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Drinking or no?

froshman Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/07/12	2004/04/17, 09:27 PM Im trying to get down to about 8-10 percent body fat to showcase my abs. Im currently about 14 or 15 percent. I eat healthy and all that. I haven't seen much success, so Im going to try and increase my HIIT to 5 times a week in the mornings and weight lifting 5 times a week after breakfast. (the weekends are very busy for me, so Im going to do it all during the week). Anyway, my question is, can i accomplish this while still drinking once a week. Im a college student in my last year, so there are some parties I like to go to and people I like to hang out with before it all ends, sniffle. I either drink low carb beer like Michelob Ultra (2.6 g per I think) or vodka and diet soda (no carbs). Im not sure if this is OK or not.
Shane123 Posts: 148 Joined: 2003/11/27	2004/04/17, 11:18 PM Alcohol's typically bad for fat gains, but the lower cal stuff is not so bad. Whatever calories you're getting from it probably won't fill you any, though, so that can contribute to overeating. It will increase estrogen and cortisol levels and decrease testosterone and growth hormone (directly and indirectly), as well as hindering protein synthesis, none of which is good for guys looking for muscle. If you're going to drink, do so in moderation. FWIW, that routine sounds like overtraining to me.
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/04/18, 12:20 PM There was a post about this earlier, it referred to a website qwith a really good article on how to minimize the damage from a night of partying - www.teenbodybuilding.com Just try to do your drinking in moderation, it is counterproductive to your goals, but like you said, you are a college student.... -------------- If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
froshman Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/07/12	2004/04/18, 05:42 PM Overtraining? I figured I'd work each body part once a week, so that Im not lifting for too long and do cardio 5X a week to expedite the fat loss that hasn't been happening. Should I tone down?
Shane123 Posts: 148 Joined: 2003/11/27	2004/04/18, 07:56 PM The lifting aspect of it should be fine. HIIT everyday, if it's good quality HIIT, should border on impossible, particularly if you've got a leg program to go along with it. I'd worry more about diet than excess cardio.
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/04/18, 08:36 PM Asimmer, you know that you are my queen and if you say it, I do it. In keeping with that tradition, and because I too am a full time college student, I have begun to drink in moderation. :laugh::cool: -------------- Anni
froshman Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/07/12	2004/04/18, 11:27 PM How can I tell if its good quality HIIT?
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/04/19, 12:14 PM anni313, are you knocking me? Or is it mocking me? I hope it is both. Drinking, in moderation, is beneficial, according to some studies. but is is still counterproductive, yet, if you check my diet post, you will see I have been counterproducing myself lately. Alas, we are all human and have but this one life, try and enjoy it, in moderation:) -------------- If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/04/19, 12:46 PM I would never knock you asimmer. I was teasing you. :love: -------------- Anni ******* Freud was WRONG!
froshman Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/07/12	2004/04/23, 02:18 PM Just to recap, based upon the article I read that was linked, if you want to burn fat but still drink alcohol once every week or every other week, you should simultaneously drink water and eat protein before going to bed? This will significantly decrease any negative side effects of drinking?
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/04/23, 08:57 PM yes, but cheating on your diet sets you back about a week from your gial date (if you have one) so what is more important? You want to achieve a very lean physique or you want to party on weekends? -------------- If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
froshman Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/07/12	2004/04/24, 03:45 PM I want to reach my goal, but the way things are going right now, it looks like I'll be at it forever. Also, if I were to consume the alcohol as part of my daily alottment of allowed calories per day, would it still be cheating?
Shane123 Posts: 148 Joined: 2003/11/27	2004/04/24, 11:34 PM When I do HIIT, I like to be gasping and in pain, practically limping out of the gym. It's good fun. I myself build cheating into my program, as I know a lot of people do. I've found it doesn't cause issues with progress. It actually helps keep me going mentally, and some would argue it's good physically as well, in terms of shocking the system. Alcohol's cheating no matter what. It's just less likely to make you fat if it's within your daily calorie allotment, although it still has the negative impact on muscle gains.
froshman Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/07/12	2004/04/27, 01:59 PM In pain, huh? I don't know that I'm in pain, I hate doing it, and I could probably push myself a little bit more (maybe by .5 or so), but I don't want to dread doing it because then I know I wont. Does this seem ok: MPH @ 1 minute intervals on a treadmill: 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 7, 6.5, 6, 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, stop.