Planning on drinking alcohol during induction

[mckcomplex]

Re: Planning on drinking alcohol during induction

She wasn't asking for permission to cheat; as a full-grown woman, why would she need it?

She wanted to know the effects of alcohol on the Atkins diet, and we told her. The finger-wagging and nay-saying could have been dispensed with. As we've seen on this thread, some of us have done very well cheating a little here and there, and some of us have done badly. How can she know which type she is if she doesn't find out personally?

And for those who've suggested that if we can't follow the parameters of the diet, we shouldn't be on it--the reason why I'm on this diet is because a couple of shots of bourbon every now and then WILL NOT kill it. Yes, there is a minor setback (and only the drinker can decide how minor), but in general, moderate to light drinking does not set you back very far. Dieting is not about finding a quick solution; we all know that. It's about finding a set of rules that you can live with forever, slightly loosening them every now and then for pleasure's sake.

And as for the poster who said I only had 15 lbs to lose: first of all, I'm only 5'1, which means even a slight weight gain seems like a lot more than on a person even a few inches taller.

Secondly, my roommate is on the diet, and he cheats when I cheat (we're besties) and drinks when I drink. He was originally 260--low-fat dieted his way down to 220 and stalled, and is now down 17 more lbs. on Atkins. Needless to say, he's thrilled, and one thing about having a lot to lose is that it comes off pretty quickly, at least in the beginning!

[Georgiana]

Re: Planning on drinking alcohol during induction

As we've seen on this thread, some of us have done very well cheating a little here and there, and some of us have done badly. How can she know which type she is if she doesn't find out personally?

Most people who do a crappy Induction, with cheats here and there, continue doing that during OWL and end up falling off the Atkins wagon. Not all, but most. Had this not been the case, Dr. Atkins would have allowed us a drink/cheat here and there during Induction. But he didn't. Because he treated enough patients in his career to realize that "cheating a little here and there" is most often the path to failure. Yes, a few people (definitely not the majority!) can cheat once in a while and be fine with it. But it's like saying that some 1-pack-a-day smokers never get cancer --- it doesn't mean one should take up smoking just to see if he/she is the lucky kind. You might say that I am exaggerating 'cause everyone knows smoking is way more dangerous for one's health than having a few drinks in Induction. I'm not exaggerating though. Many ADBB members are obese or (very) overweight, suffering or at high risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, etc. For many ADBB members, their relationship with food is very different from that of someone who is already at a healthy weight. For many ADBB members, Atkins is the ticket that can save and/or improve their life. For most ADBB members, as Dr. Atkins tells us based on his experience, a cheat during Induction is "the kiss of death". So, for many ADBB members, "cheating a little here and there" is dangerous --- it is challenging the statistics and playing with their life.

You are right though. No one can reach through someone else's computer screen and strangle the snot out of him/her for having a few drinks during Induction, nor for cheating in some other way. We are all grown-ups and responsible for making the right dietary choices for ourselves. Just like we are all responsible for the wrong dietary choices that got us fat and in poor health in the first place. Hopefully, after years of damaging our health, we all got wiser and are more committed to doing good to our bodies, to doing what was shown to be safer, rather than dangerously experimenting on our health. Because, sadly, a lot of us do not have many Atkins tickets to waste.

[Georgiana]

Re: Planning on drinking alcohol during induction

Adding to what I said above...

For all members who did not read or do not remember ADBB's Mission Statement, here is the link to it:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/3468-adbb-terms-service-mission-statement.html#post66915

Among other things, it says:

Our underlying values are founded on the Atkins approach to weight loss from the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002 DANDR), which we believe to be the safest and most nutritionally efficient method in existence.

So if you post saying that you plan to cheat, do not expect us to tell you, "go ahead, do it. Try it and see how it works for you.", because it ain't gonna happen. This is not how Dr. Atkins told us to follow the diet, thus is not what we advise at ADBB. Therefore, if you plan a cheat and want to know other members' experiences with cheating, you will definitely also get replies telling you that cheating is an awful idea, even if that is not what you want to hear. We go by the book at ADBB, and this is something you are forewarned about right after you register.