Keeping fit/slim/combating weight gain

[spak]

luckily in my case, I got into reviewing beer about 1 year ago, and that was 2 years after I started cutting myself down. I was 305 in 2008 and I am now 195. I am doing a powerlifting program right now, and I track everything I eat. Currently doing a maintenance diet, on lifting days I eat over maintenance and dont drink at all. And on my off days I eat much lower carbs and higher protein and fats around 2000 cals those days, and then I drink 3 beers regardless of alcohol content. Havent gained anything since I started doing this recently.

I even was cutting down weight with beer in my diet last year after I finished up gaining weight on purpose. So with moderation and smart eating habits you can definitely lose weight and not give up the brew. Its all about calorie balance, regardless of what you may hear from other sources.

the result of 3 years of college, and habits of overeating throughout my life

beginning of January, sporting my Hoppin Frog t-Shirt I got from going to the brewery

 

[Bulls Beers]

I'm heading to the gym right now for a 2 hour workout. I know I'm gonna drink tonight so I gotta do it...

 

[cadarnell]

the fact that good beer is costing me about 1/4 of what it used to cost me is a double edged sword for sure ... I know I'm drinking more than I use to because I can afford it .. and I've been avoiding the scales lately ... I think the thing for me is going to have to be getting out and running at least a mile for every pint of beer I drink ... I actually like to run ... I am just going to need to run a lot more than I have been if I'm going to have a few beers every day, as I so enjoy doing right now ... homebrew is too cheap and too good ... dangit !!!

 

[kpr121]

I started brewing about 1 year ago. In that time I have gained about 12 lbs (6'1" 222 lbs). I drink at least one beer 6 days a week, more on the weekend (probably average 15-20 beers/week). I know that beer has played a role, but I have also been in the office much more than out in the field, went from playing basketball 4-5 days a week to 2-3 days, and have generally been more lazy about my eating habits.

I am trying to limit my beer consumption. Right now I am on day 4 of my "no beer during the week" trial. I want to go two or three weeks and see how I feel. Then I'm hoping to get back into the gym, and adding another day to my bball schedule. And I'm also back to counting calories, although I always seem to fall off the wagon as far as that is concerned (and end up gorging on mcdonalds big macs while rocking back and forth nervously in the corner of a dark room).

 

[whyrat]

I was an exercise nut well before I started homebrewing, and every summer play semi-competitive sports. I naturally swing 5-10 pounds from summer to winter based on the change in activity.
My first year seriously brewing i did notice a higher gain in weight during my off-season, but took some steps to counteract that and have been back to my normal cycle since.

Tips:
1) Have your beer with dinner, and cut the dinner portion down to compensate (you'll still feel full from the beer so won't notice having less food).
2) Beer is a 'fast carb'... Without going into too much detail, your body will process it from energy into fat quickly. Counter that by drinking when you exercise when your body is in energy deficit so less beer becomes fat (i.e. Right after a workout, unless you can stomach working out with a belly full of beer... I can't). Avoid night-caps or after dinner beers, because then your body already has a good energy store and isn't expending much, so it all goes to fat.
3) Add soluble fiber to your diet. Oatmeal is a good source of this (dried oats like granola & cereals work, but are less effective). Soluble fiber helps prevent your body from absorbing some types of fats. Remember not to just "add" it to your diet, replace something else otherwise you're worse off!

The above are pretty easy steps and helped me out. But nothing is a substitute for exercise & controlling your overall diet. Find an exercise you enjoy and are motivated to do: running, swimming, cycling, powerlifting, yoga, sports... (if you have kids, something you can do with them like coaching their sports teams).
If you increase your exercise you'll naturally try to eat more, so remember exercise alone won't get you all the way there.

There's tons of books / advise on weight control and plenty of commercial & non-commercial programs to help. But I'll chime in with others above to say there's no reason you can't enjoy beer and remain fit, you just have to commit to those being priorities.

 

[geneb]

I was overweight to start with, but my weight has stayed pretty consistent since I started brewing.

I usually have two or three beers a night, weekends included. This hasn't changed since I started brewing my own. I don't eat breakfast and my lunch consists of a single serving bag of popcorn and an apple (I usually skip the popcorn). No junk food, no soda, no snacking, no fruit juice, no bread, etc.. I do love some V8, but I generally only get a 64 oz bottle once every other month and that lasts me about a week. Supper is either nothing, a can of tuna salad, a package of ramen, or just vegetables with dressing if they are fresh, with salt and garlic if they are cooked. On Fridays my wife and I have a good meal that is usually not that great for us. (Not horrible.. Just not diet food. A steak dinner or pasta salad or stir fry.. That kind of stuff.) I certainly don't exercise as much as I should. I have a sedentary job but my wife and I walk about a mile every night during the week, assuming the weather isn't horrible. I rarely, if ever, go to the gym anymore. We used to go every day, but after about two months of it I decided that I'd rather shoot myself then keep that up. We try to go once a week now, but that hasn't happened for about a month.

