Brewing Beer, Drinking Beer and Managing Beer Gut

[Justinieon]

IT hast to be possible.. I mean I don't think everyone back in the 1600's + were Lard asses

I Can't speak. I'm a chunk-a-lunk... All 5'9" 235 Lbs.... I'm stout but I need to shed the excess fat.

 

[kegtoe]

found my new diet method...yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 5'8", 160# and 40 something years old. I walk my dogs about 3-6 miles, 4-5 days a week.

I just stopped eating solid food and switched to an all grain liquid diet...

 

[kegtoe]

is 6 foot 7 inches and 300 pounds of love making machine!!!

 

[BGJ223]

My Name is Josh, and I love beer. (This thread kinda has a support group vibe to it)

I am 6'3" 240lbs (down from 350 almost 2 years ago) and I on average 2 a night, and maybe 3 to 4 on the weekends. Even with the amount of boozing, I am still managing to drop weight. Of course part of that is because I have excess fat reserves to get rid of still. I just make sure I drink a lot of water throughout the day, keep my meals simple and healthy, and exercise regularly. I run 20+ miles a week, weight train 3 days a week, and do various cardio activities (Soccer, Basketball, Cycling, swimming).
For me it is not all about appearance, it is more about being healthy, and feeling like I am in shape.

 

[stevedasleeve]

This is total BS. After you take individual metabolism into account, it’s calories in / calories out. It all comes down to choices. A good craft brew is 200-300 calories. If you put in an extra 2-3 miles you’ll break even. If you cheat, your waistline will grow. It’s not a matter of being a genetic freak. It all about self control and compromise. I choose to put in the extra miles and have the beer.

And if you enjoy the extra miles, you get to have your cake (beer) and eat (drink) it too.





Disclaimer:
I’m one of those guys who enjoys spending all day dragging my sweaty butt up and down the hills through the woods. A genetic freak, no. Just a freak!

You'd think eh? I run 30-70 miles a week. Thats a lot of calories! A few years ago I was 15 lbs lighter. My eating habits have not changed significantly. Nor my drinking habits... I read somewhere that if you wanted to stay at a constant weight you needed to up your running miles by something like 5% a year after 35.

It is a losing battle IMHO. I'm 49.

PS - my next event http://www.hinsonlake24hour.com/

 

[AnOldUR]

I read somewhere that if you wanted to stay at a constant weight you needed to up your running miles by something like 5% a year after 35 . . . It is a losing battle IMHO.

57 here. I feel your pain. If it makes you feel any better, after I hit 50 it seemed to level off. At this point I stay between 5-15 lbs over my younger years (depending on mileage.)

It's good to see another ultra guy on here. I swithched from shorter road stuff to ultras over 10 years ago. For what it's worth, I think that a little extra weight in an ultra is not a bad thing. At some point having some extra fuel to fall back on can be the difference between completing the run and a DNF. The elite guys are in a different class, but for most of us the pace is more in the fat burning range.



You’ve peaked my interest. What are your goals for Hinson? I’ve only done one 24hr, 2008 Virginia 24 Hour. Enjoyed it and have been looking at Hinson for another crack at a time based event. What other ultras have you done?

 

[broadbill]

57 here. I feel your pain. If it makes you feel any better, after I hit 50 it seemed to level off. At this point I stay between 5-15 lbs over my younger years (depending on mileage.)

It's good to see another ultra guy on here. I swithched from shorter road stuff to ultras over 10 years ago. For what it's worth, I think that a little extra weight in an ultra is not a bad thing. At some point having some extra fuel to fall back on can be the difference between completing the run and a DNF. The elite guys are in a different class, but for most of us the pace is more in the fat burning range.



You’ve peaked my interest. What are your goals for Hinson? I’ve only done one 24hr, 2008 Virginia 24 Hour. Enjoyed it and have been looking at Hinson for another crack at a time based event. What other ultras have you done?

You ultra guys need to preface your remarks when giving out nutrition advice to the rest of us!

