Trying for pink, but need advice!

[jazzers]

I am trying to sway pink this time (we have 26 month old and 11 month old sons!), and have been doing lots nd lots of reading over the past few months. Now that I have weaned the baby, and will ovulate today or tomorrow, and then *hopefully* will get my period back in a couple weeks (it's been a LONG time!! I got pg with the baby 2 weeks after I weaned our oldest, before my period returned).

Anyways, originally I thought I would do the FGD, but recently, reading this thread, I'm thinking the LE diet is much better. I had already cut out the big "no-nos" for the past few months to prepare, like salt, potatoes, bananas, meat (all of which were HUGE staples in our diet before). However, now I'm thinking that may not be enough? My sodium falls in the 1600mg range most days (it used to probably be 4x that - I loved salt!!), and protein intake is about 80g/day, and I eat about 2000-2500 calories daily and do a lot of running (I run half marathons now). I find with two little kids, it is hard, bordering impossible for me to lower my caloric intake because I get really shaky, and REALLY irritable! I also don't have much weight to lose - I am already on the low end of the weight scale for my height. I'm at a lower weight now by a 5-7 pounds than when I conceived my boys, and in much better physical shape. So I'm not sure what to do. Any suggestions??? I really really want to do what I can for this one to be a girl!! Oh, and we are using Sylk this time (used preseed last), and no Evening Primrose, and abstaining 7+ days.

Thanks!!

[rainbowflower]

welcome! I have a baby about the same age as yours
lower is lower (weight, and sodium/protein/etc. intake), and that can only be a good thing. you could have a look into low sodium salt if you really can't give up the salt itself

I'd try and make your diet as vegetarian as you can, and see if you can lose even 1lb as the loss itself seems to sway no matter how much you actually weigh.

do you have regular cycles? will you be having your attempt on OV day?

[jazzers]

I haven't had my cycle back since the baby was born last February! So, we're going on 11 months here. I have been using OPK's this time though, because I got pregnant with this little guy precisely 2 weeks after weaning my older son, and before having my first postpartum AF. Anyways, we are precisely 2 weeks post-weaning now, and surprise surprise, I got a positive OPK today! Because Christmas has been difficult to do anything diet-wise, I hvae been staying 10 feet away from DH LOL. I am also really hoping to get AF back this time, as it has been THREE years!! I guess I will try to do low everything and see how it goes. I am going to go investigate the fake salt too while we're still in the US (I live in Canada, and it is so hard to find any specialty products there! US has WAY more than we do )

Would you recommend attempting on O day next cycle? With my two boys, we DTD every day from 3-4 days before O and 1 day after....so I thought abstaining might be better this time??

[jazzers]

And thank you for the welcome!! So nice to see so many wonderful and supportive ladies on this board

[rainbowflower]

you could still abstain and DTD on OV day

you've just jogged my memory about your other post, yes you did say that you got your cycles back quickly. Lucky you!! lol

[atomic sagebrush]

Hi and welcome!

Yes, I would be a little worried with your nutrient profile. The standard recommendation I give for LE is 40-50 g protein (with occasional increases to 50-60 for people who are very tall, have PCOS, or breastfeeding) and no more than 2000 cals. I think it's best for most people to go for 1500-1800 but at least below 2000.

Is there any way you can kinda ease into it? People have a lot more success making gradual changes over a few weeks rather than diving in headfirst.

If you can't do any different than what you're doing, then you are certainly better off in terms of weight than when you conceived your boys so you may just want to stick closer to other sway tactics and give yourself a bit of a break with diet. I do agree with Rainbow tho - if there is any way to go completely vegetarian, even if you can't change anything else, that can only help.

I'm not convinced I think salt matters much if at all but since it's an easy thing for most of us to cut out, 700-1000 mg of sodium is what we generally aim for - if you gotta cheat on something tho, make it salt.

[atomic sagebrush]

Re the fake salt - I believe one of the most commonly sold salt replacers is potassium based, which you may not want either!!

[jazzers]

you could still abstain and DTD on OV day

you've just jogged my memory about your other post, yes you did say that you got your cycles back quickly. Lucky you!! lol

Yep, seems my body only needs 2 weeks to get back into action! LOL. That we will have to watch out for when we are done having kids

[jazzers]

Hi and welcome!

Yes, I would be a little worried with your nutrient profile. The standard recommendation I give for LE is 40-50 g protein (with occasional increases to 50-60 for people who are very tall, have PCOS, or breastfeeding) and no more than 2000 cals. I think it's best for most people to go for 1500-1800 but at least below 2000.

Is there any way you can kinda ease into it? People have a lot more success making gradual changes over a few weeks rather than diving in headfirst.

If you can't do any different than what you're doing, then you are certainly better off in terms of weight than when you conceived your boys so you may just want to stick closer to other sway tactics and give yourself a bit of a break with diet. I do agree with Rainbow tho - if there is any way to go completely vegetarian, even if you can't change anything else, that can only help.

I'm not convinced I think salt matters much if at all but since it's an easy thing for most of us to cut out, 700-1000 mg of sodium is what we generally aim for - if you gotta cheat on something tho, make it salt.

Whew....ok, this is going to be a challenge! I am still adjusting to the post-breastfeeding diet (when I was breastfeeding I could eat anything and everything...and would eat anything and everything in sight! LOL). I did notice that eating 2500 calories a day made it so so difficult to keep sodium levels low, simply due to quantity of food. So, less food should make this all easier!

One other question though, is this net calories? I run 4 times a week, for about 90 minutes each time (14km or so), so I'm burning at least 1000 calories right there. I think this has a lot to do with my appetite. Would you cut out the running, or would you eat a bit more to make up for it (or would that defeat the purpose??)? Thanks!

[jazzers]

Re the fake salt - I believe one of the most commonly sold salt replacers is potassium based, which you may not want either!!

Also good to know. Thank you!