I am a 142 lbs (135-138 naturally) hardgainer who's been running regularly for a few weeks and lifting weights for the past two. I've gained 1/8 inch on my biceps in that time (not measured right after workout so as to avoid the pump-up measurement).

I used to drink beer like every day and I started to gain a little weight. I'm trying to bulk up, and when I was hardcore into it I ate 6-8 times per day which included a min. of 2 whey + weight gainer protein shakes.

I don't drink soda, eat fast food, candy, sugary snacks, or anything else that seems really unhealthy.

I've had 4 beers on one night in 3 weeks, and other than that I've been completely sober.

I am wondering what kind of tradeoff there is to drink a few beers on the reg to get an extra few hundred calories in, versus staying off booze all together.

When I'm exercising I treat my body like a temple, and after a few months, so do women. Any advice on this?

And please no one say "drink in moderation" or "a few every once in a while is good" because I'm asking if it's better to drink beer to gain weight or stay off alcohol due to its poisonous effects.

Beer is definitely not something that you want to use to get extra calories. There are different types of calories, and beer is just empty calories. So when you drink beer, the body does not use it and it just gets stored as fat and caramelizes inside of you. Also, beer increases estrogen levels inside of you, and can cause the dreaded "man-boobs". I'm not saying not to drink at all, but don't use beer as a supplement, just as a tool to get f**ked up. It has no nutritional value, but it is fun as hell. So get trashed when you want to, just try to limit it to once a week as opposed to every other day.

'empty calories' is right - your body doesn't use the calories from beer for muscle growth, it just tries to reject them as quickly as possible (hence you pissing a lot when you drink beer). take in too much beer and it'll shove it into adipose while trying to get rid of what it can (the beer belly).

mcdonalds and pizza are a much better bet if you truly need the extra calories - beer has NO nutritional value but these foods do include protein, fat, carbs, minerals..

Alcohol consumption affects testosterone and estrogen levels, and not in a good way. Alcohol does absolutely nothing for you except get you inebriated, and kill your brain cells. If you want dense calorie foods hit up mcdonalds or get a pizza.

excessive beer drinkin' can wipe out at least one good workout, especially if you consume it the evening you worked out -- your body spends the day it should be resting & growing trying to get rid of alcohol b/c it's useless for growth, and as noted above, it lowers your testosterone, raises your estrogen, and any calories in it beyond your immediate energy needs go straight to adipose (body fat). it can also throw off your hydration and salts. workouts the day after heavy drinking will be sluggish as long as your body is still burning off the alcohol.

if you enjoy beer drinking for its social or entertainment value, i would recommend downing it the night before your main off day (least effect on your workouts), and forget about any muscle or health benefits, because there aren't any.

Warboss Alex said:

'empty calories' is right - your body doesn't use the calories from beer for muscle growth, it just tries to reject them as quickly as possible (hence you pissing a lot when you drink beer).

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I'd always thought that the reason for urination was due to alcohol's being a diuretic? Also, doesn't urine only carry out toxins, chemicals, and drugs from the body? I wasn't aware that it had any caloric content to speak of.

Thanks for the information. It makes me feel good that I haven't had a drink in 2 weeks, and am finally past that stage of wanting to get ****ed up every weekend with my college friends.

2 weeks into my workouts and I've already got a pencil-line V and an 8 pack going for me! I made a bet with these 3 chicks that I'd have abs that'd make them squeal in 4 weeks. If they are ultra impressed, they have to make me a full dinner, and visca versa if they're not.

They will be....

I'm guessing you were pretty lean to begin with...

I weigh 135-138 naturally, and I'm 6'0" with narrow shoulders. I'm currently at 142-145 (water weight difference), can run a mile in under 8 minutes as a warmup before an intense workout, and have the 8 pack I mentioned above. If it wasn't for the damn bet I have about dinner I'd be up to eating 6 times per day, since that's the only way I can gain weight. The problem with that is I lose my greatest asset: I have excellent definition without looking disgustingly shredded. My natural body fat % is like perfect for me even when I get up around 160-165. I just get bigger and bigger and bigger but I don't get shredded and never get chunky. When I'm loading up on food 6-8 times per day including weight gainer and protein powder, I lose some definition in my abs, and nowhere else.

