i have some questions about alcohol.
agooddaytodiesoft
Posts: 58
I like to drink occasionally, i used to drink every weekend, but now since i started working out and dieting, i only drink once every 2-3 weeks, so i was wondering how damaging it is? and how i can avoid gaining alot of weight by drinking, people here say "If it fits your macro, it shouldnt be a big thing" but how damaging is it really? i won't give up drinking because i like it (And mostly drink beer, so telling me to drink vodka with diet coke isn't helping me at all) so what can i do? and i was also wondering if it's bad to drnink after working out? i ussually workout before drinking.. Is this a bad thing? i also enjoy taking a pint of guinness in the shower after a long workout.
Sorry for all the questions, but could i get some help?
Sorry for all the questions, but could i get some help?
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Replies
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You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.0 -
Ethenol (alcohol) is a poison. It takes a toll on your body and you liver and kidneys do a lot of work trying to filter it out.
That being said, I love drinking! :drinker:
Regardless of the taxing things above, I stick to light beers that fit in my carb range. It's empty calories, but I don't really think about that when I hop into a bar with my buddies. Just account for it and plan ahead of time before you go out (you might be too hammered when you get back home, or can't remember).
It's probably the worst thing I have on a regular basis, but with the rest of my fitness training, I've never felt better.You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18?
Most other countries outside of the US. His scale is on metric, so I'm going to go ahead and make assumptions.0 -
You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.
It's legal here in Norway man, i find it weird that everyone on these forums automaticly assume i'm American, ask first
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its not so much the calories in alcohol but the bad food decisions u make when u r feeling the effects.0
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I posted on another weight loss forum about alcohol and this was the response I got.... Just passing along the message. I decided not to drink for a while while I'm really trying to lose weight, I'll relax more once I've lost more, but its just the beginning for me! Hope this is helpful and feel free to dispel this as untrue. it was simply written to me on another forum, but I think it makes a LOT of sense.
Quote:
It has been proven by a study from the New England Journal of Medicine that alcohol slows down the body's metabolism. It states that a person on a 1250 calorie diet, who has ingested 250 calories from alcohol could have reduced their metabolic process by as much as 36%. This indicates your body is handling calories almost forty percent less effectively.
The liver cells are the only cells in the body that can make adequate amounts of the enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase. This is what effectively breaks down alcohol. When alcohol is present the liver cells are forced to metabolize alcohol (not fat) and the fatty acids accumulate. In other words the liver is too busy detoxifying the alcohol that has been consumed that it doesn't burn fat effectively.
Alcohol actually counts as 2 servings of fat per 4-5 ounces of wine, 1 light beer or 1 ounce of hard liquor according to the diabetic exchange system.
Alcohol is a harsh diuretic, but by being a diuretic, alcohol depletes the water soluble B vitamins. The B vitamins have numerous functions in the body (fighting stress and helping us digest food properly) but in terms of weight management they are important in supporting the fat burning process.
Rather than getting stored as fat, the main fate of alcohol is conversion into a substance called acetate. In fact, blood levels of acetate after drinking vodka were 2.5 times higher than normal. And it appears this sharp rise in acetate puts the brakes on fat loss.
A car engine typically uses only one source of fuel. Your body, on the other hand, draws from a number of different energy sources, such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by its availability. In other words, your body tends to use whatever you feed it. Consequently, when acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat. In essence, acetate pushes fat to the back of the queue.
So basically, you could totally eat right, and in fact under eat, and have a couple of mixed drinks after work and totally negate EVERYTHING you've done for the past day -- or two -- in just a few hours.
For the past two months I've limited my drinking to once every two weeks and I've discovered that drinking heavily is virtually a week set back -- after you've been drinking you can hold water for a day or two until your body rebalances itself, plus it seems to take time for things to get back on the fat burning track to boot.0 -
You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.
The UK?
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At my fittest and thinnest, I was not drinking much at all; I just fit the calories into my daily allotment. I tend to drink pretty high ABV beers, so it amounted to about 1 beer every 2-3 days, and only on those nights where I wasn't getting up at 4:45 to run the next morning.
Don't take my advice, though. Beer wins out every time... which is why I'm still here. 0 -
I never stopped drinking. lost 115lbs in a year...0
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I'd assume you were from Europe right away, Americans ain't got no good english skillz.
