A few questions... Maybe you can shed some light...

[dropped9]

Let me give you some back story to help with my questions...

A few years back my wife and I went on the atkins diet. We both lost around 50lbs or so. We both have been heavy all of our lives. I dont remember once ever being the skinny guy.

We were on the diet for approx 7 or 8 months or so and then we fell off the wagon so to speak. Things changed in our lives and here we are 4 years later, with a 18 month old baby and back up to our old weight, probally a little heavier.

We want to go on the diet before our next attempt at having a baby. This way my wife is healthier pre-pregnancy, and I too become a little healthier. I have at least 100lbs or more to loose, and she could loose around the same...

Some of my questions...

My problem is I don't know if we should just wait until after the second baby, or go ahead first. Pregnancy is a yoyo of weight anyway.

When one looses over 100lbs on the atkins diet does one get that loose skin that you see the gastric bypass patients get?

How the hell do we both go on a low carb diet, but yet feed our 18 month old daughter a regular diet which includes carbs?

When we did atkins it was before the net carb "craze". Should we do net carbs or the old fashion diet?

I'm confused, not sure what to do yet. I know we have to do something though. Please ive me your thoughts.

[leaddog66]

Welcome!!!

Step one: You admit and accept you need to do something.
Step Two: Educate yourself
Step three: Commit to change.
Step four: Follow through

I would say you have got step one down. Step two is headed in the right direction, you are here. 3 and 4 are the hardest.


My problem is I don't know if we should just wait until after the second baby, or go ahead first. Pregnancy is a yoyo of weight anyway.

Call me cynical, but do you need to change now or later? If the answer is later, I question whether you are ready. No reason to wait till after pregnancy, do it before. No excuses.


When one looses over 100lbs on the atkins diet does one get that loose skin that you see the gastric bypass patients get?

I haven't lost 100, but Ive watched a lot of those shows and those people are losing 200-300 lbs. At 100 lbs there is bound to be some extra skin, but I wouldnt think THAT bad. Age is going to be a factor as well.

How the hell do we both go on a low carb diet, but yet feed our 18 month old daughter a regular diet which includes carbs?

Scratching my head......LOW carb doesnt mean NO carb. Most of the veggies are fine, lots of fiber and vitamins in them. I am the only one on low carb at my house, but we all eat together, I just eat less of some things than they do, and skip a dish or so. Read up, theres a lot of things you can eat that you might think are ruled out. Heck, she might even pick up some good eating habit, I know mine have.

When we did atkins it was before the net carb "craze". Should we do net carbs or the old fashion diet?

Either way is fine. I dont count fiber, but I do count sugar alcohols. Thats all up to you. The most important thing to do in the beginning is read labels and keep track.

Lastly, you are going to have "slip-ups" or "episodes" or whatever you want to call them. It has happened to every single one of us. After it happens, get right back on that horse and re-commit yourself.

I wish you the best of luck and keep reading! There is lots of excellent information out there.

[pennink]

Do it now. She'll be eliminating so many of the risks of pregnancy by getting healthy now.

18 month shouldn't be having sugars and starches anyway. they need fats, veggies, and protein. Not zero carb, of course, but with milk, etc, I'm sure she'll do very very well.
I'm the only low carber in my family and I've done well.

yes, I have some loose skin on my stomach, but let me tell ya, it's a far better look than it all puffy and fat! I doubt I'll get surgery. I just wear Spanx!

[dropped9]

Wow those are some fast replys. Thank you guys for the words of encouragement. I think maybe saying we should wait until after our second child is just an excuse.

As for the sugar alchols. Do you subtract them from total carbs and thats your total carbs in the serving?

When we first did the diet, we were so commited. My wife could make a mean spagetti squash dish. We loved it. We knew what was in what, and were going strong.

Now everyone talks about sugar alchols, fiber, etc etc... its more confusing that way.

[pennink]

I do 72 Atkins. That means, no deducting ANYTHING. A carb is a carb.

I simply can't lose on the net thing.

[dropped9]

I do 72 Atkins. That means, no deducting ANYTHING. A carb is a carb.

