Carbs???

[triciaism]

Hi,
Just wondering if you have tips for carb substitutes (helps w/craving), diets, etc. that seem to work for you (have improved your PCOS symptoms?). Trying to find something that works for me but not sure where to begin.
Tricia

[chandrea]

Hey Tricia-
When I was trying to get pg with my son I actually started the Atkins diet. Not because of PCOS, didnt know I had it at the time. But just to try to lose some weight to help conceive. It really did help. My RE said that the Atkins was great for PCOSers and that was probably why I got pg on my own. It made my cycles regular and for the first time (that I can think of) I actually Od on my own!

I would try any of the Atkins or other low carb subs... like the bars. Some of them are really really good. I really liked the chocolate candies too... but be careful... too much will send you to the bathroom!

Right now I am drinking the EAS AdvantEDGE drinks to try to help get my daily protein. They arent bad... and there is no sugar. Just like any "diet" food, you get used to it!

[Tweetyb]

South Beach is also low carb. Since I've been on Metformin, I've eaten those. It's pretty good and I'm usually a meat and potatos girl.

[Cassie R.]

I use protein-carb linking. The idea is that you always want to eat a high protein food with your carbs. For example, cheese and crackers; apple and p-nut butter; etc. The protein helps to slow the metabolism of the carbs down. Also, try to stay away from simple carbs (candy, fruit juice, white bread) and go for carbs that are more "natural" (apples, whole grains -- look for high fiber content).

Another tip -- low fat often means high sugar. I had no idea, but apparently one way to make low fat foods taste good is to increase the sugar. Since sugar has fewer calories than fat, the calories may also go down, so it can really be misleading.

[triciaism]

Thanks,
Very interesting information. For me it's hard because I do the cooking for myself & dh and he loves all the things I shouldn't have. So, I'm trying to figure out how to put it together for me and still feed dh without going crazy making two totally different things. Right now, I make dinner and he loves bread with it - I just make him some. But things like spaghetti or sandwiches - substituting is harder.
Chandrea - I remember you telling me about Atkins. I did'n't know they had snack bar type stuff. Is it hard to manage w/ dh - ie. do you do seperate meals or does he eat what you do?
Tweety - I have heard of South Beach but again, did'nt know they had snack food/bars. Have you done the full diet or are you just substituting w/the bars?
Cassie - I like the idea of protein/carb linking. I used to do that w/out knowing - love peanut butter & apples but have a child this year in my class (I teach preschool) that's allergic to peanut butter - so haven't eaten it this school year. Cheese and crackers are good. Sounds nice to get in some of the carbs and using the protein to off set.

I've looked up carbs in general and am seriously considering buying the Atkins book cause I think I need a guide. So in looking for simple and quick beginning at least - I think I will pick up some of the atkins/south beach type quick food for work and snacking.

These crazy hormones - I have gained a good ten pounds in the last year of taking all the meds and primarily in the middle. Of course having ohss twice didn't help in the midsection expansion. I was at or below weight for most of my life and have slowly gained after age 30. The biggest jump being in the last year and a half with all the ttc meds/ohss/mc etc. . . You get the idea.

Thanks for the info.
Tricia

[chandrea]

Hi Tricia-
DH would always do whatever I was doing. He knew that I was the cook... but not a short order cook. In my house you eat what is being served... or you dont eat. He liked it all. It really helped having a "buddy". Of course like all men he dropped weight a lot quicker than I did. I added a little more walking into my day and I caught up to him!

To this day you eat what is made... even my son will eat anything... and I mean anything! It really helps to not let them be picky!

[triciaism]

Hey Chandrea,
You made me laugh cause I grew up with my mom saying "This isn't a restaurant, you eat what I fix". I do generally adhere to that also and my once picky husband is not so much anymore (even my MIL who used to fix special meals just fo him - notices). I've been known to tell him that he can eat this or figure out how he's going to eat, cause this is what we are having. Throwing a piece of garlic bread into the toaster oven that only he isn't going to eat is about as special as it gets. I wasn't sure how restrictive the Atkins diet really is however. My dh could stand to lose a few lbs just like me - so it wouldn't kill him but I didn't want to completely change up and shock him unfairly. Sounds like it's do-able for us, I'm definately going to get the book.
Your right about that philosophy helping to prevent picky kids - I've seen it work: here's the food - eat or not - but this is what we're having.
Amazing how kids in that environment are generally not the "picky" ones.
I tell all my parents that research shows a child must be "exposed" to a new food at least 7 times before they generally feel comfortable eatting it. Also, if they see other's eatting it - they are more likely to try it themselves. So serve it and eventually they will try it (we serve breakfast in the am preschool and I always get parents in the beginning saying "She doesn't like, or He doesn't eat")
If they get hungry that helps too - he he he.
Thanks,
Chandrea

