So I was at 711 the other week, where I usually get a sugar free red bull (great stuff). Needless to say, for like 2 bucks for a little 8 oz can, theyre a bit expensive. Right next to the redbulls in the alcohol cooler I see sparks and sparks lite. Sparks lite tastes kinda like redbullish/ sweet tart.....very good! A 16 oz can has like 160 calories and 4ish carbs......6.0 alcohol.....for 1.50. SO a big can of this or a little can of redbull? I think I've made my decision ....only thing is I feel a bit like an alchie drinking one at 2pm instead of my redbull

.....that's so weird that you guys can buy alcohol in convenient stores in the States! I wish! In Canada, you have to go all the way to the liquor store! LOL

hehe, very odd for Canada....from the times I've been there I've seen that you guys are very serious about your drinks ! (beer in particular) I am missing molson xxx......cant get that good stuff down here

Friskmint,

Your body will burn alcohol calories before anything else. It's recommended that in the early stages of Atkins, you avoid alcohol entirely. It may even cause you to stall in your weight loss.

true alcohol is extra calories.....but i think people exaggerate about its effects on losing weight. It doesnt kick you out of ketosis.....and I tend to be someone who doesnt eat while drinking.....the reason alot of drinkers pile on weight is because they binge on carbs while drinking. I think Dr. A was right to advise not to drink....its extra calories and such....although some of my best weight loss was nights after drinking( and getting plenty of water so was not due to dehydration). I've done "control experiments" eliminating all alcohol from my diet for weeks at a time....no noticable difference. I've even heard theories alcohol enchances metabolism to a degree......if you are not gorging on carby junk at the same time to trigger insulin ( your body DOES adjust accordingly, yet grudgingly to caloric intake... and in chemistry terms, it takes more energy to break up alcohols than simple carbohydrates and fats which tend to be chemically less complex). I think alcohol has more double bonds to carbon atoms which requires more energy (via thermogensis) to break up into usable elements for the body. Im not saying drink all the time....just in my honest opinion I think its effects on weight loss/gain are
exaggerated

Soon Jenn, so I've heard we'll be able to catch up to our neighbours in buying our booze. But maybe what Friskmint said is the reason we can't

Vikki