The only way I could lose weight at this point would be to cut out beer and, based on how little I have to enjoy in food, I'll be damned if that's going to happen. Hopefully the fact that my caloric intake each day hovers around 1000 will help me drop the weight over time. I'm not going to hold my breath, though, since I have been at this diet for around two months now and have lost around 8 pounds and that was just in the first month.

 

[kpr121]

I was overweight to start with, but my weight has stayed pretty consistent since I started brewing.

I usually have two or three beers a night, weekends included. This hasn't changed since I started brewing my own. I don't eat breakfast and my lunch consists of a single serving bag of popcorn and an apple (I usually skip the popcorn). No junk food, no soda, no snacking, no fruit juice, no bread, etc.. I do love some V8, but I generally only get a 64 oz bottle once every other month and that lasts me about a week. Supper is either nothing, a can of tuna salad, a package of ramen, or just vegetables with dressing if they are fresh, with salt and garlic if they are cooked. On Fridays my wife and I have a good meal that is usually not that great for us. (Not horrible.. Just not diet food. A steak dinner or pasta salad or stir fry.. That kind of stuff.) I certainly don't exercise as much as I should. I have a sedentary job but my wife and I walk about a mile every night during the week, assuming the weather isn't horrible. I rarely, if ever, go to the gym anymore. We used to go every day, but after about two months of it I decided that I'd rather shoot myself then keep that up. We try to go once a week now, but that hasn't happened for about a month.

The only way I could lose weight at this point would be to cut out beer and, based on how little I have to enjoy in food, I'll be damned if that's going to happen. Hopefully the fact that my caloric intake each day hovers around 1000 will help me drop the weight over time. I'm not going to hold my breath, though, since I have been at this diet for around two months now and have lost around 8 pounds and that was just in the first month.

You basically don't eat until dinner, and then sometimes you skip that?! Besides the fact that I could never ever do that (I'm usually at 13-1500 calories by 1 PM), I don't think its very healthy to diet like this. You would be better spreading out the calories over the course of a day. I have read that 5 small meals is better that 2 big ones.

So start drinking a beer for breakfast!

 

[geneb]

You basically don't eat until dinner, and then sometimes you skip that?! Besides the fact that I could never ever do that (I'm usually at 13-1500 calories by 1 PM), I don't think its very healthy to diet like this. You would be better spreading out the calories over the course of a day. I have read that 5 small meals is better that 2 big ones.

So start drinking a beer for breakfast!

A beer for breakfast sounds good.. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I have tried having a bunch of small meals, but I tend to be constantly hungry when I do that. So long as I don't eat, I don't feel hungry. That and it's hard to spread a can of tuna and an apple out over 5 meals.

I've tried any number of methods of eating and the best I can hope for is to maintain my weight. The only way I have found to actively lose weight is to cut my calories rather extremely. Admittedly, I could eat more if I cut out beer. But I like beer more than most foods so most of my nutrients are gained through a multi-vitamin.

Regardless, this post is off-topic so... [/hijack].

 

[o4_srt]

After getting back from a tour in Iraq, and getting married, I was within 5 lbs of being "overweight" according to military standard. Although no longer enlisted, I was rather surprised. I've been thin my whole life, able to eat whatever I wanted, whenever, with no effect. Seems marriage = instant metabolism killer.

Anyway, I have a rather sedentary job working at a test bench all day. I've been able to drop over 10 lbs just by making healthier choices when it comes to good.

More vegetables, limiting red meat, avoiding junk food, etc. I have not increased exercise one bit, nor have I limited portions, although I know that they will both be required if/when I plateau.

 

[kpr121]

seems marriage = instant metabolism killer.

+1,000,000,000

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I put on some weight in the past 18 months of brewing but since I drink about as much beer as I did before homebrewing I chalk a lot more of my weight gain (roughly 20lbs.) over the past two years to working a night shift -- screwing up my sleep schedule -- and then going to law school where I sit in one place almost all day long. I also trimmed back my cardio to spend more time in the gym focused on strength training/muscle building (big mistake for my weight).

I don't even walk around as much as I did when I worked. Sitting around makes it hard to make good use of metabolism and lends itself too easily to snacking. I've taken off 13lbs over the past few months but I'm going to try to cut the rest in the next month or so I don't look like a beached whale on my honeymoon.

 

[SwampassJ]

I was overweight to start with, but my weight has stayed pretty consistent since I started brewing.

I usually have two or three beers a night, weekends included. This hasn't changed since I started brewing my own. I don't eat breakfast and my lunch consists of a single serving bag of popcorn and an apple (I usually skip the popcorn). No junk food, no soda, no snacking, no fruit juice, no bread, etc.. I do love some V8, but I generally only get a 64 oz bottle once every other month and that lasts me about a week. Supper is either nothing, a can of tuna salad, a package of ramen, or just vegetables with dressing if they are fresh, with salt and garlic if they are cooked. On Fridays my wife and I have a good meal that is usually not that great for us. (Not horrible.. Just not diet food. A steak dinner or pasta salad or stir fry.. That kind of stuff.) I certainly don't exercise as much as I should. I have a sedentary job but my wife and I walk about a mile every night during the week, assuming the weather isn't horrible. I rarely, if ever, go to the gym anymore. We used to go every day, but after about two months of it I decided that I'd rather shoot myself then keep that up. We try to go once a week now, but that hasn't happened for about a month.

