atkins and college

[notcool]

Hey guys,

I have finally been validated and now am able to post! I did some searching for my questions but have been a little bit confused on some topics.

Let me start off in saying that I just turned 21, am in college and weigh 240. Weight was never a big deal with me and still isnt. high school i was 200 and needed it for football and once i got to college it just stayed on and kept on coming.

One year out of college i was @ 225 or 230 and my mom suggested atkins. I did it for a summer and lost 25 or 30 pounds, fairly easily.

Now I am 21 and @ 240 pounds and wanna lose it again. I guess my real concern is with being of age to drink and my current lifestyle. I know if i want the diet to work then i must follow it. I am not a stranger to this, i drank occasionally during the last time i did the diet and still lost my wieght. my concern is why i gained it back...

My induction period i can easily stay away from drinking. after that I should be fine in limiting myself, i rarely go out to parties etc, mostly bars and stuff.. but i wouldnt miss much.

Soon i am goin on spring break where it will be difficult to follow atkins strictly, but i dont think it should have too much effect..

any suggestions?

thanks
dan

[ciaobella]

Re: atkins and college

hey dan
i know that for me drinking absolutly killed me....i went from drinking whiskey and diet coke (it's a girl drink i know) and such on the weekends then slowly i started drinking margarita's and then long islands (the sugars and carbs are going up and up) and then finally all beer all the time and the results were not pretty.....plus drinking all the time means that you burn the alcohol first and not fat...

i compeletly understand tho not wanting to give up drinking and that culture entirely. I guess it depends on what you are doing? If you are going to frat parties all the time i can't really help you besides beer jungle juice is really bad as well....my suggestion for that is if you have to go and you have to be drinking take along some vodka and drink that...or just going for the fun of going and hanging out and don't drink....if you are more of a bar person i have learned that bars even more fun if you aren't on your *** drunk, thus i only have one drink while i am there and go now for the social experience not to get completely wasted....so if you go to bar just like if you go to a resturant choose a drink that goes along with your woe...don't get a beer, get gin and seltzer or vodka and diet coke or something....and don't binge! besides being bad for your over all health it will really tack on lbs and stop weight loss (take it from a former champ) as well as really destroying your wallet.

it sounds really corny but when i cut down on drinking i really had a better time when i went out to bars and clubs and such. I still go out every weekend and to the same places i used to go to but now i can get up in the mornings and go to the gym and enjoy the day instead of laying in bed wanting to die...i hope that helps

[justkidding]

Re: atkins and college

I totally feel for you, man. All my friends are either theatre tech or performance majors and when we get out of rehearsal all they want to do is drink and unwind. I've gotten away with drinking soco and diet coke or rum and diet coke and it hasn't effected my weightloss at all. I definately agree with ciaobella, if you're going to drink just get something low carb and don't over-do it. You'll be fine.

[fawn]

Re: atkins and college

This is definitely a matter of choice for you. I'm not sure what you're asking....advice on how to drink and stick to the woe? Are you asking why you gained weight back? Stopping any plan and reverting back to old habits will make you gain. Eating and drinking non nutrient dense foods makes you gain weight and prevents the body from working correctly. I can't give you advice on how to drink and continue to lose because alcohol is a toxin and I don't promote it. What I will say for a gentleman of your age as I do with my own kids 24,22 and 18, if you are "good" "healthy" "legal" 98% of the time then you're ahead of the game at your age.

[notcool]

Re: atkins and college

Thanks for your responses.

Today was my first day back at atkins, and it was fun.. haha. seriously though I made my own food for once and enjoyed it.

Drinking wont be a big problem, but I will definatly have some when i go to miami for break. I think I will just be strict till then and then enjoy myself on the trip.. but stay away from bad stuff.

I think i gained the weight back because i went from strict lo carb back to a college lifestyle. i am determined to change my ways and my lifestyle though.

on a side note, i need something to make for lunch. I am thinking about a salad with some grilled chicken and light dressing. I am gonna go search now, but if you guys have website with recipes etc, that would be great.

dan

[higgies]

Re: atkins and college

Hey Dan! Welcome to ADBB.

