Alcohol

[AndyL]

I'm currently on week one of my third attempt at Atkins. I've stuck to it religiously for the week, and have not touched anything other than water and decaf tea/coffee(one cup per day). Trouble is, I'm supposed to be going out on Saturday with my mates. My drink of choice at the moment (pre Atkins) is Vodka. I have read in the Atkins book that alcohol stops the fat burning. i was wondering for how long? I know Vodka is zero carbs, but how far will it set me back? I intend to stick to this WOE now and I'm not drinking in the week as I did last time I was on it in January.
Any replies gratefully received!!

[Scooterjam]

Re: Alcohol

It's really a personal choice. How badly do you want to lose is my answer. However most importantly remember, alcohol is not allowed until way later rungs. I believe it is rung 5

veggies
dairy
fruit
nuts & seeds
alcohol

I'm doing that from memory mind you, I don't have my book with me...I can tell you for a fact that Acorn Squash is not allowed until rung 8.

sorry. gotta give me kudo's for knowing that fact......personal exp.....

best of luck!

[I_Luv_Pugs]

Re: Alcohol

I think until it's out of your system.

Don't forget about the calories in alcohol.

[AndyL]

Re: Alcohol

As much as i want to lose weight, I'm in no mad rush. As long as it comes off, I am OK with this. My goal is September when we go on our third honeymoon to the Dominican republic!! Don't want to look like a beached whale!!

6 days down

[beebparis]

Re: Alcohol

being a college student, I totally know the struggles with balancing alcohol and atkins. What I find usually sets me back is actually getting drunk....and then ordering pizza with friends at 3 am.

For me personally, I just try to limit myself to a drink or 2 (of vodka, as well). I'm a girl, so that's usually enough for me to feel a buzz, and I (naively) assume that it doesn't set me back TOO much.

Let me know what you find out, I'd be curious.

Have you ever check out any of the low carb beers? I'm not big on beer, so I haven't even bothered, although I assume "low carb"+alcohol is still not great for ketosis.

[tryingagain]

Re: Alcohol

Andy I occasionally have a bacardi and caffiene free diet pepsi. What happens is it slows your loss because your body burns off the alcohol first.
You will still lose, just slower, and limit yourself
Be good and have fun!

[julirama723]

Re: Alcohol

Andy, I think it's important to go up the rungs in PROPER order. Be patient. After all, this is a LIFELONG process. If you want to succeed you must do it right. Alcohol isn't going anywhere soon, and I'm sure you'll have more weekends out with friends.

Choose this weekend to be the DD. Don't drink. True, alcohol won't kick you out of ketosis, BUT...

1) It has to be burned off before you can resume fat-burning. Meanwhile, everything you eat during the time you drink is being stored as fat.
2) Alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes people do stupid things like eat off-plan. I've heard countless stories of people who were doing well on plan, only to have a couple drinks and then go on a carb binge for days or weeks.
3) Alcohol will most likely make you retain water, due to dehydration. This will NOT give you an accurate result of how much weigh you have lost or could lose on induction. That weigh-in after induction is VERY important because it will let you know how metabolically resistant you are, as well as how many carbs you'll likely be able to eat and still lose weight.

So here is the question. Do you want to be impatient and hedonistic and risk messing up your good work, or do you want to wait out this week and have some legal drinks in about 2 months when you get to Rung 5 of OWL?

[Justwannaloseafewlbs]

Re: Alcohol

Andy: I don't want to spoil your fun, but I think it is wise to be careful with alcohol while on Atkins, especially if you are in ketosis and in induction. Alcohol stimulates insulin production, which lows blood sugar, which in turn causes cravings. Plus, if you are in ketosis, then likely the only glucose remaining in your body is the small vital amount that your brain absolutely needs. If that glucose becomes unavailable due to the effects of insulin, then you could find yourself in trouble. I know I have seen a research article on my later point, which explains things more clearly than I have done here. When I find it, I'll post a link to it.

[Theperfect10]

Re: Alcohol

Andy, I think it's important to go up the rungs in PROPER order. Be patient. After all, this is a LIFELONG process. If you want to succeed you must do it right. Alcohol isn't going anywhere soon, and I'm sure you'll have more weekends out with friends.

Choose this weekend to be the DD. Don't drink. True, alcohol won't kick you out of ketosis, BUT...

1) It has to be burned off before you can resume fat-burning. Meanwhile, everything you eat during the time you drink is being stored as fat.
2) Alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes people do stupid things like eat off-plan. I've heard countless stories of people who were doing well on plan, only to have a couple drinks and then go on a carb binge for days or weeks.
3) Alcohol will most likely make you retain water, due to dehydration. This will NOT give you an accurate result of how much weigh you have lost or could lose on induction. That weigh-in after induction is VERY important because it will let you know how metabolically resistant you are, as well as how many carbs you'll likely be able to eat and still lose weight.

So here is the question. Do you want to be impatient and hedonistic and risk messing up your good work, or do you want to wait out this week and have some legal drinks in about 2 months when you get to Rung 5 of OWL?

Great post Julie. I can see why your a teacher now! I was thinking about alcohol myself too.... your post really explains why I shouldn't have one yet until I reach the relevant rung on Owl.

[WarOnTypeII]

Re: Alcohol

Good Luck Andy. I hope you are able to decide what's best for you in the long run.

My experience with booze and Atkins is that the booze always won out and I was unable to stick to the Atkins diet once I started drinking. If vodka wasn't available, I'd switch to beer that night ... boom off plan. If somebody gave me shots of something off plan .... boom ..I'm there. I got drunk, happy, or ..... indifferent and "forgot" read .... didn't really give a crap about "Atkins". Of course I'd get back on the plan "tomorrow" or "monday".

But booze always won out. That's my story but I'm a drunk.

[Scooterjam]

Re: Alcohol

When you drink you're 'thought' process for eating this way kind of goes by the wayside. ya know, more tempted to say, what the hey, it's just a snack.

right.

[beebparis]

Re: Alcohol

....and a snack usually turns into a large-sized pizza.

[WarOnTypeII]

Re: Alcohol

Or some nasty jailhouse food called "meat patty with veggies"