booze

Si C

I'm pretty dedicated to my cycling and goals for next year...started a structured training plan in October and have yet to miss a ride or turbo session. Things are working, I can see the distant glimmer of improvements, and I certainly do not have a weight issue....trouble is a like a tipple in the evening, infact it's become every evening...a glass or two of red or maybe a large JD and coke.

I'm I hampering my training progress? or worrying over nothing.

Edwin

Probably nothing. I went completely teetotal for about 5 months last year, didn't seem to improve much. I find I can train harder if I'm not drinking, but other than that it doesn't make a huge difference, unless you are talking about getting completely hammered. A couple of glasses of wine isn't be a problem, although you probably shouldn't drink every day.

Pokerface

Quit the daily drink. It's wasted calories and hampers performance (if only a small amount).

If you want to drink - do it on the weekend. Or less often. It can't in any way help you.

ut_och_cykla

Daily drinking is probably not a good idea - empty calories, creating a dependency etc. But there is some evidence that a little wine can be beneficial. I'd suggest you stick to just one small glass of wine (or equivalent) with food.

disgruntledgoat

I just stopped drinking on week nights last year (excluding holidays!) and whilst I'm no fitter or lighter, I do like not waking up feeling like a badger has slept in my mouth.

Plus, your body won't burn fat while there is alcohol in your system. I don't think you're hindering your training, but that's worth bearing in mind.

smithy1.0

I try to minimise alcohol during the race season, but in the winter I usually have a couple of bottles of Leffe on a friday night and maybe a glass of wine on a sunday. Alcohol is quite unpredictable as to how it affects you the next day, although i've had some days where i've woken up after a couple of beers the night before and gone out training to find i'm completely flying. Possibly the extra glycogen storage from the carbs in the beer, i'm not sure.

jacster

How do YOU feel about it?
If you like it, enjoy it and it improves your life then stick with it.
If it makes you feel like crap and you beat yourself up over it cut back or quit.
A little of something you enjoy is not a bad thing.
I think we amateurs can get a bit too serious about these things sometimes.
We should be allowed a life outside of cycling.
And if you're seeing improvements from your current regime it can't be THAT bad..

bahzob

Happily I can report that my training/diet regime has always including provision for sensible (and the occasional insensible) drinking.

The calories in alcohol are not actually that much, especially spirits (there will be more in the coke mixer). I just plan/log alcohol calories in along with my others and as a result rode events this year at my lowest weight at 50yrs old since I was 18. (10st 12lbs for 5'8").

In terms of effects on performance, well I broke 2 club records in first year of taking TT seriously, 3:54 for 100 and 251miles for 12 hour. Also finished top 200 in the etape, 6:03 Dragon and completed the LEL in under 95 hours. Also tried some road racing start of year getting to 3rd cat by mid Feb. Before all the above my typical pre race evening meal would include some beer/wine. (Indeed one of the joys of cycling is that attending events far afield gives me the chance to sample the local brews). e.g. as much fun as riding the Etape Caledonian (lucky no punctures so did quite quickly 3:45) was making my first visit to a whisky distillery (the delightful Edradour, smallest in Scotland) and discovering the Moulin microbrewery.

So I'd say is that with a bit of sense you can by all means drink and ride (which is a good job as not sure I'd want to choose one over the other).

Si C

jacster wrote:

How do YOU feel about it?
If you like it, enjoy it and it improves your life then stick with it.
If it makes you feel like crap and you beat yourself up over it cut back or quit.
A little of something you enjoy is not a bad thing.
I think we amateurs can get a bit too serious about these things sometimes.
We should be allowed a life outside of cycling.
And if you're seeing improvements from your current regime it can't be THAT bad..

That's an interesting question. I guess I posted this as I feel a little guilty that I dedicate myself to 8 hours a week to achieve a goal next year, but I guess I feel a bit weak that I can't give up my daily tipple.

I enjoy it. I work quiet hard running my own business, and a drink or two at the end of the day with wifie is our release. With 2 small children we don't get out much!

With regards to how I feel the next day. A couple of drinks the night before has no negative effects on me the next morning. I wake up feeling fine.

The calories don't bother me. It seems with my current training that I can eat and drink what I want, and I'm still remain pretty lean.

Si C

bahzob wrote:

So I'd say is that with a bit of sense you can by all means drink and ride (which is a good job as not sure I'd want to choose one over the other).

Yes, that would be a tough decision.!

One of my training partners will drink 7 pints of cider on a Friday night and be out at 7.30am for the chain gang. He is also one of the top 8 TT riders in our club.

jacster

So the positives seem to outweigh the negatives in your case..
It helps you relax at the end of a day, gives you some time to chat with your wife, doesn't make you feel crap, doesn't make you fat and you're seeing improvements in your riding.
People will tell you wine is bad for you, others will say it is good. People will tell you coffee is good for you, others will say it is bad. Pick any food or drink and some study will show it either kills you or protects you from deadly disease.
Stop feeling guilty about a simple pleasure and enjoy it.

ride_whenever

drinking in moderation, just a little in the evening is fine. But you go tee-total for 1-2months before big races it gives you an added boost.

disgruntledgoat

ride_whenever wrote:

drinking in moderation, just a little in the evening is fine. But you go tee-total for 1-2months before big races it gives you an added boost.

