[quote]TrainerinDC wrote:
Whether alcohol affects gains or not to me is irrelevant. I lift, and do all the things I do, to enjoy my life. If that means I have to sacrifice some gains to have some beers with my friends, oh well. I will do it, and never complain about it.
The real question is, what is more important to you. If your body, and your gains, and the fitness aspect of your life is more important, dont drink.
But in my case, hanging out, enjoying life, having a few beers with my friends at the bar in the neighborhood at least once a week is more important. I won’t give this up for anything, so I will continue to drink, and just have to work harder to correct the imbalance if there is one. (Which I believe there is)
It all comes down to you, and your motivation and goals.[/quote]
Very well said…I agree 100%. Do the things that you enjoy in life cause you only live once (as far as we know).
[quote]lean_freak wrote:
My friends have no idea how serious I am about my goals, waking up at 8am for cardio, …[/quote]
8 A.M. for cardio? Is this a typo?
I’m sorry, I just can’t stop laughing about the 8 A.M. blast out of bed for cardio. Damn! How late did you sleep prior to becoming so serious about cardio?
[quote]Go-Rilla wrote:
lean_freak wrote:
My friends have no idea how serious I am about my goals, waking up at 8am for cardio, …
8 A.M. for cardio? Is this a typo?
I’m sorry, I just can’t stop laughing about the 8 A.M. blast out of bed for cardio. Damn! How late did you sleep prior to becoming so serious about cardio?[/quote]
I can only imagine that he was on the 12pm-3am schedule that some of my more affluent college friends are on.
My personal opinion is that lean_freak is too small to be cutting (judging by his pics). To each his own, right.
If I had to choose between never drinking again or never working out, I would give up on drinking. Luckily though I don’t have to make choose and am happily drinking a Miller High Life as I type this.
“Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer.”
[quote]helga wrote:
lean_freak wrote:
My friends have no idea how serious I am about my goals, waking up at 8am for cardio
If getting up at 8am is showing committment I have to move to Mexico. I get up at 5:45am and I know that I am not the first one up.
Sleeping in until 8am on a weekend is about as good as sex for me.[/quote]
I don’t think how early you wake up determines you level of dedication so long as you consistent…
as far drinking goes…soco said it well moderation the most i will drink is 5 drinks usually its 3 though I believe the last time i was drunk was 7 years ago…
In college me and my buddy went on a semester long bender. It started out as a few beers a night and by the end of the semester we were splitting a handle a night. During that semester I made some of the best gains in the weightroom that I have ever made. I also looked like shit. Fast forward two years I quit drinking as much (3-4 times a month) and worked out just as hard but started eating better and I made similar gains and looked good doing it.
[quote]tveddy wrote:
In college me and my buddy went on a semester long bender. It started out as a few beers a night and by the end of the semester we were splitting a handle a night. During that semester I made some of the best gains in the weightroom that I have ever made. I also looked like shit. Fast forward two years I quit drinking as much (3-4 times a month) and worked out just as hard but started eating better and I made similar gains and looked good doing it.[/quote]
On that 8 am thing above. I’m always trying to make this math work. Help me out. So lean freak gets up at 8 am for cardio and some think that’s funny. So, let’s say he goes to bed at 12 am, which is not really late. So he’s getting 8 hours, and you’ll find elsewhere on this site and other places how important that sleep is. My question is: is the 5 am guy really going to sleep at 9 pm!!! I don’t believe it. And if not, then you’re missing out on recovery.
I guess the point here is that wake up time can only be usefully analyzed if we know to-bed time, and I always wonder if these 5 am types are really going to bed at 9 pm, especially in the summer when it’s just dark. I really just don’t believe it.
When I had 5am clients, no matter how hard I tried, I could not be in bed before 10pm if not 10:30. I would get up at 4:15. There is no way in my mind that these people make it into bed at 9pm.
My question, is where in this thread did the question become getting hammered? The question was about alcohol. If I get hammered, I’m not working out for two days. Because of this, I very rarely get hammered. I can go out, like I did tonight, with my friends have three beers and get up in the morning and go train just fine, and have a smile on my face doing it because I got to spend time with friends.
I got out of school in may, and from my until last weekend i had a very controlled diet, lifting regimine and did not have a sip of alcohol.
i saw a huge difference.
last weekend was my birthday so i had a few brews b/c 18 people came to rock out with me from all over.
but there was a difference in the way i looked on friday morning then how i looked sunday afternoon when i resurfaced.
its going to take me a week or two of being back on my diet, cardio, and lifting like i did for the last few months to get back to where i was; and hopefully beyond.
but like most people said; what is more important to you?
i think my weekend of excess was worth it. but next year at school won’t be filled with wasted-weekends; that’s for dam sure.
[quote]TDog305 wrote:
Are alcohol and bodybuilding synonymous? Nope.
That being said I rarely drink. I work too damn hard all week to piss some of my progress away on the weekends. I spend at least 8 hours in the gym a week, I eat food I don’t particularly like, cook all day Sunday, sacrifice at work related social functions, so I’m sure as shit not going to jeopardize that time and effort to get a buzz (most of the time).
However, there are some exceptions. If the CEO of my company wants me to do shots with him (happens occasionally), I’m running up to the bar and ordering them.
If that 10 I have been eyeing for the past couple of weeks wants to go out for drinks, I’m picking the bar.
But like I said, in general its just not worth it to me, given the amount of time and effort I devote to this.
[/quote]
so basically you dont drink unless it gives people the impression that you are someone that you are not? I am not trying to be a di*k but thats sounds like the wrong reasons to drink in the first place, no matter what rewards there are for it. If you are true to yourself than people will respect that.
Its been said several times but it boils down to moderation. Virtually anything in excess is damaging. keep it in moderation and you’ll be fine.
When I have been training in top form for a while, and have a good rhythm going with eating and consistent sleep and everything is going good - I have had some benders turn out for the better.
I have no idea why or how, but a few times after boozing it up, the next day I had an incredible pump and tons of energy and shit. I still had a bit of a hangover but my muscles were bursting through my skin, and my energy was sky high. I never tried heavy lifting on those days but I wonder if my strength was up too?? I remember playing some sports and being Superman on the field.
Anyway I wish I could replicate this on purpose, but its only happened about 5 times. I cant think of anything similar between the drinking that would have resulted in something like this but for some weird reason, alcohol = good. Has anyone else had something similar to this?
[quote]budlight1 wrote:
another problem with drinking is the entire next day it decreases appietite. i never eat the day after drinking but when i drink i dont have a few, ever. i drink around a case when i do.[/quote]
Says you! you guys must not have jimmy johns within walking distance of your bars!
Sober, I can eat 1 sandwich and be happy about it. Drunk, I feel that it is not only my capability, but my duty to attempt 2 at the fewest.
um, ya know… so my body doesnt go catabolic while im passed out!
