Being a college student, its incredibly hard to get away from the binge drinking seen. Most of my friends are quite supportive of the LC choice I've made. However this weekend I am presenting research that I have been working on for over a year so Saturday morning will be quite a huge accomplishment. To celebrate this my friends and I really want to go out and have a great night. Will one night of hard drinking effect things for more than a couple days? Are carbs the only concern when drinking or does the dehydrating effect matter a great deal too? I plan on only drinking LC beer, I found Rock Green Light isn't bad. In a way I feel like I am letting myself down by giving in for a day, but this really is a hugely important day and I want to be able to have fun with my friends. Thanks for any input.

Well alcohol is burned before fat, and carbs, so thats the only consideration really. Watch the carbs and have fun

Get tore down and have fun. Cant live like a zombie just because you are on a diet! Just get back on the wagon when your done doing it up.

You might be pleased to see a whoosh after your drink alcohol. I know that happens to me, although I don't recommend drinking just to see the scales drop. Go have fun, but be strict with yourself when all is said & done & keep on dieting the Atkins way!!!

BUT... be careful. Alcohol hits low-carbers HARD. You might find "a few" having the same effect as "WAY too many"...

Potatofree is right... I know I recently went on a total 3-day bender... Normally, 5-6 diet cokes and vanilla vodkas wouldn't put me under, but DAMN. I was hit very very hard. I almost recommend eating some fake bready stuff before your crazy night... like Atkins bread or tortillas or something at dinner. Might help in your tolerance level.

Kudos on your achievement!

Drink lots of water before you go out and drink lots of water when you get home. I can usually down a six pack of non-light beer and be back in ketosis the next day, YMMV.

Do what you want but I personally say no to alchohol.Are you on induction is the first question?

I say, as long as your not driving drink enough that you feel so crappy that you CAN'T get out of bed before the alcohol is burnt up!!!! Like everyone has said a few drinks Will hit you like a brick $h*t house! So there for sleeping it off won't be a problem!!! Congratulations on your accomplishments!

I get lucky like BonJoviFan...usually when I drink, I lose weight the next day. I prefer a little Crown and diet Coke, or another liquor/rum/vodka drink, becuase they have NO carbs, so you don't have to worry about carb counts all night!!!

Just be ready for food cravings once you're drunk.....have a fast-food place in mind where you can get a nice bunless burger or something, or else you might end up binging on tacos at Taco Bell!!!

I guess I am different that way, no real appetite when I drink, remember " there's a porkchop in every glass!" At least that's what we say in Wisconsin!

I may be about to impart some bad wisdom here, but drinking beer hasn't really affected my diet much. One night last week, I had five pints at a gig and still lost two pounds the next day. Throughout the week I consistently had a little beer on week-nights (1 or 2 cans of low-carb Diat Pils) just to test and it had no appreciable effect. I would, however, add one caveat. The hangovers after a really heavy night are much worse.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm not on induction anymore, but I do keep my carbs quite low 20-25 because i really do want to lose weight fast. I hear you guys about food cravings, its a lot easier to justify pizza when you drink I will make sure to drink lots of water. I wish I liked mixed drinks more, but they make me feel sick so i will stick to LC beer. Thanks a lot, the advice really helps. I don't know what I would do without these forums!

SJU59 -

I say go out and have a blast! Drink LC beer (sounds like that's your plan) and stay away from the pizza HAHA! You also might want to increase your water intake that day. Might help counter act the dehydration!

ps... if you need a good hangover cure, my all time favorite is Alka Seltzer! It even says on the box "for over indulgence in food and drink". Just make sure it's the drink and not the food hehe!

Does that stuff REALLY work!!????? I remember waking up many moons ago, in my grandfathers bathroom, wondering....... should I, or shouldn't I??? Never touched it, though I have had the Alkaseltzer cold plus!