Can we talk about al..al..alcohol???

[pinkfusion]

even if i wanted to i dont think i would drink on induction. i think a clean induction is really important

[chadcs]

I would think if you absolutely had to have something (ie one single serving) to drink and nothing is going to stop you, you would have to avoid anything but the lowest carb beer or straight spirit. Regular beer and many mixed drinks are loaded with carbs/added sugar. An item that "pauses" ketosis for me is different than an item that puts back the sugar/carbs you worked so hard to remove.

I am curious how long it takes your body to actually burn off the alcohol in say one serving of alcohol. I am seeing a few references to about 3 hours, but I think most references are to the amount of alcohol in the blood.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by chadcs

I am curious how long it takes your body to actually burn off the alcohol in say one serving of alcohol. I am seeing a few references to about 3 hours, but I think most references are to the amount of alcohol in the blood.

Depends on how healthy your liver is. If you have any type of liver damage (which chronic alcohol consumption causes), your liver won't get rid of the alcohol as fast as someone with a healthy liver.

[Georgiana]

I think Edwin was very clear when he said he is going to wait until OWL Rung 5 to try alcohol. I don't understand how this thread went from a simple question that had a simple answer (thanks, Julie) and an OP committed to stick to the correct way to do Atkins, into a thread where members are sharing their excuses and means to cheat with alcohol on Induction. If someone cannot stay away from the bottle for two weeks, then that person either needs to reevaluate their commitment to Atkins or their drinking problem.

And it's not only about weight loss, "oh, I won't lose weight for two days, I don't mind". Losing weight is not the only principle behind Atkins, or otherwise Slim Fast would have been just as good. Dr. Atkins listed the four principles on which Atkins is built several times throughout the book:

• weight loss (everybody knows this one)
• weight maintenance
• good health
• disease prevention

To achieve the last three, one needs to learn to choose nutritious foods. This takes time and practice, and it starts in Induction. Alcohol is not nutritious. And it's not me saying that, but Dr. Atkins himself. In Atkins for Life, the last book Dr. Atkins wrote, he took out alcohol from the Carbohydrate Ladder, because he realized some Atkineers will choose alcohol above healthy, nutritious foods like veggies, nuts, berries, beans, etc. He said alcohol is okay occasionally. By "occasionally", I'm sure he didn't mean three times a week --- otherwise he would have done no change to the Carb Ladder. And I'm sure he meant something like drinking a glass of wine, not a lot of vodka.

I've been on the Board long enough to see members who were doing amazingly well go off Atkins for months/years because of one sip. Members who believed they are strong enough to have a drink and get back on Induction.

On the other hand, I've also been on the Board long enough to know that, if someone plans to drink alcohol during Induction, he/she will, regardless of our advice. But if you plan to cheat, don't try to fool anyone that is okay to do it. It isn't.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

once you're on rung 5 - you reallllllllly appreciate a good low-carb beer that much more!

vodka & rum are good - but I love my mich ultras!!

but seriously though - i can not tell you how much I was looking forward to rung 5!

BUT I waited...I did not allow myself any alcohol until I had lost at least 20 pounds...I think it was honestly May or June when I got up to rung 5 - that was 5 whole months without alcohol! which was really hard because my husband is a beer drinker - and it was very hard to go out with our friends and not drink...but I did it - and again it was SO worth it when I finally introduced it back in. :P

[eissakha]

Georgiana, I appreciate your advice as I do every one else's on this board. What you need to realize is that this is a diet/life style change but just because the "Book" says something is not recommended, it doesn't mean that people should never have the right from time to time to go against it. I just would like to have a drink from time to time, I am not talking about being an alcoholic as you are trying to make me be.

Once again, appreciate your advice on this site but maybe you need to cut people a little bit of slack, maybe not everybody can be as "Perfect" as you.

Thanks.

Edwin

[Ohbehave007]

What Georgiana is pointing at is that on this board we follow the DANDR 2002 book down to the letter. If it says no alcohol until rung 5 we will wait until rung 5.

That being said it was so worth the wait for me. I now know I am a cheap drunk.

[mitzimarie]

Originally Posted by eissakha

What you need to realize is that this is a diet/life style change but just because the "Book" says something is not recommended, it doesn't mean that people should never have the right from time to time to go against it.

Edwin, what you need to realize is that this is a 2002 DANDR SUPPORT BOARD... not a general low carb board. Georgiana is doing exactly what she is supposed to be doing - answering questions in a such a way as to bring attention to the correct way to follow the plan.

Of course, not everyone chooses to follow the plan as outlined by Dr. Atkins - that is, indeed, an individual choice. However, it is our responsibility to answer the questions correctly.

Originally Posted by eissakha

I just would like to have a drink from time to time, I am not talking about being an alcoholic as you are trying to make me be.

She did not try to make you an alcoholic... I think it is a reasonable statement to say that a person who can't go without a drink for 2 weeks may want to examine their relationship with alcohol.

Now - the original question has been answered. Going back and forth with opinions on whether Dr. Atkins plan is correct or not is pointless on an Atkins support board. You have the correct information... what each person does with the information is their own business. We, as Moderators, just need to make sure that it is clear to anyone coming to this thread what the correct information is.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by eissakha

Georgiana, I appreciate your advice as I do every one else's on this board. What you need to realize is that this is a diet/life style change but just because the "Book" says something is not recommended, it doesn't mean that people should never have the right from time to time to go against it. I just would like to have a drink from time to time, I am not talking about being an alcoholic as you are trying to make me be.

Once again, appreciate your advice on this site but maybe you need to cut people a little bit of slack, maybe not everybody can be as "Perfect" as you.

Thanks.

Edwin

One of the greatest misconceptions about the Atkins Diet is that the Induction phase is the only phase of the Diet and/or the only phase in which you will lose weight.

So people stay on Induction...and "cheat" from time to time with fruit, bread, pasta, alcohol, etc. etc. etc. without ever fully realizing that these foods are legal during the On-Going Weight Loss Phase and Pre-Maintenance Phases---the other two weight loss phases of Atkins.

In reality, they only cheat themselves with these "cheats" because

1. They go through their weight loss reinforcing the bad habit of yo-yoing: go on Atkins, go off Atkins, back on Atkins to lose the weight gained during the "off" time, go off Atkins, etc.

2. They deny themselves the chance to really learn how their bodies react to foods.

3. They deny themselves of foods.

4. They rarely get to goal weight and maintain it.

5. They reinforce the culture of failure by always having excuses to fail, whether it's the old "I was forced to eat it" excuse or the old "I'm not perfect like you are" excuse. Excuses are excuses. Their use only signifies the reluctance and self-defeating pessimism of the user, which a touch of passive-agressive behavior.

This is the Atkins Diet Bulletin Board. Therefore, do not expect the mods and old-timers to give advice that is contrary to the Atkins Diet. What an individual poster does with that advice is totally up to that person. But don't expect us to aid and abet self-sabotage and failure.

[eissakha]

I understand what you moderators are here to do and it is truly appreciated, you are giving your time and providing solid advise. All I am saying is don't say why are people still continuing on this thread when the answer has been given. People were just expressing their opinions. Don't be so rightous. After all, if you are so PERFECT, you wouldn't be here with the rest of us imperfect people.

Thanks.

Edwin