Beer drinking and fitness?

[redcaesar]

Check out Martin Berkham from Lean gains take on Alcohol and fat loss.

Good read

But basically it's calories so if your trying to loose weight drinking/eating that much calories will make it next to impossible. I've given up beer for awhile since cutting. But occasionally will have a vodka soda or wine because they have a lot less calories.

[bdub2283]

Your right and I really do appreciate your input and I do need to make better choices as far as my weekend beer drinking habits go. I understand my weekly calorie deficit is very important if I'm gonna lose weight.

There is no way I could weigh 165 trust me I may be fat but I got plenty of muscle underneath it as I'm sure has been said before but true in my case. I would be ripped outta my mind at 180 or 185.

Only called you a tool because of the "you don't have to drink to have fun" comment considering I'm older than you but thanks again I really do appreciate your input every little bit I can learn helps.

[jimsmith9999]

Your right and I really do appreciate your input and I do need to make better choices as far as my weekend beer drinking habits go. I understand my weekly calorie deficit is very important if I'm gonna lose weight.

There is no way I could way 165 trust me I may be fat but I got plenty of muscle underneath it as I'm sure has been said before but true in my case. I would be ripped outta my mind at 180 or 185.

Only called you a tool because of the "you don't have to drink to have fun" comment considering I'm older than you but thanks again I really do appreciate your input every little bit I can learn helps.

This is what every fat dude thinks, and every fat dude is mistaken once they lean out. 5'11", ripped at 180-185, you'd have to be built like a bloody advanced bodybuilder to ripped at that weight at your height.

[kanis999]

I think this is common sense. Now, mind you, I'm not going to label beer as 'all good' or 'all bad'. But if you want to be as fit as possible, you try to drink as little as possible.

[kanis999]

This is what every fat dude thinks, and every fat dude is mistaken once they lean out. 5'11", ripped at 180-185, you'd have to be built like a bloody advanced bodybuilder to ripped at that weight at your height.

This ^. Reality check incoming for OP. Look at my avatar. Somewhat better than average shape right? Now look at my weight. Yup. Everyone overestimates how much you have to weigh to have a lean muscular physique.

[nhclone]

But basically it's calories so if your trying to loose weight drinking/eating that much calories will make it next to impossible. I've given up beer for awhile since cutting. But occasionally will have a vodka soda or wine because they have a lot less calories.

I guess that depends on what they have a "lot less calories" than. Do they have a lot less calories than a 20 piece chicken McNugget? Sure. Than your typical light beer? No way.

Alcohol is approximately 7 cal/g. That doesn't change if it comes from beer, wine, or liquor. FWIW, vodka is about 80-90 cals in a shot, and wine is 110 cals in a glass. (Light beer 90-100 cals per can/bottle).

[bdub2283]

This ^. Reality check incoming for OP. Look at my avatar. Somewhat better than average shape right? Now look at my weight. Yup. Everyone overestimates how much you have to weigh to have a lean muscular physique.

Really ok? If you don't mind me asking how strong are you? What are some of your PR's? 5'8 160 and lean good job but remember I'm 2-3 inches taller than you and everyone is built different. Don't think you know everything cause you have been working out and posting on a forum for a while.

[kanis999]

Really ok? If you don't mind me asking how strong are you? What are some of your PR's? 5'8 160 and lean good job but remember I'm 2-3 inches taller than you and everyone is built different. Don't think you know everything cause you have been working out and posting on a forum for a while.

I can bench press 260 lbs. That's 1.44 times my bodyweight when I set the PR. For you, you'd have to bench 381 lbs to be considered equally strong. And yes, actually me having spent 1000 hours reading on this forum DOES mean I probably know more than you, unless you've spent that much time researching and discussing in other venues. I use an adjustment of 10 lbs per inch. So your equivalent weight for me being 160 is about 180-190.

Nothing I said in my first post warrants a personal attack, but since you did attack me, enjoy some red squares you fat p.o.s. alcoholic.

[bdub2283]

I can bench press 260 lbs. And yes, actually me having spent 1000 hours reading on this forum DOES mean I probably know more than you, unless you've spent that much time researching and discussing in other venues. I use an adjustment of 10 lbs per inch. So your equivalent weight for me being 160 is about 180-190.

Nothing I said in my first post warrants a personal attack, but since you did attack me, enjoy some red squares you fat p.o.s. alcoholic.

Wow!! Did you get your butt hurt because I said don't think you know everything?

Lighten up chief don't take everything so personal? Anything said in my post back to you definetely did not warrant those comments.

Little man syndrome running rampant around here!!

[TomLambert]

One day can make a difference though, when the additional calories are high enough. You are adding nearly 2500 calories in on day from beer. You say you are also binging as well without saying on what, so lets just guess another 500 to 1500 calories depending on what it is. So you binge is is somewhere on the order of 3000-4000 calories.

