Substitute for beer?

Anna Begins

Hey I'm just wondering, when in the pub would i be better off drinking spirits? It's just i'm trying to get fit (not lose weight - i'm a good weight) Just want to build some muscle.. but it's just i had a sh!t load of pints last night and i can still feel em in my stomach.. would i be better off switching to whiskey? And no i can;t give up altogether!

Bottle_of_Smoke

I don't think you'd be any more "fit" from whiskey, though probably less calories if you have it with something sugar free. Its also a hell of a lot worse for your liver.

I'm tempted to say wine is your best option but I'm not sure. Perhaps post your question on the the nutrition forum.

celestial

In what way do you mean 'better'? How about just drinking less pints?:)

You'd be better off with beer generally speaking as it has a lot less alcohol. Everyone is different though with what they can tolerate - you'll have to experiment! I find I can only drink so many pints before I need to move on to shorts.

optiplexgx270

I find sticking to vodka and coke / wine (works out worst in calories VS beer i recon), i feel a lot better the next day in terms of feeling bloated versus the feeling after a night on the beer.

microgirl

AFAIK the bloatiness feeling one gets with beer is due to the concentration of yeast one gets from drinking beer as opposed to other things, rather than anything else. Yes, it does have higher sugar-calories too, but that's not gonna cause bloatedness I don't think.

Whiskey or distilled spirits in general will give far less bloating, as there's no real yeast content, but as others have pointed out there's other downsides.

Dudess

There's a lot of yeast in wine too. I'd suggest sticking with vodka and a diet soft drink.

dannyd20

My 2c:

You either want to achieve your goals and are willing to do whatever it takes or you don't.

Changing from drinking a 'sh!t load of pints' to a sh!t load of spirits probably won't affect things a whole lot either way.

PeakOutput

dannyd20 wrote: »

You either want to achieve your goals and are willing to do whatever it takes or you don't.

not everyones goals take a drastic change in every part of your life small changes here and there all add up imo

anyway, i would move to spirits with a diet mixer(apparently diet drinks get you drunk faster as whatever they use to replace the sugar helps the alcohol get into your system faster.........apparently)

as long as you see one shot as equivalant to one pint and dont try and compensate by knocking back each one then it should be an improvement on drinking 8/10 pints

Anna Begins

dannyd20 wrote: »

My 2c:

You either want to achieve your goals and are willing to do whatever it takes or you don't.

Changing from drinking a 'sh!t load of pints' to a sh!t load of spirits probably won't affect things a whole lot either way.

probably won't? Your source?? I was just asking would i be better off switching to spirits as beer might prevent me from getting definition around my abdomen..ie. beer belly... so i think there is a huge difference between 5 litres of beer Vs. 400ml - 500ml of spirits...
Was just looking to see if anyone would/could confirm..

dannyd20 wrote: »

My 2c:

You either want to achieve your goals and are willing to do whatever it takes or you don't.

How do you know what my goals are? I'm not in training to be Mr. Universe here.. Even if switching from beer to spirits is only a fraction better for you wouldn't it be worth doing? I think your going a tad overboard here with your if your not willing to do "whaterver it takes" you may as well give up attitude

anyway cheers for the replies guys.. i heard wine was the best too.. although i hate the stuff..! maybe i'll just try less pints!

Dudess

Anna Begins wrote: »

i heard wine was the best too.. although i hate the stuff..! maybe i'll just try less pints!

I heard wine was full of sugar and yeast, so I would say it's most definitely NOT best.

dannyd20

How do you know what my goals are?

You said you're trying to get fit and build muscle. In my experience, alcohol doesn't help.

maybe i'll just try less pints!

:thumbsup: - A step in the right direction

Oh and I never said

if your not willing to do "whaterver it takes" you may as well give up

that's just stupid.

Anna Begins

dannyd20 wrote: »

You either want to achieve your goals and are willing to do whatever it takes or you don't.

You just put training or keeping fit down to 2 things: black or white, "you do our you don't".. there's plenty of room for in-between mate.

I just didnt see where you were going with "willing to do whatever it takes" - as i said i'm not training for Mr. Universe.. i just asked a question

Anyway cheers.:)

Superdub2

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

I don't think you'd be any more "fit" from whiskey, though probably less calories if you have it with something sugar free. Its also a hell of a lot worse for your liver.

I'm tempted to say wine is your best option but I'm not sure. Perhaps post your question on the the nutrition forum.

wheres this nutrition forum?? i cant seem to find it!

g'em

Here

dannyd20

Anna Begins wrote: »

You just put training or keeping fit down to 2 things: black or white, "you do or you don't".. there's plenty of room for in-between mate

Yeah I guess that's my approach, if it's worth doing then it's worth doing well. On a public forum, you will find lots of different attitudes. Didn't mean for mine to sound holier than thou.

Good luck with what you choose.


