Fatbusting: MvJ's log (a blob's blog)
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[quote name='Miller V Jackson']<br />
[quote name='Kirwan']<br />
Think about how much sugar is in alcohol, it's like going for a run and then having a nice relaxing bar of chocolate.<br />
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<img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Is red wine that bad though? I thought it was beer that was the killer sugar wise?<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Isn't a glass of wine a night supposed to be good for your heart? Unfortunately, EmmmVeeJay, I don't think you have eight hearts. -
[quote]Successful weight loss is all about oxidizing (or burning), more calories than you eat. When they go on a diet, many people choose low-calorie alcoholic drinks, mainly because they contain fewer alcohol calories than their regular counterparts.<br />
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However, drinking too much has a far more damaging effect than you can predict simply by looking at the number of alcohol calories in a drink. Not only does it reduce the number of fat calories you burn, alcohol can increase your appetite and lower your testosterone levels for up to 24 hours after you finish drinking.<br />
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Alcohol calories<br />
According to conventional wisdom, the infamous "beer belly" is caused by excess alcohol calories being stored as fat. Yet, less than five percent of the alcohol calories you drink are turned into fat. Rather, the main effect of alcohol is to reduce the amount of fat your body burns for energy.<br />
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Some evidence for this comes from research carried in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [4]. Eight men were given two drinks of vodka and sugar-free lemonade separated by 30 minutes. Each drink contained just under 90 calories. Fat metabolism was measured before and after consumption of the drink. For several hours after drinking the vodka, whole body lipid oxidation (a measure of how much fat your body is burning) dropped by a massive 73%.<br />
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Rather than getting stored as fat, the main fate of alcohol is conversion into a substance called acetate. In fact, blood levels of acetate after drinking the vodka were 2.5 times higher than normal. And it appears this sharp rise in acetate puts the brakes on fat loss.<br />
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A car engine typically uses only one source of fuel. Your body, on the other hand, draws from a number of different energy sources, such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by its availability.<br />
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In other words, your body tends to use whatever you feed it. Consequently, when acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat. In essence, acetate pushes fat to the back of the queue. <br />
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So, to summarize and review, here's what happens to fat metabolism after the odd drink or two.<br />
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• A small portion of the alcohol is converted into fat.<br />
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• Your liver then converts most of the alcohol into acetate.<br />
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• The acetate is then released into your bloodstream, and replaces fat as a source of fuel.<br />
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The way your body responds to alcohol is very similar to the way it deals with excess carbohydrate. Although carbohydrate can be converted directly into fat, one of the main effects of overfeeding with carbohydrate is that it simply replaces fat as a source of energy. That's why any type of diet, whether it's high-fat, high-protein, or high-carbohydrate, can lead to a gain in weight.<br />
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Appetite<br />
The combination of alcohol and a high-calorie meal is especially fattening, mainly because alcohol acts as a potent appetizer. A Canadian study shows that an aperitif (an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to increase the appetite) increased calorie intake to a greater extent than a carbohydrate-based drink [5].<br />
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Researchers from Denmark's Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University report similar results [8]. When a group of men was given a meal and allowed to eat as much as they wanted, they ate more when the meal was served with beer or wine rather than a soft drink.<br />
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Not only does too much alcohol put the brakes on fat loss, it's also one of the most effective ways to slash your testosterone levels. Just a single bout of heavy drinking raises levels of the muscle-wasting hormone cortisol and increases the breakdown of testosterone for up to 24 hours [6]. The damaging effects of alcohol on testosterone are made even worse when you exercise before drinking [1]. <br />
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The effect of alcohol on testosterone could be one reason that people who drink a lot carry less muscle. In fact, a 1993 study shows that alcoholic men have bigger waists and smaller muscles than teetotalers [2]. <br />
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This doesn't mean you need to avoid alcohol completely. <br />
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A recent study, published in the November 2004 issue of the International Journal of Obesity, compared the effect of two different diets over a three-month period [7]. Both diets contained 1500 calories daily, one with 150 calories from white wine and one with 150 calories from grape juice. <br />
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Weight loss in the grape juice group and white wine group was 8.3 pounds and 10.4 pounds, respectively. <br />
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The bottom line<br />
Although an alcohol-rich meal does increase your metabolic rate, it also suppresses the number of fat calories your body burns for energy — far more so than meals rich in protein, carbohydrate, or fat [3]. <br />