As for beer, drink in moderation, just like anything else you eat or drink. Oranges are healthy, but 40 oranges isn't. Boneless, skinless chicken breast is healthy, but 6 pounds (2.7 kilos) isn't. Milk can be a healthy option as well, but a gallon a day probably isn't the best idea.
I drink about 5 times a week. Usually 2 beers on a Friday and Saturday night, and one on the nights I don't have a late workout. I'm losing just fine, when I'm smart about it.0 -
when you put alcohol into your body, your body focuses on processing it first before anything else. I'd say that if you just worked out, it would slow down any fat burning that was still going on.
i used to drink a lot, but I haven't touched the stuff in 11 months. Much better off.0 -
I posted on another weight loss forum about alcohol and this was the response I got.... Just passing along the message. I decided not to drink for a while while I'm really trying to lose weight, I'll relax more once I've lost more, but its just the beginning for me! Hope this is helpful and feel free to dispel this as untrue. it was simply written to me on another forum, but I think it makes a LOT of sense.
^^This. And hello down from Peoria, IL!
If you're trying to get to a really low body fat %, then cut it out completely. You can still lose weight and be fit while incorporating drinking your weekends.0 -
I drink on occasion and on occasion I mean 4-6 nights a week. but I noticed I lose weight faster when I haven't had alcohol for a few days. If it fits in your calorie allowance I say go for it.0
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I like to drink occasionally, i used to drink every weekend, but now since i started working out and dieting, i only drink once every 2-3 weeks, so i was wondering how damaging it is? and how i can avoid gaining alot of weight by drinking, people here say "If it fits your macro, it shouldnt be a big thing" but how damaging is it really? i won't give up drinking because i like it (And mostly drink beer, so telling me to drink vodka with diet coke isn't helping me at all) so what can i do? and i was also wondering if it's bad to drnink after working out? i ussually workout before drinking.. Is this a bad thing? i also enjoy taking a pint of guinness in the shower after a long workout.
Sorry for all the questions, but could i get some help?
Just break up, troll0 -
Not another drinking thread. Man I drink all the time. Weigh what I weighed in high school.
Stayed out til 2 am the other night, got 4 hrs sleep, then ran a 1:43 half-marathon the next morning.
Think I'm gonna take my motorcycle to happy hour tonight
Enjoy!0 -
You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.
Every country, apart from the US.
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Alcohol is fine as long as it is in moderation.
Also, log the calories in the drinks.0 -
You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.
The UK?
Chili, argentina, brazil....0 -
One thing that I look forward to most all week is enjoying a few craft beers (at home or sometimes even at the brewery if I'm lucky) on the weekend. I've been able to drop weight even with having a few beers on the weekend. I'm very strict about my diet during the week and I hit the gym 4 times a week after work. It's all about dedication. Allowing yourself to enjoy a drink every now and then isn't going to stop your progress as long as you don't drink all the time.0
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its not so much the calories in alcohol but the bad food decisions u make when u r feeling the effects.
When I first read this I thought it said "but the bad decisions u make when you're feeling the effects".lol
But yeah, bad food decisions, too 0 -
I love really good craft beers myself. I sometimes will drink one a night. I never drink more than 2 beers at a time. no liquor. Sometimes a glass of wine or 2... Thing is, I know if I stopped drinking a beer every day or every other day late in the evening I would probably drop a pound a week like I want to. I think it's about convincing yourself that alcohol is a poison.... And, to limit drinking to the weekends as a treat. Don't keep it in your fridge!!! To tempting. I'm struggling with it myself. Beer and candy are my demons!!! 0
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I like to drink occasionally, i used to drink every weekend, but now since i started working out and dieting, i only drink once every 2-3 weeks, so i was wondering how damaging it is? and how i can avoid gaining alot of weight by drinking, people here say "If it fits your macro, it shouldnt be a big thing" but how damaging is it really? i won't give up drinking because i like it (And mostly drink beer, so telling me to drink vodka with diet coke isn't helping me at all) so what can i do? and i was also wondering if it's bad to drnink after working out? i ussually workout before drinking.. Is this a bad thing? i also enjoy taking a pint of guinness in the shower after a long workout.
Sorry for all the questions, but could i get some help?
