January "detoxing"

I've just finished a month of abstaining from alcohol and was wondering if anybody else had done something similar. My reasons for doing this were mostly financial, a little about an exercise in self control and also to see what effect it would have on my body.

I'm definitely a lot more defined than I was before I started and my recovery times are much better than they were. I did however notice that I'd constantly be getting thirsty and often wake with a very dry mouth. My sleeping patterns improved a little, I'd now sleep consistently between the hours of 3am and 10am, not ideal times that I'd like to be sleeping but unfortunately that's what my job demands
Definitely going to practice moderation a lot more now and consume less, because the extra cash really is handy!

On the plus side I had a nice beer last night whilst watching the Rugby and it was lovely  

I may have one beer every 6-8 weeks so not much help here.

Haha well that's the plan from now on, alcohol only with meals and the occasional one on the weekend. I'm considering seeing what happens to me if I cut out caffeine, I do really like a good cup of tea though so that might be very hard for me!

I was a full blown alcoholic nearly all of last year (that's literal - I went to two rehabs to try and get sorted)  The difference in my physique after two months is utterly shocking.

I am 100% clean now but I had a long history of on and off substance abuse since 13.  Alcohol is THE worst drug IMO and caused more damage to my body than any other substance I have ever used.  After all you are putting an industrial cleaner into your body.  Any reduction of alcohol is likely to have a dramatic effect on your health for the better

When they recommend 2-4 units a day, they mean 2-4 units a day.

Those with an addictive nature like mine are best to put it to constructive use such GST.

I did something similar with sugar. I cut out sugar completely last year and there is not a single part of my life that didn't improve. Now I don't even have any. Not even a chest day. Just isn't worth it to spend time, money, and health on something that isn't going to benefit you.

dbirchall said:

Those with an addictive nature like mine are best to put it to constructive use such GST.

An exercise addiction can be just as damaging, unfortunately. I didn't do any drugs during my youth but I did over-exercise for extended periods of time and made myself quite ill for years, and of course picked up injuries that will be with me for life. I may have been rather better off spending my time drinking and socialising, all things considered.

Depends on how you exercise. But I'd have to say, better to be addicted to exercise than to drugs.

I remember when I was 16 I used to do the P90X Plyometrics workout every morning and then train the actual prescribed P90X workout on top in the evening.  All while eating nothing but a half tin of tuna every hour on the hour until 6pm at which point I would fast!  I actually carried this on for a few months somehow before I ended up too weak to even start the workouts.  I heard: eat protein frequently, train hard, cut down on carbs, and if you eat at night then it is more likely to get stored as fat.  And that was my response to those recommendations.  Did myself some serious serious damage.

^That was born out distorted thinking.  I literally believed people were staring at me and commenting on how fat I was.  Looking back it seems ridiculous as I was sub 10% BF.  I still held muscle somehow and looking at some photos I looked great but I remember the lethargy, depression, hands going numb from poor circulation and freezing cold all the time.  Not cool.

I applied this utterly self-harmful insanity to all aspects of my life and thought I was OK.  I feel sorry for everyone that was around me honestly.  It took me a while before I accepted my thinking was seriously seriously distorted and began to move on.

Its just a case of keeping tabs on any potentially harmful addictive activities.  It doesn't mean I have to abstain from such.  GST followed correctly is not harmful and in fact very healthy when recommendations are followed properly.

In the fall my alcohol consumption was roughly 1 beer/day. Since about December I reduced it to roughly 1/month in preparation for competition season. Doing this definitely increases my definition and lowers my recovery time. 

Alex Chubb said:

Depends on how you exercise.

Of course - like it depends on how you use the drugs.

Alex Chubb said:

But I'd have to say, better to be addicted to exercise than to drugs.

It depends how we define it all, I suppose. At the extremes then both are as damaging as could possibly be and will put you in an early grave. The "average" exercise addict vs. drug addict? I don't know, it's up to us to define them I suppose. Do we compare them by harm, by time spent engaged in the activity, by comparison to their respective populations of other addicts? *shrug*

In fact perhaps "addict" isn't even the right word in itself - addiction doesn't have to imply taking something to excess or damaging extremes. Many people on forums like this one could be described as exercise addicts, but most can still self-regulate their training and keep it at the right level.

Perhaps one of the characteristics of an "activity addiction" is constant thinking, talking and reading about the subject (often going over the same material repeatedly) even when not actually engaged in it...

A considerable part of the population are dependant on alcohol in one way or another:  To socialise, to relax, to de-stress, to give confidence, to escape the way they feel without alcohol or to enhance activities in some way.

My mother can't stop drinking for one day.  She panics when there is no wine left in the fridge and goes out to buy more immediately.  Half of her daily calorie intake is from wine... But her activity of drinking does not have a significant impact on her life or on anyone else like mine did so I don't class her as an alcoholic; she is a heavy drinker.

