Thread: Alcohol And Creatine

I'm no doctor, but I would assume that it would be ok as long as you drank alot of water.

I drink while on creatine and whey - without any problems.

Staying hydrated should always be a concern while drinking - just make sure you are responsible and you should be fine.

Thanks guys...I know how important it is to drink lots of water so I'll definitley do that aslong as I am on creatine.

In a review of the literature Dr. Lang and colleagues from Penn State University have shown that even moderate drinking decreased the rate of protein synthesis by 20% and alcohol interferes with the structure of creatine specific proteins. It also blocks the action of the powerful anabolic hormone IGF-1.

This is important information if you want to see results from your efforts in the gym. It appears that binge drinking on the weekend can erase all the good work you've done in the gym that week. Even a few drinks will have a negative impact on muscle recovery and growth.

(Int. J. Biochem Cell Biol. 33:457-73,2001.)

It's not the problems that you can see or feel, it's the extra muscle growth that you will lose.

I think it is possible to maintain and possibly cut while drinking in moderation, but I feel it is very, very difficult to make real gains while drinking, for the reasons given above.

Not that I never enjoy the sweet, sweet liquior...au contrair.

I just think you have to be realistic about your goals. I have been training for years, and used to compete at a semi-pro level as a runner, and I could tell the difference on a Friday race if I drank on Monday! No joke--my performance suffered.

My goals are different now, and I drink occassionally, but I am certain it negates a lot of the hard work you put it.

Take that however you wish...and stay hydrated!!

Originally posted by ah1
. It appears that binge drinking on the weekend can erase all the good work you've done in the gym that week. Even a few drinks will have a negative impact on muscle recovery and growth.

(Int. J. Biochem Cell Biol. 33:457-73,2001.)

I completely diasagree. Drinking, even heavy drinking will NOT erase all the hard work you've done. While in college I drank every Wed thru Sat and still made great gains in the gym, obviously "All" my hard work wasn't erased.
Even now, at the end of my workouts on Fridays it has become tradition to crack a cold one for the last couple sets.
You have to enjoy life also !!

Originally posted by SJ69
Even now, at the end of my workouts on Fridays it has become tradition to crack a cold one for the last couple sets.
You have to enjoy life also !!

you drink while you lift ? if so, that's great way to give yourself cardiac arrest...

No, not really, once the workout is over, maybe a couple sets of lateral raises left, I'll grab a cold one for me and my partner and it tastes real good being all hot and sweaty etc. But that's only about a half can of beer during the last couple minutes of the workout, during cool down sets. I usually do a couple light sets at the end.

It acts like a reward for hard work.

Are you Irish or German?!

I wish I could say I can do the same! Then again, most people are still growing in college, and have high levels of hormones that support good gains.

Maybe it's possible to lift everyday and drink every night, but I know for me, and most performance athletes, there is no way possible for me to drink during the week and hope to perform at a profesisonal level on the weekend, either in running, soccer, or any other sport. I've tried numerous times. I made the mistake of drinking during the week before a huge "Champion of Champions" meet, where I had college scouts coming. Thank God it got rained out. I would have seriously blown my chances.

Aside from metabolic slow down, I have read studies about alcohol inhibiting the amount of oxygen that red blood cells can absorb/shuttle and lowering muscle glycogen levels. I feel this is true. Try running a mile as fast as you can after not drinking for five days. Then dirnk for five days and try it. You'll seriously be sucking wind.

Don't you notice yourself looking "puffy" after drinking a lot? I know I do.

Maybe it's not so bad if you're just looking to maintain, though, and not competing, which is most of us.

There are also a myriad of pchyological effects that I beleive inhibit top performance, being that alcohol is a CNS depressant. Look at all the people taking uppers before working out. It seems counter-intuitive to take a downer all week and not expect it to effect your intensity level in the gym.

To each his own though--I know of many pro rugby and soccer players who drink after every match, and they are in great, great shape.

Originally posted by SJ69

Even now, at the end of my workouts on Fridays it has become tradition to crack a cold one for the last couple sets.
You have to enjoy life also !!

what gym lets you crack "cold ones"?

not my idea of a post workout drink

haha that's funny as hell.