Low carb and TTC?

k8dinger · 05-12-2012, 03:44 PM

Hi!
I'm 37 and TTC for more than a year. I conceived easily in Nov 2010, then miscarried in January 2011. Tried, and tried, and tried, but then bit the bullet and went to the RE in December 2012. Got my hormone workup, everything was great. DH's workup was great too. Everything looked good.

Only thing wrong is that I have about 55 pounds to lose.

In Jan 2012 I started Weight Watchers. In three months, I lost... nothing. (PS, when I told the RE that I quit sugar, she said, "You don't have to do that. That's extreme. Weight Watchers is a very good program. They teach you about portion control.")

In March 2012 I started SBD, because I remember how good I felt on it before.
I'm now eating low-carb Paleo, with under 25 carbs per day. Feeling very good, and finally losing weight - now that I cut out artificial sweetener and snacking between meals.

HOWEVER, I get these light, scanty periods on this diet. Like, one pantiliner per day. This month I was late, too (31 days as opposed to my usual 27), which just messes with my mind while TTC. No PMS symptoms! It's great! BUT, I have to wonder...

Do these light periods mean that I'm messing with my fertility? I did ovulate this month... but I just wonder if anyone else has had similar experiences with period changes, and if so, was everything OK?

Thanks!!

cheri · 05-12-2012, 05:44 PM

I think you are fine.. A lot of peoples periods will fluctuate when you are first starting lowcarb but should return back to normal.. In fact.. Women with PCOS are told to go on lowcarb because they have a hard time conceiving and once they are on the Lowcarb plan they end up getting pregnant. So LC is great for fertility..

Katy · 05-13-2012, 12:06 AM

I have pcos and am using low carb to try to lose weight and hopefully bring back my periods since they stopped last fall. We've been ttc #2 for awhile now. Even my doctor said watching carbs and losing weight is good for trying to increase fertility.

k8dinger · 05-13-2012, 06:23 AM

I actually got a "real" period this time :-) though it was 4 days late. I was just having a freak-out at finding out I wasn't pregnant after a 2WW plus 4 days. Back to the drawing board!! Thanks!!

Soaplady · 05-16-2012, 02:01 PM

Just wanted to say hi. I have been doing the South Beach Diet on and off for years. I am 38 and my husband and I are trying to conceive our first. I know it gets harder to conceive at my age and I'm sure all the extra weight I'm carrying around is not helping matters. I told myself that if I got my period this month, I would be starting over on the SBD to try to drop some weight and to feel better. I am relieved to hear low carb is great for fertility...yay!!!

Janknitz · 05-22-2012, 05:09 PM

I had pretty light periods and long cycles (32 days instead of 28) while low carbing and taking Metformin, so I was incredibly shocked to find myself pregnant! I had what I thought was a period the month I turned out to be pregnant, it was lighter still.

I think the lighter periods are due to the fact that with more regular periods you are not having to sluff off months of accumulation. You are probably building up a nice, fresh lining each month instead of layer upon layer of stuff.

Low carbing definitely helps conception. If you are feeling like there is no progress, ask your doctor to check your INSULIN levels (not a glucose tolerance, that won't tell you enough) and consider Metformin to help you conceive.

Soaplady · 05-23-2012, 09:53 AM

So glad to hear low carbing helps with conception. I've been doing a modified South Beach/Paleo and I feel so much better already.

@k8dinger - must be something in the air. I was 5 days late this month and am NEVER late! Was pretty disappointed to get my period after those 5 days.

glitterific · 05-28-2012, 11:02 AM

when I was doing really well sticking to SB is when I got pregnant

I hope you all get pregnant as soon you want!

hendrix girl · 06-02-2012, 01:31 PM

I just started LC today and I just found this site today. Thanks for giving me hope. I did LC a few years ago and it did regulate my cycle, I can go months and months without one. I know LC is the key and hopefully I can be a mommy soon. I really think I cannot do this alone. I need God and a good support system.

BTW K8, WW worked for me in the past, but it was the old plan. I lost 30 lbs in less than 4 months but I agree, this new plan didn't do anything for me.

socaligirl714 · 06-18-2012, 10:35 AM

me and my husband have been TTC for 2 years.. I went to my Dr a yr ago and they just basically said my weight is effecting me. At the time my insurance didnt cover infertility and to do those test we would have to come out of pocket over $5000. Which we didn't have. Now i have changed to my husband's insurance we are still TTC, but it isn't working. I get scared to go to the dr because i know they are just going to say my weight. I have regular periods and i have had blood work done they said everything looked good.

