At what point does alcohol begin to inhibit workout progress?

[KeithTalent]

I have a pretty agressive routine going right now; I workout at the gym 3 times per week and I run outside 3 times per week for between 40 & 80 minutes (sometimes I have to do both on the same day, due to scheduling conflicts, but no worries). I have been doing the running for several months, but I have only been seriously lifting weights/working out for about 5-6 weeks now, due to a shoulder injury that sidelined me for a few months.

Anyway, I'm happy with the progress everywhere except in my mid-section. I do abdominal work 3 times per week, but I am not seeing the results I desire. My eating habits are good, but I have been partying a little more than I used to (now that I'm effectively single) and partying = alcohol...at least in my world.

So I guess my question is, would the increased alcohol consumption be inhibiting the progress on my abs? Also, is there a way to determine how much alcohol is too much considering my workout routine, i.e. how many beers can I drink before it becomes counter-productive to my workout?

Cliffs:
-Working out quite a bit and eating well
-Drinking more
-Abs not progressing very well

Thanks for reading!

KT

 

[purbeast0]

doing your abs 3 times a week has on bearing on how much they will show. your abs will show when you have low body fat on your abs area. beer has a lot of carbs which will put fat on your belly.

also doing your abs 3 times a week is more than necessary and may be having a negative effect as well.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
doing your abs 3 times a week has on bearing on how much they will show. your abs will show when you have low body fat on your abs area. beer has a lot of carbs which will put fat on your belly.

also doing your abs 3 times a week is more than necessary and may be having a negative effect as well.

Really? How many times per week would you recommend? I thought abs were something you could just work on pretty much all of the time.

KT

 

[jiggahertz]

Workout abs as you would any other muscle. As far as the alcohol is concerned, track your cals including alcohol to see what your caloric intake is like. Then adjust accordingly until you are loosing 1-2 lbs per week.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Don't forget Alcohol is an appetite stimulant. It will make you do stupid shat like 4th meal

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: purbeast0
doing your abs 3 times a week has on bearing on how much they will show. your abs will show when you have low body fat on your abs area. beer has a lot of carbs which will put fat on your belly.

also doing your abs 3 times a week is more than necessary and may be having a negative effect as well.

Really? How many times per week would you recommend? I thought abs were something you could just work on pretty much all of the time.

KT

your abs are a muscle just like any other muscle in your body.

do you work out your chest, biceps, legs, back, and shoulders 3 times a week?

work out your abs the same amount of times you do the rest.

 

[KeithTalent]

OK, point taken. I guess I will go down to 2 times per week.

If I go out drinking once per week (say 5-6 beers and 1-3 other drinks) then have maybe 1 or 2 beers/glasses of wine throughout the rest of the week at dinner, is that essentially shooting myself in the foot?

@DAPUNISHER: Yeah, I really used to be that way, but I am finding the more I workout, the less desire I have to eat crap.

KT

 

[NGC_604]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
OK, point taken. I guess I will go down to 2 times per week.

If I go out drinking once per week (say 5-6 beers and 1-3 other drinks) then have maybe 1 or 2 beers/glasses of wine throughout the rest of the week at dinner, is that essentially shooting myself in the foot?

@DAPUNISHER: Yeah, I really used to be that way, but I am finding the more I workout, the less desire I have to eat crap.

KT

It depends on what else you've eaten throughout the day. Keep track of your calorie intake on fitday and see where you are at. If the alcohol is pushing you above the limit, then you won't lose any weight/fat and your abs will never show regardless of how much you work them. Abs are dependent a lot more on your diet than your workout.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: energydan

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
OK, point taken. I guess I will go down to 2 times per week.

If I go out drinking once per week (say 5-6 beers and 1-3 other drinks) then have maybe 1 or 2 beers/glasses of wine throughout the rest of the week at dinner, is that essentially shooting myself in the foot?

@DAPUNISHER: Yeah, I really used to be that way, but I am finding the more I workout, the less desire I have to eat crap.

KT

It depends on what else you've eaten throughout the day. Keep track of your calorie intake on fitday and see where you are at. If the alcohol is pushing you above the limit, then you won't lose any weight/fat and your abs will never show regardless of how much you work them. Abs are dependent a lot more on your diet than your workout.

Cool, thanks. I had completely forgotten about Fitday, I'll start that up again. I know I am usually around 1500-1800 calories (before booze), but I'll track it a little closer now.

