Currently I am on CAD/CALP. I have been on since Jan 12th of this year and have lost 42 pounds so far. Have 25 to 30 more to go. I have been considering switching to Atkins for the following reasons -

1. Wonder if I might have more energy. I could definitely use more energy. I am a 36 yr. old mom of a 20 month old and work part-time - have a lot to do and need as much energy as I can possibly get my hands on. I have more energy now than I did before CAD/CALP, but I still feel tired a lot. My mom just switched from CAD/CALP and says she feels better and has more energy.

2. Wonder if I would have less cravings. I don't usually have cravings - only if my RM is unbalanced toward the higher carb side. Although sometimes I want "bad" hi-carb foods. Don't really know if these desires should be labeled cravings. My mom says her cravings have totally gone away. Is this possible? Do you still want (maybe not crave) hi-carb foods? Or does this desire go away as well? I can't imagine that it would.

3. Don't know how CAD/CALP will work out when I'm pregnant and nursing again (which I hope to be within the next year or so). From what I've read, you can do OWL of Atkins when preggo or nursing. Not sure how CAD/CALP would work out or if I could stay on it. My freind says that her midwife says you can do it while nursing, but I don't know about when pregnant. If I can't do CAD/CALP while pregnant, I should probably get used to carb counting prior to pregnancy. I don't want to be newly pregnant and trying to get used to a whole new way of eating at the same time.

What has kept me from switching over...

1. Simplicity and flexibility of CAD/CALP
2. CAD/CALPs still working for me. I'm losing weight at a good rate (anywhere from 4 to 6 pounds a month).
3. Don't want to have to count carbs (although wonder if I'll need to when preggo/nursing)
4. Ease of eating with my family and in social situations
5. Would have to change my cooking habits if I switched to Atkins (which might prove time consuming). I cook a lot of casseroles and crockpot dishes.

Any thoughts/opinions/experience would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

Debby

206.5/164.5/140?
CAD/CALP since 1/12/13

Not much of a technical answer, but I know that I did not want to pass on ketones to my baby while nursing (and I am still nursing at 6 months!) So, no ketosis for me!

I keep my daily carb count around 60g a day to keep out of ketosis. I am afraid to go down to less than 40g.

My cravings have definitely lessened. I can go into a grocery store without my mouth watering just at the sight of bad carbs. I throw what I need carb-wise into the cart for my daughter and hubby, without thinking, "Ooooh, I can't wait until I get home to eat some of that!"

I had gestational diabetes while pregnant and my DR wanted me to eat 45g of carbs for each meal and 30g for each snack. That added up to 225g a day. I never was hungry when I did that.

Now I am down to 60g and hunger only comes around if I go longer than 4 hours without eating. It's just common sense to eat something low in carbs every couple of hours.

Hope this helps some!

Valerie, 35
Wife to Shaun (36),
Mother to Madison (2) and Jackson (6 mo)
Weakness? CHOCOLATE!

5'4"
LC 7/1/03
243(pregnant)/216 (prepregnancy)/215(now)/145 goal

Debbie, it sounds like you are doing great. I am doing Adkins and I am not sure if switching would increase your energy or not. I do not get as tired as before, but I still get tired everyday. I am more than ready for bedtime and I go to bed early (I get up early too).

As for being preg. or nursing on Adkins, the book says you can do a modified version. Valerie's 60g may work for you. I would think you could easily do a low carb "baby" plan by just cutting out sugar and refined flours. You could eat whole grains, veggies, fruits, dairy and meats and still be able to sustain calories for the baby. Of course, the best person to ask advice of is your doctor.

As for cravings the only time I have them is when I eat something sweet tasting. I had to quit having whip cream in the house.

I don't cook much which is why I like Adkins. I can throw meat in the crockpot and add my veggies or salad for dinner. I am not that familar with Cad/Calp, but I do not see cooking as a problem. When I eat out I just get veggies or salads instead of potatoes. Easy enough!

I hope this helped somewhat.

Best wishes!

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/178.5/160

Thanks, Valerie and Susan! You were both helpful.

I don't know why I keep thinking about going to Atkins. I keep coming back to... What I'm doing is working, so I should probably just stick with it.

In short, CAD/CALP is 2 CMs (protein and LC veggies) and one RM (balanced meal - visually 1/3 protein, 1/3 LC veggies, and 1/3 carbs). So, I have no idea what my carb count per day is, but I do know that you do not go into ketosis on this plan. Wouldn't want to pass ketones on to my baby either.

My plan right now is to stick with what I've been doing and if/when I get pregnant make an appt. to talk to my OB about it right away. He has told me it's okay to eat this way when it's possible I might get pregnant. I'm thinking I can still keep doing what I've been doing but maybe add in some yogurt for breakfast and lunch. Or maybe stick with the carbs that are lower on the GI. I'll just wait to see what my OB says if/when the time comes.

Once again, thanks for your input.

Debby

206.5/164.5/140?
CAD/CALP since 1/12/13

Well I'm past the having babies days so I'm not too much help here but I do know there are several people on this forum who are pregnant and doing atkins. Maybe you should post a topic with a subject of more like "Doing Atkins while Pregnant" and that will draw them out of the bushes so to speak and you can get their advice and input.

Susan

LC and feeling better every day!

Atkins since 7/18/03
210/190/140

energy... definately hugely increased for me on atkins. i no longer get tired during the day at all. sometimes i start to get sleepy an hour or so before my usual bedtime, but not "tired". im currently pregnant, and needed naps during weeks 5 and 6 of pregnancy, and occassionally still take one now, maybe once every week or two (am at 20 weeks now). thats completely pregnancy related tho.

cravings... i simply dont have them at all when i am on atkins =) i used to eat mainly carbs, and had cravings horribly back then. and i have NO pregnancy cravings either this time since i am still on atkins.

CAD and atkins both work fine for pregnancy and nursing as far as i am aware. the main concern with these eating plans is that weight loss isnt recommended while preg/nursing, which is why atkins suggests moving to maintanance for pregnancy. as long as you are getting healthy food and good nutrition (most of us take vitamins during pregnancy to help with this already), your particular eating plan shouldnt matter too much.

as for ketones, there is no information on whether they should or should'nt be avoided during pregnancy or nursing. certainly there are entire populations who live in ketotonic states and don't experience problems with pregnancy. ive heard of someone testing breastmilk with ketostix while in ketosis and no ketones were registering, but never tried it myself. not to mention if you engage in regular aerobic activity you are producing ketones, and exercise is always promoted for pregnancy =) so you will likely pass ketones whether you eat a ketogenic diet or not.

my own change was simply to increase my average carbs when i found out i was pregnant, not because of fear of ketones, but to shift out of OWL mode. pregnancy is stressful enough on your body that losing weight on top of it i thought was just too much. i dont count my carbs tho, and dont worry about what i eat beyond making sure its good healthy stuff. some days i get 100g carbs, some days im back down to my OWL levels of 25g. some days i pass ketones and some days i dont. my added foods include whole grain bread, non-sugar yoghurt, milk, and more fruit and cheese.

another reason i stick to LC is to avoid any potential problems with gestational diabetes. i will not be testing for it other than the usual urine dip test at my monthly visits. my weight and family history put me at risk, and keeping to LC is my way of doing what prevention i can by natural means.

atkins has really helped me keep my weight gain balanced for pregnancy. during my first pregnancy, i ate constantly (it was the only way to keep morning sickness at bay) and gained 45 lbs total, and quite a bit of that was in the first trimester. this time, ive gained 5.5 lbs to date, which is great for 20 weeks. ive had much less problem with indigestion as well; it was constant in my first pregnancy, this time its only when i eat a lot of carbs which is rare.

Thanks, Carboholic!

I've always had a weight problem and gained 40 pounds during my first pregnancy. But, I let myself go and eat what I wanted. Don't want to do that next time. I still have 25-30 pounds to lose. May not get that done before next pregnancy. Either way I will want to be careful not to "undo" any of the success I've had so far.

Debby

206.5/164.5/140?
CAD/CALP since 1/12/13

I think you'd get more energy on Atkins, probably lose your carb cravings eventually too. But it's a more difficult program. You might want to stay on CAD but just cut back or eliminate the higher carb foods you've been eating. And get rid of the RM. That part always sounded problematic.

Dr Insomnia,

If Debby gets rid of the RM, she would basically be doing Atkins. The RM can be a problem, but doesn't have to be.

Ilse

380/304.6(WW)/154
5'7"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney