Beer
 

I enjoy a beer especially in the summer. What are your thoughts on say Michelob Ultra which has approx 3 grams of carbs per 12 once bottle. Is it a forbidden thing or just count the carbs?

Thanks ;)

It's up to you, really. I don't drink beer at all, because it is made from grains, and I don't need the sore joints, thank you.

If you have been staying on plan, with no alcohol, be aware that even low carb beer will have a bigger kick than it used to.

Also, that your body will use the calories from the alcohol first--and that alcohol is considered a super carb, as it has both more calories per gram: 7 instead of 4, and it's more inflammatory, so the body wants to get rid of it ASAP.

In the end, what your body tells you about how beer affects it will give you your answer.

Hi and welcome. I've had my share of Mich Ultra when traveling to the US. Other than it tasting like beer-water meant for children and the elderly to this Canadian craft beer snob ( :lol: ), it's better than going right off plan. Like a lot of our choices, you just have to weigh the advantages vs disadvantages for yourself. I'd save it as a treat, and don't expect good weight loss when you indulge.

Best of luck. :thup:

Hiya HorseChick!

Here's what I've read in Atkins' Diet Revolution 1972 pg 147 about alcohol consumption.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showpost...924&postcount=5

But I agree totally with Kristine... you gotta weigh the advantages and disadvantages for yourself!

Let us know what you decide to do!

Wishing you continued success on your journey to better Health!

Thanks everyone.....But I must be honest when I am trail riding in the hot sun with my girlfriends.....I like to have 1 beer afterwords. Good thing Horseback riding burns a lot of calories. I am pretty much sticking to 10 or less grams of carbs a day so will have to plan ahead. I do agree the Michelob Ultra is Beer water lol.

Plenty of people agree with you about a cold beer after a trail ride. Is just one beer going to do it for you?? Consider whether some other cold liquid--and lots of it--might not be a better choice.

Here's something else you might think about. Ultimately the LCHF plan isn't about calories. It's about content--the nutritional qualities of whatever you consume. For me, shedding my lifelong preoccupation (and frustration) with eating/burning this or that number of calories in order to "balance" my energy was a great liberation.

You could easily say that a mini-cupcake is "only" fifty (or a hundred) calories. That doesn't make it a good choice for LCHF. See what I mean?

Have fun on that ride!

Hi Horsechick!

I was a bonafide beer snob just like others here. Heck, my husband and I even brew beer and wine, still to this day. Naturally I was sad when I first started my LC way of life because my beloved Kolsch beers and Bocks and Hefeweizens just didn't fit in :( so sad... sigh...

So, like you, I turned to Ultra. I count it in with my daily carbs whenever I have one. I haven't noticed much impact to my weight loss. I mean sure, if I exercised every single day and absolutely abstained from all alcohol it probably would accelerate weight loss a bit, but there is something to be said for adapting this plan to fit your lifestyle so that you don't feel like you have given up EVERYTHING you love. If the difference is between living low carb and occasionally having an LC beer or not doing an LC way of life at all, then by all mean, Cheers!

I like Michelob Ultra and have it occasionally. It doesn't seem to hurt for me. See www.dietdoctor/lowcarb/alcohol

I'm in the just count the carbs camp. And maybe calories for those who want to add calorie counting to the basic Atkins diet.

I really don't understand that admonishment. Does it really matter which calorie is used first?

It matters, inflammable, if you want to maintain ketosis. Alcohol isn't a carb, but it behaves like an even more badly behaved carb.

Have a link to a peer reviewed study?

Do you have some info on that, MickiSue, that doesn't come from the HeartHealthyWholeGrain crowd? Alcohol metabolism produces ketones. Not that it's a great idea to drink all that much, of course, but if someone on a ketogenic diet were to enjoy some scotch, for example, s/he'd probably see darker purple ketostix the next day. (Again, not something to celebrate because it's from the alcohol, not your stored body fat, but that's totally different from consuming sugars.)

Thanks, Kristine. That's a much nicer way to ask.

This: https://www.uhs.uga.edu/documents/nutrition_alcohol.pdf is from the University Health Center at the University of Georgia. It's not a peer reviewed study. Actually, it looks as though it might be a handout for students or patients.

Very interesting Kristine, thanks for that info.
I think I've read this before but it's been a long time ago.