LE diet with quality food - anyone?

[Kelissi]

Hiiii, lovely hoping-for-pink parents!

I'm a momma to two amazing boys (age 5 and 3), have always wanted three children, and am really hoping we can get pink this time! I want to start TTC in August, because I'm going to be having a VBA2C in the snow belt, and the only midwife who I think will be able to do it is 1 1/2 hours away ... so, I'd really like baby to show up when weather isn't a concern, during the summer!

I'm planning on starting our sway soon (will be purchasing a personalized plan), and while I reaaaaaaaaally want a girl, I'm also kind of a foodie. We eat largely according to traditional foods (Weston A. Price Foundation guidelines), and I'm a pretty firm believer that, if you have the chance to get your body ready for a pregnancy, it's best to be nourishing it with quality foods! I also eat gluten free, and am allergic to aspartame, so diet soda and white bread are out :( .

So, what I'm thinking will be best for my mental well being is exercising 60 min. most days a week and following calorie values, etc., for a LE diet, but doing it with whole foods. What do y'all think?

Excited to be here for sure! If anyone knows of a TTC this late summer / early autumn group of TTC Pink, I'd love to be a part of it!

ETA: I just want to make sure no one feels offended, because absolutely zero offense is meant! I am absolutely sure that everyone's babes, when they arrive, will be wonderfully nourished - I don't mean to imply that they wouldn't be when eating white bread or diet soda! I'm super sorry if anything came off that way!

[LilithWiser1979]

That's really funny! I was just walking through Whole Foods this weekend and I marveled at all the boy moms walking with their kids. There were some pigeon pairs, and a couple of girl moms, too, but overall, almost every baby in their wrap or sling was wearing blue. In fact, the one girl mom I know who eats really clean and consistently shops at Whole Foods didn't do that until after her last DD was born!

Having said that, I'm certain it's possible. Maybe do brown rice, corn tortillas, corn chips, whole grain bread (without the flax seeds and Omega 3's,) potatoes and low carb veggies?

[carmella_marie]

I was paleo with my first son. Personally, I'm going to eat more junk (moderately but much more for me than I usually do) when I TTC pink. My thinking is if I'm not healthy enough for a pregnancy then I won't ovulate, but a few little Debbie cakes isn't going to stop ov. I'm sure you can get a girl eating really healthy, but it just tends to sway boy. I know way too many girl moms who eat junk and boy moms who eat healthy. There are vegetarians who get more girls but I think they're also doing excessive exercise. At the end if the day though, you have to do what you're comfortable with.

[WillowsGirl]

I just wonder though, before processed foods came about, people were still having girls. It has to be possible, especially if you cut back to the diet limits and add in exercise. Maybe I'm wrong though, that's just what makes sense to me. You gotta do what's comfortable for you.

[odd]

I keep repeating myself but the country i am from, poverty is unfortunately #1 issue. Also our diet is super rich in spices although vegeterian for the most part and still more girls are conceived than boys

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[odd]

I jist don't have the means to eat any other way so I continue to eat my indian food on daily basis although smaller portions amd no snacking plus exercise

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[Pinkmeup]

I too am struggling on the LE diet and desperate for number 5, and def final child to be a girl.... I started off quite strict but because of various health issues really felt the effects and have now relaxed my diet somewhat, but still hope to be holding on to the main principles!! I skip breakfast, but have to eat by 11, normally a few strawberries and 2 yoghurt topped rice cakes, salad or veggie pasta for lunch then veggies and rice, noodles, potatoes or sweet potatoes for dinner, no snacking. I have dropped all aspartame now. I have a glass or 2 of red wine most nights too. I feel better knowing I can sustain this diet longer and yet hope it is enough to sway, combined with supplements and a single attempt at +opk. One of my best friends who has always been a vegetarian and eats really well/healthily has recently had a girl. Fx for us all. I do sometimes think what will be will be! X

[stephk]

I see my diet as pretty healthy and I have been doing the LE diet for 5 months now. The only things I have cut out altogether are breakfast cereal and fruit juice. I do not have fake sugar, never have and never will. I do try to add in sugary pop sometimes but I just dont like it and have to be in the mood for it. The only white bread I like are pretzels and bagels, if I have sliced bread it is seeded all the way. I fill up on lots of salads, fruits and veggies.

You can make the diet work for you using the principles, you dont have to go all out and give up everything you like. I only try to stick to the parameters strictly from monday to thursday and then I relax friday to sunday and just do my best, but what I am eating is still less than before. Also, I think that the heavy lifting is coming from an overnight fast of 14-16 hours, sticking to the principles as much as I can and the 6 days a week exercise (plus the one attempt at positive OPK but thats another story!). Do I think my sway will be ruined if I eat 2 avocados a month, brown bread as opposed to white, or some nuts here and there? No.

