Diet Questions (I think, I tend to ramble)

[angielorna]

Okay, so I've been doing LE since early March (with some cheats, of course).

I was aiming for 1500 cals, 42 g of fat, 45 g of protien (sometimes went over fat).
I'm looking at switching to the PCOS/insulin resistance version and, after looking at it, I think my fat was waaaaay too high for what I was doing before.

Because I wasn't losing much weight from LE (most of my weightloss came from a generic diet before LE where I was eating 1200) I plan to decrease to 1200 cals version of PCOS. Do the following totals sound right to people?

1200 cals
25 g fat
50 g protein

Though I really want to attempt this month (as I have done the past 2 months), I have to admit, I'm starting to think about postponing despite my age and concerns. I messed up so badly in my last 2ww it makes me want to cry. I was SO DANG sure I was preggo.

And now that it has been suggested exercise less than 60 mins would be okay because I'm so overweight, I'd like to incorporate that as well. Ugh....I swear I'm not obsessing!

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated,
Angie

[LilithWiser1979]

This sounds like a question for atomic, but I'd advise you to try LE PCOS style at 1500 calories before reducing it. You might be surprised at how your body reacts to it.

An hour of exercise sounds intimidating, but it's really not so bad. Most of the time, I just hit the elliptical at a medium clip or speedwalked on the treadmill at 3.8 mph. You can't be going at it so fast that you can't keep it up for 60 minutes, it just needs to be a bit challenging for YOU at YOUR current fitness level.

You can do it! I'm really glad I chose to add in exercise. It worked for me, and it's to most successful tactic (with LE diet of course) that we can control (most of us aren't on clomid or conceiving after a mc!)

[angielorna]

I tried the 60 minutes a day and felt like death. I posted yesterday about the exercise and Atomic told me moderate exercise would be fine for me. It was she who suggested changing the LE diet for an alternative one, but I didn't ask about the lowered caloric intake.

Congrats again on your baby girl, Lilith. I can't tell you how happy I am for you!!!

I'm supposed to attempt (again) about 8 days from now. Sigh. I don't know!
Angie

[Rosie85]

I don't advise 1200 calories. I ended up eating only 1200 a lot and I did get pregnant but I also miscarried and I am worried so few calories and nutrients may have been the cause. 1200 calories doesn't sustain health it barely sustains life in general even if you have weight to lose.

[angielorna]

I was doing 1200 for about a month before switching to the LE. Begrudgingly, perhaps I'll only go down to 1400 calories (compromise) :P Dang, more food to eat. Hahaha. I so want one of the cookies in the board room at work....but I ate 2 yesterday and gave me a total of 398 wasted calories and a whooping 18 grams of fat!!! I'm having a really hard time not snacking in the evening after work, too. Not because I'm hungry, but because I always have, boo. Now I'm just whinning, lol.

Thanks for the input, ladies :) It makes me so happy to know I have brains to pick when I'm planning drastic measures!!!

Angie

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, ladies.

[carmella_marie]

I know you probably want to hear from atomic for your specific case, but she seems to rarely recommend going under 1500 cals. I lose weight a lot faster if I'm eating healthy brown rice, whole wheat bread, veggies, and egg whites vs sugary empty things, even when cals are the same. Maybe try the PCOS version of LE?

[bluebonnet22]

I second what carmella said. When I first started LE I wasn't losing any weight (or losing VERY slowly), but I was eating lots of empty sugary things (gummy bears, cookies, cake, etc). I've given up 90% of the sugary things and I've dropped weight so much faster in the past couple of weeks (5 pounds in 2 weeks which is good for me!).

I still eat plenty of things I shouldn't eat (restaurant food, cheese, avocado, etc, etc), but I think cutting out all the simple sugars has helped me feel better and lose weight even though my calories are about the same.

[angielorna]

I'm not usually eating the sugary things (gummy bears, candy etc). Sometimes I have a little chocolate. I've pulled up the PCOS version and that's what I'm going to do from here on out. Just thought I'd decrease the cals with it too :)

I ate the cookie.

Angie

[SamS_TTCPink]

I'd probably stick with higher calories on the PCOS version and see how you go. Then if you still don't lose any weight you'll have some room to move. I'm not losing much weight on LE either, I don't think my body responds well to carbs in general.

[atomic sagebrush]

??? fat should be HIGHER on PCO type diet, not lower. Fewer cals from carbs, more from protein and fat.

I agree please start off on PCOS diet at higher cal range, you may be surprised.

25 g fat is the absolute barest minimum that I ever want anyone eating.