Alcohol is only as damaging as you'll deem it to be if you're drinking excessively. Social drinking is perfectly fine following your workout, as long as you're on top of your hydration volume-consumption before and during your exercise routines.
Guinness ~ is an incredibly reparative beer ~ so I'm not at all surprised that you're prone to inculcating it into your post workout ritual.
* Always prioritise eating enough to complement your beers capped limit for the night (following your post workout protocols), before heading out for the evening to prevent you from having a bite of select dehydrating pub/bar menu options, which'll only increase your thirst for additional unnecessary drinks.0 -
You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.
It's legal here in Norway man, i find it weird that everyone on these forums automaticly assume i'm American, ask first
My husband is from Denmark, yes we Americans have a way of assuming. We are drinkers. and he is not happy my weight loss has hindered me from being his favorite drinking partner. On weekends I know we will drink I workout first and try to limit the intake. But as always there are the junk food calories you incur by drinking and not being in full control of your decisions! All the advice I get is if your trying to lose weight, don't drink! Best of luck to you.0 -
work your butt off and drink all you want,,, its pretty easy.0
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I think your pint of guinness is a great idea - its a great drink. Wouldnt worry too much but keep your units at a maximum of 21 per week and fit it into your macros. Some alcohol is beneficial. I used to drink WAY too much (a bottle of red wine a night) now I dont even drink wine. I sip - slowly - a good double malt whisky with water on special occasions and savour it.
Beer is somewhat more calorific, but if you can fit it in to your macros and keep the units down, why not enjoy your beer? I personally dont think it matters what time of day you have it, but probably NOT for breakfast!0 -
It's actually one of my goals in life to have a glass of wine every day :laugh:
Seriously though I usually have 5 oz. of wine with my dinner every day. I don't think it's hampered my weight loss any.0 -
First I suggest taking our "opinions" with a grain of salt. We're not experts in this.
Second, there is lots of info about this online.
Now...for MY OPINION...LOL.
I enjoy beer. My weightloss hasn't been affected by it. I usually have at least one beer everyday. I add it to my calorie tracker. My philosophy about alcohol...and most things...is "all things in moderation."
Good luck....and also...good question. 0 -
One of the things I look forward to at the end of the week is a few cold ones, and occasionally a scotch or cognac. I haven't had any problems so far. Just keep things in moderation. And oh ya, like others have said, log it. Cheers :drinker: :drinker:0
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I drink 1 or 2 glasses of red wine a few evenings a week, as long as I'm within my cals and don't go way over. It's not affected my weight loss. And yes I have a few mad sessions once in a while. Who cares? Moderation I say.0
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You're 18...where is it legal to drink at 18? :laugh: It was legal when I was 18, but it wasn't a very good thing.
But, in general, drink in moderation. Log it like any other food.
It's legal here in Norway man, i find it weird that everyone on these forums automaticly assume i'm American, ask first
I love how everybody assumes :laugh:
It's legal at 18 where I live and other provinces are 19 years old. I think as long as you maintain a very healthy diet and lifestyle I don't see how drinking alcohol could be so awful if had in moderation. I rarely drink anymore and after being sick for almost two weeks it killed me to have about 9ish drinks over a 7 hour period, I couldn't keep anything down the next day when I woke up, but that is because tolerance is lower when you are sick or recovering and when you aren't used to drinking as well.
Best to start learning what you limits are before you reach them, get used to never hitting that limit and drinking to be social not to get drunk and I think you'd be 'A-OK.0 -
I love to drink, but when i wanted to really focus on losing weight I cut it out. I am now down to my last ten pounds and only drink 2-3 times a week and my progress has slowed significantly0
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My husband drinks beer all the time. He's 5' 11" and weighs the same as when he was in high school which is around 165 lbs. On an average he goes through a case a week. He's very active.
I, on the other hand, have to watch what I drink. I prefer the hard stuff and make my own wine. With alcohol I've acquired a taste for vodka/water with a splash or twist of lemon or lime. I can have 2/3 of those in one sitting. It's very low in calories. I've never been much of a pop drinker so the water isn't a problem.
My home made wine, on the other hand, is full of sugar so I have to limit myself to one 8 oz glass (it's either that or go without food).
Like everyone else I agree that whatever you do needs to be done in moderation.0
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