How does it do that please?

shockedsoshocked

Dehydration, drop in testosterone, delayed reaction times, increased fat storage, disrupted sleeping patterns, impairment of energy pathways - not the best substance for your body if you're an athlete.

Then again, I did the Northern Rock Cyclone sportive, smashed down about 5 large bottles of beer (was thoroughly pissed) on the night and went out and smashed everyone on the training ride the next day. So I guess it depends :shock: I'd never gone as well!

disgruntledgoat

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

Dehydration, drop in testosterone, delayed reaction times, increased fat storage, disrupted sleeping patterns, impairment of energy pathways - not the best substance for your body if you're an athlete.

Yeah but look what it did to Landis before he monstered everyone on the Morzine stage!

What's that you say? Oh....

shockedsoshocked

disgruntledgoat wrote:

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

Dehydration, drop in testosterone, delayed reaction times, increased fat storage, disrupted sleeping patterns, impairment of energy pathways - not the best substance for your body if you're an athlete.

Yeah but look what it did to Landis before he monstered everyone on the Morzine stage!

What's that you say? Oh....

Well his story would have held more water if the substances found in his body actually originated from inside it

disgruntledgoat

But Phil "voice of cycling" Ligget told me that he'd been drinking whisky and that it increases your testosterone levels (by a factor of 11) and that he's more manly than Chuck Morris, and hence has more testosterone, and that his parents were Amish or summat.

But mainly it was the booze! Don't spoil my illusions man.

huuregeil

I like my drink, I'm not going to go around preaching abstinence. However, I will say one thing: I saw a close friend develop a drinking problem, and it started exactly like you describe. Stressful job, and a glass or two at the end of the day. The trouble was, that routine became extremely hard to shake and when stress increased, the drinking increased and it led to a vicious cycle. Having seen what happened to him, I'd really recommend two things: don't rely on drink as a stress reliever, learn to deal with stress in different ways; don't make drinking part of a daily routine. That way you don't lay yourself open to falling into an addictive cycle through random external events, it's extremely easy and it can happen to anyone. The plus of breaking a drinking routine that is that it gives you a sense of control and power back, and there's no guilt or negative feelings associated with drinking.

Otherwise, fine, enjoy it, I'm looking forward to a couple of ales myself tonight!

Pokerface

disgruntledgoat wrote:

But Phil "voice of cycling" Ligget told me that he'd been drinking whisky and that it increases your testosterone levels (by a factor of 11).

I am going to start drinking whisky. Before every ride.

disgruntledgoat

Pokerface wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

But Phil "voice of cycling" Ligget told me that he'd been drinking whisky and that it increases your testosterone levels (by a factor of 11).

I am going to start drinking whisky. Before every ride.

I tired it once, stayed up til 2AM drinking then went road racing. Was ll going so well, bridged across to fisrt group asi t all split up, then went into the back of some guy braking on the top of a hill, just as I caught them... broke my collarbone and messed up my knee.

Don't drink and 3rd category road race kids.

Pokerface

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

But Phil "voice of cycling" Ligget told me that he'd been drinking whisky and that it increases your testosterone levels (by a factor of 11).

I am going to start drinking whisky. Before every ride.

I tired it once, stayed up til 2AM drinking then went road racing. Was ll going so well, bridged across to fisrt group asi t all split up, then went into the back of some guy braking on the top of a hill, just as I caught them... broke my collarbone and messed up my knee.

Don't drink and 3rd category road race kids.

Yes, but I bet you didn't feel a thing. 8)

jacster

huuregeil wrote:

I like my drink, I'm not going to go around preaching abstinence. However, I will say one thing: I saw a close friend develop a drinking problem, and it started exactly like you describe. Stressful job, and a glass or two at the end of the day. The trouble was, that routine became extremely hard to shake and when stress increased, the drinking increased and it led to a vicious cycle. Having seen what happened to him, I'd really recommend two things: don't rely on drink as a stress reliever, learn to deal with stress in different ways; don't make drinking part of a daily routine. That way you don't lay yourself open to falling into an addictive cycle through random external events, it's extremely easy and it can happen to anyone. The plus of breaking a drinking routine that is that it gives you a sense of control and power back, and there's no guilt or negative feelings associated with drinking.

Otherwise, fine, enjoy it, I'm looking forward to a couple of ales myself tonight!

I get what you are saying but sharing a drink with the wife and unwinding at the end of the day is not going to manifest itself into a drink problem in the vast majority of sensible folk.
Some will be more susceptible than others and I agree that having a drink because you're stressed isn't a good idea.
But unwinding with an enjoyable glass of vino does have some benefits too.

Si C

jacster wrote:

So the positives seem to outweigh the negatives in your case..
It helps you relax at the end of a day, gives you some time to chat with your wife, doesn't make you feel crap, doesn't make you fat and you're seeing improvements in your riding.
People will tell you wine is bad for you, others will say it is good. People will tell you coffee is good for you, others will say it is bad. Pick any food or drink and some study will show it either kills you or protects you from deadly disease.
Stop feeling guilty about a simple pleasure and enjoy it.