05-12-2012, 03:44 PM	#1
k8dinger Junior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2 Gallery: k8dinger WOE: Paleo Start Date: 3/28/12	Low carb and TTC? Hi! I'm 37 and TTC for more than a year. I conceived easily in Nov 2010, then miscarried in January 2011. Tried, and tried, and tried, but then bit the bullet and went to the RE in December 2012. Got my hormone workup, everything was great. DH's workup was great too. Everything looked good. Only thing wrong is that I have about 55 pounds to lose. In Jan 2012 I started Weight Watchers. In three months, I lost... nothing. (PS, when I told the RE that I quit sugar, she said, "You don't have to do that. That's extreme. Weight Watchers is a very good program. They teach you about portion control.") In March 2012 I started SBD, because I remember how good I felt on it before. I'm now eating low-carb Paleo, with under 25 carbs per day. Feeling very good, and finally losing weight - now that I cut out artificial sweetener and snacking between meals. HOWEVER, I get these light, scanty periods on this diet. Like, one pantiliner per day. This month I was late, too (31 days as opposed to my usual 27), which just messes with my mind while TTC. No PMS symptoms! It's great! BUT, I have to wonder... Do these light periods mean that I'm messing with my fertility? I did ovulate this month... but I just wonder if anyone else has had similar experiences with period changes, and if so, was everything OK? Thanks!!

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05-12-2012, 05:44 PM	#2
cheri Administrator Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Illinois Posts: 39,988 Gallery: cheri Stats: 150 + pounds lost - 4' 11"	I think you are fine.. A lot of peoples periods will fluctuate when you are first starting lowcarb but should return back to normal.. In fact.. Women with PCOS are told to go on lowcarb because they have a hard time conceiving and once they are on the Lowcarb plan they end up getting pregnant. So LC is great for fertility..

05-13-2012, 12:06 AM	#3
Katy Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 263 Gallery: Katy Stats: 299/259/150 WOE: Atkins OWL Start Date: April 2012	I have pcos and am using low carb to try to lose weight and hopefully bring back my periods since they stopped last fall. We've been ttc #2 for awhile now. Even my doctor said watching carbs and losing weight is good for trying to increase fertility.

05-13-2012, 06:23 AM	#4
k8dinger Junior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2 Gallery: k8dinger WOE: Paleo Start Date: 3/28/12	I actually got a "real" period this time :-) though it was 4 days late. I was just having a freak-out at finding out I wasn't pregnant after a 2WW plus 4 days. Back to the drawing board!! Thanks!!

05-16-2012, 02:01 PM	#5
Soaplady Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New England Posts: 5 Gallery: Soaplady WOE: South Beach Start Date: January 2012	Just wanted to say hi. I have been doing the South Beach Diet on and off for years. I am 38 and my husband and I are trying to conceive our first. I know it gets harder to conceive at my age and I'm sure all the extra weight I'm carrying around is not helping matters. I told myself that if I got my period this month, I would be starting over on the SBD to try to drop some weight and to feel better. I am relieved to hear low carb is great for fertility...yay!!!

05-22-2012, 05:09 PM	#6
Janknitz Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,754 Gallery: Janknitz Stats: 254/195/150 WOE: Low Carb High Fat, No Grains Start Date: June 16, 2011	I had pretty light periods and long cycles (32 days instead of 28) while low carbing and taking Metformin, so I was incredibly shocked to find myself pregnant! I had what I thought was a period the month I turned out to be pregnant, it was lighter still. I think the lighter periods are due to the fact that with more regular periods you are not having to sluff off months of accumulation. You are probably building up a nice, fresh lining each month instead of layer upon layer of stuff. Low carbing definitely helps conception. If you are feeling like there is no progress, ask your doctor to check your INSULIN levels (not a glucose tolerance, that won't tell you enough) and consider Metformin to help you conceive.

05-23-2012, 09:53 AM	#7
Soaplady Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New England Posts: 5 Gallery: Soaplady WOE: South Beach Start Date: January 2012	So glad to hear low carbing helps with conception. I've been doing a modified South Beach/Paleo and I feel so much better already. @k8dinger - must be something in the air. I was 5 days late this month and am NEVER late! Was pretty disappointed to get my period after those 5 days.

05-28-2012, 11:02 AM	#8
glitterific Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 145 Gallery: glitterific Stats: 224/171/140 WOE: South Beach	when I was doing really well sticking to SB is when I got pregnant I hope you all get pregnant as soon you want!

06-02-2012, 01:31 PM	#9
hendrix girl Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1 Gallery: hendrix girl	I just started LC today and I just found this site today. Thanks for giving me hope. I did LC a few years ago and it did regulate my cycle, I can go months and months without one. I know LC is the key and hopefully I can be a mommy soon. I really think I cannot do this alone. I need God and a good support system. BTW K8, WW worked for me in the past, but it was the old plan. I lost 30 lbs in less than 4 months but I agree, this new plan didn't do anything for me.

06-18-2012, 10:35 AM	#10
socaligirl714 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southern CAli Posts: 344 Gallery: socaligirl714 Stats: 310/286/180 Start Date: Restart-06/18/12	me and my husband have been TTC for 2 years.. I went to my Dr a yr ago and they just basically said my weight is effecting me. At the time my insurance didnt cover infertility and to do those test we would have to come out of pocket over $5000. Which we didn't have. Now i have changed to my husband's insurance we are still TTC, but it isn't working. I get scared to go to the dr because i know they are just going to say my weight. I have regular periods and i have had blood work done they said everything looked good.