Alcohol and working out

[Mr.Hash wid da Stash]

Hey all,
I don't have a drinking problem, but every weekend I like to let loose and drink, alot.... I know Alcohol has no real nutritional value but will it have an effect on me bulking? I mean I have problems gaining weight anyway so a few extra calories won't hurt. But does drinking booze stuff up the way protein is used or something? Should I stop drinking completely or what? Are all serious bodybuilders tee totalers? Thanks fellas.

 

[elvis aint dead yet]

If your serious about Bodybuilding and eventually start taking other supplements, Alcohol is not recommended because it's bad on the liver.

But if you just want to get drunk every weekend, I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as it's not affecting your training and workouts.

And you said your bulking, so as long as your eating relatively healthy and training, you should be ok.

But if you start to CUT, stay away from alcohol.

 

[Reto]

Yeah...there are studies that show alcohol inhibits muscle growth/recovery.

But you know what? I have 2 beers a night after I work out and get slammed every once in a while. It really hasn't hurt me. Maybe I could be bigger if I didn't drink. I don't know.

Try holding off drinking for a month and see if you make any noticable gains. If not, go back to drinking. That would be an interesting experiment.

Personally, I'd rather have a couple of beers and enjoy myself than gain a few pounds of muscle. Actually, I'm as big as I really care to be...

The few extra calories will hurt if you are trying to rip down. I can tell a difference in my abs if I go out drinking on a saturday night. But, a little extra cardio and tons of water solves that problem...

All things in moderation...

 

[madgame]

I started a thread called "alcohol is a biatch if u wanna gain weight" or something ;-)...Ive made the experience that drinking definetly hurts my muscle gains. It has not just an indirect effect (as in having a hang over and thus no energy) but it has also bad effects on your muscles directly. it reduces your testosterone leveles for example (I know this sounds like its not that important but drinking alcohol really reduced my gains). I like to enjoy myself too though, so if I go out 2 times on the weekend I just get a little tipsy and if I go out once I might get kinda drunk ;-) Im not staying away from it completely but drink in moderation..and reducing my alcohol consumption has definetly helped me.

For example there was a time (after I graduated) of about 4 months when I got pretty drunk like 3 days a week and I wasnt able to increase my lifts at all during this time. Then I slowed down on drinking..drinkin in moderation like 1 or 2 times a week (and not getting hammered) and all of a sudden my lifts started to go up again. On the other hand theres gonna be 3 hot parties from friday to monday where I definetly have to go, which kinda bothers me cause I know this will most likely mean that I wont be able to up my lifts during that time So Im just not gonna drink on the following weekend (= almost 2 weeks of not drinking) and concentrate on getting my lifts up, and its gonna be aight ;-).

Basically I would say only drink when ure going to a party or something (give up the beers ure drinking during the week while ure in front of the TV ;-)), try to not get hammered, except for once in a while if u want to and only drink as much as u need to party dont drink for the sake of doing it. If ure not trainign to become a professional bodybuilder and your life doesnt revolve around bodybuilding but u just wanna get strong and have a nice physique thatll attract the ladies, I think youll be fine with drinking in moderation if your workout / nutrition is right.

 

[looking for answers]

what if you drink only once a week socially, but get to the tipsy/almost drunk stage?

 

[madgame]

thats about how much I drink ;-)

 

[livin large]

Alcohol lowers testosterone levels, will dehydrate you, and will cut into your sleep (I don't mean in time, although it will do that also, I mean you don't sleep as deeply after you've been drinking). So you're feminizing yourself while at the same time depriving your body of the time and substance it needs to build muscles. In other words, alcohol is not good to combine with serious lifting. That doesn't mean it's pointless to lift if you drink, but moderation is key if you're going to get the gains you want.

I recommend no more than 8 drinks per day. You'll notice great improvements in your lifts AND in your ability to drive to the gym.

 

[Reto]

Dam! 8 drinks a day?

That's not moderation in my book. I'd be toasted all the time...

Or do you mean, no more than 8 drinks in one sitting? Like on a saturday night.

 

[Mr.Hash wid da Stash]

They actually say that a male should not consume more then 4 standard drinks per a day. Back in my depression days I used to pound back 12-16 standard drinks everyday, strangely though, I didn't get a beer gut, thank god.

 

[livin large]

Originally posted by Reto
Dam! 8 drinks a day?

That's not moderation in my book. I'd be toasted all the time...

Or do you mean, no more than 8 drinks in one sitting? Like on a saturday night.

That part was a joke. I never have more than 4 drinks in a day, and rarely drink more than 2x per week.

 

[siph]

alcohol basically destroys much of the work you would accomplish by lifting. its been proven on the cellular level.