Beer/Alcohol Question.

[Self-Inflicted]

I was wondering how much damage is actually being caused by consuming beer. Before I use to only drink once a month with friends, but for the last month I've been drinking 3-4xs a week and consuming at least 100oz of beer every time. I guess the real question I have is how much am I hindering my progress in lifting and dieting by continuing to keep drinking?

 

[Y_lifter]

Beer/Booze = Extra empty Calories with little benefit to your body

Do you have a problem with that impacting your goals ?
Such as fat loss or gaining lean mass ?

 

[Self-Inflicted]

I do have a problem with it impacting my goals, but it depends how significant the impact will be. If I keep drinking the way I am right now will I plateau in progression at some point? Will the rest of my body change significantly except my midsection? What about cutting it back to 1 day a week? Will that have a significant impact or is my only option to stop drinking all together? I know moderation is the key to anything, but I'm not sure if I really know what moderation is on this subject.

 

[StuWard]

That much consumption will have negative effects. 2-3 beers once in a while may be OK but not that qty.

http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com/weight-lifting/building-muscle-mass.html
http://www.bodytrends.com/articles/diet/alcohol.htm
http://www.montclair.edu/caps/alcoholmuscle.pdf

 

[poysyn]

I am a relatively heavy drinker and I don't see it effect my progress that much. Obviously eating 2500 calories and consuming an additional 1200 in beer is going to have some sort of negative impact, but consider it a cheat. When cutting I try to only drink 1-2x/week and reduce the quantity I'd drink, although that can be a near impossible task

I have several friends who are huge and get lean easily while consuming an extremely large amount of beer.

So, will it eventually get you to a cutting plateau? definitely..as for bulking I'm not convinced it will

 

[fiction agent]

dont listen to naysayers. you can have * 3 servings a day / 21 servings per week for antioxidant benefits, such as, oh I don't know, a longer life, reduced risk of heart attack and something extremely refreshing for starters.

*a servings is defined as a small glass of wine or 8 oz of beer.

read up in the medical journals, a lot of light has been shedded on the issue in the past 6 months.

 

[InTheZone]

If you are going to drink, stick with clear drinks (less sugar and calories). A good drink tasting drink and lower calorie is Three Olives Grape vodka and Club Soda. If you can abstain, however, you will obviously have better results and no "empty" or useless calories.

 

[nodiggitydave]

I am a relatively heavy drinker and I don't see it effect my progress that much. Obviously eating 2500 calories and consuming an additional 1200 in beer is going to have some sort of negative impact, but consider it a cheat. When cutting I try to only drink 1-2x/week and reduce the quantity I'd drink, although that can be a near impossible task

I have several friends who are huge and get lean easily while consuming an extremely large amount of beer.

So, will it eventually get you to a cutting plateau? definitely..as for bulking I'm not convinced it will

can it be considered a cheat when the calories are empty though?

 

[Jimbo15]

alcohol also increases estrogens for a while after consumption, depending on how much you drink. i'm with you though, i drink a few days a week, and enough to get fairly buzzed/drunk. i've found that the rest of my diet and frequency of exercise has a much greater effect than me getting faded. if i drink, but workout, i'm okay. but as soon as the workouts decrease i gain weight.

but ya, if u drink less, you'll have better gains. lightly a few days a week would be best for antioxidant benefits, but that won't get u drunk

 

[Y_lifter]

I do recall Wine having anti oxidant benefits when taken in moderation, but don't recall Beer having the same level of benefits.

And I believe he mentioned he was drinking beer, not wine..

Again, my comment/question was whether or not the extra empty "calories" would impact HIS goals or not. The rest is up to debate whether or not the
alcohol or other ingredients in beer help or harm in my opinion.

Personally, life is too short to deny yourself an occasional treat like a couple of beers or chineese food. Cut the calories from somewhere else if you enjoy the taste.

But drinking to excess just to get buzzed makes little sense health wise IMO..