Consuming Alcohol On Low-Carb Is About As Dumb As Eating Sugar

Posted by Jimmy Moore on April 15 in Low-carb Tips

Alcoholic beverages may keep your low-carb diet from working

I was lucky when I started livin' la vida low-carb in 2004 because I am not a drinker. I tried beer once and it totally grossed me out. On my honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas back in 1995, I tried champagne for the first time. Blech! And I even had a chance to drink some wine earlier this year, but the smell was enough to knock me down.

Yep, I'm pretty weak when it comes to drinking alcohol, but I realize there are others who are just starting out on their low-carb lifestyle who do enjoy the occasional adult beverage from time to time. Unfortunately, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in the early stages of livin' la vida low-carb, is about as foolish as drinking a sugary beverage.

Why? Well, let me share with you a recent e-mail from one of my readers and my response to illustrate.

Here's what she wrote:

I started Atkins two weeks ago and have adhered to it religiously--almost. Bit of a contradiction there, I admit, so perhaps this is where I'm going wrong.

I've got 40 pounds to lose, and am trying (hoping!) to do so over the next 13 weeks for my sister-in-law's wedding. During the first two weeks, I've been using the Induction Phase chapter of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution as my reference guide and following the eating plan.

I'm having a creamcheese and smoked salmon filled celery sticks for breakfast, decaffeinated coffee with cream once a day, lunch of roast chicken and small salad with olive oil dressing, and dinner of fresh salmon with spinach--for example. I'm weighing all vegetables and am not going over the recommended amount.

I know that I'm in ketosis because I've been using the sticks and they tell me so. But I've only lost 2 pounds. I'm drinking water, walking to work and doing everything else that I think is right, but it just doesn't seem to be working.

So now to my confession--I've had a few alcoholic drinks during the first two weeks; vodka and club soda, which is carb-free, but perhaps not sugar-free? Could this be impacting my weight loss?

I'd really appreciate any guidance you can give as I'm considering giving up and trying a low fat diet instead; the wedding date is looming!

Hmmm, it sounds like she answered her own question even before I responded. But let's see what the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins had to say about the subject of alcoholic beverage consumption while on the Atkins low-carb diet by clicking here.