Balancing fitness with beer drinking?

[SpanishCastleAle]

...power squats, squat lunges, basically anything with "squat" in the name should add power and burn calories.

I just recently started doing something like this in preparation for my annual Christmas snow skiing trip. Damn...it BURNS! And you can't even walk right afterwards. It's no wonder guys gather around the bench press and bicep curl machines...it doesn't hurt as much!

I grew up in a meat and potatoes kind of family, and the starches from the potatoes just don't do so well with me. Hard to get rid of them entirely, but I really cut back. Same with pasta.

I used to eat a TON of starches because all the fitness folks said that was the 'base' of the 'nutrition pyramid' (or whatever it's called). Then I read Eat Right For Your Type and found that a lot of starch is NOT good for me (Type O blood)...especially wheat! My mother used to put wheat germ in all kinds of stuff (she was always a health nut). I had reflux REALLY bad and my weight always fluctuated. I cut way back on potatoes and wheat and voila...no reflux and my body just naturally maintains weight. Just make sure you get your fiber or you'll have a whole 'nuther problem.

 

[broadbill]

I used to eat a TON of starches because all the fitness folks said that was the 'base' of the 'nutrition pyramid' (or whatever it's called).

I would suggest that everyone keep in mind who paid for the nutrition pyramid to be put together....the federal government. The same federal government who subsidies the farming of the cheapest and most readily available carbohydrate out there....CORN.

+a bizillion to the folks that recommended "The Omnivore's dilemma"...its a good explanation of how the government influences the food supply and why we eat what we eat. You will then understand why carbohydrates are the base of the nutrition pyramid....and its not because they are good for you!

 

[Firstnten]

I just turned 40 am 240 LB 6"2' and play Semi-pro football. The thing I have learned is everything in moderation. I try and keep the drinking down to just the weekend and a few months before the season stop drinking altogether. (which doesn't always work out). I find the older I get the more drinking affects my workouts, it's poison to muscle growth and total nutrition. I found a product that helps me keep my electrolytes balance in a better range when drinking, a water additive called Elite. It sucks getting old...

 

[Brett3rThanU]

I'm 29 and even though I have a love for beer and refuse to drink anything light, I've managed to stay in pretty good shape. For me the key has been diet and exercise. I eat pretty healthy, oatmeal, cottage cheese, chicken... tend to avoid fried food all together, but do eat pizza, hamburgers (the good stuff) occasionally. Plus I go to the gym usually 3 days a week and hit the major exercises such as squats, dead lifts, bench press, pullups, etc. Having a dog helps too, I have to walk him twice a day. So far all of the above has enabled me to not worry about how much or what I drink during the week (knock on wood).

 

[sea2summit3]

I would suggest that everyone keep in mind who paid for the nutrition pyramid to be put together....the federal government. The same federal government who subsidies the farming of the cheapest and most readily available carbohydrate out there....CORN.

+a bizillion to the folks that recommended "The Omnivore's dilemma"...its a good explanation of how the government influences the food supply and why we eat what we eat. You will then understand why carbohydrates are the base of the nutrition pyramid....and its not because they are good for you!

+1 on the pyramid and b.s. from government "experts" on healthy eating! I continue to be blown away how hard it is for us to collectively decide what is a healthy diet in U.S. society. Its really quite simple... Humans, (like most animals) are genetically programmed to go after sweets, fats, and salt. If you're a food manufacturer, how do you sell your product? Make it satisfy those basic nutritional instincts. Add on to it that technology has allowed us substances that satisfy those instincts, but aren't real. Hydrogenated oils, MSG, aspartame, etc. In excess, these substances harm the human body, but are in nearly everything. Then, rearrange and process whole foods such as corn, wheat, etc to the point where you have to recruit the chemical industry to put the flavor back into processes foods. Finally, these food companies rub the USDA's back so theirs gets rubbed back by passing these foods as "Generally Considered Safe". Funny how the USDA is supposed to protect consumers, eh?

Eat enough of these altered "food" and the body's coping mechanisms eventually fail. Its no wonder we have such high rates of disease. It keeps money in ConAgra's pockets and keeps the health care industry moving along full steam.

Perhaps my babbling is a bit off topic, but I've had a couple homebrews and am passionate about people waking up to how food industries have changed.

