Hey there all - am on my 2nd day of Atkins. Unfortunately this weekend I have a group of friends in town, and there is no doubt that I will not have the discipline to limit my alcohol intake to only 2-3 light beers. If I was to drink 10 drinks in a sitting, what would you recommend? There is no doubt this will be a setback, but the less damage the better. How about whiskey and diet coke?

Thanks -

Seany Boy

I think if you have to drink ten drinks in a night, you've got bigger problems than how to stay on your diet.

Not to be harsh but Atkins/Low Carb is a lifestyle. If you're only on day two and you're already planning a binge, this is not the plan for you.

180pg/170/147/140

I would encourage you to avoid drinking any alcohol during induction. But if you do choose to do so I'm going to assume that you don't make a habit of drinking so heavily and offer a few suggestions on planning NOT to binge:

Bear in mind that one problem with drinking, regardless of the number of drinks, regardless of the carb count, is that your inhibitions might be lowered to the point that you choose to eat high carb foods --in which case you will have to start all over again training your body not to crave carbs. Plan ahead for snacks you can eat ... bars, by the way, will likely not have anything appropriate for you to snack on.

Allow me to speak from very recent personal experience when I also assure you that you do NOT want to experience anything even remotely resembling a hangover when you are low-carbing. I have discovered that hangovers linger longer for those of us who are low-carbing, and one's tolerance for alcohol is lowered. Of course I knew better ... but at least I have learned my lesson.

Plan to alternate between a suitable mixed drink, or a low carb beer like Michelob Ultra, and one --or even two--glasses of water. That's really important anyway, since alcohol tends to dehydrate us. Yes, you'll spend extra time in the restroom. Whatever you drink, sip it slowly and savor it. See how long you can make it last. You might find that you really don't need ten drinks to keep up with your friends after all.

If you are going out to a bar, offer to be the designated driver, which is certainly a legitimate thing for the host to do. You could also explain to your friends that you've just started Atkins and you can't drink for two weeks. You might be surprised to discover that some of them are on some kind of low-carb eating plan too, and that they want to curtail their drinking also ...

2BSlim

262 [11.5.03]/250/170 5'8"
"How do you know I'm not one of them?"

What they alredy said.

Also, please be very aware that any alcohol will hit your system much harder when you're low carbing. Your tolerance level will be much much lower than before. If you are going to drink when you're low carbing DO NOT DRIVE, even if you've only had 1 drink. It's not uncommon for even 1 beer to give a low carber a very high blood alcohol reading.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Healsea,

Atkins says not to have any alcohol during induction.
I, however have a drink or two just about every evening, and did not completely give up alcohol during induction. And I certainly had WAY more than that on New Year's Eve, while still eating on plan.

On Atkins, I've switched to vodka with either diet soda, diet tonic water, or diet Koolaid (white trash cocktail). I choose not to use any of my carbs on the low carb beers-not a big beer drinking. Might choose a glass of wine here or there, which is pretty low carb, too.

In general, your body will burn off any alcohol you ingest before going back to fat-burning mode.

I also agree with the lowered inhibitions part-make sure you have something legal to snack on while you're drinking-celery with cream cheese, unbreaded hot wings, pork rinds.

This IS a way of life, not just a diet. You have to find a way of modifying low carb to keep you losing weight and feeling great, but also keep you eating this way the rest of your life. The key is finding what you can eat and drink and will be happy with in the long run.


Rachel in Texas

Valentine's: 220/216/210
Overall: 225/216/135

Please be really careful. The first few rounds of drinking after starting to low carb can be...a very special experience. Consider yourself a cheap date and go very slow (maybe doubling the diet coke or halving the liquor for each drink).

The worst part is when you've already been sick until there's nothing to be sick on anymore, and yet you're still getting drunker from the alcohol you're burning off. It's really just so many kinds of not fun.

Take what Brightlady has to say to heart. Alcohol will hit you harder. But if this is something you know you will do regardless, then Stick with hard liquor for the lack of carbs or wine because of the lowered alcohol content.
Michelob ultra has 2.6 carbs per 12 ounces but miller lite at 3.2 has less impact on my sobriety. as does white wine over red. Just some stuff from my experience. If you do this more than one day out of this weekend I'd start induction all over again on monday.

Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

Ditto on the above--if there is ANY way to avoid the alcohol during induction, that's best, BUT...if you really want to drink take the water advice above and GO SLOW! The first time I had wine was two months after starting this WOL and I couldn't even drink two glasses, seriously--I used to be able to drink much more before LC. SOOOOO, take it easy and eat something before drinking, too (very important). Also, as stated above, your body will burn the alcohol before it goes back to burning fat, so that's something to think about!

"Normal is in the eye of the beholder."
Atkins since 8/27/03
240/207(140-160)

Excellent advice...you folks are all right!

thanks

Ummmm........ i regret not looking into this prior to my little golf weekend in Palm Springs with "the boys". I hadn't gotten "sick" from drinking for quite some time. I really missed the pleasant taste and bitterness of bile.......NOT.