I woke up this morning with a splitting headache, queasy stomach, and general lethargy. To top it off, my memory of last night is spotty at best. Granted, these symptoms will pass in time. My memory of the night might even improve. But what about the effects of alcohol on my muscle building campaign? How much damage have I really done?

 Too much alcohol – that is to say, a full night of near-binge drinking – will have a significant harmful effect on your muscle gains. Having a few drinks is nothing to worry about, but slamming back a 12-pack of your favourite brew over the course of an hour is probably not such a swift idea. 

First of all, as is evident by the splitting headache and dry mouth, alcohol dehydrates. This can be partially cured through careful consumption of water while drinking, after drinking, and the morning following a night of drinking. I personally enjoy slamming back a bottle of Gatorade when I get home. At the same time, I try to pop a multivitamin or two, because alcohol can deplete your body of its natural vitamins and minerals. 

Despite the aggressive state you may be in when drinking, alcohol can also hamper testosterone production. In addition to this, alcohol can have a negative effect on protein synthesis, which means a lot less muscle building while you’re drunk. Lastly, alcohol makes you feel like crap for a full day after – so definitely avoid getting drunk the night before a workout. 

In summary, alcohol sucks for bodybuilding. In fact, it hurts pretty much every aspect of athletic training. 

But it’s fun, so don’t stop altogether. In order to limit damage to your muscle gains, be prepared: drink lots of water, pop a multivitamin, don’t miss any meals, and give yourself plenty of recovery time.  

Life is a delicate balance – regularly lift hard, always eat big, and reward yourself with a few beers every now and then.