There are numerous benefits provided to us when we are in good physical shape. I know exercise probably isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to think about, but research has proven that there are a wide variety of benefits correlated with exercise, including: better sleep quality, an increased level of productivity, increase in development of brain cells, a longer life span, lowers health risks (diabetes, cancer, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, and obesity), stronger bones, decreased amount of migraines, a boosted immune system, a better sex life, and it provides benefits to our mental health.
What we consume into our bodies also has a large effect on our physical shape. We will talk about food later on, but for now I would like to focus on the effect alcohol consumption has on our body. To start off with, let’s consider the caloric intake of the average drink:
| Alcoholic Beverage | Calories |
| Light Beer (12 oz. Average) | 110 |
| Dark Beer (12 oz. Average) | 168 |
| Red Wine (5 oz.) | 105 |
| White Wine (5 oz.) | 100 |
| Gin (1.5 oz, 80 proof) | 97 |
| Rum (1.5 oz, 80 proof) | 197 |
| Vodka (1.5 oz, 80 proof) | 97 |
| Whiskey (1.5 oz, 80 proof) | 116 |
| Tequila (1.5 oz, 80 proof) | 96 |
I am not going to begin to make any assumptions about your drinking habits, but I know what mine were. I was consuming alcohol anywhere from three to seven times a week. I would typically drink anywhere from five to ten beers and two to five shots of whiskey. So, on an average week I would consume approximately 4,308 calories from alcohol. That means I was adding that many (virtually empty) calories to my diet a week.
Not only was I adding the empty calories, but on the days I would decide to consume alcohol, nine times out of ten I was not going to exercise. So, I was adding empty calories and substantially decreasing my potential for exercise. We will get into this more later, but for now; by staying sober, today you can get in better physical shape.
(Photo by Tim Foster)