WestLAgrl, thank you! I will check it out.

I do not do IP.

You might want to make your own plan up if beer is a deal breaker.

I skip dinner and drink craft beer instead (the good stuff, 9.5%, 300 calories a bottle). I eat a small, healthy breakfast and mostly eat salads for lunch. On most nights I drink two beers. Sometimes more.

Mix in some exercise and I'm good to go.

70 pounds down now and my goal is to lose 100 without giving up the nectar!

The trick with beer is to avoid the munchies. It's the food that goes with beer that is bad. A lot of people lose control with their eating when drinking alcohol. If that is the case for you, then beer will need to go.

Beer is made from maltose, which packs a higher punch per tsp then regular white sugar (dextrose)....just putting that out there.

No, the main ingredient in beer is water together with hop oils and trace amounts of sugar.

I'm not saying it's good for you, but beer alone won't make man fat.

Beer with food however is a different story...because most people tend to eat more and consumer more junk when drinking beer.

I don't normally agree with the IP group think mentality but this is an exception.

If you want to drink beer and lose weight you should follow another plan.

One thing to consider is that we as humans can never erase habits. You can however make new habits and it takes about 30 days to make a new habit so if you want to do the IP diet just commit to 30 days of no beer. It won't be easy but you can do a month so just make the commitment to follow the IP plan as written for 30 days. Then you can decide if you want to continue or do something else.

Bold: My point from the get-go.

I have a friend who is over-exercising so he can still have his beer & pizza. This will work for a while (and is currently working). However, he has had several injuries, exacerbated (I believe) from the inflammatory diet he insists on continuing to eat/drink. This is his choice. I'm betting he'll be an orthopedists good client if he keeps it up, tho.

What you eat/drink is up to you. If you choose IP, you follow the plan. Otherwise, choose a different plan.

I know you lose by reducing calories but can't help to wonder if "skipping dinner" to save calories so you can drink beer is healthy in the long run?

Common sense would point me in the direction of "no."

I like beer too, but I can easily give that up for a "normal" life since it is only 100% off the menu for me for hopefully 3-4 months.

While not a great choice from a lot of people's point of view, and not on the IP plan at all, a lime flavored Perrier or San Peligrino scratches that bubbly itch if I feel like being a bad boy - happened twice in seven weeks so far, and if that is as bad as I get on this diet, I'll be ok.

Again, lot's of folks are down on carbonated water, but the "natural" ones are less bad and definitely nowhere near as big a no-no as a beer.

Good luck with your weight loss journey!

I agree with the majority here, NO alcohol during P1. Not just because it will stall or slow weight loss, but also because we know and accept that this diet puts a stress on the liver, and why put salt on the wound?

That said, I MISS my almost nightly glass or two of Chardonnay. And lets be honest, if I had one, I would want two, because one just doesn't get me to that happy, cares-melting-from-shoulders place.

But I have chose NOT to cheat. So NO wine for me until I am at goal. But I have found other ways to satisfy my social and personal urge for a nice drink after a hard week.

Mock Mojitos - I muddle a chopped up lime with a nice handful of fresh mint leaves and about 1/4 tsp. each of Splenda and rum extract (alcohol free) in a tall glass. Add ice and water and a straw or fancy stirrer. HEAVEN. I'm sipping one on my porch as I type this. It is the ONLY time I use added sweeteners. The rum extract also allows me to kick up the IP Pina Cola drink. Add some rum extract a few ice cubes, some water and that drink mix, blend in a bullet and pour into a fancy glass (do you see a trend here, I even use a wine glass for my daily water. Makes me feel special!!! Sometime its all about smoke and mirrors.

Great feedback and info. I haven't had a beer or ANY adult bev's since starting 4 weeks ago and at first VERY VERY hard, like Lisa32989 we are big craft beer drinkers and often go to craft brewers, etc.. it was really a hobby of ours, but I know I really just can't. I am sick of being sick and tired of this weight.

Thanks Seattle NP! Great idea for a substitute treat. Perrier is also a great idea. This is what I need, a go-to substitute to feel in the hole in my evening where beer used to be.

It looks like I jumped in the kool-aid here without knowing what flavor it was, but I certainly appreciate your response Lolo. If there are lines drawn here between strict adherers and people who believe you can make personal modification, you can count me in the second group. But I appreciate the advice and input everyone has given. Just being able to talk about it is very helpful.

Mmmm! Thanks for this. This will be my patio drink for the summer!

Hear, Hear. My first round with IP, I was in solid with the nothing but what's on the sheet group. My second round, I fall within the second group. More than anything, I believe we are adults making adult choices and living with the adult consequences. I own it, no one else. Simple as that. AND, it goes without saying that having good info is good medicine.

My "sins" against IP protocol are exercise and occasional nuts. I indulge, I modify and accept the consequences (and the benefits ).

All the best Tomi.

Hey thanks 2Poles! Back atcha!