@Dieters question about alcohol

[TripleThreat]

So I am starting a new diet, which simply put is no carbs (well trying to do less than 40g a day), and absolutely no carbs after 5pm..

I have done this diet once before and noticed very fast results almost around 15-20 lbs in 2 weeks. I have read this has a lot to do with water weight and other "fake lbs" and is put back on easily (which happened).

So my question to you CPer's is, if I actually stick to my diet this time around, can I continue to drink alcohol such as red wine, and shots of liquor? To be honest with you guys, I probably drink 5 days a week. Obviously that much isn't good for my health in general, but with that being said how much does not drinking affect weight loss? Can I continue a low/no carb diet, and still take 4-5 shots a night and see lasting effects??

-Thanks

[loochy]

Originally Posted by seaofred

For the last year and a half, I have done the low carb diet. I've lost about 70lbs. During the week, I don't drink beer, I've replaced it with Coke Zero and whiskey or rum. That is a zero carb drink. Red Wine still has carbs in it, so you have to watch how much of it you drink. Most liquars don't have carbs, but some do (Coconut Rum, for example). You just have to be mindful of what you are drinking and how many carbs it has.

Yes, but alcohol itself has a LOT of calories. Alcohol has 7 calories per gram, so it's almost the caloric equivalent of drinking fat. Remember that.

[FringeNC]

On a low carb diet, alcohol will pause your ketosis. Burning the alcohol takes precedent. But it will not knock you out of ketosis. On a very low carb diet, you will feel the effects of alcohol a lot more.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by seaofred

For the last year and a half, I have done the low carb diet. I've lost about 70lbs. During the week, I don't drink beer, I've replaced it with Coke Zero and whiskey or rum. That is a zero carb drink. Red Wine still has carbs in it, so you have to watch how much of it you drink. Most liquars don't have carbs, but some do (Coconut Rum, for example). You just have to be mindful of what you are drinking and how many carbs it has.

This is incorrect. All liquor has carbs; it's fermented sugar. Some have less than others, but it's straight carbohydrates.

Look up what you want to drink and factor those carbs into your overall count.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

This is incorrect. All liquor has carbs; it's fermented sugar. Some have less than others, but it's straight carbohydrates.

That's simply not correct. Straight vodka or the like has no carbs; dry red wine, very few.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

That's simply not correct. Straight vodka or the like has no carbs; dry red wine, very few.

I was wrong. You're right. Carry on.

[MahiMike]

1 beer has 20 carbs, half your daily intake. However, whiskey has surprisingly ZERO carbs!

Wine has around 5 so you can have a glass...

[dj56dt58]

I Highly recommend getting a fitbit if you dont already have one. I dropped about 30 lbs in a few weeks after getting one a few months ago and haven't gained any of it back.

Carbs shouldn't be your focus. Like someone above mentioned, it's calories in vs calories out which is where your fitbit comes into play. I have tried to get at least 10k steps daily and have started going hiking and finding other activities to reach the goal. It is important to weigh yourself at the same time every day in the morning. I have tried the low carb thing before too but in the end it's calories in vs out that matter.

[scho63]

Diet AND exercise work together like a fine toothed comb......

[TinyEvel]

I gave up alcohol 18 months ago. At the time I weighed 250 Lbs. Without any other changes to my intake I lost 20 Lbs in 3 months. (I’ve also saved an estimated $9,000 in 18 months by not buying alcohol or drinks especially drinks when I go out or eat at restaurants)
Last month I tried the whole 30, adjusted so I could eat rice and some dairy. But I gave up all sweets and cereal and salty snacks, which I was eating a lot of at night while playing video games.
I lasted 6 days.
Lost 4 lbs but gained it back in one day after eating unrestricted.
It was way harder to give up carbs than alcohol.

I agree with others that moderation and a balanced constant diet regimen combined with exercise is the way to go

[saphojunkie]

I did the Arbonne 30 day cleanse. No alcohol, wheat, soy, gluten, dairy, peanuts, or coffee (caffeinated tea is okay). Had protein smoothies for lunch and normal dinners.

I lost 27lbs in 30 days. I haven't put a pound back on, and it's been seven months. I drink alcohol, but I just so fundamentally changed how I make choices about what I eat that I've continued losing. Going to Miami Beach in November, and I intend to drop another 15 lbs by then.

I would try cutting out booze for a month. Then you can work it back in, but you'll have less, and less frequently. It's just good for you to take a break.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

This is incorrect. All liquor has carbs; it's fermented sugar. Some have less than others, but it's straight carbohydrates.

Look up what you want to drink and factor those carbs into your overall count.

Distilled liquor has 0 carbs, almost all of the sugar has been converted and any remaining sugars are removed in the distilling process.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

1 beer has 20 carbs, half your daily intake. However, whiskey has surprisingly ZERO carbs!

Wine has around 5 so you can have a glass...

There are several very low carb beers on the market now, Slightly Mighty by Dogfish Head and Daytime IPA by Lagunitas both have 3g carbs and 95cal I believe, same as an Ultra but they actually have flavor.

[Bearcat]

If it was your first shot at low carb, I'd say go cold turkey a while, then adjust.

It can be tough to find a balance though... you could probably stay in the ~80-100g/day in carbs and still have a beer or some wine every day or two, but <50g would be pretty tough and counterproductive, IMO (outside of something like vodka and any others that are low in carbs).

Tracking calories can be time consuming, but doing it for a while will give you a good idea of how much you can eat and drink, whether you're restricting carbs or not. I still try to do it when I'm not strictly keto, so I don't go off the rails... even though I still sometimes go off the rails.

[Best22]

For a second I thought Gehrig started an account here

[L.A. Chieffan]

Daytime IPA for the win. Tastes like an IPA, 2 grams carbs.

You should probably take more lithium, or have a diet coke.