Once this bet is over I'm going to add a protein shake in during the day. I eat a can of tuna fish after each workout, which I'm still grappling with because of the mercury issue.

I am considering cutting my tuna intake to half and replacing those cans with a protein shake, alternating. Any thoughts?

wait a minute, you're the guy who's telling me beginners should do high reps and you're looking for one warmup set, and now you're asking whether you can quality weight with beer .. ?

your abs will lose definition when you eat lots of food if only because of gut distention. this is even more apparent with especially skinny people like yourself because you notice even small changes maybe even on a weekly basis.

I'd go for tuna over protein powder any day (although not for taste, it has to be said).

Warboss Alex said:

I'd go for tuna over protein powder any day (although not for taste, it has to be said).

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I love you Alex and I think you know that... But why do you always have to bash on the tuna?! I fùcking love its taste so I gently demand you stop talking about flavors and limit yourself to training advice

Tuna, protein shake, or a big mac! At 145 and 6 feet tall, I would eat anything with calories!

Good luck with your bet!

Alex, when I take in enough calories to gain mass quickly, I always lose a lot of definition in my midsection.

As far as tuna and protein powder go, I'm just tring to avoid having health problems down the road from toxic levels of mercury in my system. I agree about tune though, I'd take it over protein powder any day.

I went from 12.5" arms to 15.5" arms in under 2 years. During the time that I was actively gaining weight, I had to fight hard to maintain a 6-pack. Once I get past this bet I will not be training my abs for looks as much.


As far as the high reps, lower weights and warmup sets go, I am just speaking from personal experience doing 4 varsity sports at various times in high school, and participating in 11 competetive sports throughout my life, not including weight lifting/bodybuilding because of a 2 year stint of sickness and injury that would make most people off themselves. I am just now getting over severe carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel, which left my arms pretty much useless for any kind of exercise for the past 8 months.

When I get back into it, I need to start out slow, and anyone who isn't sure whether they need the same thing should be advised to is all I was saying.
As for beer, I expected the answers I got, but I was hoping for someone to surprise me with "hey, drink as much as you can man, those carbs are still carbs!" honestly though, I'm kinda glad that I won't be using beer to gain weight. Guess it's time to head over to Wal mart and pick myself up a 12 dollar bottle of whey protein.

Thanks for the tips and advice!

Deadly_Ripped said:

Alex, when I take in enough calories to gain mass quickly, I always lose a lot of definition in my midsection.

YOU EXPECT TO GAIN (A) 20-30LBS AND (B) QUICKLY AND NOT LOSE DEFINITION IN YOUR MIDSECTION? WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON?

As far as tuna and protein powder go, I'm just tring to avoid having health problems down the road from toxic levels of mercury in my system. I agree about tune though, I'd take it over protein powder any day.

IF YOU READ ENOUGH THERE WON'T BE ANYTHING SAFE TO EAT, MERCURY IN TUNA, BSE IN BEEF, BIRD FLU IN CHICKEN/EGGS..

I went from 12.5" arms to 15.5" arms in under 2 years. During the time that I was actively gaining weight, I had to fight hard to maintain a 6-pack. Once I get past this bet I will not be training my abs for looks as much.

VANITY WILL HOLD YOU BACK FROM MAKING SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT GAINS.. LET GO OF THE ABS IF YOU WANT TO BE ANYTHING ABOVE A BUCK 60 OR LOOK 'NORMAL' .. IT'S FUNNY, YOU GUYS WANT TO PULL WOMEN BUT ARE TOO AFRAID TO LOSE YOUR ABS, BUT UNLESS YOU WALK AROUND TOPLESS ALL THE TIME, WHO'S GONNA SEE EM? IF YOU HAVE A PHYSIQUE THAT'S NOTICEABLE THROUGH YOUR CLOTHES (MUSCLES) YOU'LL TURN HEADS GUARANTEED

Thanks for the tips and advice!

WELCOME

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Some thoughts in CAPS.. not just for Deadly_Ripped but people in general.