ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

[loser4life]

Hello all, I thought maybe I could post here as I am looking for advice....kind of... I have been on induction for 5 days now and drank rum and diet a couple of them........ what is your take on it? I drink a couple at night(about 2 days per week) to slow me down as a few nights a week I have a second job and feel it is the only way I can relax so I can go to bed and get up again at 7 in the morning.... Any advice, thoughts, comments on the matter? I am a stylist and work there 5 days per week at the salon, then I also have a p/t management job 2 days a week working till 11-12 at night.....

[tickletussler]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

Not trying to preach here... but the heading may confuse 14-day Inductioners... alcohol is only really allowed you get to the alcohol rung in OWL.

Is it possible for you to do a clean induction without alcohol for the first 14 days and after that more onto OWL and progress through the rungs?

Alcohol will slow your weightloss down at this stage - that's why it is placed higher up in the OWL rungs. Although alcohol is not "stored" in the body as as such, but it is the first thing the body will try to utilise and burn off... which means all the other carbs & proteins you have eaten could potentially be converted and stored as body fat - especially if it is considered as "excess" calories/energy to your body.

Are there any other ways you can de-stress?
I know for some people drinking a glass or 2 of wine again doesn't really affect their weightloss... but you need to find out how alcohol affects YOU before any of us can really give you more useful advice.

[loser4life]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

well, I haven't slowed so far since drinking rum... I know I should probably just not drink for induction, but it is really hard... I did not intend to confuse anyone... If I did I am sorry;(

[loser4life]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

PS absolutely love your inspiring links!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

[Elizellen]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

well, I haven't slowed so far since drinking rum... I know I should probably just not drink for induction, but it is really hard...

But you have no way of knowing what sort of weightloss you might have had without the rum
There is really no 'probably' about it - on Atkins induction we don't drink alcohol - just like we dont eat potatoes or rice or sugar etc.
By following the rules we are allowing our bodies the best chance of losing the weight we need to in the quickest time - so it is worth doing the best job of induction we can.
Alcohol can be introduced again when you have reached the alcohol rung of OWL so it will not be for ever.

[Moochiecat]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

Alcohol will delay weight loss, and I don't know about you, but I want this weight off of me asap!
You might want to take this time to explore new ways to relax...exercise of some sort would be a wonderful substitute for a drink....like a good long walk, or yoga....
Also, the importance of a 'clean' Induction is that it shows us clearly how fast or slow our metabolism is (page 159 in DANDR) .

[Sarah1341]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

I would try to give it up too. Maybe you could substitute in a glass of decaf tea? I always feel that this is a great for me. I add a packet of splenda, does the trick.

[kellyf]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

I am just restarted induction on Monday and I have not given up alcohol. Not because I can't but because I choose to keep it a part of my social life. I am only 21 and go out with my friends a lot, probably 3 nights a week. Whether I am on a low-fat, low-carb, watching calories diet I do not want to give up alcohol because it is part of my social life. And with this mentality I have been the most successful on Atkins without giving up alcohol. My starting weight on Monday was 165 and I am now at 162 and that is with drinking alcohol (either rum and diet coke or vodka and soda water). I think vodka and soda water is better because it has less sugar alcohols.

[loser4life]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

Thanks for all the info guys. I am not going to drink alcohol for a while......I will try some tea next time. Write more later- its back to work for me!

[not2late]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

http://atkins.com/helpatkins/newfaq/...ingAtkins.html

Why can't I consume alcohol when I am doing Atkins?

You should not drink alcohol during Induction, but you can drink moderate amounts of alcohol during the Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance phases of the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM. When given the choice, your body will burn alcohol for energy before it burns fat. But alcohol does not act as a carbohydrate so it will not interfere with burning fat in the same way that sugars and other carbohydrates do. Alcohol consumption may also increase yeast-related symptoms, such as bloating, gas and cravings for sweets, and can therefore interfere with weight loss. Beer, which contains yeast, probably has the most yeast-forming components of any alcohol. An occasional glass of wine or vodka is the best choice. Scotch and other grain-based spirits are more likely to promote yeast problems.

Note: Use only mixers that contain no sugar or fruit juices. Even tonic water contains carbs and regular soda is made with sugar. Seltzer, club soda, mineral water and diet sodas are better alternatives.

"Moderate" drinking is defined as "1 drink" for a woman and "2 drinks" for a man.

One drink is
5 fluid ounces non-fortified wine (Merlot, Sauvignon, etc.) or
1 .5 fluid ounce 80 proof distilled liquor or
12 fluid ounces beer

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa16.htm

Hope this helps you in making a decision about alcohol use and this WOE and your general health and well-being.

[freakaccident]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

I had an alcoholic friend a few years ago who was following Body For Life. Kinda. He would mix rum in with his protein shakes. He kept losing fat regardless. Must have tasted nasty!

[not2late]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

I had an alcoholic friend a few years ago who was following Body For Life. Kinda. He would mix rum in with his protein shakes. He kept losing fat regardless. Must have tasted nasty!

Not to an alcoholic. They need the alcohol to give them a "high" feeling---doesn't matter to them if that alcohol is in mouthwash or vanilla extract. As long as it's alcohol, it's okay with them. When I worked in the hospital we had a 17 year old alcoholic who would get shakes if she didn't have her fix of booze. Sad thing to see. She was thin too, but mostly it slimness in alcoholics is due to general malnutrition. Her liver wasn't in great shape either....

Anyhow, that brings up a another point....alcohol can give false positive results on the ketostix because one of the chemical by-products of alcohol metabolism is similiar to the ketone the ketostix tests for. So, if you drink and test to see if you're in ketosis, don't be too confident that you "outsmarted" your body and the diet, because you didn't.

[burtonator]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

If you're REALLY using alcohol for sleep its a bad drug. Try melatonin instead. Its a hormone thats generated to trigger that "tired" sensation. Take it about an hour before you go to bed.

It will also help you sleep since its not a depressant and won't hurt REM sleep like alcohol will.

[CathyR]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

I. like you really like to have a little wine in the evening after a long day. I did not drink a single bit during induction, because like others have commented, I wanted to see how well I would do, following everything exactly as laid out. Once I started OWL, I did start adding in my wine, or vodka and diet 7up. But, I only did this once or twice a week. A few weeks back I went on a mini vacation over to our beach house. I had my vodka every evening, even tho I kept it within my carb and calorie limits. I came home and got on the scale and saw that I GAINED 1lb. I was sticking to plan other then adding in alcohol each evening. So, for me its proof that your body does burn the alcohol and not what you have been eating causing you to stall and not lose weight. This is my experience on it, so I thought I would share...

[loser4life]

Re: ALCOHOL--- rum and diet

I don't rely on it for sleeping... I work one full time job and another about 25hrs per week. The 2 nights I work there I get home around 11-12. Then I have to be up at 6 to get ready for the next day... It is usually only on those days just to unwind... After working so many hours it is hard to just come home and go to bed. I find it relaxing to have a glass of wine or rum and diet... either way... BUT, I am going to keep it clean for now... Thx again!