What Can I Drink on the Hcg OWL Diet? How about alcohol?

Posted by: omahamedspa on: June 5, 2009

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This is my advice to clients of Omaha Med Spa:

Drink lots of water.  Drinking pop/soda is not good for your health, but during a low calorie weight loss program, my advice is to not make any changes to pop consumption.  But the pop must be diet.  Once you achieve your weight goal, try to cut back on pop, or eliminate it altogether.  Flavored zero calorie beverages are all permissible and include vitamin waters (such as skinnywater), calorie free green tea and others – but it must all add up to zero calories (Notice a pattern!)

Cold or hot teas made from tea leaves or bags are all fine, as long as the package confirms the calorie free status.

Coffee is fine and may be consumed hot or cold, black or with sweetener.  For variety add cinnamon to the coffee before it is prepared.

I permit the use of caffeine and all sweeteners.  Be forewarned that some people find caffeine stimulates their appetite.

You are allowed the juice of one fresh lemon or lime per day.  A great way to enjoy your lemon is to squeeze the juice, add water and an artificial sweetener – chill it in the fridge and enjoy!

Crystal Light is low in calorie, but it is not zero – use in moderation.

What about alcohol?  My plan permits the consumption of one serving of alchohol per day.  Choose from

4 oz serving of dry wine per day.  Choose from a dry red (shiraz, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, beaujolais, tempranillo, zinfandel) or white (sauvignon blanc is your safest bet).  Do not choose a sparkling wine, pink zinfandel or dessert wine (muscat, ice wine and others).  Although some Chardonnays are dry, others are not, and the sweetness is not rated on the bottle.  Most German wines such as Riesling and Gewurtraminer are way too sweet, and must be avoided.  Many of the locally produced wines in NE, IA and MO are also too sweet.  Sherries, ports, brandies are all liquers are all out OR  Spirits such as scotch, whiskey, bourbon, gin, rum, vodka – limit of 1 and 1/2 oz per day in water or with a diet beverage OR one 80z serving of light beer – read the label, and if it is under 100 calories, then you are OK to enjoy.  There is now even a Bud product that is 55 calories per bottle – treat yourself to 2 of them!

Here is a note of caution with alcohol – that one drink may make you feel like you have had several.  Many people on the low calorie diet report an enhanced sensitivity to the effects of alcohol.

With alcohol the rule is one drink per day – have it or lose it – you cannot “bank it up” and have several on the weekend!

What about dairy products?  Dr. Simeons original protocol permitted 1 tbsp of milk per day (in other words, no dairy products!).  It is easiest to simply consider the diet a “no dairy” program.  It’s not that dairy is bad for you – but this is one area where we had to cut calories.  After you lose weight – then go back to low fat dairy choices.

What about a warm broth?  Look from Emeril’s low fat chicken broth – it is fat free, and 1 cup is only 10 calories.  And beef broth is even lower – only 5 calories per cup!  Add some approved vegetables, lean chicken, seasoning, and you can make your own soup.

Carter Abbott, MD – Omaha Med Spa – Phone 402.614.5556