/*group hug*

CareBear99

Well, alcohol isn't stored by the body as its a toxic substance! Your body burns off the alcohol as quickly as possible but the problem is it is using the alcohol as fuel instead of fat so if you eat high calorie/fatty food and drink, the food calories will be stored as the body gets its fuel from the alcohol! Spirits like vodka are pure alcohol so that with a diet mixer i definitely find to cause the least damage on the waistline! Also there's less alcohol in a measure of spirits than a pint of beer i.e. 1-1.5 units in spirits and 2-3 in a pint!!

Arsenal1986

yea spirits would be better just in so much as theyve less calories so less likely to get fat unfortunatly though theyll have same testosterone rducing effects as beer due to the alcohol an wont be able to train as well next day but having said that u have to have a life so once a week shouldnt hold u back too much in fact id say its better relativly speaking to drink alot once a week then a few drinks evry night for the purposes were speaking bout

Bottle_of_Smoke

g'em wrote: »

Here

Interestingly enough I was looking for this for ages earlier, reckon society drop-down would suit it a lot better.

rubadub

Lot of dodgy info here. Some is sort of right due to the way people tend to drink.

Its (whiskey) also a hell of a lot worse for your liver.

Whiskey is basically distilled beer. Nothing is created in the distillation process, it is removed. So if you drank whiskey in the same fashion as beer, i.e. diluted it to 4.3% and drank the same pints then it is easier on the liver. Lots of other alcohols and chemical substances are produced during brewing and these are left in beer. A decent whiskey or vodka is distilled in "cuts" and the crap is removed. Good neutral vodka is the way to go. And drink plenty of water with them.

As for yeast contents. Yeast is a solid, if there is yeast in beer it will be cloudy, like bottle conditioned beers like erdinger. Clear beers and wine are filtered and only have trace amounts of yeast in them. There would be far more yeast in a tiny bit of bread than in 10pints of beer.

Studies have shown that drinking spirits with diet mixers will result in faster alcohol absorption, so you get a higher blood alchol level on less calories.

rick_fantastic

gin and slimline tonic loads of ice and lemon wedges!

5 calories. no fat. per measure and mixer

BOOM!

dudara

Clear spirits and a diet mixer is really the best way to go.

Personally I love a good old G&T with lime wedges. Mmmm...

Bottle_of_Smoke

rubadub wrote: »

Lot of dodgy info here. Some is sort of right due to the way people tend to drink.


Whiskey is basically distilled beer. Nothing is created in the distillation process, it is removed. So if you drank whiskey in the same fashion as beer, i.e. diluted it to 4.3% and drank the same pints then it is easier on the liver. Lots of other alcohols and chemical substances are produced during brewing and these are left in beer. A decent whiskey or vodka is distilled in "cuts" and the crap is removed. Good neutral vodka is the way to go. And drink plenty of water with them.

With the glasses they serve spirits in pubs that's very unlikely to happen. Also there's a lot of "crap" in sugar free mixers. I don't think the OP is going to be using water as a mixer.

Going by standard measures
35ml of vodka + 200ml diet coke works out around 6.6% alcohol if my calculations are correct. This with the vodka being @ 37.5 %

BossArky

The best substitue for beer is a girlfriend.

amacachi

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

With the glasses they serve spirits in pubs that's very unlikely to happen. Also there's a lot of "crap" in sugar free mixers. I don't think the OP is going to be using water as a mixer.

Going by standard measures
35ml of vodka + 200ml diet coke works out around 6.6% alcohol if my calculations are correct. This with the vodka being @ 37.5 %

More like 5.6%, so very little more than beer.

JD and soda water is my personal favorite, might have to get used to sipping but the first hangover will teach you your lesson.

Buzz Buzz

Vodka, soda and fresh lime! Minimal calories.. but be careful, its like drinking water and if your used to pints, you could be on the floor before 10pm.. I know trust me.. but definitely helps keep the fat off.

rubadub

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

With the glasses they serve spirits in pubs that's very unlikely to happen. Also there's a lot of "crap" in sugar free mixers. I don't think the OP is going to be using water as a mixer.

Going by standard measures
35ml of vodka + 200ml diet coke works out around 6.6% alcohol if my calculations are correct. This with the vodka being @ 37.5 %

You were saying whiskey is "a hell of a lot worse" for your liver than beer. I am just wondering where you got this idea from? Many people have this idea/myth that whiskey has more toxic chemicals in it. I am just trying to dispel this myth. I have studied distillation & brewing for many years now so have heard all the BS time and time again, it is scary the misinformation people have about a drug that they abuse so regularly. This is a great site, www.homedistiller.org the best spirits you will drink are ones you make yourself, if done properly it is far purer than any commercial drinks. Most commercial distilleries really only separate as little crap they can from the "beer" to make spirits legally, the "beer" AKA wort, wash, is full of all sorts of toxic compounds, using a reflux still it is easy to get very pure ethanol, the downside is your yield is only ~30% of the original beer, this is why distilleries wont do it, but homedistillers will.

The other poster is right it is 5.6% at 200ml (think you forgot to add on the original 35.5ml to the 200). Usually people will stick ice in too which will dilute it further. Some will drink it with water or soda water, I drink pints of water in between pints of beer, as I usually drink strong german ones, so can dehydrate easily.

