4 Ways Alcohol Hurts Your Fitness Goals

Exercise and Alcohol: How It Hurts Your Workouts

Yes, it’s delicious. But it may be making it harder to reach your fitness goals. Credit: jenny downing (r&r)

2. Packed-On Fat. When booze is on board, your body, besides having to deal with the surplus of calories, prioritizes metabolizing the alcohol over burning fat and carbs. Alcohol also breaks down amino acids and stores them as fat. “For some reason this process is most pronounced in the thighs and glutes,” says Piattoly. “Excessive alcohol consumption really chews up muscle in those areas.” It also increases levels of cortisol (a stress hormone), which further encourages fat storage, particularly in your midsection.