Pregnancy and Low-Carb

[Politicalpilot]

I've been doing low-carb for over a year now, and lost 30 lbs. (my goal was 50). I am now 6 wks. pregnant, and am trying to figure out the balance between eating good and not gaining too much weight. My last pregnancy I was *so sick* the entire time, so I ate what stayed down and that was it. This time, even eating mostly low-carb with a half bagel or some extra fruit once in a while, I'm still always hungry!
I've read the other posts on here, but I'm still looking for ideas and advice on what I can use to ease the hunger and still not eat too much of the wrong things.
Thanks!

[laughingW]

What are you eating?

It seems to me like the other suggestions covered just about everything so I wonder if you tried them all and it still didn't do the trick, or if there are some you don't like.

[Politicalpilot]

Well...I've only known I was pregnant for a week. But I eat eggs and sometimes bacon for breakfast, either a hamburger patty or cheese/summer sausage and apple/peanut butter for lunch, and then a protein-heavy meal for dinner (roast, steak, roasted chicken, etc.). For snacks I have a few slices of apple and peanut butter or cashews and raisins. I haven't had a chance to get low-carb "snack" food yet though...jerky, more nuts, cottage cheese, etc. Maybe not having the snacks is part of the "always hungry" problem?
I guess part of my problem is what to do with my random cravings? Last time it was Frosties from Wendy's and Ruffles potato chips. Do I just not eat those things this time, or just have a little bit?

[laughingW]

Hm what would I do, knowing what I know now...Sounds like you are a little light on protein at breakfast and lunch. I would add some there.

The snacks are light on protein, too.

Did you ever try making a big breakfast or lunch, and then just saving part of the same thing for 2-3 hours later? I found that was the easiest way to get in enough food. (But then I hate snack food. never satisfying! )

Cravings - there are two kinds. One is from not eating enough and you can figure that out. The other is from withdrawal from suddenly stopping certain foods.

I would not do Wendy's or Ruffles in small amounts as I really have a stopping problem. I would maybe use a higher carb level instead, and fill it up with veggies or even sweet potatoes or stuff like that. But if you are doing a sudden change from regularly having that to having none, maybe small amounts would feel better to you.

It's all about feeling great and not having crashes of energy or mood or anything, either for you or your baby. I am almost jealous. A healthy pregnancy can be so fun.

[Spruce Goose]

My wife emailed Dr. Mike when she was pregnant and he suggested bumping things up to maintenance levels (instead of gradually increasing carbs week by week, he suggested day by day).

She did that for a while and was maintaining her weight. Her doc was fine because she was eating plenty and the baby was healthy. However at some point more carbs started to slip in and eventually she put on some weight but still within the acceptable range for being pregnant. By "more carbs", I'm talking those huge muffins (chocolate chip) that you buy at the store. We ate dinners together and they were low-carb but the rest of her meals were full carb.

After the baby? She basically still had all the weight she put on. She told me that next time she's sticking with low-carb throughout the pregnancy.

[laughingW]

After the baby? She basically still had all the weight she put on. She told me that next time she's sticking with low-carb throughout the pregnancy.
Yeah, my DD stayed low carb through the pregnancy and didn't have any extra weight after the baby. Boy did it make her mad when people would say, you must be different, you got your figure back, you just don't gain like the rest of us. She gains on carbs, in fact her whole family is super sensitive... she felt like it was dissing all her conscientiously eating those meat-and-veg meals when she could have gone for the carbs like anyone else.

In fact when she was nursing she got so underweight she went for the carbs again and it helped her get enough energy. But then when the baby weaned, kaboom she started gaining from the carbs. 20 pounds (10 she needed, 10 extra, LOL) before she even noticed that hey, she can't keep eating like that....

[Politicalpilot]

Ahh, this is all helpful! Thank you!

My goal (once we go shopping tomorrow) is to try something like this:
B: Eggs, bacon, fruit (berries w/ cream and stevia or any fruit in season) or Protein Shake
S: Nuts, string cheese or baby carrots/celery with dip
L: Salad with meat or a hamburger (minus bun), veggies with dip
D: Whatever I normally make, always low carb
S: Yogurt (plain)

I guess what I'm hoping is to eat like I normally do, but add in some veggies and fruit that I'd normally eat it tiny amounts (carrots, watermelon, etc.) Also, I'm sure once in a while I'll have croutons on a salad or a half of a bagel. But hopefully eating like this I won't have carb cravings!
How does this sound?

[laughingW]

yes, much better! make those salads big! and enjoy. I too hope you don't have the cravings this way. It is so nice to hear of a really sensible pregnancy for once, ahhhhh.