I've got a problem, and it's interfering with my beer habit

That is the problem with craft beer, there is always something to try. Always hard to resist the temptation. You are on right track, need to reduce # of calories, it is hard, but if you want to stay in the shape you want reduce calories and exercise more.

BTW, how old are you?

 

just dont eat, get all your calories from the sweet sweet nectar!

 

I've been worrying about this lately. What if my constant intake of tasty craft beers makes me gain a few extra or 20 lbs. Being in my mid 20's, staying in shape hasn't been a problem..yet. I am surfing whenever there is waves and when I'm not I am in the gym.

I just know once I hit a certain age it is all going to catch up with me. Best bet would be to reduce your caloric intake, unfortunately.

 

Everyone's different, but for me what works:

1. Beer - make sure at least two days a week I don't drink any, and on three out of the five days I do drink, make a conscious effort to keep it to only a couple.

2. Food - I make a point of eating healthily on weekdays. Not in the calorie-counting-limit-what-I-eat sense, but in the what-am-I-putting-in-my-body sense. Weekends I do what I want.

3. Exercise - I workout 5-7 times a week. Generally riding, with some running. Long ride once on the weekend, otherwise we're talking 60-90 min sessions.

These three combined allow me to stay in shape, and still enjoy the food/beer I like eating/drinking.

Edit - I'm 32 for reference

 

Same with me. I try to run at least a mile a day. Lift weights 4 out of 7 days. and drink 8 glasses of water a day and eat healthy when I am drinking.

 

I know that you're using the phrase "healthy amount of beers" to essentially mean "a lot of beers." Nevertheless, I couldn't help but chuckle, as if you actually consumed a "healthy amount of beers" you wouldn't have to worry as much.

You say that you're going to reduce you're drinking to just a couple of nights, as opposed to everyday. However, if you're consuming more beer on those nights, then it's not really going to help the situation.

Ultimately, and you know this already I am sure, it's all calories consumed and calories burned. Live an active lifestyle with moderate caloric intake. Sure, you can give yourself the days/nights of crushing 10 beers and eating a T-bone, but you'll also have to give yourself the days of going heavy on the salads and not drinking at all.

Calories in/calories out.

 

I used to have this problem, especially over this horrid winter we had this year in ohio. I find that if you eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water, and work out regularly you will be fine. I drink around two to three beers a day, and a few more on the weekend and since I stepped up my workouts, I have actually lost 8lbs. This is coming from someone who has battled his weight since I was a teenager.

 

I work out on a schedule where it's 3 days running, 2 days at the rock climbing gym, 2 days strength training. I drink a lot of beer and I've been losing weight, about seven pounds in the last two months.

It helps if you drink because you particularly want to or because you're with friends and not just automatically based on habit. It also helps if the food you eat is a bit healthier, a couple years ago I cut out sodas and pastries and just recently started eating at home before going to bars and not ordering nachos.

So long as your beer drinking isn't ridiculous, you should be able to drink consistently, with an otherwise healthy diet, and still lose weight.

 

As long as you are hitting the gym 4-5 times a week, eating healthy during the weekdays, and intermixing cardio with weight lifting, you'll be just fine.

 

I'm in the same shape now as I was when I was 25 y.o. I was out of shape then and I'm out of shape now. On the serious side, I weighed over 300 lbs. 5-6 years ago and have lost 50 lbs. by eating healthy and counting calories during the week and for the most part, drinking only on weekends. It's too late to start working out for getting in shape purposes [arthritis] but I do walk alot and it seems to help. But one thing's for sure. In order to give up beer, I would need to hear that my next sip would kill me. And even then I would probably want to think it over and get a second opinion.

 

rounds a shape is it not? i try to eat better, no soda, cut down on the bread and cheese, meat. but is difficult and I not lie I am not as skinny as I was at 30, it happens.

 

I personally prefer the one beer a day vs. several on just a couple days a week. My hypothesis, aside from general impatience, is you don't get those days where your caloric intake spikes hard.

That said, I just try to plan ahead and keep balance. If you know you're gonna be out at a bar and have a few (and some potentially unhealthy food), make sure the rest of your day includes really healthy food and lots of water. Definite commitment to some kind of activity program, whether it's cardio, weight training, team sports, whatever floats your boat.

Maybe this is nit-picking, but I'll go so far as to think about what kind of beer I'm drinking. If I've had a somewhat unhealthy lunch/dinner, I may not opt for the big DIPA or imperial stout, which are certain to have more calories. Save those bad boys for another day. I think this culture, in an odd way, sort of discourages guys from admitting they think about their body/health -- that's something "chicks" do. But the reality is that staying healthy is a big deal, both for yourself and your loved ones. Nothing wrong with having a (flexible/workable) plan for staying fit.

 

BullDoza....you think its bad now, just wait until you're in your 30's.

I used to say 'no beers during the week' as well, but acquired so many (esp IPA's) that I had to make a dent. I usually end up walking or running 5-6 miles a few nights per week, and will have a beer to replenish after that.

Even if its not necessarily replenishing (although the internet says this works...and the internet is always right), I at least feel better about maybe breaking even.

 

IIFYM

 

Simple, regardless of what everyone says it all boils down to calories in vs. calories out. You can lose weight on a diet of beer and unhealthy food, you just have to eat less calories than you burn a day. I personally try to avoid dessert, pop, etc. because those are all empty calories. For real food I try to eat a lot of protein, vegetables, and fruit and avoid too many carbs. Working out also helps of course, but I realize everyone doesn't have a lot of time to do it.

 

I'm 42 now, and never had a problem with weight, but now I have to keep the workout schedule up to compensate for the beer. Small price to pay to be able to indulge nightly! Winters I usually get up a bit above my ideal weight, but that quickly comes of in the summer. Sucks getting old.

 

before i got into craft beer i was overweight, weighing about 215 for a 25 year old 6 foot 2 man. i hit the gym hard for a year and dropped 40 lbs, and then came into the craft beer world slowly. i never wanted to get to a point where i was super muscular and ripped, so im pretty much okay with right now, "drinking" once a week, while allowing myself to have 1-3 beers two other day in the week, while going to the gym and mainly doing cardio 4-6 days aweek. basically im totally fine with being in decent shape and working off the beer i want to drink!

 

I drink beer almost daily, but stay around 150-160 lbs., due some to exercise (running) but due mostly to eating healthy. I've completely cut out meat and dairy over the past couple of years which keeps me in shape and relieves some of the stress put on my liver from alcohol.