Alcahol ban

Steelride

I took up cycling in a fairly serious way two years ago, covering 100-180 miles a week, depending on weather. I've lost quite a bit of weight and feel much fitter and stronger on the road. My aim for this year was to lose more weight, about 7 lbs would have done but I've found it very difficult. I eat sensibly but drink about 20-30 units of alcahol a week.

This weekend was it, a complete alcahol ban. I don't drink during the week anyway bit I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep off it for another weekend, UNLESS someone can convince me that I'm going to see major benefits.

So, come on then... am I going to feel much much better or not? What can I expect?

Steelride.

willbevan

there is the financial benefit of not spending the money on alchol.... spend it on your bikes instead

then when you do drink, you will be a lightweight and get drunk on almost anything so cheaper to

On a more serious note, i dont drink really now, occasinal drink after a hard days work, but dont go out on a friday and saturday and get merry, my cycles now on a saturday and sunday morning are a lot more enjoyable! Just feel fresher and dont feel tired half way round

fto-si

You sure you two haven't been drinking? ... it's alcohol

andrewgturnbull

Steelride wrote:

I took up cycling in a fairly serious way two years ago, covering 100-180 miles a week, depending on weather. I've lost quite a bit of weight and feel much fitter and stronger on the road. My aim for this year was to lose more weight, about 7 lbs would have done but I've found it very difficult. I eat sensibly but drink about 20-30 units of alcahol a week.

This weekend was it, a complete alcahol ban. I don't drink during the week anyway bit I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep off it for another weekend, UNLESS someone can convince me that I'm going to see major benefits.

So, come on then... am I going to feel much much better or not? What can I expect?

Steelride.

Hi there.

You drink 20-30 units in two days? Every week? And you are having trouble stopping? No wonder!

If I were you I'd take a long hard look and decide if you want to stop/cut back on your drinking for yourself - what anyone here says is irrelevent, it's your decision.

Cheers, Andy

shockedsoshocked

Stopping drinking was an easy decision for me.

Why spend an entire day sitting in, feeling like crap after a heavy night when you could be out cycling?

Steelride

Thanks for the replies. Drinking has stopped, will post in a few week to update progress.

bryan71

I had a bottle of red wine most evening.Then i woke up one morning feeling rough.So now i have cut out all drink and joined weight watchers with my better half.I have started to use my mountain bike again and within 6 weeks i have lost 22.5lbs.
Just purchased a road bike today.

neeb

I drink about 20-25 units of alcohol a week, but it's spread out over 7 days. Any more than 4 units of an evening certainly has a negative effect on my motivation, energy and performance the next day (sometimes subtle). Less than that doesn't seem to.

P.S. Don't underestimate your units. 1 unit = 10ml of pure ethanol, so, for example, a 500ml bottle of beer at 5% alcohol per volume would have 5 units for every litre, = 2.5 units in a bottle. If you remember that a litre of any beverage contains as many units as its percentage alcohol per volume you can't go wrong, and if you can't work out how much you've had, you've had too much!

biondino

neeb wrote:

I drink about 20-25 units of alcohol a week, but it's spread out over 7 days. Any more than 4 units of an evening certainly has a negative effect on my motivation, energy and performance the next day (sometimes subtle). Less than that doesn't seem to.

Up all of the above by 25% and that's me. I think I drink too much, but only slightly too much, which makes it all that more difficult to take the steps to cut down. I was hungover on my big Dartmoor ride on Sunday but that was an entirely justifiable Saturday night bonding experience which is fine as far as I'm concerned.

guinea

At certain times of the year I drink a lot. I used to be able to drink 15+ pints a day when I was big. However, I've never had a problem 'giving it up' for a few weeks.

If you struggle not to drink for a while then I think you should look at your intake and the reasons for drinking. If you don't want to give up as it will take you away from your mates at the weekend then that's reasonable (although you don't have to drink) but if it's because you need the booze then you need to think hard.

I find a couple of beers really raises my heart rate the next day and my performance on the bike drops off drammatically.

daniel_b

I only drink on Fridays and weekends, but I don't think I drink excessively?!

Usual would be 1 beer at 4% on Friday lunchtime, half bottle of wine with dinner, and another half bottle of wine with dinner on saturday.
Sunday will probably be a beer or two, or maybe a couple of ciders.

So I make that about 15 units per week.

Myself and my gf decided to take 4 weeks alcohol free earlier this year, specifically because I thought/hoped I would feel much better, have lots more energy, and feel more healthy, possibly lose a bit of weight, am aware of the 'empty' calories in alcohol.

I also wanted to exercise my willpower, and found it very very easy to stop completely, and didn't miss it particularly, or crave it which is a good sign!

However, I was very dissapointed to not feel any benefit within myself at all, was really hoping to feel a surge of energy, or to feel full of energy when I woke up, but nothing changed to be honest, which I was rather gutted about.

Maybe it takes longer than 4 weeks to get it out out of your system?

Dan