Exercise and Party All You Want?

Is it true if you exercise you can party all you want? Nope. This isn't the case at all. In fact, this is one of my favorite fitness myths that makes me cringe when I hear it like listening to finger nails on a chalkboard. Why on Earth do people think that if you get regular physical activity (wise choice) that you can put all the junk food and alcohol you want into the body? Clearly there is a huge contradiction here that baffles me, but seems to be justification for others. That is like going to get your car waxed, polished and detailed JUST so you can go mud-whomping with the windows down. It doesn't make any sense.

In fact if you work out intensely during the week just so you can party like a rock star on the weekend, you may be doing more harm than good to your body. This is because the body recovers during periods of non-activity. What you choose to do during the time in between workouts greatly dictates the positive effects exercise has on your body like boosted metabolism, increase in lean muscle tissue, better fat burning capabilities and healthy hormone function. Long nights without sleep, junk food and the over consumption of alcohol is bad enough on its own and when you couple that with a body that is trying to recover you have a recipe for a weakened immune system, a slower metabolism and decreases in physical performance. What's the smart way to have your cake and eat it too? Limit your partying to maybe once or twice in a month and don't workout on the days you do plan to go out and have some drinks. Limit your alcohol consumption to a moderate intake and don't drink yourself to oblivion for a number of obvious reasons. Be smart, be safe and be healthy.