A change of plan-can anyone help please?

[GlitterMouse]

Oh my goodness Atomic. You are the kindest person x Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. I really didn't expect this and would have been happy with a brief outline. I am so grateful.

I'd read on a different post that you were having a tricky week and fully understood you may not have been able to respond this time. Big hugs and hope your week has improved.

I will read through all this information with DH over the weekend. I've mentioned before that he is a scientist and we both have full respect for your knowledge and dedication to providing factual, backed up information.

Thanks for taking time out in your life to help little old me here in the UK xxx

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you so much Glitter, that response was very much appreciated.

[GlitterMouse]

Atomic, I've had a good look through all the information you have sent, thank you. I just have a couple of questions, just to make sure I have understood things properly! I will try to be brief!!

After talking to DH we have decided to wait 2 months before starting to TTC again. This fits into our life but also I feel I have been so far 'off the wagon', I need to get back on track, especially after committing so much time and energy to the plan, I don't want to fall at the final hurdle!! I hear what you're saying about salmon, eggs, dairy and will add these in. I will go back to exercising for an hour 5-6 times per week. Strangely, I've kinda missed it anyway!

Re PCOS diet, I'll be honest, I'm scared to leave your LE diet. I'm worried that my nutrition will swing too much the other way and sway boy?? I had stopped my fibre tablets, just got a bit lazy after taking them daily for months. Could this have impacted the OPK's?? I didn't replace the fibre with any other fibre rich foods?

I suppose basically what I'm asking is can I go back to what I was doing before and give myself 8+ weeks to get back on track? ie LE, vegetarian, no breakfast, Alcohol, exercise, coffee, fibre tabs PLUS salmon, eggs and dairy? Would this correct things? When I did this (minus the salmon, eggs and dairy) the OPKs were working fine, I was getting static smileys every cycle etc. OR do I need the PCOS diet to correct things further?

Also with regards to DH,he is the most unhealthy he has ever been (his words!) He's at his heaviest weight, run down etc... would you advise that he starts to exercise run/cycle or stay as he is? He was taking OLE but has become lazy with it. Should he start this up again?

Thanks in advance of your help. I know you're busy and appreciate any response when you have a minute.

[atomic sagebrush]

The problem is that if you really DO have PCO-tendencies, the higher levels of empty carbs in the standard sway diet may sway blue for you by raising your blood sugar and possibly testosterone. So those who need to be on that type of diet are not compromising their sway in any way. In fact the alt. diet is getting great results for us - I have even contemplated having everyone do it instead but it is too hard to stick to and many people would lose massive amounts of weight on it (it's also significantly more expensive if that is a concern). So please don't feel that it is a worse sway, it isn't.

All that having been said if you prefer the standard diet, it is always your sway, your way, and totally up to you. I personally could not have stuck with the alternate diet!! It is just something that I can't know - what is always going to be right for every individual.

Re your DH - I see a fair number of blue swayers with many daughters whose hubbies are heavy set, run down, etc. My husband was at his heaviest weight by far when we got our girl. My concern is that while we do have studies that indicate running/cycling sway pink, our observational experiences show that being overweight for DH also sway pink. So I just can't say for sure if one would be better than the other. OLE is supposed to help, this is one thing I'm still up in the air about. We've seen enough pink success so I can say that I certainly don't think it's swaying blue.

[GlitterMouse]

Thanks for your reply Atomic. I had a good look at the PCOS diet last night and think I probably have more reading/research to do. I will join the PCOS thread, I'm sure those girls have a wealth of knowledge and don't want to take up loads of your time when I can do some finding out myself.

Just a couple of quick questions:
In its simplest form, am I avoiding white carbs and sugar and introducing more wholegrains? Can this include wholemeal?

What are your thoughts regarding coffee, alcohol? I would miss those guys if I had to give them up but will do if you think it takes me nearer to girl!

Should I stop being vegetarian now?

Would it be completely ridiculous to do a bit of both diets or would one undo the other?

Thank you

[atomic sagebrush]

Simplest boiled down PCOS diet:

Eat same number of cals you were before (or more if your weight is low)
Up protein and fat to 50-60 g (this effectively cuts carbs with no effort at all on your part)
Get carbs from better sources of carbs like whole grains and fruit and veg. Some people can have white rice as well as that is better tolerated by some people.

I am fine with PCOS diet having alcohol and coffee. There is a big complex explanation there so I'll just shorten it and say it can help with blood sugar a bit despite several sources having them down as no-nos. As long as you're eating well otherwise, then they are fine and probably beneficial.

You don't have to give up being vegetarian - you can easily get up to 50-60 g protein and fat while having mainly dairy and grain/legume foods. (only people who are the worst off have to give up on legumes)

Yes it's completely possible to blend the two. A lot of people do this. That way you're getting some benefits of the PCO type diet but at the same time are not jonesing so badly for a little bit of sugar now and then, and can have dinner at a friend's or whatever including some white bread or whatever.

[GlitterMouse]

Thank you so much Atomic. Sorry for my late reply, we've had a chaotic week!

I'm getting on board with PCOS diet now. Fingers crossed!! xx

[atomic sagebrush]

FX and TX too!