 

[jmendez29]

but even a game of tennis with your 5 year old daughter can be fun. Find something you like for what it is and not what it does to your body and you'll find you will keep it up.

There's a thought. I read awhile back that kids don't know the meaning of fitness. But they do understand play. I actually find that I can maintain my weight easier in the winter time when we all go out skiing. I think I need to buy a decent bike for the summertime.

 

[AubreyR6]

I noticed that once I started drinking more beer, I put on about 15-20 lbs but didn't do anything about it until a little while ago. I have been going to the gym for an hour, three days a week in the morning before work and I feel so much better. Going in the morning is so much easier for me because I don't have to give up any of my evening routine or feel like I cannot do something else because I need to go to the gym.

I have also done what many others have said, drinking a beer instead of eating a sweet. My husband is the worst with sweets and junk so it makes it hard, but then I remember there is beer in the fridge and go for that instead.

 

[Nyxator]

This is an interesting thread for me, since over the course of the year, I've dropped over 60 pounds. I started at 220 at 5'8", and now I'm pretty lean at 153. I still drank quite a bit of beer while losing the weight.

For my diet, I pretty much agree with everything Yooper had to say. I avoid processed foods for the most part, and I cut back on starches a bit. My big thing was portion control, though. I found that eating consciously and without distractions helped me eat a lot less, and throwing a healthy snack in when I was extremely hungry before a meal really helped me eat less. Before I started losing weight, I knew what 'hungry' felt like and I knew what 'stuffed' felt like. I had to re-learn what 'satisfied' felt like.

For exercise, I do Crossfit. If you check out their website, it looks really intimidating, but I've found that scaling each workout for my abilities is easy, and they are all short, intense and fun. I've had the most success by going to an actual Crossfit gym (you can find them on the affiliate blog section of the site down a bit on the left side of the screen). If you have one near you, check 'em out.

Any other Crossfitting homebrewers out there?

 

[ruggierm1]

I work out so that I CAN abuse my body.

 

[MeatyPortion]

I work out so that I CAN abuse my body.

That's interesting considering that I work out with cans to abuse my body.

 

[ruggierm1]

That's interesting considering that I work out with cans to abuse my body.

12 ounces at a time

 

[MeatyPortion]

That's my 12 step program.

 

[sea2summit3]

That's my 12 step program.

Do I see a fitness book in the making?

 

[Agtronic]

Hahaha, you guys remind me of my brother. Everytime something pisses him off, he tells me, "I had a ****ty day today, my boss is an *******. I'm gonna take it out on my liver ..." or "my apartment got robbed today!! I'm gonna teach my liver a lesson!!!!!"

Or, "I had a bad day today, time to make my liver quiver" ...

 

[JMG680]

I have a crazy way that I am able to balance it out. For 6 months I drink all the beer I want on my days off, and drink one or two on nights I get off work. I run 2 to 3 days a week- only 1.5 miles. Now this alone does nothing and I gain Lbs every month. Then for 6 months I go to some hot ass country where I don't drink a drop of beer, and I work out everyday but Sunday for 2 hours. All the pounds drop right off, and I go back home. Repeat for 4 to 6 years.

 

[MeatyPortion]

Do I see a fitness book in the making?

It would be a best seller for sure.

 

[FireBrewer]

It's all about choices. You can't drink beer, eat junk food, and not exercise, and be fit. But you can incorporate any food and any drink into a healthy lifestyle.

That's pretty much it.

You don't gain weight because you drink craft beer. You gain weight because you're bringing more calories into your body than you're burning off. Beer gets the attention because of the "beer belly" association.

I do 30 minutes on a treadmill 3 times a week and either lift weights or do push-ups, chins, etc. I'm 6'0" and weigh 190 lbs. I drink 6-8 homebrews a week. I eat pretty healthy (mostly thanks to Mrs. FireBrewer) and my LDL and triglycerides are so low the doc said I should post 'em on the fridge at work.

It's all about moderation and balance. I have a huge weakness for sweet tea but sometimes ya just gotta drink water instead (only sometimes, not all the time).

 

[Coastarine]

Raise your right hand and repeat after me: "I, (name), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...":cross:

More seriously though, crossfit.com.

