Training/Alcohol

hsbc

I’m 29 and I have been using the gym and lifting weights for over 4 years now and am happy with the progress I have made in that time (eg - max bench 120kg and max squat 160kg). I also play rugby and Gaelic throughout the year so the majority of weeks I am playing matches/training in the gym or with the teams on average 5/6 nights a week - so I would consider myself pretty fit. I am in the middle of a 12 week cross-fit programme so I’m hoping my fitness will increase over that period in time for the new football season.
I’m just asking for people’s opinion on alcohol while training? I have pretty much given up drink over the last 2 years as I put so much time into training I don’t want anything to make me go backwards in my progress. Am I being a bit obsessive? I have a trip away with my mates in April so I’ll be drinking then (probably the only time this year) but i fear this will set me back in my training - maybe a weekend end away from training will give me the break I need? When i go on this trip i will be drinking - i don't fancy being sober Joe for 3 days...!
Sorry if I rambled on a bit… any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

xgtdec

I remember asking this before christmas and the general opinion was that once in a while wont set you back and to go and enjoy a few beers, But if you were to ask me what i thought i would say alcohol and training dont mix..at all..never ever;)

G86

One weekend isn't going to have a major detrimental effect... just go and enjoy yourself:)

mrpink6789

I regularly go out over the weekend and train during the week. My lifts are still going up but I doubt with all the pints I will ever get a 6-pack but for now I'm content with that!

itsallaboutheL

I've made savage progress in the past 6 months and I'd put a lot of it down to seriously cutting down on the amount I go out/drink. Boring as **** though!!

Magic Eight Ball

I gave up drink for nearly a year for training.. Biggest mistake of my life!

dartstothesea

It's really not gonna have the exact same effect on everyone and those who do want to drink are by and large going to say it's grand to do so in any case.
It might hold you back a bit depending on how it affects your sleep, diet and your motivation on the surrounding days.
Haven't drank in a year now, I guess. Don't miss it in the slightest.

hsbc

dartstothesea wrote: »

It's really not gonna have the exact same effect on everyone and those who do want to drink are by and large going to say it's grand to do so in any case.
It might hold you back a bit depending on how it affects your sleep, diet and your motivation on the surrounding days.
Haven't drank in a year now, I guess. Don't miss it in the slightest.

Yeah it's the following days where i'm thinking the motivation won't be there - so if i was away for 3 days it could actually turn into 6/7 days where i go without training.

I'm the same as you though - have drank less than 5 times over the last couple of years and don't miss it at all.

hsbc

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

I've made savage progress in the past 6 months and I'd put a lot of it down to seriously cutting down on the amount I go out/drink. Boring as **** though!!

Thank god for xbox and football manager!

MarkY91

i drink most saturdays...i find monday is a bit of a struggle but overall i dont think it affects my training, anyhting in moderation is no harm:)

El Horseboxo

I'll still drink but i will drink around my training. If i know i'm going out on a Friday night in advance i will make sure i'm not lifting weights the next day. Maybe cardio but a complete rest day is usually what i take and i'll work out on the Sunday instead. I haven't drank since New Years Eve and i feel a bit fresher and less fatigued at times but i can never notice a difference or set back in progression if i do go out the odd weekend and drink. I think if you are smart with it and not overdoing it you can enjoy a drink a few times a month no problem.

here to be trained

I gave up drink for approx 8 weeks before Christmas, in the knowledge that I would be drinking over Christmas. I'm not mad for drink but I do enjoy a few beers. I went off drink again on the 4th of Jan and plan to have a few beers this Friday/Saturday. Plan is to give it up then again until the end of Feb. I find staying off for 3-4 weeks then enjoying a few beers on a Friday/Saturday works for me. I dont like the idea of undoing any progress I have made by drinking but I dont want to try and never drink again because that just wouldnt be do-able either! Different strokes for different folks tho!

Leprecunt

here to be trained wrote: »

I gave up drink for approx 8 weeks before Christmas, in the knowledge that I would be drinking over Christmas. I'm not mad for drink but I do enjoy a few beers. I went off drink again on the 4th of Jan and plan to have a few beers this Friday/Saturday. Plan is to give it up then again until the end of Feb. I find staying off for 3-4 weeks then enjoying a few beers on a Friday/Saturday works for me. I dont like the idea of undoing any progress I have made by drinking but I dont want to try and never drink again because that just wouldnt be do-able either! Different strokes for different folks tho!

Pretty much the same as me. I've cut down on drinking a lot since I started weightlifting but I won't beat myself up about it if I do go out and get drunk. I tend to just slightly alter the days I train on around nights that I might go out. Probably get drunk once every 2-3 weeks now, can't say it's had much a negative effect on my training (although I have no comparison) and I'd be one to drink a lot the times I do drink.

Sephiroth_dude

I find that if I drink the night before going training I cannot function properly at all,therefore I try to avoid the night before.

faceman

Depends on what you drink, how often and how much. Also your goals too. The trick i find is to work your schedule out in advance when you know you have a night out coming up. And not go overboard too I guess!

Naos

I would tend to drink on a Friday night after a training session and knowing I've a rest day on Saturday.

I've also moved from beer to vodka & diet 7up.

Flex

Im actually in a similar position regards weight training and also playing rugby. Schedule is usually

Mon - Weights
Tue - Rugby training
Wed - Weights
Thur - Rugby training
Fri - Night off or very light weights session
Sat - Rugby match
Sun - Weights

I go out pretty much every Saturday night into town and would have alot of drinks and get home about 3 or 4am. Ive found though, the drinking the night before doesnt effect my weight training too much, but it absolutely destroys my fitness in matches. Was out on a Friday night once when I had a match on Sunday and I was in bits trying to play.

Dunno if this effects it, but Id usually only have a few pints when Im out, Id normally drink shots instead. Thats my experience with it anyway, so Id say just go with your mates and enjoy your trip. One weekend wont do too much damage

here to be trained

All this talk about alcohol is making me very thirsty!