Your story sounds a lot like mine, except I always had a weight problem until I got to high school and started playing football. Then I was able to trim down some (down to 210 from 265 as a freshmen).

Anyway...the thing about the weight coming back is simple. This isn't a "diet" as much as it is a way of life. If you want to use Atkins, lose some weight and then go back to eating the way you used to, then you'll likely gain it all back (and then some maybe). I started this WOL without thinking much about it, but it was the best thing I ever did for myself.

After a year of being at goal, I've realized that I MUST maintain this WOL. If I go off plan for a weekend, I gain like 5-10lbs. I know it's mostly water, but it's frightening. So learn the plan, follow the plan, live the plan and you'll likely have great success. There are so many examples here to ignore that it does work and works well.

Now...I'll probably get in trouble for this, but I never stopped drinking during the plan. I switched my drinks though. No more beer (except the occassional Mich Ultra). I now drink Vodka and club soda with a lemon or lime. I found that this didn't impact me much. Typically I exercised after a night of drinking (cardio) to burn the alcohol as your body uses that first for energy and halts your fat burning. I don't think it's so much the drinking (in moderation) that is the real danger here. I think it's the choices you make regarding food after you've had a few. So if you can maintain your dedication to this WOL after a few, then I say don't rob yourself of the college lifestyle and experience if drinking is part of your social interaction...I know it was part of mine!

Anyway...good luck and I'll wrap up this epic post!!

[sunflowergrl]

Re: atkins and college

I was wondering about the 'Ultra' beer and the low carb flavored rum?? I am not a big drinker, but was curious. I drand Mich Ultra before I started this WOL, but could live without it easily. I do understand it would be harder if I was 21 instead of 31!! Good luck everyone!!!

[notcool]

Re: atkins and college

After a year of being at goal, I've realized that I MUST maintain this WOL. If I go off plan for a weekend, I gain like 5-10lbs. I know it's mostly water, but it's frightening. So learn the plan, follow the plan, live the plan and you'll likely have great success. There are so many examples here to ignore that it does work and works well.

Congrats on the success.. I understand that it is a way of life, and at this point i really dont have a problem with that.

Can someone recommend a book for me too get, or a site that has all the things we are able to eat and the carb count associated with them?

thanks
dan

[Elizellen]

Re: atkins and college

Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution published 2002 (DANDR 2002) is the manual we are working from on this board.
till you get that, take a look at the sticky threads at the top of each forum you visit as well as the main 'FAQ' forum here.
There should be enough info there to get started but you do need to read the book as well to get all the scientific stuff which will help you understand the reasons behind the rules!

[kelly94942]

Re: atkins and college

Yup, I'm 23 so I've been out of college for a year or so, but I am still young enough that I like to go out to bars, clubs, etc. I tend to drink Diet Coke and rum, tequila shots, or a glass of wine. The *only* time I allow myself any soda at all is when it has alcohol in it -- haha. I have still been losing, although I typically drink about once a week. I can't say it hasn't affected my weight loss at all, but I like being able to enjoy drinking with my friends, in moderation. Moderation has definitely been key! Also, this weekend I had a party at my house and I have sugar free lime jello shots with tequila in them, so they're kind of like a mini margarita -- YUM!!!!

I also read somewhere in this thread someone was going to have a salad with light dressing -- make sure you're reading the carb counts, full fat dressing is better than light dressing because it doesn't have the added sugar!

[teejay]

Re: atkins and college

Well Dan you could always make yourself the designated driver.
As for recipes there is a link at the top of the board that says cook book. Go there

Also if you are near a book store or a K-mart you can find Dr.Atkins New Diet Revolution. But also check the second hand stores. I have 4 copies now by looking there. I am sending them to some of my family who has shown interest. Hopefully it will help them.

But seriously consider the designated driver thing, and don't forget to take a camera, trust me.

TJ