Gluten free is probably good for a girl sway as it often has less cals/protein depending on what you are having. I get gluten free foods on occasion for this reason.

I am not sure what the Weston Price principles are so I cant comment on that.

I am also a girl who loves her food and quality food at that, I dont feel I am skimping, its just less cals, protein and fat than before and maintaining lower blood sugar with fewer meals. Not skimping on quality.

[maidentomother]

I am also a foodie, love to cook, grew up on organic food and was big into WAPF before starting my girl sway. I did grow up vegetarian for the most part so reverting to that wasn't too hard. For me the most difficult aspect is giving up/reducing healthy fats. I miss my butter! I still consume raw organic whole milk (300ml daily), some butter, olive oil, and then some sunflower oil. I've been eating more of the last (the most girl friendly oil I'm willing to consume) and less of the former, as well as dropping coconut oil consumption almost completely and no more fish oil. I can tell my body misses those good fats though!

I eat 1-2 apples daily, whole grain rye bread, occasional white rice, whole wheat cereal w/milk, green salads, oranges & clementines, corn chips, whole grain pasta, lentils, a bit of tofu occasionally, about 5 servings full fat cheese per week, veggie stirfries, occasional boiled potatoes, ******ed broccoli. I do have small portions of homemade white flour cake daily (it helps prevent me from snacking on potato chips or other savoury trears). I do my best to eat less (1500 cals) and to avoid snacking/go a long time without eating.

I know there is at least one other WAPF enthusiast on here who swayed pink...though I believe she got a boy, naturally swaying is no guarantee. I am trying to eat differently but I'm only willing to go so far.

[stephk]

Maiden I am with you on that one. I am also only willing to go so far, it is too long to be on the diet to give everything up, and its not necessary anyway.

[Flowergirl]

Interesting topic! I've been a health conscience vegetarian for 14 years and currently swaying pink. People would regularly joke that I'd live to the age of 100 purely based on my clean and healthy diet so going LE has been a bit of an adjustment that's for sure!

I would say for the most part my diet is still based on fruit and veg, I'm just a little more aware of what ones are lower nutrient and lower carb so when there's a choice I'll try and opt for the more LE friendly (eg a salad made with baby spinach vs iceberg lettuce).

I think if you can still remain within the LE guidelines of cals, protein, fat etc. then there's really nothing that's "off limits". I've found that my cals aren't hugely different (definitely lower now but I'm eating the upper limits of LE) the largest change has been that my fat and protein intake has halved and the way I eat now has changed. I used to eat or at least have a green juice or full cream milk drink every 2 - 2.5 hours whereas now I'll only eat 3 times a day and have eliminated all snacking.

I could be wrong but I think a big factor with whole foods is that they're generally lower GI so although you may still only eat 2 - 3 times a day, your blood sugar levels aren't really dropping and staying low as much as the more refined and higher GI diet would contribute?

I'm definitely missing my healthy fats and whole grains, nutrient dense and superfood's but for me - already eating vegetarian and not being able to exercise enough to sway girl I've tried to find a compromise and still eat healthily but just not the same if that makes sense :)

[essnce629]

I've always been really healthy and taken a lot of supplements (fish oil, vit D, cal/mg, probiotics), no alcohol, no artificial sweeteners, full fat everything, tea instead of coffee, etc but I am going all out for a girl sway! I've also been eating low carb/paleo for the past few years. I really don't think a few months doing a LE diet is really going to hurt me much.

I stopped all vitamins/supplements about 6 months ago. I'm still eating whole foods and meat, but definitely cut down on my serving sizes and stay within the LE numbers. I used to go back for 2nds and 3rds and now just try to eat one serving. The only non-quality food I added was a Kraft Easy Mac & Cheese for lunch every day along with my berries, peas, applesauce, and espresso. The Mac & Cheese is low calorie/fat/protein so it makes lunch easy. Normally I'd have a huge salad with a full chicken breast. I also changed my fats-- replaced my olive oil with canola oil and haven't used coconut oil in months! I still use a tiny bit of butter on my peas every day but none after that.

I think if you stay within your LE numbers for calories/fat/protein every day then you'll be fine, but I know Atomic said that switching over to less healthy omega 6 oils definitely appeared to sway girl. I'm also staying away from super healthy foods like avocado and nuts as they have so many nutrients in such a small serving size. I've never drank alcohol in my entire life, but all my friends with girls do so I'm drinking alcohol from AF to O as part of my sway. I've only had one attempt so far last month that ended in BFN and we're not trying again till May so I've been doing a loose LE right now. I'm definitely skipping breakfast and not eating a thing till after 12pm.

