beer and training

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by al-xc
Hi,
I am a cross country racer and take my training seriously.
However, I also enjoy a beer on a regular basis and average one large bottle/day. I once calculated that it is the calorie equivalent of 1 hour of hard sustained cycling.
Apart from the wasted calories, are there any deleterious affects from this quantity of alcohol in terms of performance?
I guess I am serious enough that I'd consider reducing my beer intake if I though it might have an adverse effect.

Thanks, Al

Hydration and carbo-loading should be an important part of everyones training 😎

cheers

Unfortunately, as far as carbo loading and hydratioin are concerned, they are wasted calories - not useable as a source of energy, and the alcohol in the beer, rather than helping with hydration, acts as a diuretic making you less hydrated.

Keep drinking, unless is stops you training the next day. Just make sure you drink lots of water during the day as well.

If you're at an elite level, that 1% difference might make the difference, but at any other level it's a balance of life. And one or two beers after work is probably good for your mental health. Noone will be a world champion if they have a career as well, plus family, plus a social life. But you can combine the rest as [part of a balanced life.

Balance is the key. Don't forget beer is one of the five essential food groups.

1. Beer
2. Ice Cream
3. Peas
4. Quorn (I'm veggie)
5...........

I always get stuck on that 5th food group!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by 2LAP
1. Beer
2. Ice Cream
3. Peas
4. Quorn (I'm veggie)
5...........

I always get stuck on that 5th food group!

Ummm, isn't the fifth group chips (fries for non UK peeps)

Ric

Wasn't it chocolate? I'm quite sure it is here in Belgium

Niek

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by nferyn
Wasn't it chocolate? I'm quite sure it is here in Belgium

Niek

Perhaps I was wrong with my peas, I like Green and Blacks too.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by 2LAP
Perhaps I was wrong with my peas, I like Green and Blacks too.

and, i was completely wrong, as i never have 1 and 2, only occasionally have 3!

pasta and veg are my two main food groups.

Ric, your eating all wrong!

Haven't you ever seen a food pyramid? A base of Quorn, covered in chocolate, followed by chips, ice cream and toped with beer to wash it down. Or have I got it all upside down? This balanced diet thing is tough!

eurgh! chocolate, ice cream and beer. not keen on any of them. although i have been known to eat a few thorntons continentals at christmas.

always, preferred savoury foods. sprouts are a bit of a favourite

on a different note 2Lap, do you recall eating Quorn 'roast beef' flavour slices? I'm 100% positive of eating these but Quorn don't make it any more :-(

I got carried away Ric!!!

As for the Quorn I don't remember the 'roast beef' slices, but have recently had some dodgy 'fake bacon' from Tesco!

I managed to convince my flat mates that the chicken curry contained chicken and not 'fake chicken'. Some of that Quorn stuff is better than the real thing (particularly when the real thing is cooked badly!).

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by 2LAP
I got carried away Ric!!!

As for the Quorn I don't remember the 'roast beef' slices, but have recently had some dodgy 'fake bacon' from Tesco!

I managed to convince my flat mates that the chicken curry contained chicken and not 'fake chicken'. Some of that Quorn stuff is better than the real thing (particularly when the real thing is cooked badly!).

Quorn are having problems remembering too :-). I never liked bacon, so i don't have to eat the fake stuff. It doesn't look too clever, at least the one's i've seen.

Some of the quorn stuff is really quite good, as is some of the Linda McCartney stuff (imo). We've 'fooled' a few people with it!

Anyway, for everyone who now thinks myself and 2Lap are mad, and wondering what the hell we're talking about, please click here

http://www.quorn.com/uk/index.htm

Ric

The fifth food group is, of course, Pizza

Breakfast / lunch / dinner of champions.

Goes so well with one of the other essential food groups, beer.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by steve
Hydration and carbo-loading should be an important part of everyones training 😎

cheers

Typical bloody Aussie response. On yer maaate !! 🙂

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Blimp
The fifth food group is, of course, Pizza

Breakfast / lunch / dinner of champions.

Goes so well with one of the other essential food groups, beer.

After a hard day in the saddle, I followed the Pizza and Beer advice and must recommend it. It was one hell of a night and now I don't care what my legs feel like!

mmmmm BEEEEEER!!! [DROOL] :p

Beer has a number of advantages to the cyclist which are often overlooked:

1. It can relax muscles, allowing faster recovery
2. It contains simple carbohydrates
3. There is little medical evidence to suggest moderate beer intake causes long term physiological damage
4. The calories are well worth the pleasure
5. On social occasions it can make members of the opposite sex more appealing than they actually are

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Blimp
Beer has a number of advantages to the cyclist which are often overlooked:

1. It can relax muscles, allowing faster recovery
2. It contains simple carbohydrates
3. There is little medical evidence to suggest moderate beer intake causes long term physiological damage
4. The calories are well worth the pleasure
5. On social occasions it can make members of the opposite sex more appealing than they actually are

BLIMP FOR PRESIDENT!!! 😄