Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

[gonnabskinny]

Well after clicking right along on OWL losing a minimum of two pounds per week, each and every week, my weight loss dramatically slowed this past week to less than a pound. So, was it going up the rung and having a glass of wine a few times, just the additional carbs, or the increase in the calories (about 100 per day average increase) that had the effect? The wine did not seem to effect my hunger. I am also wondering if that one mistake on Saturday could also be the culprit. I grabbed what I thought was a caffeine free DIET Coke, only to find out that while it was caffeine free, it was not DIET. I got about 1/3rd of it down before I realized that the cans look the same, except for the word DIET. 30 minutes later I was starving. Just proof of what sugar can do!!! That was an interesting experiment. One that I hope not to repeat.

This week, I think I am going to keep the carbs the same (except for the real coke, lol), cut back on the wine and see what happens. What do you think? Is that the right strategy, or should I continue on again this week and see if I get the same results?

[Alexa]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Hi Don,

I would say that that is a good strategy - you need to find the culprit by elimination and do it one thing at a time - as you say.

Remember though it could just be the effects of the coke. OR it could just be random, sometimes it just goes like that, especially nearer goal - though with 59lbs to go I don't think it would be the slowdown effect yet.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Wine is what did it for me. I didn't add in wine regularly (just tried a glass or two on the alcohol rung) until pre-maintenance/maintenance. But as soon as I started having a glass of wine in the evenings regularly I stopped losing. Didn't gain, but it was like... instant CCLM!

Could be a combination of things though. You're wise to experiment. That's what OWL is all about, and we really are all different in our reactions to foods.

Let us know what transpires.

[sadie147]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Wine makes me retain water, it's the only liquor that i seem to have that problem with. Even makes my feet/ankles swell. So it could be water retention, so as Sally mentioned, you may be best to leave it until premaintenance/maint.


And if it makes you feel better, i did the exact same thing with what i thought was 'diet' coke. A friend had used our cottage, and the next time we went up i put my hand in the diet coke case, and pulled out what i thought was a diet coke. After finishing it, and looking at the can on the table realized it was regular. Our friend had drank some of the pop in the case when he was up..felt bad so replaced it. LOL with regular! not his fault..definately mine for not paying attn!

[gonnabskinny]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Jen, thanks! I definately will be watching it this week to see what happens. I am keeping calories and carbs the same, but cutting out the wine. Also, no other alcohol. Wine is really the only alcoholic drink enjoy anyways. We will see what happens.

Also, on the Coke vs. Diet Coke thing. I think it was actually a good thing that it happened. It just reinforced how sugar effects me! Even as little as I had. It couldn't have been more that 13 grams of sugar, but boy did I start to get hunger pangs! So when I lived under a constant state of sugar addiction, it was steady fueling of my appetite!

[higgies]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Alcohol in general seems to make me stop losing any weight. I don't gain, I don't lose, I just sit still. Which is fine with me for now...

[Condor]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

This is interesting. I find that if I drink wine it does make me retain water for quite a few days but if I drink vodka and say diet coke it doesn't. I must say that in the past drinking never stopped weight loss for me, just that is came in a kind of protracted cycle of nothing then wooshes - probably because of the water retention.
I am absolutely paranoid about a waiter bringing me a cocktail with regular coke instead of diet. I like them to bring me the vodka with the ice with a can of diet coke on the side. However bars nowadays don't use cans but instead use the button tap thingys which I also hate. For me if I accidentally had a sugar loaded soda I'd probably go into a coma (slight overexaggeration) but I am guessing that's what probably caused you the difficulties.

[higgies]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Yeah, I see the same thing...I won't lose, but just sit still and then if I don't drink alcohol for a day or two (uh, is that a bad sign?) then I'll drop a couple the next day. Definitely water retention and isn't alcohol a diuretic? So you're body dehydrates, which does make it hold onto water more, contrary to the way you'd think it works...

[Condor]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

You know it's like Dr A said in the book. Alcohol in itself doesn't make you put on weight it just slows the process up because the body burns that first. Now some would argue the opposite but usually they are not coming from the same place as us low carbers and imbibing in sugar loaded liquers and adding sugar loaded sodas to the mix.
His book still blows me away, I keep reading it and I think I know it all but I still keep learning, he basically thought and studied everything to do with this WOL I find even after long term maintenance the itty bitty details are so useful - this was one sensible guy!

[gonnabskinny]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Well the results are in. After another full week at 45 net carbs and on rung 5, I didn't completely eliminate wine, but I did cut it back to just about 3 glasses for the entire week, I am back on track. After losing under a pound the prior week, I lost over 3 pounds this week and made my goal of being down 100 pounds by Independence Day, with a couple of days to spare. When I restarted on August 14th last year weighing 356 lbs, my goal was to lose 100 lbs in one year, then I upped my goal to do it by July 4th. Well officially this morning the scale read, 256.0 lbs on the nose! Yippee!!! Afterwards, I even got some aerobic exercise in, dancing all over the bathroom!!! LOL

Thank you all for your support! Ya'll are a great bunch of losers!

[*Emma*]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

Fab news Don! congrats!

[mitzimarie]

Re: Is it the wine, the carbs, or the calories?

All right, Don!!!

Keep the updates coming, because you quite an inspiration.