Yeah, if you are in the biz of ultra training then you can be drinking beer every night of the week....cause you are going out and running 30-40 miles every weekend! haha.

 

[broadbill]

I definitely have noticed a difference. 5'10" 165lbs. I'm pretty skinny, and have put on a good 10lbs from the beerfairy since I started homebrewing. I'm pretty sure my job (which has me on the road 3-4 days a week) doesn't help either. I've joined a gym and cut back on the weekday beers. I miss them... =(

My advice (since you didn't ask). Quit the gym. Its a time suck....driving there/back, changing, waiting for equipment, shooting the breeze with your buddies, oggling the ladies, watching the TV...etc., etc., All of that wasted time could be put to better use by running/biking directly from your house.

People like us (full time jobs, family, whatever) have very little time to exercise...you really have to make efficient use of that time. The problem with the gym is that its got too much down-time built into it. My 0.02

 

[BogusOwnz]

People like us (full time jobs, family, whatever) have very little time to exercise...you really have to make efficient use of that time. The problem with the gym is that its got too much down-time built into it. My 0.02

Squat rack = $200 and craig's list a set of free weights hell I got two complete 300 pound sets for free. The amount of exercises you can do with a rack and barbell are almost infinite. Pop that puppy in your garage and spending 45 mins 3 days a week in there changes everything.

 

[millsware]

Just ration yourself. Also, I'd be willing to take one for the team and drink your beer if you send it to me.

 

[dougf]

Um, 1 300 calroie beer a night would be considered moderation and you shouldn't be gaining any weight, now have 3 or 4 and good luck maintaining with the "live hard, play hard" approach unless of course your doing a 1/2 marathon extra per week. It's not just calories in/calories out it does depend on what kind of calories your putting in and how your body handles them.

I will disagree, it IS about calories in vs calories out, as long as you know your bmr, and how many calories you burn during exercise for your age/weight/sex, and are aware of what you eat/drink, you will be fine. Routinely I will exercise, eat moderately, just so I can have beers that night. Of course, my job routinely weighs me and takes bodyfat calculations, so I have to watch what I eat.

Im running 4 miles after my workout in about an hour so I can have 6 beers tonight.


You just have to eat right and balance everything out with exercise.

 

[AnOldUR]

You ultra guys need to preface your remarks when giving out nutrition advice to the rest of us!

You're probably right. I love the long weekend runs and I believe they have a positive effect on your metabolism. When your body knows it’s going to be well fueled and that it’s going to need lots of muscle glycogen it’s less likely to turn food into fat. It’s the opposite of when dieters go too low on calories. At that point their body turns everything to fat because it doesn’t know when the next meal will be coming.

 

[xoltri]

I didn't read the thread, but the best advice I have comes from Louis C.K. (comedian)...the key to having a body that you like is to like having a ****ty body. Problem solved!

 

[Valcarde]

Check out Eat Stop Eat and see if that might help you out.

Basically, you fast for 24 hours which cuts out a days worth of calories. Not as difficult as you might think. I start fasting after eating supper with my family, then eat nothing until supper the next night. Drink as much water as you want/need throughout the day. I fast once or twice a week.

YMMV.

And no, that's not an affiliate link, just passing on some info that might be useful.

This is NOT a good idea.
Fasting for any amount of time puts your body into 'survival' mode. If you aren't getting calories in, your body will take any calories it starts to get after that fast and try to rapidly convert them into fat for the sake of storage.

It's much better to -limit- calorie intake, not eliminate it altogether for a period of time. Portion control, not starving yourself.

 

[stevedasleeve]

You’ve peaked my interest. What are your goals for Hinson? I’ve only done one 24hr, 2008 Virginia 24 Hour. Enjoyed it and have been looking at Hinson for another crack at a time based event. What other ultras have you done?

I'm training to finish 100 so that's my goal, I won't stop till I hit 85, I'm likely to get somewhere around 75 though! This year Iron Horse 100 (DNF at 77,) a couple of local training 50Ks before, I did a 100 miler in Scotland called the Heart of Scotland that wore me down to a stubby nub in May- 38 hours for that one. Hinson Lake and JFK are my last couple this year. I'm looking forward to trying some local brews after!!

