Hi there, first post. I am preparing to get started on my low-carb diet this weekend, but have a couple of questions that I cant seem to find any answers for.

1. Up until today I enjoyed a few beers, but thats a big no no now. I dont imagine everyone here is teetotal, so whats safe to drink when your out for the night? Vodka and diet coke was mentioned to me (I can live with that ) Can someone enlighten me, or any other suggestions?

2. This is really for any British members here, people from outside the UK will have no idea what I'm talking about!......so, breakfast time, sausage,bacon eggs etc. My question is "Black pudding" is it low in carbs? I cannot find info anywhere, even my local butcher wasn't quite sure.

Thanks. Kev.

I'll address the alcohol question. No idea (as you suspected!) what black pudding is!

During induction, don't drink alcohol. Period. The point of induction is switching your body chemistry out of carb-burning mode into fat-burning mode. Alcohol is burned first as fuel, so you'll mess with the process.

After induction, you'll just have to decide what you want more: a drink, or a speedier weight loss. Your body will burn the alcohol before it gets to the fat or the carbs, so it will definitely affect your progress.

In his book, Dr. Atkins explains this, and recommends that those who drink stick to wine. Look up the carb counts, and count them in your daily total. After that, straight liquors such as scotch or vodka, using only sugar-free mixers. A vodka tonic, or gin and tonic, with diet tonic is pretty good. If you're really picky, don't forget to count a carb for the squeeze of lime juice.

As for the low-carb or lite beers--you takes your choice. Count the carbs, accept the consequences. Enjoy your life!

I would avoid alcohol for the first two weeks of induction.....but after that....there is bicardi rum and diet coke. It has zero carbs. I believe capt morgan also has zero carbs but I'm not a 100% on that one. Would have to check the label

Pure alcohol has no carbs. The distilled spirits have no carbs, unless they have been sweetened. Gin, vodka, whisk(e)ys, rum, tequila, brandy, etc. are all no carbs.
Beer obviously have lots of carbs as does almost all liqueurs. There are low-carb beers (most 'lite' beers are low carb).
Wines have some carbs, with the sweeter wines having the most.
Most of the mixers used with alcohol are high carb items. Most are available in low/no-carb versions, but you have to ask.
On a low-carb diet, alcohols effects are more intense. It takes less alcohol to have an effect on the body, so plan on consuming less.
I'm sure you are well aware that alcohol consumption can reduce inhibitions. This consequence can push some low carbers into a carb frenzy.

Hi Kev, I'm not British but of course I know what black pudding is!

The bad news is that it tends to be fairly high in carbs because of the filler (flour etc) that is used to make it 'set'. Your butcher may not know the carb count, but if he makes is own, he can tell you what goes into it. The only figure I can quote is from some supermarket type BP here which was 18cg per 100grams - and as the supermarket stuff is not a patch on the real stuff - its off the menu as far as I am concerned. (and 100g is not very much!).

Cheers,

Malcolm

White pudding is even worse! Couldn't resist a taste on the Irish breakfasts i had this weekend on my bank holiday, though.