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While the odd drink now and again isn't going to hurt, the bottom line is that alcohol and a leaner, stronger body just doesn't mix.[/quote]<br />
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This pretty much covers it.<br />
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(If you can't be bothered reading it, alcohol makes it harder to lose fat) -
[quote name='Kirwan']<br />
(If you can't be bothered reading it, alcohol makes it harder to lose fat)<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Yikes <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> For harder, read next to impossible. Point taken Kirwan, I will try to cut out Monday-Thursday night drinking to start with. <br />
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Apparently drinking also significantly decreases your testosterone levels. I'm not sure about this: I still enjoying my wanking at the moment, but then again I have been feeling a bit camp recently. <br />
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If that changes, you'll be the first to know. -
[b]Day 4-- In which Our Hero gets the wobbles[/b]<br />
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Weight: 82.1 kg<br />
Alcohol: heading in the direction of the scotch<br />
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Our Hero got up at fucking cunting 5am to present a breakfast seminar on why clients should come to MvJ for legal advice. Speaking off the cuff I sacrificed information for entertainment. I thought I was fucking hilarious.<br />
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Anyway that put paid to any exercycle work this morning, and has left me completely fucking exhausted and not feeling like doing anything this evening. I spent the entire day at work surfing the Fat Busters Forum desperately looking for something to moderate. <br />
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So the kangaroo is cooking, and I'm heading for the scotch. But back on the bike tomorrow morning people, don't you worry about that. See you in the other forums shortly :evil:<br />
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Oddly, I have lost 200 grams today. -
Do you ever do any work NTAÂ :nta<br />
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[b]Day 5-- In which Our Hero goes to the pub [/b]<br />
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Weight: 82.1 kg (still)<br />
Alcohol: heading to the pub<br />
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Light day today, 30 minutes on the exercycle before waddling to work and a long lunch. Off to the pub to watch the rugby tonight. <br />
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Only two days until the first weigh in and so far I have gained 300 grams for the week <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> -
Must be putting on muscle <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Actually this week I have managed to do about two hours' work. Once again I'm waiting upon idiots to give me information and this time I refuse to chase them - it costs the place no more than usual this way. I also have to design a second storey for my house, arrange a pest inspection, finance, and builders, watch some episodes of Battle Star Galactica without anyone seeing me, and save my energy in order to complete regular exercise and think up new and devious ways to shag my wife.<br />
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I'm flat out. -
Yeah and she's a bit stressed from the week just gone (Little Aussie having a "phase") so might have to cap off last night's escapades with some red wine tonight... and perhaps I'll dig out the 1977 Vintage Port which it must be said feels like an Angel pissing on your tongue, and then sitting on your face....
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Last friday's "final blow out" binge drinking was unfortunately beaten by last night's events, which had me arrive home at 2am after a number of hours in the pub with a mate's hot ex-wife. MvJ, MvJ, MvJ...<br />
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I am on the bike, and running today, if it kills me. -
[b]Day 6-- In which Our Hero knows the moment of truth is coming and feels rather scared [/b]<br />
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Weight-- too scared to go near the scales<br />
Alcohol-- intake more than expected, thanks to Ayoub.<br />
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Just one day until the first weigh-in and MvJ is scared. A gut-busting session on the bike to kick things off today, but then the Crusaders game beckoned (3.30pm) and that put paid to that. <br />
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MvJ did walk 45 minutes to the pub though-- Potts Point to the Harlequin Inn for those that know Sydney. -
[b]Day 7-- Moment of Truth #1[/b]<br />
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Weight: 82.4kg<br />
Standard drinks: nil<br />
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The good news is I'm sober; normally by this hour on a Sunday night MvJ would be hard at work in the Sports Forum correcting the ignorance of other posters. Goal for this week is no drinking other than Friday and Saturday. Oh and Wednesday because I have a date. <br />
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The bad news is I've done nothing today other lie around watching the cricket. So we'll call it a day off, set the alarm for 6.30am and hit the exercycle then. Chin up old boy, or is that chins :nta -
[b]Day 8[/b]<br />
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Right, I feel like fucking absolute crap. Everything wants to pack up. I think it's the detox; last time this happened I went straight for the pies. However, MvJ will beat it this time. Nice healthy lunch and dinner tonight, no grog (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and only two cups of coffee all day. <br />
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Anyway, one miserable run tonight, all of 10 minutes plus 20 minutes ridiculous walking. MvJ has decided not to weigh himself for a week, seeing as everyone keeps recommending that and shit. Up tomorrow, health permitting, for a little cycling before work.