KT

 

[spamsk8r]

Yes, booze will inhibit you. I would venture to say that if you drink on a regular basis you will never see your abs (unless you eat very little and work out religiously, but you still wouldn't be healthy). I've had to cut my alcohol consumption drastically on my quest to get in shape. I will have at most one beer a day (and many days I will have none). Cutting that out was the one thing that sped my progress along much faster. Just my $.02

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Yes, booze will inhibit you. I would venture to say that if you drink on a regular basis you will never see your abs (unless you eat very little and work out religiously, but you still wouldn't be healthy). I've had to cut my alcohol consumption drastically on my quest to get in shape. I will have at most one beer a day (and many days I will have none). Cutting that out was the one thing that sped my progress along much faster. Just my $.02

The problem is I really like a good quality beer. I don't drink every night; 3 times per week is the absolute maximum and 2 of those nights would be 2 beers at most, but it would suck to give it up because finding/enjoying quality beer is sort of a hobby of mine.

Ah well, I guess I just need to figure out what I want more.

Thanks for the help!

KT

 

[spamsk8r]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Yes, booze will inhibit you. I would venture to say that if you drink on a regular basis you will never see your abs (unless you eat very little and work out religiously, but you still wouldn't be healthy). I've had to cut my alcohol consumption drastically on my quest to get in shape. I will have at most one beer a day (and many days I will have none). Cutting that out was the one thing that sped my progress along much faster. Just my $.02

The problem is I really like a good quality beer. I don't drink every night; 3 times per week is the absolute maximum and 2 of those nights would be 2 beers at most, but it would suck to give it up because finding/enjoying quality beer is sort of a hobby of mine.

Ah well, I guess I just need to figure out what I want more.

Thanks for the help!

KT

Oh, believe me, I know what you mean. I love good beer. On the nights where you have 2, try just having one, and calculate it into your calories for the day. That would minimize the impact. But if you can, I would recommend giving up drinking completely for two weeks, and see your results. For some people they don't have any issues, but for others it can be extremely detrimental.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: spamsk8r

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: spamsk8r
Yes, booze will inhibit you. I would venture to say that if you drink on a regular basis you will never see your abs (unless you eat very little and work out religiously, but you still wouldn't be healthy). I've had to cut my alcohol consumption drastically on my quest to get in shape. I will have at most one beer a day (and many days I will have none). Cutting that out was the one thing that sped my progress along much faster. Just my $.02

The problem is I really like a good quality beer. I don't drink every night; 3 times per week is the absolute maximum and 2 of those nights would be 2 beers at most, but it would suck to give it up because finding/enjoying quality beer is sort of a hobby of mine.

Ah well, I guess I just need to figure out what I want more.

Thanks for the help!

KT

Oh, believe me, I know what you mean. I love good beer. On the nights where you have 2, try just having one, and calculate it into your calories for the day. That would minimize the impact. But if you can, I would recommend giving up drinking completely for two weeks, and see your results. For some people they don't have any issues, but for others it can be extremely detrimental.

Alrighty, I'll give that a shot and see if I can tell the difference; after tonight though because I have a party to go to.

KT

 

[InflatableBuddha]

What is your running routine currently (ie. are these just 3 steady runs?). You could try adding some intervals and varying your routes. Try doing a hill session for one of those runs. Increase your pace a bit on your runs. All of those will burn more calories and might be the difference.

I have a similar routine to yours, although I drink less (3-4 a week usually, and I don't rip it up very often). My diet has made the biggest difference in toning, especially my abs. I eat a lot, but I have made smarter choices than I used to - less fat, more protein, a lot more fruits and veggies.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
What is your running routine currently (ie. are these just 3 steady runs?). You could try adding some intervals and varying your routes. Try doing a hill session for one of those runs. Increase your pace a bit on your runs. All of those will burn more calories and might be the difference.

I have a similar routine to yours, although I drink less (3-4 a week usually, and I don't rip it up very often). My diet has made the biggest difference in toning, especially my abs. I eat a lot, but I have made smarter choices than I used to - less fat, more protein, a lot more fruits and veggies.

The running routine is typically as follows:

Sunday: 3 x 20 minute runs with 1 minute walking intervals in-between
Tuesday: 2 x 20 minute runs & 1 x 10 minute run with 1 minute walking intervals in-between
Thursday: Run as fast as I can, non-stop, from my house to this landmark a little ways away (not sure of the exact distance). Currently takes me 28 minutes to do this; I use this as a benchmark for how I am progressing.

I don't want to lose any weight really, but I have a feeling my diet is what is holding me back with respect to my abs, though in general I eat pretty well. I rarely eat sugary foods and as for fatty stuff I try to have it in pretty small qunatities if I have it at all; so anyway, I am thinking it's the booze.

