Alcohol and OWL

[AtoZgirl]

So I'm about to start the Atkins diet. I'm having a real tough time though with the whole alcohol thing. I like alcohol, no I don't need it to survive and yes I want (and need) to lose weight, but it's a part of what I do. I like to drink (and no I don't have a problem lol).

I can do the 2 week induction, could even do it longer if I had to. But from what I see, from a 2 week induction to rung #5 in OWL, will take around 8 to 10 weeks (skipping owl # 3 since I'm allergic to peanuts). Two months, I can handle. It will be hard. But the hardest part is knowing that everywhere I look people are saying how alcohol has slowed them down and slowed down their weight loss progress. I know it slows down weight loss because you do not burn fat while your body has alcohol to burn. But seriously, 8 weeks without alcohol and I'll be drunk off of a glass or two of whiet wine.

Seriously, though. What is your real take on the alcohol rung? Can it be done? Please help me out here!!!! I'm begging you. I know I'll only know for sure how it will effect me until I get to that point but I get anxious just thinking that it won't work on me. I just don't get how a glass of white wine with .02 grams of carbs can just stop your weight loss???? Boggles my mind

[Skeptika23]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

If you drink before you get to that rung, you're cheating.

That being said...

I have had a drink or two before I got to that rung.

I found it's not worth it to delay my weight loss, but if you simply must, minimize the damage by having a no-carb liquor (like vodka) mixed with a no-sugar mixer (like water or diet seltzer or diet soda), and you can add in some lime or lemon juice, and voila. Don't forget to count the carbs from the mixer if it has any.

I dunno why you're worried about being a cheap drunk! I look at the cost savings!

[liv]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I stopped drinking for 9 months once. It just depends how important the other thing is for you.
BTW the nuts rung is not just about peanuts. Many seeds that you may want to try too.

[Chef Kevin]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I stopped drinking years ago. I had a beer a few years ago in Vegas.
So, I guess 4years. I don't even miss it. Doesn't even appeal to me anymore and I was a hardcore party animal back in college.

[quotidianlight]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

Being drunk off a glass of wine is a good thing! Less carbs, more money more fun lol. Do the rungs like your are supposed to and really follow the plan. When you get to the alcohol rung you will appreciate it even more and find you can be happy with less of a better drink than lots of lesser quality. Alcohol does not stall me. It does reduce my loss for the week by about a half pound if I drink wine or a few sips of beer (I know bad bad) if I drink a glass of vodka or scotch I don't see any change except for a craving for carbs and coffee the next day. Don't worry about it now. Just do the plan and once it's out of your system and this is a new way of life you will have to figure out how to make alcohol fit that way of life. I will never be able to drink like other people but a glass here or there is fine for me not that I am AT THAT RUNG.

BTW: the nut rung includes all nuts and seeds. If you EVER plan to eat sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, walnuts, nut butters, flax seeds anything at all, don't skip that rung. Trust me *grumbles about starting rungs over*

[leebre]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I enjoy drinking too. I only made it about a month and a half without any alcohol. And those were my biggest weight loss months. My first drink was a birthday gathering, as was the second. I’ve gone from a daily drinker to now a maybe every week to 10 days I’ll have a drink. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to daily and have been playing with the idea of going dry in ’09. But I’m down 50 pounds, right on top of my goal, and feeling that although I’m really still on the extended induction after 4 months, I feel I have some room to splurge now and again. I know that’s dangerous thinking. Now, that all having been said, for the record typically I find that I’ll gain a pound the next day for every ounce of alcohol or 3.5 oz. of wine that I drink. Yep, if I have 2 drinks, I’ll be up 2 the next day. There is no rhyme or reason to it, because obviously an ounce does not equal a pound. But there is the water retention issue, the first burn issue, and I find that I will often eat more in volume and with less consideration of strict carb counting after even 1 drink. I exercise daily - sometimes twice a day, so I usually shed the pound after a day or so and regret the gain as it’s a backward move away from my goal. You’ll start to regret those backslides too.

