Sister's wedding in Ireland

[AlphaAtkins]

Hi,

I am a relatively new Atkins dieter- I've been on it a month this coming Wednesday, and have lost almost 10 pounds (I'd like to lose about 15 more).

Anyway, This Sunday night I leave for a week-long trip to Ireland for my sister's wedding, and while it promises to be a dream vacation with lots of fun, I am scared of losing all that I've accomplished! I am going to bring a supply of Atkins bars with me and be as good as possible- I don't care if I have to drink water and eat Atkins bars the entire week, but I'm afraid of things like the rehearsal dinner and wedding cake! :yikes

Any tips, advice, warnings, encouragement, would be appreciated. Thanks!

[k5commando]

Food is food no matter where in the world you are, the same rules still apply. Just stick to your acceptable foods list and you'll be fine. One piece of wedding cake on one day isn't going to hurt anything. I've been in the same type situations lots of times and always find foods I can eat anywhere I travel or any resteraunt I eat at. Don't forget the Atkins bars can stall you or even worse make you gain. Going overboard for a week isn't worth undoing what you've worked hard for.

I go. I'm jealous your going to Ireland, if it were me going I'd eat corned beef and cabbage EVERY DAY!!!! I'd bloat 10 lbs from the salt but mmmmmmm that's good stuff! Have a good and safe trip.

[AlphaAtkins]

Thanks k5commando- I had read that about Atkins bars in other posts, but I thought I'd bring them sort of like a safety blanket- a "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know" theory. You're right too, Ireland isn't Mars, and I'm hoping to be able to find a couple of standby meals/snacks at local places that I can feel safe with. Salads are usually good, chicken, that sort of thing. Thanks again!

[eireanngobrach]

Where in IRL Alpha? Don't worry, us irishfolk eat the same stuff you do. Any restaurant will have excellent FISH and a lot of fresh vegetables. Just watch out for seemigly plain things ( solo atlantic bass) being rubbed in....SUGAR!!! Definitely make sure to ask. Load up on an irish breakfast ( minus the mash) and you won;t be so hungry you cave

[Iapetus999]

Are you on OWL/Maintenance?
Guinness is one of the lower-carb beers...only 30 carbs/pint.
(note that a pint in Ireland might be bigger than the states)

Not for Induction tho :nono

I'd love to go there some day. ensive

[eireanngobrach]

ohh alcohol.. that's another thing! Unless you get American Brand ( well not necessarily American, but stuff like SMirnoff, Absolut) vodka, make sure it isn't derived from starch ( insert irish potatoe joke here...go ahead....)

Last time I was in both Dublin + Shannon, Michelob Ultra was imported. A standard irish pint has 3.7g carbs as opposed to our 2.6/bottle

[AlphaAtkins]

eireanngobrach- Hi! :wave If you're from Shannon, you'll know just where we're going- Ennis, in Clare- we fly into Shannon! We're having pictures taken at the Cliffs of Moher, and all week beforehand we're going to do day trips, take TONS of pictures, and take in as much of the country as we can without letting my father get behind the wheel of a car (safer for everybody with the reverse driving rules!) I've seen pictures, and it's just beautiful- can't wait. I think I'll try to stick to veggies as much as possible. Fish in sugar? Thanks for the tip!

Iapetus999- I have been doing extended Induction, even tho I'm entering week 5, b/c I figured if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Induction seemed fairly easy to stay on, and worked for me consistently, so why not?

Alcohol's tricky... isn't white wine relatively low carb? :capital

[Iapetus999]

Iapetus999- I have been doing extended Induction, even tho I'm entering week 5, b/c I figured if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Induction seemed fairly easy to stay on, and worked for me consistently, so why not?

Alcohol's tricky... isn't white wine relatively low carb? :capital

Nope...hard booze is lo-carb.
Beer/wine not so much.

[FightingTheFight]

One piece of wedding cake on one day isn't going to hurt anything.

Then..

Don't forget the Atkins bars can stall you or even worse make you gain

urplequ:

[sadie147]

When I attended a wedding last summer and was in induction, i did bring atkins bar so i could avoid the cake (just to make me feel like i wasn't missing out on anything sweet.)

I know this wont be a popular statement but I think you are right to bring some bars along with you ..however I'd say DON"T over eat them, or eat more than one in any day, and i'd even try to not eat them two days in a row. . They can cause some pretty serious gas and stomach issues, and i don't think you want to be suffering from that at your sisters wedding. :yikes You may want to also try to bring a few of the atkins shakes instead? they aren't made with sugar alcohols, and actually I think maybe the granola-type bars aren't either, they may be a better choice as well but check the ingredients list.

It's up to you whether you want to have the cake or not, I'd saytry to avoid it, but if you do, make it a VERY small piece, or just a bite or two of the piece your given.

I've been to N. Ireland twice and it's an absolutely beautiful country! You won't believe that fields can be that green. You'll have a fabulous time!

[cesara]

You will do fine!

I'm jealous, too! Have a blast and make SURE you post some pics on your return...at least I can live vicariously through you until I get to go there myself! :geek

[tattooed_piggy]

eireanngobrach- Hi! :wave If you're from Shannon, you'll know just where we're going- Ennis, in Clare- we fly into Shannon! We're having pictures taken at the Cliffs of Moher, and all week beforehand we're going to do day trips, take TONS of pictures, and take in as much of the country as we can without letting my father get behind the wheel of a car (safer for everybody with the reverse driving rules!) I've seen pictures, and it's just beautiful- can't wait. I think I'll try to stick to veggies as much as possible. Fish in sugar? Thanks for the tip!

i went to county clare almost 2 months ago. it was absolutely breath-taking. speaking of weddings, my fiance proposed to me on the cliffs of moher...and we're going back for our honeymoon next year! if you have time, try to do the dungaire medieaval banquet and visit bunratty castle. it was very, very hard for me to stick with the diet there. all those delicious scones! hehe. oh, and near the cliffs is a village called doolin. it's positively precious! we got some of the best food there...and a few cute places to shop. our photo album is http://eurovacay.myphotoalbum.com if you want to check it out. i'm jealous! i want to go back to ireland NOW! hehe.

[AlphaAtkins]

So it looks like I'll be hitting rum-and-diet cokes at the wedding? That's not so bad a fate!

I think I'll bring an emergency box of Atkins bars, but only go them as a last resort, if there's nothing else. It sounds like there are options, and as long as long I don't knowingly indulge, I am willing to pick up a few accidental carbs here and there. I know what to look out for, and what not to eat. I'm going to print out my acceptable foods list and reread that chapter in the book. tattooed_piggy- I LOVE scones! Must...resist... Your pictures are beautiful, and are making it very hard for me to get any work done!

I'll post when I come back (Jul 12) to let people know how I did on the trip. Another attempt to be held accountable- don't want to have to report bad news

Thanks for your advice and encouragement, everybody!