 

[david_42]

Build an electric kettle and put an alternator on the exercise bike.

My "fitness" program has eight legs. We walk out to the mailbox and back twice a day. Slightly over a kilometer and 100 meters of climb on the way back. At 57, I'm in about the same condition I was at 17. Not very good, but good enough.

Just a matter of quantity, as two pints of an IIPA = a Big Mac - fat and salt. Start making small beers, more of a challenge to brew anyway.

 

[Bdogg]

I made a spreadsheet and tracked what I was spending my time doing.

Most people work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and spend 8 hours per day sleeping.

That leaves 72 hours a week. What are you doing during that time? I'll bet you find that you're spending 3,4,5 hours each day on the computer or watching TV.

It sounds stupid but once you actually see the numbers you'll be inspired to get off your ass.


Although off topic, this also works for spending. If you find your spending is a bit out of hand, make a spreadsheet and commit to entering info from every single receipt into it. Track what you're spending money on and why. It's different than just looking at your bank statement because you are no longer looking at the past. You'll find eventually that you really consider every single thing you buy and will start saving money.

 

[Razorbrew]

I ride my bike and drink beer everyday... Find some kind of fitness activity that becomes a hobby rather than a way of "burning" the beer off. I am in the best shape of my life simply because I started riding my bike around town to do errands, mountain biking every week, and going on road rides with friends as well. I use to try to go to the gym, but never kept up with it cause its simply... BORING! Once you can find some kind of exercise that is as fun to you as homebrewing is... you'll be set.

Im telling you BIKES AND BEER!!! a wonderful combo...

I completely agree. I trained for and rode in a century this summer. Beer at the finish line! It would be great if you could find a group to ride with or run with that also enjoyed home brewing.

 

[MultumInParvo]

I eat fast food whenever I can, snack all the time, eat fatty/salty foods at nearly every meal, enjoy homebrew in moderate quantities on a daily basis, and last time I check my body fat was right around 9%.

The thing is, if you work hard enough, you'll have more trouble finding out how to consume enough, as opposed to too little.

My case might be a little extreme, but you don't have to give up any food or drink you enjoy to lose weight, you just need to workout more/harder.

 

[MeatyPortion]

Well, a couple questions first:

1. How old are you?

2. How often do you work out?

3. Are you a mutant?

 

[MultumInParvo]

Well, a couple questions first:

1. How old are you?

2. How often do you work out?

3. Are you a mutant?

Not sure if that was to me or not. But I am still young, so I clearly have that going for me. I am 22. But I think the main thing is working our 15+ hours a week. As it was said earlier, people have a lot more time than they realize to work out. Sure we don't like to do it, but if you really enjoy food and beverages, and don't want to be over weight, its really the best option.

And I don't think I am a mutant... But hey, you never know.

 

[MeatyPortion]

Eating all that crap even with working out for 15+ hours a week won't get the majority of people 9% body fat. Part of it is your age, the average metabolism starts to slow down around age 25 or so. It also sounds like you have good genetics.

 

[FireBrewer]

I eat fast food whenever I can, snack all the time, eat fatty/salty foods at nearly every meal, enjoy homebrew in moderate quantities on a daily basis, and last time I check my body fat was right around 9%.

You're 22. Try that again in 15-20 years and let me know how it works out for ya.

My case might be a little extreme, but you don't have to give up any food or drink you enjoy to lose weight, you just need to workout more/harder.

QFT.

 

[TxBrew]

Cycling to work has been the best health choice I've made in awhile.

First couple of months was rough. Always find some excuse where driving was a better option but I would force myself to ride. Now I really look forward to it and dread the days when the weather won't permit me too.

 

[david_42]

Age does make a difference. I'm exercising more and eating less than I did at 25 and I weight more. Used to throw off heat like an incinerator.

 

[Bulls Beers]

I exercise 6 days a week and it's a battle..When you turn 41 like me, it get harder and harder to maintain. I couldn't drink the beer I do if I didn't workout.

When I walk into a room, I like my chest to enter first..

 

[ruggierm1]

I exercise 6 days a week and it's a battle..When you turn 41 like me, it get harder and harder to maintain. I couldn't drink the beer I do if I didn't workout.

When I walk into a room, I like my chest to enter first..

+1 on that.