FWIW...Alcohol is out for OWL in Atkins for Life

[Max99]

Was browsing through Atkins for Life at the bookstore today and in that he states that although Alcohol is in OWL in DANDR, they have since taken it out of OWL, as the carbs and calories add 'no nutritive value'. Just thought I'd pass the change along. Overall, I think the book looks pretty good. Going to get a copy next week.

Don

[Chris]

That is interesting. Although some people may not be happy to hear this, it doesn't bother me a bit. A few times when I've eaten out, I've thought about having that legal glass of wine, but I figure one would just lead to two, etc. (In other words, it would start an instant craving.) So, I haven't dared try it. Now, it'll be even easier since I can truthfully say it's not allowed!

Thanks, Don.

[Max99]

Chris, I'm with you, I don't drink anyhow, so it's OK with me, just means I can get to the other rungs quicker. He also mentions that during lifetime maint a glass of dry wine with dinner is OK, and actually studies haeve shown that it helps level out absorption of carbs.

Don

[reformed chocoholic]

I've just started reading AFL and I really like it. There are lots of personal stories, too, many of them written by the losers themselves. There are sidebars along with the stories showing before and after photos, height, weight, etc. along with when that person started this WOE.

The alcohol elimination thing won't affect me either; I don't drink and just skipped over that rung.

[2big4mysize]

wow that is big news. Let me see if I can get conformation with the AtkinsCenter in the morning about that and we can delete that rung from the ladder.

[2big4mysize]

Don,
once you get your new book if you could call the AtkinsCenter 1-800-2ATKINS number with the page numbers they would like to know about it because they I talked to 3 of them said they had no information on that and would only say alcohol wasn't for induction, and you still have to burn up those carbs first in OWL if you do decide to drink. they only deal with paper back page numbers so I guess i'll have to go buy another paperback copy if I have any more questions for them.

[not2late]

2Big, it's in Chapter 3 in a section called "Can You Drink Alcohol?" pp 46-47 in the hard-cover edition of AFL

In [Dr. ATkin's New Diet Revolution[/i], we included wine and spirits as a rung on the carb ladder, but we have since decided to remove it because alcohol is not a nutritive carbohydrate and shouldn't be consumed in place of food. This is not to say that you can't enjoy alcohol occasionally, assuming that you are not diabetic or have trouble controlling how much you drink. The good news is that a number of recent studies have shown that drinking alcohol, particularly wine, with a meal diminishes the impact of the carbohydrate on blood sugar. Other studies show a favorable impact from drinking wine in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Most spirits are very low in carbs, especially gin and vodka, but the alcohol is burned before fat for energy, so limit your alcohol intake. The higher the proof, the lower in carbs the spirit will be. Dry wine is lower in carbs that sweet wines such as sherry and port, which can be quite high (no pun intended). Liquers also tend to have a high sugar content. Use low carb mixers such as seltzer or sugar-free tonic water. Also avoid the use of fruit juices, which are high in carbs, as mixers. Beer is too high in carbs to drink more than occasionally and in moderation, even when you're at Lifetime Maintenance level. Light beer or the newly introduced low carb beer, however, is lower in carbs and can be used in place of other alcoholic beverage selections.

[Finn]

I have the paperback version from the UK published by Macmillan 2003 and the reference is exactly the same as that posted by Megs; chapter 3 pp46-47.

HTH

Finn

[Scarlett]

I'm not sure I understand. Are they saying that alchohol is no longer a rung, but you can drink it in moderation?

[not2late]

From how I read it, Dr.Atkins decided to get rid of the alcohol rung because it was non-nutritive. BUT, if you aren't diabetic or have a "problem" limiting your alcohol consumption, then you can have a occasional serving of wine or spirits.

My guess is that Dr. A. found that some folks were consuming alcohol in place of nutritive foods and were justifying their alcohol consumption because it was a "rung", therefore, legal, therefore okay to drink a few glasses instead of eating a serving of vegetables or fruits.