Powerade Zero - is it bad?

[pirate4x4lance]

Hello everyone!

I've been on an extended Induction, I started 3/23. I've managed to lose about 31 pounds. The problem is, I've been stalled for about 2 weeks now, and have gained about 2 pounds in that 2 week period. I run about 2 miles every other day, and try not to over eat. About a week and a half ago, I discovered Powerade Zero. This seemed like something that was way too good to be true, as it seems to be a great substitute for Diet Coke (which I drink quite a bit of). Well I'm beginning to wonder if it's more of a coincedence that I've been stalled out since about the same time I've started drinking Powerade.

Typical days go like this -

Breakfast at the local greasy spoon: Bacon/Swiss/Mushroom/Jalapeno omelette and either water or Diet Coke.
Lunch: Usually something really small such as 2g carb of jerky, or equivalent. Sometimes I'll have a lettuce burger with a slice of cheese and mustard only with a Diet Coke
Dinner: Typically either tri-tip, bbq chicken, or pork tenderloin (I use pappy's dry rub for seasoning) and a salad (blue cheese, imitation bacon bits, a little bit of shredded cheese) and a Diet Coke
Might stop at the local bar for a captain morgan and diet coke on the way home from work.

So this routine has been good for 30lbs. I have recently introduced sugar free Jello and Powerade into the mix for a little more variety. Are they stalling me out, or am I just stuck for a while, and will begin to see results again soon?

Thanks in advance!

[BBSwany]

Welcome aboard! Congrats on your weight loss! I'm sorry to hear that you stalled out. If you think it was the Powerade, I would remove it out of your diet and see if that resolves your stall. Even though it has been working, the Diet Coke could be catching up with you. Aspartame (Sweetener) and Caffeine are known to mess with blood sugar levels in the body. As does the alcohol. Maybe switching it up and removing some or all of those will get rid of your stall.

[pirate4x4lance]

Originally Posted by BBSwany

Welcome aboard! Congrats on your weight loss! I'm sorry to hear that you stalled out. If you think it was the Powerade, I would remove it out of your diet and see if that resolves your stall. Even though it has been working, the Diet Coke could be catching up with you. Aspartame (Sweetener) and Caffeine are known to mess with blood sugar levels in the body. As does the alcohol. Maybe switching it up and removing some or all of those will get rid of your stall.

Yeah, I think you're right. I'm going to cut out all sweetened drinks this week, and see what happens. Unfortunatley I'm headed to Baja, MX this coming Sunday. I have no clue how I'm going to stay on track down there.

[blondegypsy]

Hi there, Check the back lable of the powerade and see if there are carbs or sugar and if there are, look for a brand with no carbs or fewer and a sugar free. The Captain may be a foe in this too!
If you feel you have to have a drink with the boys, try to eat a meal before so atleast some of the alcohol will be absorbed by the food. Its not going to stop the carb, but it might help some.
Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution pg 147: "you might start with 4 units of alcohol per week. A unit is one ounce of Scotch or Whiskey, or four onces of dry wine or champagne."
Looks like the Dr. would recomend a shot of whiskey over a mixer or have wine on date night! He also says "For every ounce of 100-proof spirits count 20 grams." YIKES alot of carb there!
Good luck & hope this helps.

P.S. I worked in a bar once. I would advise you buy the shot in a shot glass and pour it in you diet coke yourself...get a bartendar with a heavy pour looking for a tip...your 20 grams of carbs are screwed!

[Because I love my girls]

Quote: Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution pg 147: "you might start with 4 units of alcohol per week. A unit is one ounce of Scotch or Whiskey, or four onces of dry wine or champagne."
Looks like the Dr. would recomend a shot of whiskey over a mixer or have wine on date night! He also says "For every ounce of 100-proof spirits count 20 grams." YIKES alot of carb there!

I'm confused. Which book are you using? 'Hard' alcohol contains zero carbs. The body burns alcohol for fuel when alcohol is available. So when it is burning alcohol, it will not burn fat. As long as you are consuming seltzer, diet tonic and non aspartame diet soda mixers with your alcohol, you are not consuming any carbs. But your weight loss may be slowed, as alcohol may increase yeast related symptoms in some people.

[blondegypsy]

Hi there, I'm reading from Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, The High Calorie Way To Stay Thin Forever by Robert C. Atkins, M.D. Hard cover edition.

On page 147 Dr. Atkins states "But this is one diet where alcohol acts just like a carbohydrate. It makes your body discharge insulin and stops you from putting out FMH." It continues on and tells about the 20 grms per ounce and he recommends a choice of whiskey, Scotch or dry wine with a limit of 40 grms per week.

Concerning mixers: pg 146 " And don't have drinks that call for mixers, such as Seven-up, or ginger ale or quinine water."
I would guess the sugar there... or the fact I came up with, a heavy handed bartender may splash alittle more in there and your 20 grams would be blown. Hard to track, so pour the shot and pour it into your diet coke and at least you know what your getting!

I enjoy wine and other drinks on occassion. However if Im focused on the weight loss, I ethier skip it, or go for it and start over the next day. It can't be a daily thing. Especially if you conceder a few sticks of chewing gum can throw it all off!

Also being hypoglycemic, I have to watch the sugar intake (alcohol turns to sugar/insulin our system) and as diabetics shouldn't drink, this applies to me aswell. Alcohol turns into sugar/insulin in my system and I have a reaction... same is true for some cough syrups, I need the sugar free/alcohol free.

Hope it helps

[BDawg]

You should consider cutting out most of your alcohol if you want to get out of your stall and keep moving.

Yes, I know it sucks. I've had 3 drinks in almost 2 months. I figure that I can binge when I get to my goal weight and only care about maintaining.

Also, are you exercising? If so, it'll increase your metabolism and make the alcohol impact less.

Does the rub have sugar in it? Most rubs do. Most shredded cheeses have carbs as well. The good ones use something non-digestible like cellulose.

Make sure you're eating enough at lunch to keep your metabolism going. Do you ever get hungry when it's not mealtime? If so, you should be eating more.

[liv]

Blondegypsy - you are using the old version of the book it looks like.
We use 2002 Dr.Atkins New Diet Revolution here. In it there is no alcohol allowed until rung 5 on OWL.

We are only allowed 3 sweeteners on Atkins and that many diet cokes may stall you. Try water - lots of it. It is usually very good thing.

In a addition to the alcohol and sweeteners possibly holding you back, there is also a potential for a lot of hidden sugars in your food.
Do you know if they add any batter to the omelette (They do some places). Is it very sweet bacon. The jerky and the burger could be problematic. And some bbq chicken if store bought will contain sugar.

So you may look to clean up things a bit and see if you can get things going again.

[mkline71]

Kent/Bowulf made a really good video yesterday on sweetners and the Atkins Diet

YouTube - Atkins Diet: Daily Sweetener Limit
Atkins Diet: Daily Sweetener Limit

I do drink a lot of water, but also will buy the 64 oz Crystal Light from time to time and have a cup with dinner. The powdered Crystal Light has Aspartame. The 64 oz bottle is made from Splenda and that is why I chose that. So far I'm doing ok with the occasional cup of the orange flavor.