Not sure this is the right forum. Scientific answers are to be had. Though from personal experience scientific cites aren’t always the be all end all.
Last year I was hard core non-drinking, non-smoking. I was hitting the treadmill 75 minutes a day, twice a day, weight training 90 minutes a day. (I had a lot of free time). (I couldn’t give up sweets)
Maybe it was the meds, but I was never a candy person even when young. Anyway, I was, as an estimate, taking in a total of 5000 calories a day. And I was still dropping about 4 pounds a weeks. From early June 2010, to late August 2010 I went from 281 to 248. Not bad considering that 5k of calories. Consisting of M&M’s, Twix, Starburst and Honey Buns.
So that was all said to establish a baseline. My body can take some abuse. Like Ron White abuse.
My main question is this.
I’d like to start working out again. Partly to show up my ex, but mostly because I liked how I felt about myself back then. Degree of difficulty? I’m drinking again.
So can I still put on some muscle and drop fat if I’m drinking daily? Whiskey and vodka, beer is rare. Does the booze somehow interfere with muscle building or does taking in enough protein negate any interference.
And if anyone is in the brew town area willing to train, please pm.
How much are you drinking and at what time of day. To your body, in strictly metabolic terms, your alcohol is about 50 calories per shot of something that will be the first thing burned even before any dietary carbs.
For putting on muscle it may not be just the calories and dehydration that you have to consider.
Apparently alcohol increases the levels of estrogen your body produces. Estrogens are “female” hormones (women have higher levels than men), and they can inhibit muscle growth.
I’ve put “apparently” because while there are lots of cites, I can’t find a good one. Most of the sites that mention it are anti-drink or are focused on breast cancer (the risk of which is increased by higher estrogen levels).
Was doing power vinyasa yoga twice a week, cycling 10 miles a day very fast, and running at least 5K, three times a week. I don’t think I’ve felt or looked so good in about 20 years.
And when I’d finished all that, I came home and sank a few beers, every night.
However, I did notice a distinct dropoff in stamina and motivation any day were I had drunk more than three beers the night before. Alcohol calories are metabolised differently from carb or ketone calories, and they’re not as efficient in providing energy. You feel exhausted, quicker, when trying to metabolise booze.