I simply can't lose on the net thing.


Is it me or did the net thing come around right at the time of the huge growth in the low carb sector?

Right as it was getting the most media attention, bam, net carbs came out. Thus more prepackaged products with "net" carbs became available...

[Lessara]

I also think you should start now, especially her. If she has any insilian resistance she might get Gestational Diabetes so a low carb would prevent that. Don't forget she can eat berries and alittle melon there are low carb fruits. Try to eat whole food and not so much processed will help too.

[dropped9]

Hmmm... Just had a thought... Would her body being in a low carb, ketosis state, have any ill effects for when she doesn conceive?

Like you know how they say you have to stop the pill x amount of months before... will her body be in a not so good position to provide for the baby when she concieves because she is low carbing?

I am not trying to make excuses, just trying to figure this all out and do whats best.

[pennink]

Nope. ketosis, as far as I can see, doesn't affect fertility.

She will be healthier. Able to keep to a healthy weight during pregnancy too. She shouldn't of course diet while pregnant, but avoiding sugar, starches, etc would be beneficial. She would add more whole foods.

Just make sure, nothing to do with dieting, that she takes folic acid.

[leaddog66]

Actually sugar alcohols are tricky, because they wont list them as carbs and a lot of times leave them out altogether. Things like sugar free gum and sugar free Popsicles will have them. Dont let the sugar alcohols confuse you right now, its a lot to take in at the beginning. Count ALL the carbs until you start getting used to the diet on a regular basis, then modify it from there.

And Yeah, NET carbs seems to be an attempt to make LOW carb "Easier" for the public en mass. "look, now you can eat all THIS and STILL be low carb!".

[IrishShrty]

In my opinion you would do your brain a huge favor by wrapping it around the concept of this being a way of life instead of a "DIET"...I think keeping the diet concept in our mind gives us a negative sort of mind creation that hinders us.
I would most definately start losing weight first, it will only improve your pregnancy.
There are so many things you can incorporate into a childs meals that have higher carbs and in single servings and packages, fruits, snacks, fruit snacks....you just have to stay out of them:)
Good Luck to both of you!

[ambimorph]

Actually, there's a study on mice, where half of the pregnant mice ate "regular" chow and the other half ate low carb. Then *all* the babies were raised on regular chow. The ones from low carb moms were still healthier!

See High Protein, Low-Carb Diet During Pregnancy Improved Triglycerides, Fat Metabolism In Offspring:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041123111459.htm

[madmike]

Regarding "net" carbs, I agree with Penni, don't deduct. In my first successful attempt at Atkins I lost 60 pounds and everytime I ate one of those "lo-carb" bars that had 18 carbs but only "2" net carbs, it kicked me out of ketosis. A carb is a carb. FYI, in the DANDR 2002, the only carbs you can deduct are fiber. If a cracker has 10 carbs but 4 carbs fiber, you can count 6 carbs.

[cricket56]

Sugar alcohols are not your friend. Your body will burn that before it burns your fat. Keep the ingestion of those up and the fat reduction goes down. The bars and shakes etc have been known to stall weight loss.
Atkins teaches you to live this way. That isn't a diet.
regarding the loose skin... rather have it loose than tight with fat. Of course some are lucky and their skin is resilient. after the 190# I lost, I had the extra removed. Painful and expensive but the folds on the belly were more than a mere nusance. I live in a hot climate.
You yourself said that you were making excuses. Come here for support and you'll get plenty... but we have all made excuses before, so you'll not get away with it here :D We all are here together for support.
As for the baby... I do not beleive that having a child follow anything other than what the pediatricitan recommends is smart. Keep the foods pure, unprocessed and natural. That will keep out the refined sugars and starches. Baby diets are designed to reduce allergies and gastric problems.
Good luck.

[ruthla]

Your toddler will get plenty of carbs in her diet if she's drinking milk, eating fruits, and eating whatever low and moderate carb veggies you guys are also eating. She obviously doesn't need to worry about portion sizes of anything the way you would on the moderate carb veggies or fruits.