I'm still eating low carb as I have stomach issues with rice and oats. My mac & cheese at lunch are the only grains I eat. Dinner for me is still paleo with a protein (although a really small portion) and about 2 servings of veggies.

[atomic sagebrush]

Please bump this for me I,d like to answer in more detail.

I have answered this question in part in the LE diet faq, can someone post links for me???

[flowerlily]

Hi..found this.. http://www.genderdreaming.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16780 :)
Hope it's what you are referring to.

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[weeziewoozles]

Just to chip in, I feel the same way. I always eat whole grains, no lactose, very little gluten, no aspartame, no processed foods (bar some crisps and we do have the occasional takeaway!), cook everything from scratch and take supplements. When I swayed pink for DS3 I stuck to the LE principles really well but stayed healthy by taking a small amount of my supplements, cooking low fat vegetarian meals, skipping breakfast and having an occasional diet drink (yeurgh) to help sway pink. The sway wasn't successful unfortunately (although DS3 is delightful of course) so I have been wondering whether I still hadn't made enough changes for my body to really clock it. So this time round I am planning on eating far more processed foods and empty sugars, and no wholegrains or superfoods. My feeling is that it will only be for a few months. As soon as I get my BFP (positive thinking!) I will jump back on my healthy band wagon and fill my body's stores again!

[girliedreamz]

I live in a fairly affluent area of (Silicon Valley, and I will say that I notice a LOT more girl babies here than boy. By an overwhelming margin. (My oldest son had 10 girls in his preschool class and 3 boys... which is typical.) And in this area, everyone shops at Whole Foods, the Farmer’s Market, eats organic AND very often gluten free/dairy free, they all go to the gym and do yoga... even the moms I know who do CrossFit and weight training all seem to have girls. I highly suspect atomic’s theories on the Privileged Daughter at work here. That, and the fact that most women in this town are super-duper image obsessed, so they restrict calories/diet quite heavily. I’m a size 10 and am heavier than most women in this area.

So, while I’m no expert and I always defer to atomic on this forum, I do think it’s possible to sway girl with whole foods or higher nutrient foods.

(P.S. I have 3 boys, so clearly I’m not one of the affluent privileged. Lol!)

[atomic sagebrush]

Ok I'm back, thx for patience.

LE Diet FAQ 1 is here http://genderdreaming.com/forum/trying-conceive-girl/24628-le-diet-faq.html

I think it is absolutely totally 100% possible to do LE Diet with whole foods and I have a variant of diet based on Perfect Health Diet (a paleo, whole food diet) here, about 5 from the top, called "atomic fertility diet" and anyone can follow it, even tho this is the PCOS thread the diets can be utilized by anyone http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gender-swaying-general-discussion/9052-swaying-under-special-circumstances-part-3-pcos.html

What you guys need to understand is LE Diet isn't really a THING in the way that people think of when they think of "a diet". Like the Weston Price guidelines, LE Diet is really a set of goals or guidelines and NOT an "eat this not that" type of diet with all the "magic foods" baloney.

All you need to do when following LE Diet is 1500-1800 cal, 40-50 g protein (and some may bump this to 50-60, the important thing is that it's less protein than you were eating before) 20-30% of your day's cals from fat and Omega 6 fats are better than Omega 3/saturated fats, and also trying to avoid snacking, skipping breakfast if possible, and keepign meals to 2-3 a day. Some people choose to limit sodium intake but this is not a necessity, and everyone MUST get 2500-3500 mg potassium a day for health.

When it comes to nutrients, remember, it's LOW nutrient, not NO nutrient. We cut back or cut out multivitamins and highly fortified foods, and when in doubt, all things being equal, if given a choice between a more or less nutrient dense food, pick the lower nutrient one. But that doesn't mean you can never eat higher nutrient foods, and in fact all low carb veg are free foods you can have as much as you would like with no need to count whatsoever.

[atomic sagebrush]

I live in a fairly affluent area of (Silicon Valley, and I will say that I notice a LOT more girl babies here than boy. By an overwhelming margin. (My oldest son had 10 girls in his preschool class and 3 boys... which is typical.) And in this area, everyone shops at Whole Foods, the Farmer’s Market, eats organic AND very often gluten free/dairy free, they all go to the gym and do yoga... even the moms I know who do CrossFit and weight training all seem to have girls. I highly suspect atomic’s theories on the Privileged Daughter at work here. That, and the fact that most women in this town are super-duper image obsessed, so they restrict calories/diet quite heavily. I’m a size 10 and am heavier than most women in this area.

