Excellent post on alcohol and athletic performance. I have been in the midst of deciding which is more baneficial for the peak performance I seek in every aspect of my life: the “unwind” that a beer or a glass of wind affords at the end of a day, or the improved performance in every facet of my life performance, not just the WOD, that results from complete abstention. It seems as though peak performance is winning as I find myself down to two drinks a week or so.

Alcohol-related Rhabdo is actually more common than exercise induce Rhabdo by about two orders of magnitude. While still rare, this is just one more important point when discussing the even more rare entity of CF-induced Rhabdo. Please note, however, that neither you nor anyone else has ever observed an episode of “localized Rhabdo” because the entity does not exist. Rhabdomyolysis is a systemic, total body illness that results in damage to non-skeletal muscle organs from myoglobin released from massive muscular damage from whatever cause. Without this organ damage Rhabdomyolysis (the disease) does not exist, no matter how high the CK might be.

What you have observed, and what may have an association with alcohol use (I do not know) is localized muscle trauma associated with overuse. Swelling, localized pain, and inability to use the affected muscle in the absence of systemic disease is NOT Rhabdomyolysis, no matter how high the CK might be. It IS painful and serious to be sure, should be taken seriously by trainers, and is not to be taken lightly.

But it is NOT Rhabdomyolysis. It is vitally important that Affiliates stop using the term “localized Rhabdo.”

–bingo

As far as the drinking is concerned… That’s why we all can power lift like Calvin. I’m going to go have a beer.

http://www.vimeo.com/3564191

Bravo Sam! My cleans this morning looked EXACTLY like that. STELLAR Bee Charmer form (if there is such a thing).

With practice and hard work, someday I may be as good as little Sam!

Oh darn…