 

[AnOldUR]

This year Iron Horse 100 (DNF at 77,) a couple of local training 50Ks before, I did a 100 miler in Scotland called the Heart of Scotland . . . Hinson Lake and JFK are my last couple this year.

Have to wonder if we've ever met somewhere. It's not that big of a community. You're not a VHTRC, are you?

 

[Pilgarlic]

26 miles on the bike today. That helps.

 

[stevedasleeve]

Have to wonder if we've ever met somewhere. It's not that big of a community. You're not a VHTRC, are you?

We might have but even though I am local to VHTRC I am not a member. I'm a bit of a loner and train by myself. Hey run Hinson Lake & we can share beers in a couple of weeks! The entry is $26 or something, no limit and you can register the morning of...!

Steve

 

[daddarioc]

I will disagree, it IS about calories in vs calories out, as long as you know your bmr, and how many calories you burn during exercise for your age/weight/sex, and are aware of what you eat/drink, you will be fine. Routinely I will exercise, eat moderately, just so I can have beers that night. Of course, my job routinely weighs me and takes bodyfat calculations, so I have to watch what I eat.

Im running 4 miles after my workout in about an hour so I can have 6 beers tonight.


You just have to eat right and balance everything out with exercise.

Ditto to this, I just got back from my run, paying for today's "beer tax" as I like to call it.

In the end it is calories in vs. calories out, the grim truth (unlike what some disciples of Gary Taubes et. al. would have you think). It sucks, but ya just have to find a balance, and cut back some days to make up for it or do more activity. Obviously shades of gray there regarding "what" you eat but it boils down to that.

I also saw fasting mentioned; there isn't an immediate switch to "survival mode" where your body starts cannibalizing itself in the time of 2:59.99 from your last meal. 'Intermittent fasting' as one form as its called in the BB circle may have something to it; it is also possible to successfully use a very low calorie diet and lose more than the standard "2 lbs per week" (protein sparing fast) without an extreme decrease in lean tissue. (check out Lyle McDonald / Martin Berkhan for info on that stuff if interested).

All that being said, cheers!

 

[stevedasleeve]

You know it is just not that simple. I ran 30 miles Wednesday and 20 miles yesterday and presumably my caloric intake vs outtake (!) is negative... in the extreme. But my weight is not diminishing at all. There is more than to this than simple arithmetic. When you are <30 perhaps but after that... well you are forewarned!

Steve da sleeve

 

[onemanlan]

Nice topic. I've noticed I've gained a lot of weight since I started drinking. At lot of it has to do with how the body metabolizes ethanol and the remaining carbohydrates left in the beer. Most of the beer is going straight to our waste-lines.

I for one have tried to become more active by playing tennis, but it alone cannot stem the tide of my up and down drinking habits. Im about to start getting into lifting in order to help leverage off a few extra pounds soon.

I refuse to let what small beer belly I have take me over damn it!

 

[dougf]

You may never notice fat loss based on body weight vs body composition. Peoples body weight differ based on time of day, hydration level, amount of food in system, so weight itself is not an accurate measurement of fat loss, but body composition is (aka measurements)

 

[Gremlyn]

Nice topic. I've noticed I've gained a lot of weight since I started drinking. At lot of it has to do with how the body metabolizes ethanol and the remaining carbohydrates left in the beer. Most of the beer is going straight to our waste-lines.

I for one have tried to become more active by playing tennis, but it alone cannot stem the tide of my up and down drinking habits. Im about to start getting into lifting in order to help leverage off a few extra pounds soon.

I refuse to let what small beer belly I have take me over damn it!

