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Question about Ketosis

healthygrl
healthygrl Posts: 33 Member
edited November 12 in Social Groups
Hello all!
I'm fairly new to the low carb world, but I am enjoying my new way of eating! I do have a quick question about Ketosis. Here is my understanding, please correct me if I'm wrong: Once I'm in ketosis, I know that if I have too many carbs I will take myself out of this fat burning state and it could take several days to get back into ketosis. I also understand that if I drink alcohol, my body will burn that before it will burn any fat. However, I have a cocktail party to go to this weekend and I’m wondering if I have a zero carb alcoholic drink, will this take me out of ketosis? Or will it just delay my fat burning for a short while? I know that drinking is discouraged, so I’m happy to avoid it all together. A drink is not worth having a several day set back, but I’m just wondering if it’s that big of a deal, as long as the drink is zero carbs? Any advice?
Thanks!

Replies

  • redheadmommy
    redheadmommy Posts: 908 Member
    I have no idea about ketosis,but there is no such a thing as a zero calorie alcoholic drink.
    Anything that has alcohol has calorie, as each grams of alcohol has 7 calorie. Vodka+ diet coke type drinks are the lowest calorie drinks, but they still have calories.
  • echarlto
    echarlto Posts: 21 Member
    I believe the OP was talking about a zero carb alcoholic beverage, rather than a zero calorie alcoholic beverage. Modest consumption of zero- or low-carb alcoholic beverages will not take you out of ketosis. But, as RHMommy mentions, alcohol has calories. The more you consume, the less fat you burn to maintain your metabolism. Rum or whiskey in diet Coke is almost zero-carb. Ditto bone-dry vodka or gin martinis. (Strictly speaking, alcohol is a carbohydrate, but because of how it's metabolized, Atkins regarded it as zero net carbs.) Michelob Ultra and Budweiser Select and Select 55 are all low-carb. Dry white wine like chardonnay or pinot grigio typically has about 2-4 gms of carbs per 5 oz serving.
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member
    Ok, so here's the thing with alcohol. When you are low carbing you can drink alcohol but must understand that when alcohol is introduced into the body you will halt the burning of fat, as alcohol is always burned as fuel first before fat in a low carb fat metabolism. It will not take you out of ketosis in the same way that taking in carbs does, but will halt fat burning until the alcohol is metabolised, and then you will return to fat burning ketosis immediately afterwards (this referenced from Dr. Atkins)

    Now, this comes with a bit of a catch. You have to make sure that you are drinking liquor that is 80 proof or above for it to have 0 carbs. Anything below 80 proof is likely to have sugars and fits into more of the liqueur category. Best choices that you can make is 80 proof or above vodka, rum, whiskey, etc. In the short term I'd stay away from beer and wine until you've lost more weight and are used to low carb and can work the carbs into your day a bit better. One of my favorties is Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Coconut Rum (90 proof version) and Diet Coke.
  • healthygrl
    healthygrl Posts: 33 Member
    Thank you for your response. Yes, I was referring to zero carbohydrates, not zero calorie.
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