Is alcohol really that bad when dieting?

[SteR-]

At the end of the day, fat loss comes down to calories in vs calories out. If you were to compensate for the calories from alcohol with the appropriate deficit, then is alcohol really that harmful?

I understand it affects hormones etc but if you're dieting then you're not trying to put on muscle, you're simply trying to maintain what you have. Surely it's better to drink alcohol when dieting instead of when trying to bulk up? ie. where optimum testosterone is needed to pack on the mass.

Thoughts?

[straiders98]

You can, but I think you'd be surprised how many calories are in alcohol.

[Amstat]

It takes a bit of consistent, fairly heavy drinking, to have any real impact on testosterone. That being said yes, alcohol contains a while bunch of calories with very little nutritional value. Empty calories per se. I cut down from 3-4 drinks 5 times a week(about 3000 calories) to 3-4 drinks per week. It has helped me lose some gut for sure. Just make sure you don't replace those calories with others.

[stubbee21]

Here is a good article: http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/tru...nd-muscle.html

[dmacdonal9]

The problem is that alcohol is macronutrient-free, in a sense. No protein, no fat, no carbs. So trying to meet adequate macros AND stay within a calorie deficit with any amount of it is very difficult.

[Serpentarius]

Alcohol is not that great for the body at any time. With that said, have it occasionally, no need to make it a habit. its horrible on a cut, calorie dense, zero satiety. A beer or two is fine, but getting trashed; there is zero reason to ever do that if you are serious about bodybuilding. There are always those who try to justify their drinking a six pack a day and they are perfectly healthy, but they arent, or the need to have it every day.

[MrM27]

There was a great article I read on this topic on bodyrecomposition.com that spoke about alcohol vs other nutrients being oxidized. I apologize for not being able to find it. I was only able to find a brief paragraph on it.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nut...oxidation.html

[Tommy W.]

Alcohol is the worst thing you can put in your body when trying to get lean. If you are in a defecit while drinking it you WILL lose fat. If you drink no alcohol you will just lose the fat faster providing you don't replace the cals with some other calories.

If you're running a 300 cal per day defecit and having a beer at night then you could be running a 450 cal defecit without that one beer. It adds up fast!

[drgymapp]

The problem is that alcohol is macronutrient-free, in a sense. No protein, no fat, no carbs. So trying to meet adequate macros AND stay within a calorie deficit with any amount of it is very difficult.

Alcohol DO have alot of carbs.

This is an interresting article on resistance training and alcohol on testosterone : journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/publishahead/Post_Resistance_Exercise_Ethanol_Ingestion_and.984 23.aspx

[Electricheadd]

For me the problem with alcohol has never been the calories in alcohol. It's the innevitable trip to Denny's at 5am for some moons over my hammy that destroys the diet. I am a tower of will power until you add alcohol.

[TimmyTert]

For me the problem with alcohol has never been the calories in alcohol. It's the innevitable trip to Denny's at 5am for some moons over my hammy that destroys the diet. I am a tower of will power until you add alcohol.

Haha, I know this feel all too well. My cut was going so well last year until around November when it felt live every weekend was another friends birthday or holiday. The 5am patty melt and sweet potato fries are not easy to fit in your macros after drinking all night!