Drinking and Running, how much of each do i need to do to offset the drinking?

First thing, there's a huge bias on LRC recently populated with tee- totallers. I'm an older guy with 30y of running. My advice, don't trust anyone giving you any kind of specific ratio/solution. Before you start observing how your body reacts to running/drinking ratio, you need to define your goals. If you want to go for perfection then you have to stop drinking. If you want to enjoy life and still be a decent runner enjoy your dram/pint or whatever. Just make sure you get a good sleep and food.

1) You just described drinking as your hobby. You also make it seem like taking a day off once every two weeks makes this OK. This is making alarms go off in my professional counselor head. Something to think about...

2) Averaging 4ish drinks a day. That stuff adds up. Like 1300 drinks a year. Tell me how that impacts your body in the long run...

3) Bodies change. I used to run at sub 7 min pace in college. At the ripe age of 27, I’m lucky if I can get under 8:30 consistently. Some of my friends have gotten faster. Some of their bodies shut down (one buddy can’t run further than 400m anymore). Not everyone peaks at the same time.

4) I’m serious about the warning signs. Check yourself, man.

macdaddy wrote:

1) You just described drinking as your hobby. You also make it seem like taking a day off once every two weeks makes this OK. This is making alarms go off in my professional counselor head. Something to think about...

2) Averaging 4ish drinks a day. That stuff adds up. Like 1300 drinks a year. Tell me how that impacts your body in the long run...

3) Bodies change. I used to run at sub 7 min pace in college. At the ripe age of 27, I’m lucky if I can get under 8:30 consistently. Some of my friends have gotten faster. Some of their bodies shut down (one buddy can’t run further than 400m anymore). Not everyone peaks at the same time.

4) I’m serious about the warning signs. Check yourself, man.

Ripe age of 27? You take yourself too seriously.

Yes exactly. I want to run, do core and see some solid improvement from where I am now but I'm not neccesarily looking for the best shape possible. otherwise id stop my drinking hobby.

I just want to enjoy life but I gotta make sure I don't die from liver disease first. Now as for training, do you think its wise to keep increasing mileage load at this load or should I slow down?

but putting what you may think of as a problem aside, I'll be able to see progress yes?

Yeah those 1300 x 130+ cals add up. Pretty much empty cals. Alcohol also just kind of makes you soft. I quit drinking for a year starting this past NYE. Just feel way cleaner, running is smoother, you lose a few pounds.

Why not try 1 month without drinking and hit some runs and see how it goes

i feel like that was collegiate running tho^^^^ that stage of my life has already passed i think. Also its pretty hard to not be with my whiskey collection in quarantine

babypluto5 wrote:

i feel like that was collegiate running tho^^^^ that stage of my life has already passed i think. Also its pretty hard to not be with my whiskey collection in quarantine

Just in general it’s a good self-growth test to just cut it out a few months. Go through the awkwardness of dates sober, lean up and lift weights Nd sshiet.

In general I notice I need good sleep and I can’t drink more than like 3 drinks if I want to be on top of my game in life. And I’m only 27 too

Your drinking habit is costing you about 4 lbs a month with all the calories. Doesn’t sound like you have a specific goal in mind but you should be cognizant what the extra drinks do to your liver. I’d rec you cut it down to three to four times a week instead of near daily. You’ll also save on weight and the pocket book.

thanks all. I think I will decrease to 4-5 times a week of drinking to try it out. Ill throw another forum post in a weeks to comment on my progress.

Seems like the perfect time to chill on drinking as much since you can’t go out to drink socially any way.

3-4 drinks a day pfffffft. That’s not much

I'm pretty involved in the craft beer community and still run semi-competitively (Shooting for 2:25 in my next marathon). I have a beer almost every day and it hasn't had much of a negative effect on my running but I don't find myself getting trashed before workouts or races. Like with everything, don't overdo it. I don't drink much before major workouts and find myself barely drinking anything during peak buildup weeks.

If drinking has become a habit my suggestion would be to have some sort of schedule for yourself with training. You'll know days in advance when your big sessions are and when that extra beer is not worth it.

babypluto5 wrote:

Yes exactly. I want to run, do core and see some solid improvement from where I am now but I'm not neccesarily looking for the best shape possible. otherwise id stop my drinking hobby.

I just want to enjoy life but I gotta make sure I don't die from liver disease first. Now as for training, do you think its wise to keep increasing mileage load at this load or should I slow down?

Your "hobby" may cause liver disease?! I'd find another 'hobby'.

Sounds like you're drinking to get a buzz going every night. Seriously consider whether you can go 14 days without a drink. Try it. If it's really difficult, you might definitely want to, as a previously poster noted, "check yo-self" before you reach a point where it really starts to become a problem.

Some bodies can handle alcohol consumption without any issues whatsoever. Some bodies react as if the stuff is poison, and it really takes a toll, very quickly.

There are also indirect effects of alcohol consumption, including lack of sleep, and missed opportunities (e.g., giving up stuff to drink at night).

Based on your decline in running performance, it does sound like the strong waters might be taking a toll on your body. It's only going to decline more precipitously as you get older. Do your cost-benefit accordingly. What's more important to you? Enjoyment of boozing, or staying "more" healthy and physically fit?

Some people enjoy drinking more than exercise and maintaining better overall health, and there's nothing necessarily wrong with that, if they get more utility out of it. Some find that it was totally unjustifiable when they reach a certain age and have ravaged their bodies irreparably.

Full disclosure: I'm a grateful recovering alcoholic and drug addict who is 35.

I clearly do not know you, but your description of your drinking matches very similarly my drinking in my late 20s. The notion of 'making up' for the drinking also rang true to me: I'd find myself weighing running and drinking, doing morning runs hungover or just trying to figure out how much running could make up for the calories.

It might be worthwhile to try and not drink for a set period of time, maybe a week or a month. Or you could try some controlled drinking. Maybe set a hard limit for yourself: just 2 drinks any given time you drink. If you find either of these difficult to do--especially the latter--then it may be time to think about if you're drinking too much.

I will say, running in particular, and life in general, is much better for me without drinking.

Drinking pure water is very important for runner so make your you drink soft and pure water. And if you not then you better put a water softener in your home or offices. I would like to share a site with you where you can buy these stuff to make sure you drink pure and healthy water or not.

Site:

bestwatersoftenersystem.com/

babypluto5 wrote:

The problem is, I drink about 3-4 drinks a day (some days beers, some day whiskey) and this is my other hobby. (I take a day off every week or two so not an alcoholic dont worry guys. I also only drink at night).

the fact that you had to (1) assure everyone you weren't an alcoholic and (2) mention that you only drink at night makes it very clear to everyone reading that you, indeed, have a problem with alcohol.

get off the sauce, bruv. it's a poison.

If you drink already everyday you are a alcoholic.