Ketosis/Alcohol Question

[Banks]

Hi there. Been lurking here for almost a year, and I want to just say "Thanks" for all of the information I've soaked up here.

My question is: Can you even begin ketosis if you drink alcohol every day?

My girlfriend wants to lose 20 pounds, and after seeing the success I've had, wants to give Atkins a go. However, she drinks every day. From my understanding, alcohol is used as fuel until it's burned up, and then your body goes back to using your fat as fuel. This happens once you achieve ketosis. But what I'm wondering is, can your body even get to the 'fat as fuel' stage if you're drinking 1-3 drinks every night?

In my opinion, she'd probably have more success (if she continues to drink) on another type of diet. I think, at the very least, that her weight loss will be achingly slow, and that any loss she sees will be from her calories being lowered in general, not because her body's in ketosis....that is if she can even get into ketosis in the first place (which is my main question).

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[Georgiana]

As you know, ketosis is the process of burning primarily fat for fuel. As long as there's alcohol in the system, alcohol will be "burned" first, not fat.

There are many ways to be in ketosis without following Atkins correctly (and everyone is in ketosis while they sleep), but it doesn't mean they are necessarily healthy or that they will automatically lead to weight loss.

[miller98b]

I think the Atkins diet is your last concern; 1-3 drinks per night should be her first concern. A doctor would not advise her to go on ANY diet until she could lower that to 3-5 drinks per week.

That is really dangerous, good Luck!

[atkinsgal08]

Does she want to do Atkins as a quick fix or as a long term eating plan?

[2big4mysize]

your girlfriend is in for some problems.
yes she can get to ketosis even if she drinks alcohol unless she is drinking enough alcohol in those drinks to supply her entire alottment of calories.

then she will discover that low carbers seem to feel the effects of alcohol from less drinks then they had as high carbers so her 1-3 drinks could become a dangerous issue for her safety.

if she is willing to give up carbs why isn't she willing to give up the drinks until rung 5 of atkins?

[lannerjarv]

1-3 drinks a night won't work with any eating plan.
as Miller pointed out, i would be more concerned with the booze and less with the diet at this point.

[Peytonn]

http://alcoholcontents.com/beer/beer.html

I agree that this is probably not the best choice is she really enjoys the drinks...

but.. I guess it really depends on what the drink is...

a michelob light has only 2.6 grams of carbs..... some beers are less than 4 percent alcohol....

I went through a time when 3 miller lite beers a night was the low end of the scale...

so.. whatever diet she chooses... the alcohol thing will be a factor.. that link has a great scale of all kinds of alcohol... calories, carbs, and alcohol content...

and depending on what she's drinking.. the easiest way to lose weight for her might just be to give up the alcohol... because even the lightest beers are usually in the 100 calories range (unless you get the super duper ultra nothing stuff that's like 55 or 60 calories or whatever..)

but I'm saying.. 3 drinks could easily add several hundred calories a day...

BUT... as for whether or not she could get into ketosis with the drinks.. it depends.. on what the drink is.. and what the carb content is... and it would be at the expense of leaving off some other carbs which would be way more valuable nutritionally than alcohol based carbs...



good luck to you both

[Rebbekka Mead]

I actually have an opinion here!

I may get slammed here (ok, I know I will), but I too was a 1-3 drink a night person AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT! My drink of choice before Atkins was Rum & Diet Rite (I like the taste!). My husband drinks White Russians every night.

So, my advise to you/her is, like 2big4mysize said, is this a Lifestyle Change that she is wanting/willing to do for herself? If so, and like me, putting down the cocktail glass and picking up a water glass is actually pretty easy.

To date, I have been enjoying this Lifestyle Change for 9 weeks now. In the first 7 weeks, I had absolutely no craving for a cocktail because (a) being full with the water and (b) keeping my ultimate goal in site.

So, do I want a cocktail? Heck Yes! Will I jeopardize my ultimate goal for that one cocktail? Heck No! I'll wait till it's the right time for me to pour myself one.

Hope that helped!

[Peytonn]

how tall is 5'12" ?

does that mean you're actually 6'0?

[Rebbekka Mead]

hehehehehe!

All my life I was 'the tall one' and, at a younger age, I refused to be 6' ... so I'm 5'12"

Silly. I know.