Alcohol and Calorie Surplus

[lifter35cnd]

Im in a bulking phase. Does it really matter if I get say 600 calories per day from booze? (or at least a couple times a week).

Im eating around 150 grams of protein and have blender full of spinach/fruits and other veggies.

Calories are calories right? As long as I'm getting my protein.

[OutOfStep]

Does it really matter if I get say 600 calories per day from booze?

Yes.

Calories are calories right?.

No.

[SleeperService]

It's up to you. You can incorporate beer into your diet if you want, but if you want to lose fat then you're going to have to give something else up or lose fat at a slower rate than you may want to.

[michail71]

Beer has plenty of non alcohol calories.

On the rare occasion I drink (usually vodka) I'd swear I get a bit more cut afterwards.

On a cut it seems to flush off a few pounds too. It seems to happen after a weight loss stall.

[ironwill2008]

Calories are calories right?

No. Especially where calories from alcohol are concerned.

[crupiea]

There is a place for beer in a bulking diet. Sumo wrestlers use beer as part of their daily meals. Of course they are bulking in a different manner then you might want to but they still use it.

[SuperZar]

Nothing wrong with drinking alcohol. Has many well documented benefits. BUT, diet wise you need to think of it as 'empty' calories - much like eating candy/cookies.

[sy2502]

Beer has plenty of non alcohol calories.

On the rare occasion I drink (usually vodka) I'd swear I get a bit more cut afterwards.

On a cut it seems to flush off a few pounds too. It seems to happen after a weight loss stall.

Alcohol is diuretic, so it's probably water weight.

[michail71]

Alcohol is diuretic, so it's probably water weight.

That's what I figured. It's the only thing that could explain the sudden associated weight loss. Though I've read it isn't as strong of a diuretic as commonly believed. But if one is retaining it might be enough.

[JerryB]

Im in a bulking phase. Does it really matter if I get say 600 calories per day from booze? (or at least a couple times a week).

What kind of boozes?

[michail71]

600 daily is a bit much.

[Brackneyc]

Im in a bulking phase. Does it really matter if I get say 600 calories per day from booze? (or at least a couple times a week).

Im eating around 150 grams of protein and have blender full of spinach/fruits and other veggies.

Calories are calories right? As long as I'm getting my protein.

I'd not bank on that being a very good bulk, even if you limit it to a "couple of times a week." JMO.

[SteveWright1]

bulking for just size, then in my opinion calories are just calories

but if your bulking with the eventual aim of cutting to lose fat and thus reveal more muscle definitions
then if I had 600 calories extra to consume, I would not want to waste them with booze
my preference would be for more protien and possibly fats ( but mostly meat based supplements as they aremy favourite food group)

having said that, beer does contain a lot of calories, so 600 is not a massive quantity of beer ( Not a regular beer drinker these days so do not recall how many calories are in a pint)

[RT1957]

Im in a bulking phase. Does it really matter if I get say 600 calories per day from booze? (or at least a couple times a week).

Im eating around 150 grams of protein and have blender full of spinach/fruits and other veggies.

Calories are calories right? As long as I'm getting my protein.

lots of calories no nutrition value at all. Calories are Calories except you want calories that actually do something for you. If you like to drink just do it don't makeup justifications

[jmurphy2029]

600cals from beer....This is a real dirty bulk! I would be concerned about the effects of the alcohol was having on my body while I was trying to build muscle!

[dazlittle]

Experiment on yourself, Run with it for a month or two and assess, if you like the results carry on, if you don't re-assess your plan.

[drudixon]

600 calories is a 6 pack of lite beer, maybe enough for a small buzz, so likely not enough to hurt hormones and not so much to pack on the gut too badly. You need to watch out for the 2400 calorie benders tho.

[Richie71]

I only really started seeing decent strength gains on my bulk when I discounted the alcohol calories from my target intake. That doesn't mean don't drink (especially the last two weeks ) but if aiming to get stronger, get your targets met with more beneficial cals and alcohol is on top of that.