you are using it to avoid or dampen any particular thought process or trauma, it is worth considering speaking to someone about helping you break this cycle.