Alcohol and erging/training

[hikeplusrow]

Just interested in people's views on moderate alcohol consumption and its effects on performance. I drink very little - a few glasses of wine per week - and am considering packing up entirely. Apologies if this is a little personal for some.

[Sakly]

If you already think about it, do it.
Alcohol is a nerve toxin, blocks the liver immediately (and so it does for many metabolic pathways through the liver working all day long) to get rid of it and has not a single advantage. So I really don't get the question at all on the factual level

[Dangerscouse]

Imo, there's a bit of a trade off with the relaxing effects it may have, and the physical effects that Sascha mentions above.

A moderate intake isn't an issue imo, but there's clearly no reason not to give up altogether if you're inclined to do. Keeping drinking certainly won't enhance your rowing ability, but I'm not sure that it will have a notable detrimental effect as well if it is truly moderate.

[hikeplusrow]

If you already think about it, do it.
Alcohol is a nerve toxin, blocks the liver immediately (and so it does for many metabolic pathways through the liver working all day long) to get rid of it and has not a single advantage. So I really don't get the question at all on the factual level

I agree with all this. Of course, moderate red wine consumption is supposed to be good for heart health, but it's interesting that GPs don't promote it on that basis.

[hikeplusrow]

Imo, there's a bit of a trade off with the relaxing effects it may have, and the physical effects that Sascha mentions above.

A moderate intake isn't an issue imo, but there's clearly no reason not to give up altogether if you're inclined to do. Keeping drinking certainly won't enhance your rowing ability, but I'm not sure that it will have a notable detrimental effect as well if it is truly moderate.

A drink certainly takes the edge off after a stressful day!

[Sakly]

If you already think about it, do it.
Alcohol is a nerve toxin, blocks the liver immediately (and so it does for many metabolic pathways through the liver working all day long) to get rid of it and has not a single advantage. So I really don't get the question at all on the factual level

I agree with all this. Of course, moderate red wine consumption is supposed to be good for heart health, but it's interesting that GPs don't promote it on that basis.

I read that very often, but I think I also read about it was disproved and if I start thinking about the contents of wine and the ingredients, I cannot believe that the positive effects of any minimal content of whatever substance will "outperform" the negative effects from the alcohol, which is the most prominent part of wine (or any other alcoholic drink).

The stress release or mood relaxing stuff is very personal, so no points on that, as it is nothing for me at all. I drink alcohol maximum two times per year, if at all. This was the reason why I started to talk about the factual part, not the "mental" part.

[hikeplusrow]

If you already think about it, do it.
Alcohol is a nerve toxin, blocks the liver immediately (and so it does for many metabolic pathways through the liver working all day long) to get rid of it and has not a single advantage. So I really don't get the question at all on the factual level

I agree with all this. Of course, moderate red wine consumption is supposed to be good for heart health, but it's interesting that GPs don't promote it on that basis.

I read that very often, but I think I also read about it was disproved and if I start thinking about the contents of wine and the ingredients, I cannot believe that the positive effects of any minimal content of whatever substance will "outperform" the negative effects from the alcohol, which is the most prominent part of wine (or any other alcoholic drink).

The stress release or mood relaxing stuff is very personal, so no points on that, as it is nothing for me at all. I drink alcohol maximum two times per year, if at all. This was the reason why I started to talk about the factual part, not the "mental" part.

One of the seductive things about drink from a relaxation standpoint is that it doesn't require any effort. Exercise is also a relaxant, but after an exhausting day a drink may be more palatable for some than 30 mins UT1. I'm unaffected as I exercise first thing in the morning

[iain]

Any impact of moderate drinking is only likely to effect people approaching their limits, so someone rowing recreationally is unlikely to have a big effect, although rowing in the 24 hrs before a TT might not be optimal.

JMHO of course and no evidence.

[GlennUk]

FWIW, If you can drink in moderation and enjoy it, the benefits when considered in the round may be more beneficial than not drinking.

If your drinking to get drunk or alleviate stress id suggest stopping.

Drinking wine, especially a good red is one of life's great pleasures.

IMHO, it does little harm in moderation, certainly no-one harm than the amount of sugar and salt in our diets, but I agree it can be harmful if abused. So can most things we eat/drink and do.

[alex9026]

Ran some of my best running races and endured some of my longest days on a bike after a couple of beers the night before. I sleep well and it clears the system. Particularly at cycle events, it's often the social aspect that makes the weekend...

Like all things we enjoy that aren't good for us when consumed on a regular basis, it's in moderation and I obviously wouldn't practice it every week. Also, if I was competitive for a living I might not have such a relaxed approach to it.

