Drinking before the gym?

renwicker
renwicker Posts: 158 Member
Probably not the best idea, but I get my gym time in when I can. Usually monday nights I play guitar/sing at a local bar. I get off work at 8 pm, go to the gym for about an hour and half, then head to the bar to have a few beers/play. Sometimes I will eat there too if I'm feeling a little famished from exercise. However, tonight I am meeting a friend earlier at the bar for drinks, so I do not have time to go to the gym before. Now...I have never gone to the gym after an evening of drinking, so I'm not sure what to expect, or if its even a good idea.

I am planning on getting a Rueben, (monday's half off special :tongue: )drinking a beer, followed by water, beer, water....ect.

Anyone had any experience going to the gym after a bit of boozing? I figure if I stay hydrated with the water and don't drink too much beer, I'll be fine.

Replies

  • FitForeverAgain
    FitForeverAgain Posts: 330 Member
    Not since college, and then it was residual from the night before. My thought is this - I'd rather see you have a couple beers and ****ty dinner (sorry, skip the reuben for a grilled chicken breast on wheat!) before your workout rather than the alternative. i.e. Couple beers, ****ty dinner and go to bed!

    Obviously, there's a point of no return here, if you're at all drunk, skip it. Your body will be busy metabolizing booze, and 1) you'll have a terrible workout, 2) your body will be focused on rebuilding your liver rather than your muscle, 3) falling down at the gym is a bad idea, 4) dehydration sucks.

    Finally, be ready for the perfectionists to ride you harder than you ride that fixie. But hey, it's like the guy who smokes a pack a day. I'd rather see him running 3 miles while hammering the Camel non-filters at the same time, than idling watching his waistline grow.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    It depends on what you do at the gym.

    If you're lifting, I wouldn't risk the injury of going. I'd just skip the gym session if you can't pass up the drinking session.

    The alcohol is pretty much going to take a dump on any positive effects the gym was going to have.
  • stacygayle
    stacygayle Posts: 349 Member
    I will do some research on that for you tonight and have a tequila or two before working out. I'll let you know how that goes. :laugh: Can never pass up the opportunity for tequila lol.

    I would say to drink more water if you're going to workout after alcohol. You don't want to work your liver too hard by exercising and drinking. Drinking plenty of water will help with that. Also, don't do anything that you need to be using balance or endurance as you may not have as much of either of those.

    In all honesty, I would just skip the gym tonight and go tomorrow and work out a little bit longer to make up for the missed session tonight.
  • MsQt
    MsQt Posts: 793 Member
    Bad Idea! You'll be dehydrated, off balanced because your reaction time will be compromised and you'll be sweating alcohol:noway: What a waste of a gym session.
  • janet0513
    janet0513 Posts: 564 Member
    Here is an interesting read on effects of alcohol on exercise with some references http://correct-weight-loss.net/2010/01/13/drinking-alcohol-and-exercise/

    Personally, I think that I would be sick after eating that kind of food and drinking, maybe in my younger days.
  • HauteP1nk
    HauteP1nk Posts: 2,139 Member
    I'd suggest skipping the gym altogether. Make up for it tomorrow. :)
  • Drunkadelic
    Drunkadelic Posts: 948 Member
    Once. In college. I had 3/4 bottle of wine and had been smoking hookah and decided that my friend and I needed to have a swimming race.

    He vomited and I almost passed out. It made for a good story but it was a baaad idea :)
  • KelseyDawn84
    KelseyDawn84 Posts: 129 Member
    Get drunk. Pick up somebody hot. Find alternative ways to burn calories. :wink:
  • WhitneyAnnabelle
    WhitneyAnnabelle Posts: 724 Member
    The last time I did that, I ended up with a huge blister on my hand from the elliptical because I didn't realize how hard I was going. I would opt against it. I mean...a blister is the least of anyone's problems, but after the experience, it just didn't seem like a good idea.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    I got pissed at my husband a few weeks back and tried to take a 2 mile run after I'd had a margarita....NOT good :(

    My advice in this situation would be to have fun with your friend and hit the gym harder tomorrow...but good luck :drinker:
  • Kishsa27
    Kishsa27 Posts: 28 Member
    eiher skip the gym or skip the beer
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    I have seen people do this...Where I live gold's gym is on Level 2, and on Level 3 of the building is Breaker's which is a pool hall that doubles as a night club...and since gold's gym in this building is 24 hours...Some peeps go there to workout afterwards...I guess it must be a way to release if they didn't get lucky...LOL!

    I would never workout after drinking...just dumb son
  • renwicker
    renwicker Posts: 158 Member
    I was going to do some heavy weight lifting because I did not get a chance to the whole weekend. (squats/presses/deads) I was probably going to run a few miles too.

    Good call on the grilled chicken instead at the bar tho.....I'll do that. Also, I am not going to be the least bit drunk. I would NOT be going to the gym if I were for two reasons. 1) I would have to drive there. 2) Not trying to hurt myself while working out.

    I was mainly wondering if having a few beers is going to dehydrate me enough that I'm going to hate my life during or the next day. I am not dumb enough to try and lift or run while intoxicated. That would be a recipe for disaster

    Guess I'll make the call later and see how I'm feeling. Thanks for the input tho!
  • MsQt
    MsQt Posts: 793 Member
    Here is an interesting read on effects of alcohol on exercise with some references http://correct-weight-loss.net/2010/01/13/drinking-alcohol-and-exercise/

    Personally, I think that I would be sick after eating that kind of food and drinking, maybe in my younger days.

    Thanks! That was a good read
  • Drunkadelic
    Drunkadelic Posts: 948 Member
    Get drunk. Pick up somebody hot. Find alternative ways to burn calories. :wink:

    yea buddy :)
  • bigdogc23
    bigdogc23 Posts: 66
    Im gonna go with bad idea.... I suppose doing something light but really you are begging for a banging hang over. You are going to be dehydrated even if you do drink some water.

    Also, you will be walking in there with liquid courage in your veins... Probably try and do more than you can handle because you are now a foot taller and badass. You do stand the chance of hurting yourself because the pain receptors will be numb.

    And if anyone detects that you have been drinking before you are in the gym, you will stand to look foolish...
  • renwicker
    renwicker Posts: 158 Member
    Again.....not going to the gym DRUNK.....just a few beers.

    I'm not a complete moron
  • it's not a good idea