Alcohol

[queenie01]

Have any of you given up alcohol completely for a specific amount of time and seen very noticable differences or are they minimal?

I was contimplating giving it up entirely for 8 weeks but not sure if that is realistic or even worth it for that matter. I dont drink too much right now... I used to drink a lot but have cut back dramatically within the past several months. I am currently doing Stage 7 of NROL4W and trying to get more cut/lean.. my diet is great, about 90% perfect and clean.

[Meechel]

I didn't drink at all from August until last month when I had 2 drinks in Vegas....drinking is not a part of my life though :shrug:

[RpH]

I'm obnoxious enough without drinking.

I think most of the people that post on here don't drink because it's not conducive to reaching their goals.

[trinitylove]

i think i've had one glass of wine in the past 8 years. not necessarily for physique reasons, just because i really have no reason to.

[Cass]

I think most of the people that post on here don't drink because it's not conducive to reaching their goals.
I disagree.

Choose to drink or not, it's up to you, but having some weekend drinks has nothing to do with reaching your goals.

[RpH]

I disagree.

Choose to drink or not, it's up to you, but having some weekend drinks has nothing to do with reaching your goals.

I agree to disagree. Having competitions for weeks on end not to cheat on your diet plan shows me that a lot of people want the end result pretty bad and reaching their goals is important.

[Erik]

I agree to disagree. Having competitions for weeks on end not to cheat on your diet plan shows me that a lot of people want the end result pretty bad and reaching their goals is important.

And to add to that, I'm not sure one can really disagree with your original post when the operative words there are 'most of the people'. I would say you're correct in that most people do make that choice based on those reasons. Of course, 'most' and 'all' are not the same.

But I also don't see Cass as saying the end goals are not important either.

Different people have to work at different levels to achieve a given result.

[Cass]

I agree to disagree. Having competitions for weeks on end not to cheat on your diet plan shows me that a lot of people want the end result pretty bad and reaching their goals is important.
Sure.

What do competitions have to do with it? You have to compete to really want it?

If you nail your diet in terms of food, having a few drinks, if you choose, is not going to halt your progress.

[queenie01]

Thank you all for your feedback. I dont think that I will give up drinking entirely for the 8 weeks but it will definitely be kept to a minimum. I personally do believe if my diet and training is in check that a few drinks should not set me back all that much. Just cant go out and have one of those "free for all nights" ;)

[TriciaE]

Alcohol has never really been part of my life so I can't comment on it specifically.
All I know is that it's expensive (I'm very frugal) and I since I've really gotten serious about my workouts and eating that there is no way in hell that I'm going to drink any of my calories.

[trinitylove]

Alcohol has never really been part of my life so I can't comment on it specifically.
All I know is that it's expensive (I'm very frugal) and I since I've really gotten serious about my workouts and eating that there is no way in hell that I'm going to drink any of my calories.

:yeahthat:
i could have written that verbatim.

[cooperr]

I was curious about this as well. Just how much does drinking "put you on the wrong track" per say?

Drinking happens to be a pretty big part of my lifestyle and while I've chosen not to drink since I started to work with Erik my social life has started to change from "drinking buddies" to "gym buddies". I am not entirely 100 percent sure I want to abstain from drinking all the time though. I guess its just a matter of balance?

[gymgurl]

Alcohol has never really been part of my life so I can't comment on it specifically.
All I know is that it's expensive (I'm very frugal) and I since I've really gotten serious about my workouts and eating that there is no way in hell that I'm going to drink any of my calories.

Me too! This describes me to a 'T'. That and my parents were alcoholics at one point, and going through that, I told myself at a very young age I would never be like them.

[rogmel]

it makes a HUGE difference for me......when I choose to be 100% committted, I forgo alcohol.......if you have a BIG goal in 8 weeks, you may want to forgo it.....it is only 8 weeks......but like cass said....it is a choice........and i think it is individual.......for ME....it makes a difference.........for you maybe not so much.......but if after 8 weeks, you do not reach your goal.....i would try eliminating the alcohol and see what happens.......

[Cindy Day]

Sure.

What do competitions have to do with it? You have to compete to really want it?

If you nail your diet in terms of food, having a few drinks, if you choose, is not going to halt your progress.

First off I don't think one can put everyone's goal in to one bucket.

Secondly, if one is really lean one can "get away with" a little alcohol and reach fat loss goals depending on their starting point and how lean they are to begin with and/or what drinking does to their commitment to their diet and training.

Thirdly, when competiting and getting on stage to win one must give it up at some point regardless. Competing requires a conditioning that goes beyond just fat loss or being lean. There is muscle, skin, water manipulation that alcohol just isn't conducive too.

I like my alcohol enough to enjoy it socially at times, but I'm not kidding myself that it is beneficial or not harmful in a health sense to my body. When I go to get on stage I would definitely drop it completely during my prep.

One only has to look at the skin and over all appearance of someone who had drank long term in fair amounts compared to those that don't to see what it does over time.

If all one cares about for their goal is being super lean, then sure, you can enjoy it to a pretty fair extent. There are plenty of skinny people in bars but that doesn't make that look MY goal.

[Trinity]

I think it's an individual decision. If your goal is to compete, then I would definitely eliminate it from your diet.

I, myself, enjoy a glass of wine now and again. Usually what I do is stay really strict with my diet during the week and even on the weekend. But I allow myself to enjoy some wine Sat. and Sun. So I don't feel that the extra calories on those two days are really hurting me. (As long as I don't go overboard with it)

It depends though...I'm sure it does effect everyone differently.

[KellyFL]

I definitely enjoy a glass of wine with dinner a few times a week. I competed for the first time in April, and cut alcohol out completely for the 6 weeks before the competition. It certainly helped with the leaning out, but as soon as the competition was over I added my glass of wine back in. Personally, when not dieting for competition, I don't feel that it's necessary to abstain completely, I would rather avoid other carbs and keep my wine. My personal opinion.

[Erik]

First off I don't think one can put everyone's goal in to one bucket.

Secondly, if one is really lean one can "get away with" a little alcohol and reach fat loss goals depending on their starting point and how lean they are to begin with and/or what drinking does to their commitment to their diet and training.

Thirdly, when competiting and getting on stage to win one must give it up at some point regardless. Competing requires a conditioning that goes beyond just fat loss or being lean. There is muscle, skin, water manipulation that alcohol just isn't conducive too.

I like my alcohol enough to enjoy it socially at times, but I'm not kidding myself that it is beneficial or not harmful in a health sense to my body. When I go to get on stage I would definitely drop it completely during my prep.

One only has to look at the skin and over all appearance of someone who had drank long term in fair amounts compared to those that don't to see what it does over time.

If all one cares about for their goal is being super lean, then sure, you can enjoy it to a pretty fair extent. There are plenty of skinny people in bars but that doesn't make that look MY goal.

Nice! :thumb:

[Cass]

Nice! :thumb:
I concur.