Time to start the 2 week no-booze trial!

KT

 

[Pugnax]

Remember the Spot Reduction myth (you can't spot reduce). Drinking beer isn't really directly related to the definition of your abs. As long as it doesn't put you over your target caloric intake for the day, you'll be fine. Cheating one friday or saturday night is probably okay. I'd stay away from drinking every night; there are more valuable foods to get your calories from.
And as other said, treat your abs like any other muscle. Increase your weights on crunches over time, don't do crazy amounts of reps, and don't do them 4 times a week. Two times is plenty.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Pugnax
Remember the Spot Reduction myth (you can't spot reduce). Drinking beer isn't really directly related to the definition of your abs. As long as it doesn't put you over your target caloric intake for the day, you'll be fine. Cheating one friday or saturday night is probably okay. I'd stay away from drinking every night; there are more valuable foods to get your calories from.
And as other said, treat your abs like any other muscle. Increase your weights on crunches over time, don't do crazy amounts of reps, and don't do them 4 times a week. Two times is plenty.

I definitely do not drink every night; the amount of booze I consume, which I listed above, are absolute maximums. Typically in a week I only have a beer or three on Friday and not much else during the week if anything at all.

I don't really use weight for crunches. Wouldn't I have to use a machine for that? I refuse to use machines anymore because they indirectly contributed to my shoulder injury last year.

Right now I plan on doing straight crunches and supermans (not really an ab exercise, but whatever) on one day, then hip raises and side crunches on the other day. Stupid abs, always the hardest part.

KT

 

[Gravity]

Having abs is much more a function of diet and cardio than anything else. 80% of how you look is what goes into your mouth. Control that and you will see a difference in your tummy. Beer = no abs. You can't have both unless you're a genetic freak.

Gravity

 

[Pugnax]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Pugnax
Remember the Spot Reduction myth (you can't spot reduce). Drinking beer isn't really directly related to the definition of your abs. As long as it doesn't put you over your target caloric intake for the day, you'll be fine. Cheating one friday or saturday night is probably okay. I'd stay away from drinking every night; there are more valuable foods to get your calories from.
And as other said, treat your abs like any other muscle. Increase your weights on crunches over time, don't do crazy amounts of reps, and don't do them 4 times a week. Two times is plenty.

I definitely do not drink every night; the amount of booze I consume, which I listed above, are absolute maximums. Typically in a week I only have a beer or three on Friday and not much else during the week if anything at all.

I don't really use weight for crunches. Wouldn't I have to use a machine for that? I refuse to use machines anymore because they indirectly contributed to my shoulder injury last year.

Right now I plan on doing straight crunches and supermans (not really an ab exercise, but whatever) on one day, then hip raises and side crunches on the other day. Stupid abs, always the hardest part.

KT

That's good I'd say you should be okay then.

There are some other threads here about ab workouts, but I was thinking of a decline crunch. No machine (I'm not fond of them either). You put the plate on your chest and bring yourself up. Like this but with a plate on your chest and no twisting. Well you can do the twisting part too if you want to work your obliques. I'd start just with no weight, and then move up (as you can) to 5,10, 25, 35, 45 lb plates.

 

[JavaMomma]

Beer has a lot of calories, ~150 / beer. So if you drink 6 beer = ~900 calories ... thats a lot of energy to burn, pretty easy to get fat drinking that if you eat your normal quantity of food.

Working abs 3 times week is overkill. Go for a run on the treadmill or something. I typically only do abs like once per week and it will be like 10-15 min. I just mix it into one of my other days - like at the end of a chest or back workout.

 

[purbeast0]

why are you splitting your abs into 2 days?

do it all in one day.

also using weight with abs exercises is simple and no you don't need any machines. just hold a dumbell behind your head when you do crunches, or hold one between your feet when you do some kind of leg lift.

hell you said you workout at a gym. that means they have all the equipment you need. i do 6 abs exercises, all with some kind of weights incoroprated, and only 1 of them is using the machine (cable crunches). i use other equipment for abs but no machines.

 

[KeithTalent]

Thanks guys for the advice.

Yeah, sorry I'm an idiot; totally forgot about holding the plate and doing crunches. I will definitely incorporate that somewhere.

As for the beer calories I was hoping that all of the running I am doing would counter the beer; but I guess I will have a better idea after these next two weeks.

I split them into 2 days because my abs get tired after doing a few sets of the two different exercises, plus I am doing other lifting on those days since I am only at the actual gym 3 times per week. I don't only want to do abs for an entire session, unless that is the best way to go about.

KT