[chandrea]

Hahaha... sounds like your mom and I share the same philosophy! I wasnt picky and my hubby wasnt picky... so there was no way I would allow our son to be picky! My cousins kid wouldnt eat anything if it didnt have ranch on it. I couldnt believe that! I saw that and said NO WAY! So when we had our son we already had a little game plan all worked out. It also helped that he didnt have any food allergies. You are soooo correct about the 7 times to actually eat it. We made some shredded beef tacos and my son wanted spicy refried beans with it! He wouldnt even try them about a month ago... but I kept making them for DH and I and we would eat them and tell him how good they are. Now he loves them! Strange huh!? Next is spinich. I have to puree it and hide it in recipes for him to eat it! I didnt like it til I was about 15. He has no idea he eats it now! I even throw it in his salads!

The Atkins is a big change, dont let me misguide you. The first two weeks are the hardest. If memory serves me correctly, you can only have 20 carbs per day for the first 14 days. Then you slowly add in more carbs... that is when you can add the granola bars and the sugar free goodies! Two of our favorite snacks were pepperoni slices and cheese squares or ham slices with swiss cheese and a pickle spear all wrapped up... yum yum! Once you are on it for about a week your appetite diminishes! So you wont need as many snacks or large meal portions. I was still working at that time and the cafeteria made a really good omelet. I would have that with some pico in the morning... and some decaf tea! NO CAFFEINE! Did I forget to mention that one? You will feel horrible for the first 3 days if you drink a lot of caffeine... but after those 3 days you will feel the best you have ever felt! Oh, and no alcohol! Later on in the diet plan alcohol is fine. I think vodka was no carbs so I would have that with diet tonic and a slice of lime when needed And there is that low carb beer. But that is all much later in the diet! Oh, and I believe tequilla is no carb too! If you like it

It breaks it all down in the book and it offers some really good recipes! It is worth a shot! I loved it. I think I could have stayed on it forever... but I got pg after being on it for about 4 months so I had to introduce carbs back in for the sake of the baby!

[Cassie R.]

There is a really great book called the Insulin Resistance Diet that gives a lot of detail re: the protein-carb linking, and it is really easy to do! Also, if your dh likes spaghetti, try switching to a whole grain product, rather than the regular white pasta. The taste is a little drier so the first time you try it you might not think it is fully cooked, but it gets better when you get used to it. And there are a lot of good "no-sugar added" sauces on the market (look at the sugar content on the sauces -- some of them are pretty high ) Same goes for bread -- switch to whole wheat bread and try to only eat half of what you normally ate.

Something else I like is apple with cheese, so if you can't do p-butter, maybe you could try that instead.

[triciaism]

Hmmmmm,
Chandrea & Cassie,
Now both books sound good! I'm going to explore both and see what works. I've never been a "diet" person but healthier eatting in general would be good and understanding carbs by following a diet seems like the way to get that better understanding.
Cassie,
Never had an apple w/cheese (like together in one bite? - I'm thinking of peanut butter & apples how you get it in one bite ) but I do like cheese and I do like apples and have been known to eat them for lunch. Sounds do-able. I think my husband would flip over the whole grain spaghetti but I guess if that's what we are eatting, he'd either get used to it or make his own noodles. I don't eat bread very often but he loves it.
Chandrea,
Some of the kids in the afternoon class began eatting vegies because the teacher offers ranch for dip (ie. carrots, califlower, broccoli, cucumber, tomatoes) they not only like the taste but they like the control they have over the dipping process, but I could see how that could get out of control.
Your Atkins snacks you described sound good!
I'm not drinking coffee much anymore so no worries there! Don't drink anymore either. I guess that makes life kind of borring I go get Starbucks as a treat but trying to not get back in the full time habit.
Thanks for the info! Can I eat fish on the Atkins? What about the Insulin Resistance Diet? We eat fish in this house
Tricia