My definition of an addict is when someone's lives are being effected by their addictive behaviour and they carry on regardless either in denial or even against their own rational will.  Addiction is just a habit really (harder to break out of than other habits but not impossible) and we have good and bad habits.  

She's technically a "functional alcoholic" and hey, people are free to live as they live.

Keeping alcohol under control (one standardized drink per day for health, none for true competitive athletes), or just completely gone for people with addiction issues, is one of the best things anyone can do, and sugar's a close second.

Performance, recovery, body composition... they all improve tremendously.

Alcohol destroys recovery ability. I tend to be on the edge of my training potential and things like alcohol, lack of sleep, anxiety will really put me over. I actually sleep until I feel good each morning and know exactly when I've had enough sleep from the feelings I get in my body when waking.

Oh my, more restrictionist banter....

As I've gotten older I find that I really, really, really like my wine/beer/whiskey in the evening.  Not all of those mind you but for sure one or two later in the evening.  It's not just my mind that likes it, it's my body it seems that is handling this nearly everyday drinking and responding just fine.  I sleep great, wake up rested and refreshed, etc.  

I would say that 10 years ago I just had no appreciation for this whatsoever.  I think because alcohol was more associated with partying and occasional overindulgence which my body certainly didn't like.  Now I've definately fine-tuned my consumption and really appreciate it.  

Oh my, more moderation banter...

I know apparently, alcohol is especially detrimental after workouts since it seems to lower your gains. I haven't read into it much as I cut it out but it may be something you all might want to look up to see if you could put it in a better place.

Alcohol interferes with fatty acid metabolism and protein synthesis, as well as hydration (which affects strength and protein synthesis independently) and it is a dose-dependent effect.

A single drink's effects last for a number of hours after all the alcohol has been eliminated, but I don't remember all the details on that. I also don't know if anyone has looked at whether the acute effects change after several weeks have been allowed for enzymatic adaptations to happen, which is part of why the standardized drink per day may actually have health benefits for those who do not exceed the guidelines.

I don't think it matters at all for recreational athletes (assuming no substance abuse issues), from a practical perspective, but for someone who has Olympic aspirations, restricting their alcohol intake to once or twice per week  would be ideal. All things considered, this is probably one of the least critical changes for an athlete if general health guidelines are being followed with alcohol, just to put that in perspective

I actually think alcohol can be a very positive drug for athletes. I am certainly a lot better off now that I drink occasionally, and nearly always when I do drink it's post-workout, which I think is the perfect time. Sometimes I don't even eat - just have a few beers and nothing else. I relax much faster and come down from the exertion, and recover much faster. The next day I feel better than if I had not drank. The only way so far that alcohol has negatively impacted my "athletics" is if it ultimately led to an acute lack of sleep, but I feel just as bad with no sleep and no alcohol.

Some people need stimulants to get energised before workouts, and some people need sedatives to relax afterwards. If you use both then I'm not sure what to say... but they each have their place.

I don't think that alcohol should be seen as 100% negative but permissible from time to time. Subjectively, the negative effects it has on factors relating to exercise and fitness are grossly exaggerated, and the positive effects on that - if you believe in them - or on other aspects of your life, at least, should not be disregarded. Refusing to consume a drop of alcohol between the ages of 14 and 24, thinking it would was essential if I wanted to make any kind of gains in the gym, was possibly the biggest "mistake" of my life. Being a reclusive, stressed-out, friendless weirdo is just how most athletes happen to end up... but making yourself one on purpose won't turn you into an athlete.

For me, the healthiest frequency to drink is approximately once per week, or a few times per month, and roughly 1-5 beers each time. I would not, and could not, drink every day - the idea just doesn't appeal to me. But when I feel like drinking, I drink, since that's then what my body is asking for. And when I feel like lifting, I lift. When I feel like fasting, I fast. Seems to work pretty well for me.

emos said:

I actually think alcohol can be a very positive drug for athletes. I am certainly a lot better off now that I drink occasionally, and nearly always when I do drink it's post-workout, which I think is the perfect time. Sometimes I don't even eat - just have a few beers and nothing else. I relax much faster and come down from the exertion, and recover much faster. The next day I feel better than if I had not drank. The only way so far that alcohol has negatively impacted my "athletics" is if it ultimately led to an acute lack of sleep, but I feel just as bad with no sleep and no alcohol.

 

 Being a reclusive, stressed-out, friendless weirdo is just how most athletes happen to end up... but making yourself one on purpose won't turn you into an athlete.

Not going to say anything about the actual alcohol except that the evidence points otherwise. The last sentence though is where we have to remember there is a difference between a normal fitness enthusiast which are what most people do and people striving for a high level of human performance. Alcohol doesn't help the second one much. Yes of course there are exceptions. But it is possible to be successful in spite of it.

emos said: