Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Can you loose weight on the protocol?

Ladies,
I am almost 4 months into the regular protocol. Yah!!! Lenore are you proud of me <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> . My question is. I really need to loose some weight. I wonder how hard it will be to do that on the protocol. I am thinking about doing the low carbo way of eating. I know as long as I am not pumping I should be okay. If I were pumping I have heard that ketones would go in the milk and harm the baby. Any insight into that to? The reason I am asking. I may have to go off the protocol soon. Its not helping my blood pressure. Thats why I want to loose some weight and stay ON the protocol. So does anyone know if it would be hard to do this? I know the protocol makes your body think its pregnant. So would it be hard to loose it or would it interfere with my breast development? A new situation to ponder... any advice???
hugs to all Nona

Nona,
Hello. I am an expert on low carb lifestyle. I was on atkins for 2 years, stayed a size 5, felt great. I just wanted to tell you that on the bcp, your body will absolutely NOT let you get into ketosis. The progesterone, a steroid hormone, enhances gluconeogenesis,,,the production of glucose. You can certainly go on a low carb plan, but don't plan on doing the first phase the "induction" phase, that puts you into ketosis and you have a weight loss of 14 lbs in 2 weeks. As long as you are on the pill, you will not be able to be in ketosis. The best bet would be the "maintanence" phase, which is to restrict carbs, esp. simple sugars, junk food, white flour, rice etc...and eat protein, berries, nuts, fish, salad, dark green veggies...limit fruit to berries like strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 apple....no high sugar fruit like watermelon, bannanas, cantalope. You may lose weight doing this,,,but remember, the hormones , estrogen, progesterone and prolactin tells our body that we are pregnant...and ..our metabolism is slowed,
we hold onto more water etc....I am totally trying not to worry about my 30 plus lb weight gain, as I know as soon as this whole experience is over, I will definately get back down to where I was. Low carb lifestyle worked very well for me. Its not what everyone thinks,,,high fat, only meat etc...I ate fish 3x a week with a salad at least 1x a day. Plus, dark green veggies (except peas which are high sugar )...small servings of healthy nuts, and absolutely no junk food! My blood sugar when I was a strict low fat vegetarian was fasting of 180,,,on the Atkins my sugar never got above 70-80, even
after eating! My lab values were absolutely perfect, my cholesterol was 130, my HDL and LDL ratio was perfect (HDL should be 2x s high as LDL), my triglyceride level was 11. People think eating fat will rasie your cholesterol and triglyceride levels..the truth is that carbs, even complex carbs,,all break down to sugar in the body. They all cause the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is what tells your body to store fat. Insulin is also what tells your liver to make cholesterol...fat will not make you fat,,the carbs do that all by themselves! What is bad is to eat high fat food and lots of carbs.
I work 60-72 hours plus a week, but still try to fit in some sort of exercise. Try power walking, esp carrying light weights helps. We can only try our best. I get such severe cravings while on these meds,,,and I am starving every 2 hours. Just take one day at a time. You are doing great.
take care Nona,
Cathy

Hi Nona,

I didn't gain alot of weight on the protocol. I didn't need to LOL.
When I started pumping the weight just fell off! I lost 20lbs. plus the 10lbs. I gained while on the protocol. I only pumped for 2 months and did not change the way I ate, except for adding alot more oatmeal.

The best to you,
Patty

I need to loose a good amount of weight.. I talked to Lenore and she suggested the Atkins diet. So did my surrogate. So my husband and I started it. I must say I have lost 18 lbs really easy on the low carb eating! And I plan to continue til I get everything off I need.

Nona,
Good for you. I am waiting to go back on the Atkins until I am off the bcp,,my cravings etc, are pretty bad. At least I have not gained any lately. It sounds like you are doing great. You know, a major recent study done found that people who lost on the Atkins did not gain it back like the ones on the low fat high carb diets,,and,,,I heard that the food pyramid is now being redesigned based more on a low carb lifestyle...not 8-11 servings of bread a day like it is now. The problem is, people do not even realize what a serving size is anyways,,,,I am so glad it is working for you. Are you still going to be involved in the mother to mother milk donation program in a few months? I may need some, esp if we do accept the twin referral. thanks, Cathy

Cathy,
Oh yes I will be doing the donation program.. As long as there are donors and mommies in need <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Nona, that is good to know. My hubbie is not being too supportive about twins, I guess I will have to let them be adopted by someone else. I am very sad about this, I am just tring to get through today. Thanks alot, cathy

How do I find out about the donation program? Last time I was lacating) which was 10 yrs ago) I could have fed the world. I would be interested in this program as I restart the lacation process thru this program.
calleen <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey Nona,

My husband and I are on Atkins now. It's really amazing how it works. Very simple premise. Less than 20 grams of carbs per day, no pasta, grains, sugar, and no fruit. Then you eat as much protein as you need to feel satisfied but not stuffed. And you can eat 2-3 cups of salad per day as well. No beans or legumes. No nuts. But you CAN have butter, cream, bacon, oil, mayonaise which are fats. But no margerine.

The idea is to remove the carbohydrates to encourage your body to burn fat. You can eat fat and protein as long as you don't eat more than those 20 grams of carbs in the form of veggies.

I highly recommend that you get the book. Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution. It's in paperback. It really seems to work, and we're not hungry. One thing, Dr. Atkins does not advocate the diet for pregnant or lactating women but if you're not lactating yet, you can go for it.

Fondly, Lenore

Hello everyone,
I have all of Dr. Atkins books, I had been on the strictest induction phase of 20 grams of carbs or less for 2 years. I went off it when I started the protocol.
You can have margarine, just get the kind that is Transfatty acid free,,,or all natural margarine,,,he just doesn't like all the chemicals in regular margarine. Also, pregnant and lactating women CAN be on the Maintenance phase of his plan. There are 4 phases, the Maint. allows you the most carbs. You absolutely CAN eat nuts! After the first 2 weeks of induction. Almonds are extemely good for you, help prevent breast cancer and provide vitamin E. He rec. the lower carb nuts...not peanuts, cashews,,,mainly Macadamia nuts are great, as well as almonds. You have to limit them to a small handful...not the whole jar!!! After the induction, you can also have some other yummy treats,,,blackberries or blueberries with Splenda and heavy cream,,,,is so good. I also take the Atkins Chocholate Shake mix and mix it with heavy cream,,makes like a choch. pudding. I bought a bread machine and I bake my own low carb bread. There are also tons and tons of websites now with low carb pasta, bread, desserts etc....I stayed a size 5 for the 2 years on it, had alot of energy, worked out for 2 hours a day on my days off and 30 minutes a day when I work. The great thing is when you lift weights and combine it with the protein,,,boy do you get lots of muscle mass! Great for burning fat.
Alot of the low carb products contain alot of soy flour...be careful on the protocol not to eat too much soy, as it contains natural estrogen and it may suppress you milk production. Off the protocol, soy is extremely healthy., I eat soy muffins, soy bread etc...but not the soy milk it is fairly high in carbs,,,,there is a website that has Keto milk....it is a powder you mix up, very low carb and great on the low carb cereal.
Believe my, 2 years on the strictist phase, I had to learn to be very creative or I would get pretty bored. I also ate a salad every day for lunch. It is actually an exxtremely healthy way of living,,not just a diet, it has to be a lifestyle change. While all my co-workers are eating thier refined white flour doughnuts etc...I would eat a small piece of low carb chocholate etc...so I would not feel totally deprived.
Carbolite makes great low carb choch. bars! There is also a bakery in Miami that has choch. muffins, low carb tortillas, fiber rich low carb yummy bread....I would still limit these to one time a day only,,,but boy, do they taste great. I went over 1 year without a piece of bread and when I found these web sites I was in heaven!
If anyone has any questions, I feel that I am an expert on the low carb lifestyle, I also have recipes to share etc.... just let me know! Take care,
Cathy