You know your maintenance calories? Multiply that by 7 and see what your maintenance is for the week. Now look at how many calories you are taking in a given week, including you binge and you will get a pretty solid idea of just how much that is affecting your progress.

The best advice I have for you is to decide what is more important to you, fat loss or binge drinking with your friends, and pick one. If you continually try losing fat while self sabotaging every weekend you will drive your self insane.

This. If you're not running a STEEP deficit (>750cals/day) you're most likely undoing your entire weeks progress and maybe even then some. If it doesn't fit in your macros then you're just spinning your wheels.

[kanis999]

Wow!! Did you get your butt hurt because I said don't think you know everything?

No, it was because you insinuated that I'm weak.

[tunagainz]

You can still drink, you just have to keep yourself in a caloric deficit to loose fat. So if I know I'm going out to drink I'll burn extra calories the night before or if I have a weeks notice, I'd add a little bit of extra cardio in each day.

1 x James Squire Sundown Lager (I drink this) = 131 calories each
So if I want to drink a six pack I'd burn a extra 131 calories each day so I can drink a 6 pack on the weekend.

[Clint18Robin]

Wow!! Did you get your butt hurt because I said don't think you know everything?

Lighten up chief don't take everything so personal? Anything said in my post back to you definetely did not warrant those comments.

Little man syndrome running rampant around here!!

Not to troll...and not taking sides

but arent you only 2" taller?

[sonti]

Perhaps it is normal in your town to drink 19 drinks in a weekend but that is pretty excessive to the majority of people. Hell, I live in an area where alcohol DAILY is the normal (French culture) and that would still shock most people here. If you have a wife and kids, then I'm guessing you are old enough for that to hit you pretty hard and we don't exactly recover great as we age either.

Try 1-2 beers on a weekend and see how that goes. If you can't stick to it then yes, there's a problem there. Whether it's being unable to eat or drink in moderation or having a problem with alcohol, I don't know, but yes, you are completely blowing your calorie deficits by doing this.

[284Shooter]

It can be done, but you better have a very active job, workout hard, and eat right.

You must burn all those cals some how.

I understand where op is comming from, I am down almost 100 lbs, drinking 24-48 light beers every weekend. Yes, I would have been a lot easier if I did not drink, but it is my choice.

I was drinking everyday, and was almost 300lbs, I cut all that out, only drink on Friday and Saturdays.

I have a very active job, I try to eat right, and can easily drop fat and still drink.

Not saying it is good, but can be done.

[bdub2283]

No, it was because you insinuated that I'm weak.

I apologize if I offended you in any way just wanted to know your strength cause its the only way I could kinda judge your muscle mass compared to mine.

It's really not fair to say " op has a wake up call coming" or "fat dudes always say that" I've been lifting weights on and off for quite some time over the last 15 years so you guys have no idea how much muscle I have accumulated and what kind of build I have.

I have been doing tons of research over the last year and have been training hard for 10 months and I know my body pretty well. I can currently bench 325lbs, incline 285, squat 390 so I would say I'm relatively strong compared to an average man.

When I was 22 I weighed 202 and could see my upper abs ever so slightly and figured another 20lbs I would be relatively cut. I have at least 10 to 12lbs more muscle on my body now so in my estimation 180 or 185 I would be pretty cut up. I could be wrong but we will see cause I'm not stopping till I get there.

Again thanks for the input it is much appreciated.

[kanis999]

I'm sorry and embarrassed by my words. I heard "well I bet you aren't strong, little hotshot" because that is my innermost fear. I wish you success on your journey and will give you positive rep once off cooldown.

[Used2be300]

I'm sure stuff like this is an often discussed topic but its one that should be discussed. I'm from a small town in Texas and I grew up drinking beer and almost everyone I know drinks beer pretty frequently especially on weekends during football games/fishing trips etc..

Personally I work hard all week at my job, at the gym/diet and of course spending time with my wife and kids so when the weekend gets here I can't wait to do some 12oz curls and just relax watch football or bs with friends but how does this fit into my fitness goals?

Honestly it doesn't because I for one can drink a lot of beer in true hillbilly fashion which of course really packs on the calories and makes you very hungry on top of it. Last weekend I drank 12 coronas (1,776 calories) and 7 coors lights (714 calories) and then ate something ****ty before bed as usual because when your drunk you really just don't care.

I tell myself it's only 1 day a week your doing this so it can't be that bad right? Not really sure what impacts this has on my fitness goals but I know the scale isn't dropping and this routine must be playing a factor. I don't wanna stop my beer drinking habits cause I like to have fun too and this is fun for me I really enjoy it but at the same time I want the fat to keep coming off.

I'll keep working hard and probably keep the beer flowing on the weekends and we will see what happens!! If you guys have any issues with beer or advice you can give on this, maybe your habits and fitness results I would love to hear them thanks.

Arnold drank beer, ate green beans and roasted chicken all the time and partied in the woods with chicks. Read his book, and look at him. haha

[DouLou]

I like it when I binge drink and wake up the next day dehydrated as **** and weighing 2-3lbs less than normal.

Sorry I don't have much more to add to this topic... drinking alcohol will slow your progress. But consuming 3k cal of alcohol then eating a dirty kebab or whatever on a weekend isn't just a cheat day, it's a complete brick wall in your progress.

[12ccopeland]

As for strength/muscle size wise...I've been in France since August thus making it legal to drink (18+) for me, and have drinkin' to at least the point of being buzzed (probably 7 drinks total) and though I'm ashamed to admit it, have even gotten wasted a few times, almost every weekend.

However, since arriving here I've made heaps of gains through the bodybuilding template of 5/3/1 (strength and size wise, although I'm still small and weak) even with drinking being newly added into my diet. I've noticed that I have gained more fat, but that could also be from the pounds of cheese, wine, desserts, and bread I've eaten.

Just my two cents; hope it could help someone a little bit!

[Aussieguy101]

I drink vodka straight, so caloriewise the hit isn't bad but there is no doubt a night out drinking fracks up your training .
But socialising is important

[Khwaj]

if done in moderation it can be done, but this is not a case of it

lets say for arguments sake you are running @ 500 under maintenance diet, you would basically end up putting it back on on the week end + more
never under estimate those munchies, its possible you could be eating 1000 cals worth of food on top of the 2500 cals worth of alcohol/beer

so if you intend to keep going, enjoy reaching the 300lb club

however, if you want to lose weight, you will need to reign in the amount you drink

[drewams]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15706799

I tried to find that and couldn't. My research skills are novice still. Thanks for the link! Repped.

I think the main point is that you can make progress on weight loss and still drink (as long as it fits your caloric limits). However, if you were to swear off alcohol or make it occasional, your progress would likely be swifter.

[bdub2283]

if done in moderation it can be done, but this is not a case of it

lets say for arguments sake you are running @ 500 under maintenance diet, you would basically end up putting it back on on the week end + more
never under estimate those munchies, its possible you could be eating 1000 cals worth of food on top of the 2500 cals worth of alcohol/beer

so if you intend to keep going, enjoy reaching the 300lb club

however, if you want to lose weight, you will need to reign in the amount you drink

Honestly I have been drinking beer every weekend since I started training back in February and I weighed 300lbs when I started, lol. I now weigh 265 so I have lost weight while drinking but my progress has come to a stand still so I'm gonna have to really slow down and make better choices so I can keep progressing.

[drewams]

I'm sorry and embarrassed by my words. I heard "well I bet you aren't strong, little hotshot" because that is my innermost fear. I wish you success on your journey and will give you positive rep once off cooldown.

Repped you both. Glad you two worked things out. Now go have a beer! Hahaha.

[Adept85]

i had this problem too, then i realised light beers are cheap and u can still get tipsy of 10 beers which is about 1000 cals.. just run throughout the week, and you won't have a problem.. but over drinking and eating afterwards will catch up to you

[galvinandrew]

Im new to this site, and new to weight lifting and being healthy. But after reading this, Im kinda scratching my head. If you guys are drinking 2 12 packs a weekend, obviously you are TRYING to get drunk. Why not take 6-7 shots and have the same effect, and cut your calories down from 1700 to 300. Just a thought. The only generic advice I could offer would be to cut back. Liquor before beer your in the clear! Get drunk then sip on beer with your buddies!

[byates5637]

So I think the consensus of this thread is that drinking a 6 pack on the weekend can be worked into your dieting plan, but drinking a case of beer cannot.

[drewams]

Im new to this site, and new to weight lifting and being healthy. But after reading this, Im kinda scratching my head. If you guys are drinking 2 12 packs a weekend, obviously you are TRYING to get drunk. Why not take 6-7 shots and have the same effect, and cut your calories down from 1700 to 300. Just a thought. The only generic advice I could offer would be to cut back. Liquor before beer your in the clear! Get drunk then sip on beer with your buddies!

Personally, I rarely drink that much even on the weekend. I am sure the point stands for some people. As for me, I don't drink to get intoxicated. I legitimately enjoy beer. The same way some people really enjoy soda.

[galvinandrew]

I understand that. I enjoy the taste of beer too. But if you are serious about losing weight and trying to build muscle, beer drinking should not be in that agenda any where. 1 or 2 beers will not effect your diet, but anything more than that will make it impossible to lose the weight.