The Truth....please

[rosslovewhey]

I know alot of you will tell me to search it but i really need to hear it directly. How much does alcohol affect gains? im 18 and havent drunk anything but water and shakes since new years which was the only time i have drunk since turning 18! my gains are miles ahead of all my friends who have the odd drink. At the moment im bigger and leaner than ever and possibly thinking about competing next year. Im turning 19 this month and wanted to know if 1 night of drinking would set me back. i get lots of mixed opinions some say it might do me some good as my diet has been so strict and i dont cheat. Also how much fat do you believe to be neccesary in a high carb diet high protein diet. the only fat i really will have will be almonds and possibly olive oil if i cant fit all my carbs into the day. My diet for today for example:

8am, 100g oats, 4 whole eggs, 40g chicken, creatine, glutamine

9, pulse

930, gym

1030, recovery xs, creatine, glutamine

1130, 300g white potatoe, 4 egg whites, whey

2, 60g brown rice, 120g turkey

4, 30g ultrafine oats with 30g whey

6, 200g sweet potatoe and red meat

830, 60g oats, 100g chicken

before bed, 250g cottage cheese and glutamine.

nuts or apples eaten between meals

cheers guys

[comanight2]

A night out wont do you much damage man, most of the boyos on here have nights out fairly frequently!

It does make you fat though. but you wont notice if its one night.

[energy]

1 night or 1 night a week ross?

[SpiderDan]

Your meant to enjoy life, if you want to have a drink go for it. Now try and avoid excessive over consumption (you really dont need to get completely smashed everytime) but a few drinks wont be bad and probably help with your mental balance.

What will do more harm to your gains is a poor work ethic and a poor diet, if you got those right go have fun on your saturday night. I'd say you're doing better than your friends because you train harder and eat better not because they have a couple of drinks and you dont.

[rosslovewhey]

cheers for the input guys its appreciated, i do agree that my work rate and strict diet is the reason i achieve my goals. And i ment just the 1 night not once a week! is there a drink that will do more harm than others? would it be better to drink low % like beer or high like vodka?

[SpiderDan]

Ross I commend your dedication, but you need to relax

Drink what you enjoy

The only thing I'd suggest is switching any regular mixers for diet.

Whilst vodka contains fewer calories per unit than beer, you end up drinking more because the liquid volume is lower. As far as alcohol calories go it'll end up about the same.

[hailtotheking]

I find it interesting that we are conditioned to automatically equate 'booze = relaxation'. This has been discussed before, but when you actually look at it, it doesnt add up. For example, lets say you go on a reasonable session of 5-6 hours. Now balance that against 1-2 DAYS of feeling like crap due to poor sleep, dehydration, low-level poisoning symptoms, messed up digestion, lethargy, inability to concentrate and make good decisions, which normally ends up to exascberated damage from spending those 'recovery days' having a crap diet full of treats to make you feel better..

Net result = Self inflicted STRESS, not relaxation.

Its probably because i'm now in my 30's, but i started to realise this when i was in my mid 20's, although i was so heavily conditioned to beleive booze was 'fun', and perhaps a little weak willed, that i kept ****ing myself over with it for a good 4.5 years after this realisation.

Saying that, Ross you are a young'en mate and you can get away with it more than some of us older guys, but dont kid yourself its doing you any favours. If you really wanted to become a serius competetive bodybuilder or strength athlete, at your age your hormones are primed for the best gains of your life. Its just a shame that so many young guys **** up a great opportunity for laying the ground work by getting wasted in their youthful years. instead.

[khris]

I would avoid ciders out of all drinks, the amount of sugar in those is unreal as well as empty calories, the odd glass of vino or champers isnt bad at all.

[SpiderDan]

Quote

I find it interesting that we are conditioned to automatically equate 'booze = relaxation'. This has been discussed before, but when you actually look at it, it doesnt add up. For example, lets say you go on a reasonable session of 5-6 hours. Now balance that against 1-2 DAYS of feeling like crap due to poor sleep, dehydration, low-level poisoning symptoms, messed up digestion, lethargy, inability to concentrate and make good decisions, which normally ends up to exascberated damage from spending those 'recovery days' having a crap diet full of treats to make you feel better..

Net result = Self inflicted STRESS, not relaxation.

Its probably because i'm now in my 30's, but i started to realise this when i was in my mid 20's, although i was so heavily conditioned to beleive booze was 'fun', and perhaps a little weak willed, that i kept ****ing myself over with it for a good 4.5 years after this realisation.

Saying that, Ross you are a young'en mate and you can get away with it more than some of us older guys, but dont kid yourself its doing you any favours. If you really wanted to become a serius competetive bodybuilder or strength athlete, at your age your hormones are primed for the best gains of your life. Its just a shame that so many young guys **** up a great opportunity for laying the ground work by getting wasted in their youthful years. instead.

I agree on the most part HTTK the marathon sessions characterised by booze Britain where you go too far will do nothing but set you back

Now 3-4 drinks (1-2 in some peoples cases) will help relaxation and reduce inhibitions in social situations which does help alot of people. Now Im not saying its beneficial for muscle growth but it wont hinder gains in small amounts.

Realistically the sooner people can get over the social stigma that you "have to drink" if you are going out the better. If people could learn to have a good night with or without it then we'd all be better off, I have and its done me the world of good.

The guy is at that age where unfortunately its the social norm, he is going to have to learn to deal with it in his own way.

Bottom line here is like everything else......moderation.

[suj]

Quote

I would avoid ciders out of all drinks, the amount of sugar in those is unreal as well as empty calories, the odd glass of vino or champers isnt bad at all.

i love my ciders! and i have like one a week (sometimes not even that)
my diet is clean anyway, so its on my cheat days