So, while I’m no expert and I always defer to atomic on this forum, I do think it’s possible to sway girl with whole foods or higher nutrient foods.

(P.S. I have 3 boys, so clearly I’m not one of the affluent privileged. Lol!)

I tend to shop a lot in the "rich" section of my city (I'm not rich, I just live out of town and that's the closest area to where I live) and I agree that there are an overwhelming number of girls to affluent parents. The women are all rail thin and super healthy eaters but beyond that, I see tons of dads out biking with their kids and biking is one thing proven beyond a doubt to lead to a man fathering more daughters.

[atomic sagebrush]

I just wonder though, before processed foods came about, people were still having girls. It has to be possible, especially if you cut back to the diet limits and add in exercise. Maybe I'm wrong though, that's just what makes sense to me. You gotta do what's comfortable for you.

YES EXACTLY!!! Processed foods work not because there is some magic pink dust in them, but because they're low nutrient. People got girls back in the day without processed foods and around the world right NOW without eating processed foods.

[atomic sagebrush]

I jist don't have the means to eat any other way so I continue to eat my indian food on daily basis although smaller portions amd no snacking plus exercise

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:agree: and I think that it is a great way to go.

[WantingPink]

I am a foodie as well. Organic chicken, grass fed beef, nitrite free everything, and organic veggies and fruit. I also am very "perfect" about everything. I use to run 30 minutes 5 times a week and did weight workouts or yoga 4-5 times a week. Gee, have no idea why I had two boys:) Well, I really wanted a girl so I threw all that out the window. I wanted a girl more than anything else so I went on a mission to destroy myself. I didn't work out anymore, ate what I call crap (bread, pasta, chocolate, etc.) and I started drinking a fair amount of alcohol too, 2-3 glasses of wine 5 days a week. I still ate organic/grass fed meat because I just CAN'T do crappy meat. I also can't do artificial sweeteners either. In the mean time I did find myself relaxing about what I ate. I did gain weight cause I too have a sensitivity to any kind of wheat and corn products. I usually detox twice a year too and I didn't do that either. However, I was still ovulating regularly so it must have been "okay". Well I do believe it is how I got my girl. I really think it made a difference.

Here is the deal... you are the only one who has to live with the decision. If you have a 3rd and it is a boy, and you didn't go all out, will you regret your decision? If they answer is no than do what you are comfortable with. In the end it is all about what you are comfortable with mentally and physically.

[Kelissi]

Our Internet has been wonky and I've been busy toddler chasing the past couple days - thanks so much for the amazing responses! I'm feeling great and so much less stressed - and I certainly enjoy some junky food now and then. I'm going to be purchasing a personalized plan soon (yay!) and I'm sure that we'll do all we can to get a healthy pregnancy, and if it's pink, so much the better :). So grateful to have found this site and this support!

[3BoysBlessed]

All of your info here has been extremely helpful and insightful, ladies! We live in a farm community, somewhat affluent town but really it's a semi-rural/resort area. We are not "rich", just typical middle class, personally. So it's an interesting mix of boys vs girls. The ladies who tend to eat like I do have the boys: grass fed meats, organic, whole foods, local fruits and veggies "support the farmers" eaters, I suppose. We are in cherry country, too and I know those are loaded with potassium and other nutrients. I have had days where I've only eaten cherries in the past on some hot summer days. I mean I ate loads of them! It's no wonder I've conceived four boys! There are many many women here who have multiple boys, though. Three seems to be the magic number. Every family on our son's hockey team was a family of three boys each!
I have noticed that those women who tend to appear unhealthy-either very heavy or very thin tend to have more girls, though. It's very interesting. The socioeconomic factor is what I see at work.
It's sort of opposite to the previous post about Silicon Valley here, too. The better off (money-wise) tend to have healthier diet that is boy friendly, in this local area, while the lower incomes have unhealthy and a lot of processed food diets...recipes posted on Pinterest by some friends and on Facebook are some interesting indicators, as well. The healthier women who do workout like me tend to average a healthy (several are more muscular, I suppose from doing riding bike, swimming, running, skiing, or a combo) size 10-14 or so and have plenty of boys. It's so fascinating to read all of your posts and notice what could help us all out in some way or another.

I am hoping that I can shift my normally healthy diet enough to make a change, but we will see. Skipping breakfast is tricky for me and the hardest part. At least with summer here, it will be easier to load up on healthy and more girl friendly veggies than in winter months.