Well, carbohydrates are the easiest/fastest for your body to break down regardless of where they come from. If you really want to drop the weight you need to increase cardio, not lifting, and for an extended period of time. Weight training will increase muscle mass (and overall weight), which will give your body more storage space for glycogen and will increase your basal metabolic rate (which tells you how many calories you'd burn off if you didn't do anything but wake up) but won't really help you burn off more calories overall. Increasing your cardio won't pack on the muscle, but it will fine tune the muscle you already have and increase your BMR more than lifting. They key with cardio is getting your body used to doing a certain activity without feeling REALLY tired afterward. If you're just started a new cardio activity and don't feel really tired afterward, it's not hard enough and you need to step it up

Case in point, I started playing outdoor soccer back in April after a few year hiatus. My weight was up to 231 at my highest measurement before i started playing. The 4-5 games were pretty brutal. I'd be able to run around about 15 mins and need a break. At the end of those games I was absolutely destroyed and couldn't bare to run another stride. After that I started getting a little better endurance and though I'd sill need a break every 15-20 mins, I wasn't so destroyed at the end. I picked up another league, indoor this time, so now playing twice a week and by the end of a game I can still go for a jog around the track.

I've dropped 15 lbs since April, and the speed of the loss has increased recently. The first month I didn't lose much, mostly because my body wasn't able to get into the fat burning zone of cardio initially but it can now.

I'm not saying don't lift weights, by all means lift away! Just don't expect that to burn the fat off unless you're going crazy hardcore and packing on muscle mass by the second.

 

[Hoppus_Poppatopolis]

Most of the beer is going straight to our waste-lines.

It certainly seems that way. I have to pee constantly once I get started.
Now my waistline, that's a different story.:fro:

 

[Fishin-Jay]

i'm 23 5'11 about 175-180 pounds. I power lift 3 days a week and depending on my training i'll run hills a day a week. I started on the craft beer and home brewing about 10 months ago thus making craft beer/home brew a daily part of my diet. I have 0-3 during the week but usually have at least one and probably around 6 on weekends. I haven't noticed too much of a difference in my body. I think some people need to just lighten up, life is to short to worry about the amount of normal calorie beer we drink. If you want a beer drink it because i'm pretty sure when your on your death bed you won't be thinking "damn I wish i drank less beer". Plus for most people its life style not beer that leaves them with un wanted results, lay off the fast food, eat more real food and drink more water.

I'm of a similar body style and history being 5'11'' myself, and I worked out about like you do and weighed about the same. Sadly as we get older it just doesn't work as well. I'm now 35, 5'11", and 195 lbs. I still work out 3-4 times a week, and I actually drink less than I did at 23. in fact, I drank like a fish at that age and it did little to nothing to my weight. Then i turned ~28 and i noticed i needed to exercise a bit more to maintain 180 lbs. Then I hit ~33 and started gaining weight, very slowly, but extra time in the gym and extra miles of running didn't stop it. I seem to have stabilized at 195 lbs, but I'm worried for the future.

The fact is, calories in/calories out is a great baseline for managing your wieght, but as you get older your metabolism changes and there's more going on than simple math.

Still, I agree with the "have one if you want one" ethic. As long as I'm not unhealthy, and my doc doesn't seem to think I am for my age and body style, then I'm not going to hold off on enjoying the good things in life just to scrape a few pounds off!

 

[BogusOwnz]

Funny my dad and I were talking about that very thing today. He said I have a skewed view being 23 and when I get older time and metabolism come into play. Guess I won't preach anymore and just be happy to be youthful.

 

[JebCkr]

If I know I'm going to have 3 or 4 or 7 I try to cut back on dinner/lunch accordingly. Cardio 3 or 4 times a week to balance it out. I can maintain my weight fairly easily and have found that when it rises it is usually from a week of mom's cooking and not beer.

 

[avidhomebrewer]

You can gift them to me. I have already accepted my pear shaped figure for what it is!

 

[TheCircuitBox]

In the movie "Beer Fest" the competition exercises while they drink. Not only can you drink more but you also get a work-out.

That or you can get one of those crunch machines, a sip of beer for every crunch.

 

[Ouroboros]

Running two miles for every beer that you drink is a good starting point.