Like I said, I enjoy a drink now and again. But I also enjoy chocolate, sour dough bread and baked potatoes. Who doesn't or didn't at sometime? But I don’t enjoy them as much as being down to a reasonable weight and the satisfaction that brings. Life is full of choices, some harder than the others. If you really want to lose the weight, you have to make the hard decision to give up drinking for now and a whole lot of other stuff. And then you'll never be able to go back to being a daily. That I can say with reasonable certainty. This plan has a very mental aspect to it. You have to stay alert to stay on Adkins. No one can do it for you. Good luck, hope you make the right decision for you; and have a happy Thanksgiving.

[sadie147]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I have always found that if i do cardio (ie a 30 min run) they day after it helps offset the weight loss delay by a bit.

that said, it's can be tough to force yourself to run the next day depending on how you feel..but imo it's worth it.

[adkins]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I went from Budweiser to Stag Beer, Stag has no known sugar in it(through it's brewing process) and a lot of Doctors recommend it for people with diabetes I know around here in the St. Louis area.
I started the Atkins Diet again in July of this year and to date I have lost over 75 lbs. and I drink, well you know..... Be Safe.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I started with your same reservations. I never thought I'd be able to get past induction without my glass (or glasses!) of wine in the evenings.
Amazingly, the losses I had were motivation enough to keep me on track with regard to alcohol and I didn't drink for several months. This could well happen to you... I'm willing to bet you'll surprise yourself. Just take baby steps.

Alcohol is still, and always will be my problem area... not in an addictive sense but in a weight loss sense. It's the first thing to get the chop (sadly) if I see the lbs creeping back, but it can be done.

And you can do it, I know!!

[Zarabelle]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I started with your same reservations. I never thought I'd be able to get past induction without my glass (or glasses!) of wine in the evenings.
Amazingly, the losses I had were motivation enough to keep me on track with regard to alcohol and I didn't drink for several months. This could well happen to you... I'm willing to bet you'll surprise yourself. Just take baby steps.

Alcohol is still, and always will be my problem area... not in an addictive sense but in a weight loss sense. It's the first thing to get the chop (sadly) if I see the lbs creeping back, but it can be done.

And you can do it, I know!!

I was going to write almost the same as sallyseachange! I also like drinking but have realised that I like weightloss more and I lose very slowly if I am drinking alcohol and reasonably well if I'm not. Having said that, I still drink 1-2 nights a week (and have only just cut down to that following Christmas and getting used to a couple of glasses of wine with dinner - I am on rung 5).

I did have the occassional drink after induction (before rung 5) and it was OK. It will slow you down though - that's for sure.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Zx

[ashleykonline]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

I had a big problem with the alcohol rules on the diet as well. I did not drink at all on induction but after that I did allow myself to consume alcohol. For me it was worth a stall to be able to include it. I am continuing to still lose weight.

I think it is very important to pay close attention to what you are drinking. When I order drinks out, I stick to white wine or occasionally a light beer. If you must have a mixed drink, there is a cranberry juice made that is sweetened with splenda and low carb. I will mix vodka with a splash of that and lemon juice. Its yummy. On the days that I do drink, I also restrict my diet more like only veggies, meats, and cheeses.

Also, be careful about drinking to much. It seems like when I overindulge I am way sicker the next day on atkins then before.

[ariesdragon]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

Btw - a glass of red or white wine is actually 5.5g carbs - quite significant. A few of these will definitely throw you off course. Having said that, some people's tolerance as with all things carby, will be different to others. I had 3 glasses one night during induction and I only gained 1/2 pound the next day.

E

[ceemarie]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

Your health is the most important thing in your life right now. You will find a place in your life for booze. I love wine and enjoy a glass from time to time. Everyone's body is different and will react to drinking differently. You will have to experience.

[ShannonK]

Re: Alcohol and OWL

This is definitely my biggest weakness also. I did Atkins years and reached my goal weight by still drinking red wine. However, I never really learned what my CCLL was because I didn't follow the rungs correctly. This time, I am not drinking wine until I reach that rung.

Having said that, I have had two occasions so far where I was crazy tempted. I opted for a splash of vodka and a fresca. It felt like a compromise. Hard to say if it had an effect on my. I am day ten of induction (again!) and I have lost four pounds. I wish it was more.