Barney (from the Simpsons, not the big purple dinosaur) is what most people think they will look like if they drink high calorie alcohol, yet you too will look like this with even vodka and water. Less than 5% of the alcohol calories you drink are turned into fat. The main down side of alcohol is its ability to reduce the amount of fat your body burns for energy. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that 8 people given 2 drinks of vodka and sugar-free lemonade (90 calories total), had their whole body lipid oxidation (a measure of how much fat your body is burning) dropped by a massive 73% for several hours afterwards. Ouch!

Also, rather than getting stored as fat, the main fate of alcohol is conversion into a substance called acetate.  What then happens is the body focuses on burning the acetate, instead of our main goal, fat.  Let’s break it down…

·         you have a few drinks (2 or 3)

·         a small portion of the alcohol is converted into fat

·         your liver then converts most of the alcohol into acetate

·         the acetate is then released into your bloodstream, and replaces fat as a source of fuel

Another reason alcohol is dangerous (wow, another one!) is that it increases your appetite. Why do you think there are pizza stands and hot dog vendors on every avenue of 6th Street? Those guys are geniuses! A recent research study in Denmark showed that when a group of men were given a meal and allowed to eat as much as they wanted, they ate more when the meal was served with beer or wine as compared to a soft drink.

Side effect #1,000 of alcohol is that it lowers your body’s ability to create testosterone (a needed hormone to create the lean muscle tissue that we work so hard on at Workshop Fitness). And for those who are crying out, “Testosterone! Who am I, Mark McGuire?!” No need to fear.

Every time we work out, we create a little bit of testosterone, which is needed to help create muscle. This increases our metabolism which helps you drop the LBs. And for those who think that since you are going out that night, you need to bust your butt in the gym (I know we all have done it)… the effects on testosterone are even worse on the days you exercise before you drink.

When it comes down to it, the odd drink here and there isn’t going to kill us… but if you are serious about trying to get into the shape you want, alcohol has to be thought of just like a chocolate-chocolate fried queso pie. TRY to stay clear from it.  If you guys have any questions or concerns about any of this information, feel free to give me a shout back. Otherwise, go HOUSTON TEXANS!!!!

Jamal Yusuf

Certified Personal Trainer
http://www.JamalYusufTraining.com

Do you think your nutrition is flawless?

Many of my clients have professed their obsessions for diets; they refer to themselves as ‘professional dieters.’  They have tried every weight loss program, scheme and have been sold promises of feeling better and losing weight immediately. And 9 times out of 10, their attempts fail because of one–or some combination–of the four reasons below. That being said, awareness is key and if you know what mistakes to watch out for, you’re already a leap ahead of the pack. If you want long-term success, here’s what you need to know.

Reason #1: You’re not fully committed.

There is no quick fix when it comes to nutrition. If eating healthy was easy, everybody would be doing it. Much like any other tangible goal, consistency is the key to any program. Nutrition is ‘at least’ 80% of the game, and it’s all about attitude. If you’re not truly ready to make a full-commitment to losing weight, chances of you hitting your goals are pretty slim. If your head isn’t in the game, why agaonize yourself?

The fix:

Set motivating goals. In order to set yourself up for success, you have to plan for it. Imagine if you’re driving across America, with no directions, map, iPhone or even a compass. Chances you’ll make it to your destination are as slim as you winging your diet. You must identify a significant source of personal motivation for finally shedding the extra weight. Maybe it’s to manage your health conditions… or to be around for your kids, and their kids… or to finally feel more comfortable in your own skin, which will boost your confidence.

The bottom line is that motivation has to come from within you. Then, strengthen your resolve by reading your goals every single day. Post your long and short-term goals on your bathroom mirror, and recite them every morning. In order to have success, you have to know the direction you are going to reach your goals.

Reason #2: You expect the diet to work for you.

Individuals who begin a new diet with unreasonable expectations regarding how much they’re going to lose each week or who have an unrealstic goal weight in mind-are setting themselves up for failure. Unpractical goals = unrealistic results. In turn, you’ll more than likely end up terribly disappointed and ditch the diet as quickly as you started it.

The Fix:

A healthy weekly average of weight-loss is one to three pounds. If an individual sheds more pounds than that- say, by fasting for long stretches of time-they’re more likely to gain the weight back… and then some.

Successful weight loss is a slow and steady process. If you posses the ability to accept this fact and buckle down for the long haul, you will be handsomely rewarded with better health, a smashing figure, and newfound confidence.

Reason #3: You call a lifestyle change a short-term diet.

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