14 Sep 2009 04:01 PM

Newsflash: That guy you see at the gym grunting near the free weights EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. may be hitting the bottle even harder than he does the pec deck.

According to a new study, people who drink alcoholic beverages on a regular basis may be more likely to exercise than their dry counterparts -- and the more they drink, the more likely they are to work out.

"A possible motivation is that people who consume alcohol recognize that it contains a fair number of calories, so they exercise to counteract caloric intake," the study's lead author notes.

The study, published in the September-October issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, found that:

*Light drinkers (defined as those who consumed 1 to 29 alcoholic beverages per month) exercised nearly 6 more minutes per week than those who abstained from alcohol.

*Moderate drinkers (defined as those who consumed 15 to 75 drinks per month) exercised 10 more minutes than those who passed on alcoholic beverages.

*Heavy drinkers (defined as those who consumed 76 or more drinks per month) worked out 20 more minutes than their sober mates.

*Women drinking alcohol exercised 7.2 more minutes per week than abstainers, and men 5.5 more minutes.

Researcher also found that drinking for both men and women was associated with about a 10 percent increase in the probability of engaging in vigorous exercise.

According to researchers, the message here is not to use alcohol to improve your exercise regimen. After all, the negative effects of heavy drinking clearly outweigh the benefits of consistent exercise. However, the study results show that "responsible" drinking may be beneficial in your quest to stay fit.

I suppose if you are self-conscious about getting a beer gut, you would be more likely to hit the gym each day. Though, I'm still not convinced that sculpting a six-pack after drinking one is met with success in every case.

I don't drink, but I certainly see how the results of this study are applicable to me as well. I am a binge donut eater and I workout everyday because of my addiction to Krispie Kremes.

Related Articles:

Is Your Daily Drinking Habit Killing Your Diet?

Pump Up Your Workout with Fruits and Veggies

Forget Gatorade, Grab Bowl of Chex Instead

Stay Fit by Eating Healthy

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