[RWAGR]

I don’t think it affects training at the highest levels. I do however think alcohol is poison and am happy to have been off it for 15 months! Like almost any other drug, I’m sure in true moderation it’s fine, but the only reason we tolerate that is because large parts of our society are conditioned for it to be normal. If someone suggested having a small line of cocaine in moderation, we’d all think they were crazy

[RWAGR]

I don’t think it affects training at the highest levels. I do however think alcohol is poison and am happy to have been off it for 15 months! Like almost any other drug, I’m sure in true moderation it’s fine, but the only reason we tolerate that is because large parts of our society are conditioned for it to be normal. If someone suggested having a small line of cocaine in moderation, we’d all think they were crazy

Mistype- I don’t think it (it being low level booze consumption) affects training EXCEPT at the highest levels lol

[Dutch]

For me, I drink once or twice a year if that, my tolerance is so low to drink and it always has been. I cant drink past 4pm or I am up all night lucid dreaming, more than 2 beers and it makes me sleepy. I allow myself 2 shots of a spirit only with a non sugary lemonade or coke.
In my 20s I drank heavy for about 4 yrs and I went down the pan physically more and more. I used to be able to get up hammered and train, within 2 yrs that ability was gone.
I had 8 rums last month, first time I had done this for yrs and was wiped out for 2 days mentally and physically. People did not think I had been drinking, I appeared sober, I put it down to being fitter again. But trust me, the next day I knew I had had a drink. The sugar crash from alcohol ruins me, I cry buckets the next morning and feel horrible physically.
I did plan to have the 8 rums, I was curious to the outcome, and low and behold it was the same as it always was, bloody awful.
Giving up for me was a massive lift when I did 25 yrs ago, I am more afraid of the hangover than anything else and it is a massive incentive not to lol. When I drank regular I did not get hangovers.
When I am stressed now I go and do something active physically and await the endorphins to kick in.
My take away to others would be have 1 or 2 twice a week but please watch the %, that is the killer. A 14% large red wine is all you need max or maybe a couple of shots. If you need more then your body is too used to it.

[hikeplusrow]

For me, I drink once or twice a year if that, my tolerance is so low to drink and it always has been. I cant drink past 4pm or I am up all night lucid dreaming, more than 2 beers and it makes me sleepy. I allow myself 2 shots of a spirit only with a non sugary lemonade or coke.
In my 20s I drank heavy for about 4 yrs and I went down the pan physically more and more. I used to be able to get up hammered and train, within 2 yrs that ability was gone.
I had 8 rums last month, first time I had done this for yrs and was wiped out for 2 days mentally and physically. People did not think I had been drinking, I appeared sober, I put it down to being fitter again. But trust me, the next day I knew I had had a drink. The sugar crash from alcohol ruins me, I cry buckets the next morning and feel horrible physically.
I did plan to have the 8 rums, I was curious to the outcome, and low and behold it was the same as it always was, bloody awful.
Giving up for me was a massive lift when I did 25 yrs ago, I am more afraid of the hangover than anything else and it is a massive incentive not to lol. When I drank regular I did not get hangovers.
When I am stressed now I go and do something active physically and await the endorphins to kick in.
My take away to others would be have 1 or 2 twice a week but please watch the %, that is the killer. A 14% large red wine is all you need max or maybe a couple of shots. If you need more then your body is too used to it.

A brilliant post - very honest. Good point regarding alcohol %. I must say, I tend to drink slightly lower alcohol wine now - 11/12% max.

[RWAGR]

I grew up in an alcohol heavy environment and for most of my life it was a huge crutch. I drank 5+ nights a week, even when relatively fit from rowing. On at least 2 nights a week, I drank to excess. On 1-2 nights a month, I drank to vast excess. For sure I was a "high functioning" alcoholic. Then one day I just stopped. Everything in my life got way better. Pretty much every problem in my life, personal and professional, has some relationship to booze and life is so much better without it.

Most people aren't problem drinkers like I was, but I still think that even for moderate users alcohol is a toxic drug that we take temporarily to change how we feel when it would be better to address the underlying issue. For some people, it doesn't matter as they control the intake so the toxic effects are manageable. Nevertheless, I think many people drink more than they realize/ admit - probably truly moderate drinkers are a rare breed- although highly trained people including those on here will almost certainly have a much more honest sense of their intake than the general population.

Apologies for the rant; it's something I feel very strongly about. Always happy to chat to anyone in DMs if they want to talk quitting booze. It's the best thing I have ever done.