Thanks Jacster...I feel like you've given me a green card to go get twated tonight

Seriously, I think I'll quit worrying about it. But, I'll cut it out a couple of days a week....just to prove the demon drink doesn't have a hold on me.

jacster

Yes Si C, get totally obliterated tonight then you won't want to touch a drop for the next couple of days - job done!

huuregeil

jacster wrote:

I get what you are saying but sharing a drink with the wife and unwinding at the end of the day is not going to manifest itself into a drink problem in the vast majority of sensible folk.
Some will be more susceptible than others and I agree that having a drink because you're stressed isn't a good idea.
But unwinding with an enjoyable glass of vino does have some benefits too.

I don't disagree, I've just developed a very strong respect for booze after I saw what happened! Simply, it's a very fine line and the slippery slope to addiction begins when people believe they have control over their drinking when in fact they have no control. Thus, anything which puts a check in place and gives you a chance to exercise real control is extremely useful.

In this context, drinking as part of a regular routine is really bad, because it becomes automatic and bypasses all the usual choice mechanisms. Same with stress, because the association is then stress==booze, and there's always stress in life. My friend got into trouble with the washing up. (I kid you not!). He started cracking open a can of beer to ease the washing-up/cleaning tedium, it became ingrained into routine, and because there's always washing up, there was always beer.

Choosing either not to drink, or to drink only for positive reasons, gives you real power. And actually, this boils down to simply chosing not to drink on occasions you might have done, because you can always invent positive reasons!

fudbeer

I usually get my best times when I have had a few beers the night before

bahzob

fudbeer wrote:

I usually get my best times when I have had a few beers the night before

Me too. And they are pretty good. You only live once and I dont see the need to sacrifice one pleasure for the sake of another.

I do wonder if issues like this surface on threads over the channel. I suspect not as they treat life as a bit more about actually enjoying having fun rather than feeling guilty about it.

mclarent

All good comments on here, the only two I would add are:

Firstly, what size are the glasses of wine? Two glasses of wine a night for a lot of people means approx half a bottle, which would mean 3.5 bottles a week, which would mean at least 31.5 units a week (a bottle of 12% wine has 9 units according to Google, and lots of reds are 13-14%), which is way over the recommended weekly limit of 21 units. I think those limits are supposed to fairly arbitrary, but something to be aware of for sure.
Secondly, even if you drink well within the unit recommendation, it is a good idea to give your body a break every once in a while, i.e. not drink every night.

I found myself in the "2 glasses a night" position 3 or 4 months ago, was shocked when somebody pointed out how many units I was consuming, and have cut right down to around a bottle of red wine a week. I was also shocked by the pyschological dependence I had built up on my "helps me relax" wine - it was very disturbing how uncomfortable it was giving up that evening glass. In particular, I found my overall mood and my sleeping improved - alcohol is a depressant and allegedly prohibits good quality sleep - despite the fact I was never getting close to drunk in the evenings. However, this may have been partly related to increasing my training. I have also found, cos I train mainly in the evenings, dehydrating myself through exercise then drinking a couple of glasses of wine doesn't exactly agree with me!!

Hope my experience helps! If in doubt, why don't you try cutting down for a test period, see what happens? You can always go back on the sauce, but you'll never really know what the effects are unless you try stopping(!)

Russell160

I'm no doctor but as far as I'm aware the basic science is this: alcohol is a toxin (hence in-toxic-ated) and the liver therefore has to process this toxin. Too much alcohol can impair liver function. The liver produces glycogen which is what you need to perform well in cycling. Therefore anything that impairs liver function is going to reduce cycling performance. The fact that some guys can nail a race after going out on the lash doesnt' really prove much. They could have nailed it even more if they hadn't. One way forward would be to go to your doctor and get a liver function test done, and this would tell you objectively what the position is.
It would seem likely that most 'authorities' would not recommend drinking every day, and the fact you've come on a forum to ask about it suggests that you know at the back of your mind you might be drinking 'too much'. Or alternatively you are looking for 'permission' to carry on? (Strokes beard in therapeutic manner) I would ask myselfwhat happens if I don't have a drink tonight? For two nights? Three? Also, you could keep a 'drink diary' as 'one or two drinks' often turns out to be more lilke three or four in my albeit limited experience. . [/b]

Si C

Russell160 wrote:

I would ask myselfwhat happens if I don't have a drink tonight? For two nights? Three? Also, you could keep a 'drink diary' as 'one or two drinks' often turns out to be more lilke three or four in my albeit limited experience. . [/b]

No booze tonight, and plan not to drink till at least Thursday.......he say's crawling out of a catatonic stupor.

markwalker

Pokerface wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

But Phil "voice of cycling" Ligget told me that he'd been drinking whisky and that it increases your testosterone levels (by a factor of 11).

I am going to start drinking whisky. Before every ride.

and before going out on the pull :shock: now where are those podium girls yum!