I ate pretty well this weekend, which is cool,considering my husband and I threwa huge Memorial Day BBQ. I also didn't drink a single beer, which is impressive for me, especially at a BBQ. (Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff! :doah I did, however, magage to kick myself right out of ketosis with booze--sugar free gin & tonics plus shots of whiskey. I tried not drinking at all for the first two weeks (induction) but it was a lot harder for me than the low carbing itself. I think I'll try limiting myself to only drinking one or two nights a week (weekends.) Has anyone had any sucess (still losing) while indulging in moderate drinking, or will I just have to g cold turkey?

I think lots of people can lose while drinking moderately. Remember the "drinking man's diet?" just keep the total carbs very low. Also dr bernstein says its ok on his diet to have a low-carb beer or a mixed (sugarless) drink. That's the theory. In practice, for me, it doesn't work. A lifetime of wrestling with depression, currently on prozac, I find that I have iron will power for the diet part - I did Ornish when they said I had to, for a year or more, I do Atkins/Bernstein now, with no cheating, but once I start the social drinking, pretty soon I'm drinking myself to sleep at night, which can't be good.

Just a reflection---you say, gin and tonicS and shotS of whiskey, and I infer that's a minimum of two of each. And your goal weight is pretty low, which means to me you're probably a woman or a small man, and that starts to be a good bit of liquor.

My BBQ drinking was definately not moderete. (yes, the shots of whiskey are a good tip-off.) I'm aiming for two drinks, max, one or two nights a week.

KL, I feel that having one or two drinks once or twice a week WILL slow down your weight loss, but so what? If this is something you enjoy and don't abuse, why not? You realize it will probably slow down the weight-loss process, but maybe on those days, you can sacrifice something else. Just a thought.
B

ONE NIGHT A WEEK - TWO SHOTS, OR TWO GIN & TONICS
and during that day keep a tight control on your carbs or if you go out inpromptu, then curatke your carbs the next day!!

I guess that would be okay as long as you don't wake up the next morning curled up with an EMPTY ABSOLUT bottle-whooops!!

I had 5 or six shots of Vodka the other night in my sugar free drinks and my Ketosis increased! Weird! I think everyone must be different.

I went and got right flaming drunk at a neighborhood pig roast a week ago (albeit on low-carb drinks). This was a hugely bad idea because I gained two pounds, felt like crap, and feel like I stalled my weight loss (during my best week of the month to lose weight).

Ah well, I only do this about 3 times a year, and I felt so awful I won't be doing it again any time soon!

Boo to booze, indeed!

There is another angle here I don't think I've seen mentioned in this thread: self control. Moderate drinking may or may not affect ketosis, I don't have much experience with it one way or the other. But what is the likelihood that drinking would lead lead one to eating too many peanuts or -- gasp! -- popcorn?! I would think that drinking even moderate amounts might screw with one's judgement and lower resistance to carbs of all sorts.

Not to be too pushy, but maybe you should ask youself why you can't comfortably go 2 weeks without drinking? I used to be like that until I realized that I was dependent on alcohol and I had to stop. I'm not saying you are...I just think someone needs to bring that up to you. This could be more than a losing weight issue. After all, 2 weeks is not a terribly long time to give something up, unless you are addicted.....

In klawrence's defense, I am discovering that no booze can be a difficult thing when you live a very social life. I have been trying to get through induction now for about a month but have been sidetracked due to 2 weddings, a wine party ( sipped half a glass for 3 hours!), and an Irish funeral. I have had no problem eating out about 2 dozen times without ordering a drink nor attending my weekly softball games and saying "no thanks" but it can be tough. I am avoiding a Halloween party Friday and have turned down multiple invites for drinks after work with my friends due to this diet.

I say 1-2 drinks 1-2 nights a week does not an addiction make!

I agree with you there. But if you really felt like you WANTED to go 2 weeks without drinking because it would help you achieve something that is very important to you (like weight loss for example) and you found that you COULDN'T--that MIGHT an addiction make!

In my experience saving indulgences for once a week, or once every two weeks, rather than having a little bit every night or every other night works. If you need alcohol THAT much (am not going to lecture on addiction, I'm sure enough people will) then save it for once a week. No more. It makes it easier to say no to everything when you have a clear date where you know that you can indulge and it's not forever...this really helps when everyone is eating or drinking and trying to make you do the same.

Hey everybody! I really wasn't trying to lecture anyone. I was just trying to give klawrence some food for thought....

I wasn't really referring to you, komireds - sorry if it came across that way.... just referring to how often you'll have 5, 6, 7 people jumping on someone and accusing/lecturing them of having some sort of problem or disorder when really they're just trying to find a way to have their cake and maybe eat a little bit of it too I was assuming that it would eventually happen in this thread.

take care,
Meg