Also there's a lot of "crap" in sugar free mixers

The alchol is probably worse than these on your system. Studies have shown that these diet mixers increase absorption of alcohol, so by actually drinking them you need less overall alchol to attain the same blood alcohol levels. So by drinking the diet mixers you should be drinking less alcohol overall, so in fact it is probably better for your system as less toxins might be taken in overall.

http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=diet+drinks+alcohol+absorption&spell=1

Bottle_of_Smoke

rubadub wrote: »

You were saying whiskey is "a hell of a lot worse" for your liver than beer. I am just wondering where you got this idea from? Many people have this idea/myth that whiskey has more toxic chemicals in it. I am just trying to dispel this myth. I have studied distillation & brewing for many years now so have heard all the BS time and time again, it is scary the misinformation people have about a drug that they abuse so regularly. This is a great site, www.homedistiller.org the best spirits you will drink are ones you make yourself, if done properly it is far purer than any commercial drinks. Most commercial distilleries really only separate as little crap they can from the "beer" to make spirits legally, the "beer" AKA wort, wash, is full of all sorts of toxic compounds, using a reflux still it is easy to get very pure ethanol, the downside is your yield is only ~30% of the original beer, this is why distilleries wont do it, but homedistillers will.

The other poster is right it is 5.6% at 200ml (think you forgot to add on the original 35.5ml to the 200). Usually people will stick ice in too which will dilute it further. Some will drink it with water or soda water, I drink pints of water in between pints of beer, as I usually drink strong german ones, so can dehydrate easily.


The alchol is probably worse than these on your system. Studies have shown that these diet mixers increase absorption of alcohol, so by actually drinking them you need less overall alchol to attain the same blood alcohol levels. So by drinking the diet mixers you should be drinking less alcohol overall, so in fact it is probably better for your system as less toxins might be taken in overall.

http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=diet+drinks+alcohol+absorption&spell=1

Yes I did do that, was wondering where I went wrong when the other poster mentioned it. Fair enough, I guess I was wrong with that statement. I was caught up in the myth. Whiskey hangovers always seem worse so I guess I backed the myth up with personal(And therefore flawed) evidence.

When I go back on the drink I'm gonna give my habits a rethink.

Thanks.

rubadub

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Yes I did do that, was wondering where I went wrong when the other poster mentioned it. Fair enough, I guess I was wrong with that statement. I was caught up in the myth. Whiskey hangovers always seem worse so I guess I backed the myth up with personal(And therefore flawed) evidence.

When I go back on the drink I'm gonna give my habits a rethink.

Thanks.

It is a weird one, and the myth does have reasonable grounds. It is not the whiskeys fault, it is the style in which people abuse it that causes the problem. And unfortunately most people do not have a clue about drinking or its effects, even though it is many peoples drug of choice. They freely lash down pints yet would never think of smoking a joint, since it is "bad for you" like begby in trainspotting "ye wouldnt catch me poisoning my body with that sh!te". If you drink whiskey in the same manner as pints, i.e. with as much water per unit alcohol you will be better off. But most do not.

I hear mates and people here too saying "I start on pints but then have to change to shorts". I have studied drugs, esp. alcohol for years and have developed my own ways of "beating hangovers". Many will drink pints, then get into the "last orders" culture which is terrible. After a few pints you can drink spirits easily, strong ones go down easy. The pubs do not help with overpriced mixers. My mates will all get doubles, and split a single 200ml bottle between up to 3 people. They are already pissed and the alcohol is still yet to take effect, and they are lashing down highly concentrated stuff that will not hit until they are home!

I got into a habit of drinking on weeknights, I would go to the pub, LASH down 4-5pints, and then drink 3 pints of water in the last hour in the pub. The pints are still taking effect, and you stay very alert just like after your first 2 pints, raring to go. Last orders would be another pint of water, while the mates were lashing down vodkas! Get up the next morning and I am fine and hydrated, the lads are all in bits going to work and wonder why!

Whiskey in pubs is overpriced and shots are small. A bigger problem is drinking whiskey at home, people will tend to drink far more units and less water. This is why the hangover can be worse. Also I have studied distillation processes, scotch whiskey is the worst for hangovers, they use a process called continuous distillation, which does not really separate the bad stuff from the good, it is still better than the beer, but add the fact most are not hydrated and you get a hangover. Aged Irish whiskies are the best choice, whiskey wise, upon aging many of the "bad chemicals" are slowly converted to "good chemicals". But for a lack of hangover a good vodka is best (skyy gives very little after effects but pricey), these are expensive though, another good choice is rum. Rum is sugar based, and when fermented sugar based brews (washes) contain only trace amounts of methanol, while fast brewed whiskey washes or beer have a lot of methanol. A cheap rum may not taste great but the bad flavours do not affect the hangover as much as the methanol would. Also highly concentrated alcohol will be worse for your system, this is why distillers dilute down to ~40% (most alcohol is orignally distilled to 80-96%).

So in short, there is more bad stuff in most beers than whiskeys per unit alcohol, but people abuse whiskey and so hangovers will tend to be worse due to drinking more units and lack of hydration.