Topic: alcohol and Weightlifting

[Simon Klimesh]

What do you think about drinking and weightlifting? Can you achieve in weightlifting and be a casual drinker in your free time? My current take on it is maybe the very talented can but if you lack talent it's just going to make you even less talented.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

It is the rebel, the disobedient, the defiant, the unwilling to obey that succeed in weightlifting. Alcohol is certainly one of the most dangerous drugs, legal or illegal. But, our silly society makes it out as the only proper recreational drug, while condemning the far more healthy and peaceful plant called mary jane. It will be the drinkers, the pot smokers, and the other uncontrollable individuals that will always be superior athletes.

[Shaun Le Conte]

A coach that got me started in weightlifting some time ago is a big fan of David Rigert, and met him while competing in the 1976 Olympics.  He told me that Rigert was a heavy drinker. Rigert seemed to do aright in weightlifting. Just an anecdote, but I know many others who have managed to combine lifting with a habit of drinking and have done well in sport.

[Simon Klimesh]

Speaking of Rigert and Russian culture. He more than likely drank often and it was routine for him, he didn't wake up with hangovers because whatever he felt in the morning it was usual for him. From what I gleam, euro drinking is a lot different than American drinking, they drink more often and more moderately making it more routine, not a crazy variable thrown into the mix like binge drinking. What is the russian phrase?, "I drink a lot of vodka but I don't get drunk"? It's a culture thing.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Almost all the best lifters from the US drank also, and many smoked cigarettes and pot.

[Matt Erdman]

I don;t think moderate drinking has ever been shown to be harmful. Naturally you don't want to show up sloshed to do snatches. 

[Arturo Gómez]

Every of us makes something not convenient. In general, one compenses other. I dont´t smoke, but I´m too lazy, and eat without control.
But, good sense, a whisky immediatly before a heavy training may causes headeach. Alcohol is caloric, so, carries problems if you have weight difficulties.

[Matt Erdman]

Drinking some homebrew pilsner right. Surely the emotional benefit of good beer outweighs anything negative!