The effects alchohol has on your training

ianfunkinhard · 09-12-2008, 04:57 AM

Does anyone drink and still make gains?

Drinking completely ruins my gains. Unfortunately most of my social life revolves around partying and drinking with friends but i find out i always regret it because it massively slows down my gains. Does any one else have this problem?

If you do drink and bodybuild do you do anything to try and minimise the effects it has on your growth?

I'd like to point out im just a skinny guy trying to reach a certain weight and stop, i dont plan on being huge or competing etc

Andystm · 09-12-2008, 05:11 AM

As long as you don't drink too often you should be fine. I drink like once a week and I enjoy it, it's something perfectly normal if you don't get too carried away (ie: no puking etc) and make sure you keep yourself hydrated.
If you are drinking alot just cut back, not only will you mak ebetter gains but your liver will thank you for it and as a result ur skin, ur kidneys...
In small quantities it can even be good for you (a red wine, a quality beer).
I'm no expert but this is just common sense really.

elias1877 · 09-12-2008, 05:18 AM

i drink pretty heavy once a week, and have made steady gains. Cant say it will be the same for everyone, but it works for me.

ianfunkinhard · 09-12-2008, 05:44 AM

i go out on like a huge bender once every 2 weeks or so, like in a nightclub until 5am. I find i can eat that much the next day

I try not to do it at all. im all focused on making gains all through the week until i get friends harressing me to go out partying on the weekend.

nillocsivad · 09-12-2008, 06:51 AM

I drink typically once a week. I dont get hammered and I drink tons of water. then when i wake up i start off by cooking some kind of greasy breakfast and force everything down with lots of milk.

works every time to get me back into the swing of eating all the time, so long as i get plenty of sleep.

Skindogg · 09-12-2008, 07:07 AM

Ahhhhhh don't worry about it brodogg, a couple nights a week won't kill yah, or affect your gains too much. But to tell you the truth, I think hard alcohol has a bigger distress on overall muscle growth, so keep that to a minimum, when it comes to beer all it takes is a little more cardio to burn off the extra calories throughout the week. I go out one night a week and I usually go pretty big, hey, **** it, go big or go home, life is too short. Just be safe about it and try not to do too many drugs, those will really mess up the gains

lth · 09-12-2008, 07:53 AM

I usually go clubbin pretty hard once a week and have no issues what so ever making gains. I use my night out partying once a week as my cheat day and as we all know, one cheat day per week isn't gonna affect anything. So, I think you might just need to eat more man....drinking one night a week is not gonna screw you up that bad.

TonySturch · 09-12-2008, 07:54 AM

I have a glass or two of red wine quite frequently with dinner. Ill drink beer to the point of having a healthy buzz about once a week. Ill go on a serious tear maybe once a month. And If im lucky, Ill only hurl once or twice a year. Im getting too old to puke multiple times a week.

Anyway, Im sure my gains would be better if I cut out the drinking and ate a little better, but I want to enjoy life and stay happy and have fun with my friends as well. Im still making gains in the gym, so Im happy with the slow progression.

Da 1 Pumpin Up · 09-12-2008, 09:58 AM

I binge heavily 2-3 times a week and am pretty much on a cut at all other times watching my diet very closely. I just make sure I get plenty of protein at all crucial times like in the morning, around workout, and before bed. I haven't really been making gains but I haven't lost muscle either. But I'm also not really looking to get all that much bigger I just want to stay at the bodyfat level I'm currently at.

monkey21 · 09-12-2008, 12:44 PM

my brother jack goes out drinking 5 nights a week and gains the same as me.i don`t drink much about twice a year but i still go out everyweek and enjoy myself!.But when i drink weekly i lose strengh!i think everyones different ya know.

elias1877 · 09-12-2008, 01:19 PM

im defantiely getting wasted tomorow night. ill report back sunday to see if i lost any strength

Nihilium · 09-12-2008, 01:23 PM

Alcohol affects testosterone levels negatively. It's going to have some effect on your gains no matter what. But then you have to take in to account the reality of all the other factors of training, and if losing a little testosterone, and possible mental ability to lift, is really going to have an effect on your lift for that day.

Personally, I drank last weekend, all weekend. I didn't puke or anything, but I had a decent amount of alcohol. I always eat a big breakfast with a thick protein shake the mourning after though, which helps replenish all those lost nutrients. Wait a couple hours, then by the time gym time comes around, I'm good to go.

mc335e · 09-12-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianfunkinhard

Does anyone drink and still make gains?

Drinking completely ruins my gains. Unfortunately most of my social life revolves around partying and drinking with friends but i find out i always regret it because it massively slows down my gains. Does any one else have this problem?

If you do drink and bodybuild do you do anything to try and minimise the effects it has on your growth?

I'd like to point out im just a skinny guy trying to reach a certain weight and stop, i dont plan on being huge or competing etc

To be totally honest, I have been drinking heavily 2-3 days a week for the last four months. However, for the last two weeks, I haven't touched it, just to see exactly what kind of changes I'd see in my body. In the last two weeks, I immediately dropped 4 pounds (didn't change my diet at all, other than the alcohol) and feel MUCH better.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'll still have a beer or two here and there on weekends to loosen up when I go out, but I think it does hurt you if your'e looking to put on muscle and even more so if you're looking to cut. I'm 22 and know EXACTLY what you mean as far as partying and whatnot goes. But if you're really serious about it, just cut back. You'll feel and look better. I guarantee it

blacksmith77 · 09-12-2008, 02:10 PM

Depends on ur goals

Ibballard · 09-12-2008, 02:19 PM

The last month at school I have drank way too frequently. It has definitely hurt my progress, but with hardcore training, otherwise clean nutrition, and careful supplementation I have pretty much maintained my muscle mass and not put on any noticeable fat. So in short, while alcohol is very detrimental to making progress, maintenance or even progress is possible despite alcohol consumption.

Karat: Not recommending regular drinking to anyone on here. I just enjoy it as part of the college social life.

crog77x · 09-12-2008, 02:25 PM

I have came to understand that alcohol will negatively affect the amount of free testosterone in the body because it causes the body to dry out, becoming dehydrated. With that, drinking a fair to good amount of water will actually increase testosterone. Thus, so long as one puts in enough water to replace the water they lose due to alcohol consumption PLUS additional water they would take in normally i shouldn't see why it would REALLY effect someone. However, alcohol, especially in large quantities, will make muscles sore and can adversely affect training.