The only way I could lose weight at this point would be to cut out beer and, based on how little I have to enjoy in food, I'll be damned if that's going to happen. Hopefully the fact that my caloric intake each day hovers around 1000 will help me drop the weight over time. I'm not going to hold my breath, though, since I have been at this diet for around two months now and have lost around 8 pounds and that was just in the first month.

You should speak to a nutritionist. The fact you are eating so little calorie wise and so infrequently is putting your body is starvation mode which causes your body to do whatever it can to retain it's weight. Best way to exercise is find the amount of calories you need to maintain weight and then add in exercises or even subtract 200 calories from that number and then add in some exercise. Even walking is very beneficial.

 

[SwampassJ]

Didn't intend to but I dropped from 194 to 188 since the 25th. This summer will turn me into skin and bones, I now need a belt for my pants. To combat this I'm adding a beer every night.

 

[kpr121]

Didn't intend to but I dropped from 194 to 188 since the 25th. This summer will turn me into skin and bones, I now need a belt for my pants. To combat this I'm adding a beer every night.

I hate you

 

[beersteiner2345]

Didn't intend to but I dropped from 194 to 188 since the 25th. This summer will turn me into skin and bones, I now need a belt for my pants. To combat this I'm adding a beer every night.

Nice!

I gained a lot of weight the first part of 2010 due to a bad car accident putting me out of commission. The pain and immobility made me depressed, which I addressed by eating and drinking. A lot.

I am 5'10" and was 27 at the time. One month after I turned 28 (April 2010) my scale read 200 lbs for the first time. I decided then to make some changes. Stopped drinking for a month and went back to my old healthy eating ways. Then started working out vigorously.

As my weight dropped, I started adding beer back to my diet. But at this point I was exercising HARD 4-5 days a week.

I have since competed in several 5, 10, and 15Ks and three mountain bike races that were all over 50 miles. And I was 173 lbs this morning. My goal is to get under 170, but I am taking my time now since I feel great, had to buy new pants (went from 34 being tight to a 32-33 fitting right). No reason to torture myself now. lol

Bottom line, get out and exercise. Mountain biking has been great for me because it is fun. Most times I go ride with the intent to have fun. I don't even realize I just burned 1000 calories or so until I am done. I go to have fun, and exercise if a bonus. All other forms of exercise I go with the intent to exercise, and I hate it. lol

Bottom line, I feel 1,000,000x better now and will never go back. Can't believe how worthless and sluggish I used to feel. Just didn't recognize it because I thought that was normal. I am now 29 and in the best physical shape of my life (even better than High School!)

 

[glenn514]

I posted on this thread previously [#25], but feel a need to restate one very simple weight loss/gain item: it really is a "numbers" game! Calories IN vs. Calories OUT. By reducing beers consumed...or food eaten...the number of calories IN is reduced. By doing an exercise program...as simple as going for a walk...the number of calories OUT is increased. If you USE more calories than your body NEEDS, you lose weight. If you use less calories than your body needs, you gain weight.

I have been on my current program for six months as of Monday. I've lost 45 pounds and feel MUCH better than I did before I started. Today, I packed away the size 36 jeans and shorts, and brought out the size 34's! I've gone from a size 40 waist to my current size 34.

What's important is the "numbers" game and consistency. I exercise almost every day. I did, however, blow my back out early on Easter Sunday morning, which has caused me to shorten my routine. I WILL get back to the full routine, however.

I will turn 65 this October. My overall goal is to be in the BEST physical shape I've ever been in when I hit 65! And the exercise and reduced weight are good for my cardiovascular system, too! I certainly don't want ANOTHER heart attack!

glenn514

 

[DannPM]

I've actually lost weight since brewing I started brewing beer in December (and I drink more & exercise less now too!)

 

[SwampassJ]

I hate you

I went and weighed myself since I saw this post bumped. 186 now. I need to bulk up, I feel like a feather.

 

[JebCkr]

I've managed to balance it out fairly well. I'm just 21 and weigh a significant amount less than I did in high school before I really drank (290lbs then). Usually, if I'm going to have a few beers at night, I'll cut back on my calorie intake during lunch and dinner. On top of that I try to stay active with tennis, jogging, etc. To compensate for the carbs I'm getting, I'll have a protein shake in the mornings and/or after workouts and I make sure to get my vitamins from fresh veggies (or canned ones).

So, since starting brewing I've probably lost 15lbs or so putting me at 6'5" 225lbs right now. Pretty happy with my weight with no real desire to lose any more. So, now I just try and maintain. I don't, however, really attribute the weight loss to drinking homebrew.

 

[Shift]

Used to be stable at 165 but after starting homebrewing i've been dropping down towards 155, altough not related.
Perhaps it's stopped me from dropping further. Think i'm gonna start working out this summer since im rather defined at the moment, even got some visible ribs.
No fat, no muscles, all bones!

6'3.5"