Effects of alcohol on bulking

[bomcgraw]

I know doin a lot of drinking while trainin is bad for your build, but where can I find studies on it? The only reason people actually give me not to drink is that the alcohol is turned to fat too quickly and easily. That wouldn't hurt me though because my metabolism is extremely fast and Im havin a lot of trouble gainin weight of any kind.

[owlicks]

This is a great article on the topic: http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/tru...nd-muscle.html

[OrganicShadow]

I would not suggest using alcohol as a way to add calories. Although beer makes great carbs . I do have red wine through my diet year round cutting or bulking but really only a glass before bed.

Studies exist to the claim that alcohol has little effect on the increased size of your belly over physical activity and proper diet (1). The enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) plays a huge role in myocardial and somatic hypertrophy by a number of pathways. Many studies on muscular hypertrophy and chronic alcohol consumption say that you would experience most of your muscle gains in your heart but face becoming insulin resistant (2). What actually happens is there's an imbalance in Ca2+ and muscles may not contract/relax properly. You're also placing a lot of stress on cellular endoplastic reticulum which is responsible for proper lipid assembly and it's where the most ribosomes are located for protein manufacture (2,3). Having my glass of red wine before bed with a GH boost actually PROMOTES the production of GABA. (4) But when you go overboard it gets crazy and your sleep quality is blunted as your body begins using up all its glutamine and the metabolism is working extra hard to breakdown actealdehyde during sleep so you just wake up hungover and still tired.

1. http://www.ajcn.org/content/78/4/719.short
2. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...36.DD/abstract
3. http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/cont...ct/119/14/1941
4. Aguayo LG. Ethanol potentiates the GABAA activates Cl- currents in mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Eur J Pharmacol 1990;187:127-130.

[MidwestBeast]

Alcohol's calories are empty calories. More calories/gram than carbs and protein, I had read studies (years ago) that alcohol can actually eat away at existing muscle and slow down the building of new muscle, and added stress on your liver and other organs.

I'm not saying that drinking is bad; I'm talking about binge drinking, mainly. Using alcohol to take in extra calories to gain mass, though, is a horrible idea.

[OrganicShadow]

I think its like 7cal/gram? Binge drinking lowers test a lot. When I was playing football it was a common thought that one night of binge drinking would kill your entire workout week.

[MidwestBeast]

I think its like 7cal/gram?

You're right. I don't know why I was thinking it was more than fat Mental lapse.

Previous post fixed to reflect this, too.

[deltaj]

ive always believed in the old adage , everything in moderation. Red wine has many positive qualities if consumed in moderation

[GeekPoop]

drink responsibliy

no reason you cant go have some beer n pizza w friends. lifes to short to be worried bout this bs 24/7

[OrganicShadow]

drink responsibliy

no reason you cant go have some beer n pizza w friends. lifes to short to be worried bout this bs 24/7

If you find your sport/hobby is no longer fun and enjoyable, what's the point?

[bomcgraw]

Alcohol's calories are empty calories. More calories/gram than carbs and protein, I had read studies (years ago) that alcohol can actually eat away at existing muscle and slow down the building of new muscle, and added stress on your liver and other organs.

I'm not saying that drinking is bad; I'm talking about binge drinking, mainly. Using alcohol to take in extra calories to gain mass, though, is a horrible idea.

That was my main concern, wether or not a few beers with friends a few times a month was gonna hurt my progress. I quit binge drinkin after I failed every class one semester of college lol. Everyone says not to drink cuz it makes you fat tho so I was curious if it would help with mass. Guess I won't try to sell my girlfriend on the Keystone Training Program lol.

[JComp]

I drink almost every weekend but I'm not trying to be a body builder. I workout for fun and to be in shape. If I were doing competitions or stuff like that it would be different. But I don't think drinking Friday and Saturday has hurt my results enough to be a concern if even at all.

[MidwestBeast]

That was my main concern, wether or not a few beers with friends a few times a month was gonna hurt my progress. I quit binge drinkin after I failed every class one semester of college lol. Everyone says not to drink cuz it makes you fat tho so I was curious if it would help with mass. Guess I won't try to sell my girlfriend on the Keystone Training Program lol.

A few beers here and there is fine, man. For me, I just don't need or crave it. I've had a few drinks with some friends since my thyroid issue has arisen and I can't seem to cut to save my life, so it hasn't been like I've lost ground. I can guarantee you, though, that once it's straightened out, I won't be having a drop of it (at least until I'm cut up where I want to be). It's really all about what you want. Like JComp said, if you're just working out to stay in shape and for enjoyment, go for it. However, just know that eliminating it will always help with progress (even if it's only ever so slightly noticeable).

and lol @ the Keystone Training Program...my college was (or is, I don't know if they still are) the number one consumer of Keystone.

[808rebel]

This is a great article on the topic: http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/tru...nd-muscle.html

Great link! I just read the whole.thing... I've been completely anti-alcohol on my cut. But after reading that id be more willing to drink.

[OrganicShadow]

The owner of my gym, NPC Pro and judge of 20+ years, once told me our bodies need a little bit of everything no matter where we are in diet: protein, carbs, fats, and alcohol.

[CaponeCEO]

I haven't read the article but from what I have learned over the years was that alcohol actually blunts testosterone production, which is why it is frowned upon for weight lifting. I will try to find the articles that I read years ago that actually gave facts to prove this.

[mylo]

beer is a good complex carb, it would be acceptable before a workout IF it didn't have alcohol in it, obviously. and a post workout beer is more likely to negate gains as it functions as a muscle relaxant (much like taking soma or flexeril directly after a workout), also it tends to cause a breakdown in test. levels for up to 24 hours... however some studies show that ONE pint of beer after a workout can help absorb fluids quicker and is overall beneficial. you can google it of course...

[owlicks]

On a side note, I will tell you the best way to inspire you not to drink. Ready for this? Go out for a hard night of drinking, then force yourself to get up the next morning and do cardio. You will be sweating like a pig and will feel absolutely terrible. Makes you not want to binge again anytime soon, ha ha.

[T-Bone]

But all the cool kids are doing it!

[votum]

Arnold has said several times that some of his best workouts happened to be when him and his partner would bet a beer or two on who could do the most weight/reps/etc. I have a beer or two almost every day, micro brews, never light beers (which are total wastes).

I don't drink for calories, I drink because I like the taste. I do know that for me, I can tell when I have had to much because my joints start hurting. It happens once in a while, maybe once a month. I also have a stupid metabolism...if I get drunk...I mean like really drunk, I will wake up -5 or more pounds, which pisses me off like no other.

Alcohol will not make you fat, that is a huge myth. Just like eating McDonald's every day will not make you fat. Either one of those + sitting on your couch all day will make you fat. I have heard that binge drinking stops protein synthesis, because I think it is a function of the liver, so if your liver is busy killing alcohol it can't break down your protein into aminos.

So to summarize, as everyone else has said, binge drinking is bad for obvious reasons. A couple beers here and there will not really do anything.

[MidwestBeast]

Alcohol will not make you fat, that is a huge myth. Just like eating McDonald's every day will not make you fat. Either one of those + sitting on your couch all day will make you fat.

I agree and disagree with this portion.

You're right that neither one of those things inherently makes you fat. It's a matter of calories in versus calories out. So even if you did drink a lot and eat fast food all day while sitting on your couch, you might not get fat -- if your metabolism is such that it processes it all.

But more importantly, it's worth noting that neither of these are sources of optimal nutrition and they certainly won't help you achieve a better body.

So, alcohol isn't guaranteed to make you fat, but I also wouldn't say that it leading to that is a myth, either.