[aspinswramymn]

Let me give you some back story to help with my questions...

A few years back my wife and I went on the atkins diet. We both lost around 50lbs or so. We both have been heavy all of our lives. I dont remember once ever being the skinny guy.

We were on the diet for approx 7 or 8 months or so and then we fell off the wagon so to speak. Things changed in our lives and here we are 4 years later, with a 18 month old baby and back up to our old weight, probally a little heavier.

We want to go on the diet before our next attempt at having a baby. This way my wife is healthier pre-pregnancy, and I too become a little healthier. I have at least 100lbs or more to loose, and she could loose around the same...

Some of my questions...

My problem is I don't know if we should just wait until after the second baby, or go ahead first. Pregnancy is a yoyo of weight anyway.

When one looses over 100lbs on the atkins diet does one get that loose skin that you see the gastric bypass patients get?

How the hell do we both go on a low carb diet, but yet feed our 18 month old daughter a regular diet which includes carbs?

When we did atkins it was before the net carb "craze". Should we do net carbs or the old fashion diet?

I'm confused, not sure what to do yet. I know we have to do something though. Please give me your thoughts.

[Abnorttrano]

I would definitely start now and not wait until after the next baby. If she becomes pregnant she could add back healthy carbs and gain less extra weight during the pregnancy than she would otherwise.

I don't have an answer for you on the excess skin but I would think it depends on age and genetics. Some people just seem to "tighten up" better than others. Do you ever watch "biggest looser"? There have been quite a few that lost over the 100 lb mark that look pretty tight. I would imagine that if you and your wife are planning another child you are relatively young.

I have low carbed with kids. I just cook basically the same for them but add an additional side dish.

I don't know what you mean by the "net carb craze". I did this diet several years ago and always counted net carbs.

Good luck to you and your wife.

[aspinswramymn]

I would definitely start now and not wait until after the next baby. If she becomes pregnant she could add back healthy carbs and gain less extra weight during the pregnancy than she would otherwise.

I don't have an answer for you on the excess skin but I would think it depends on age and genetics. Some people just seem to "tighten up" better than others. Do you ever watch "biggest looser"? There have been quite a few that lost over the 100 lb mark that look pretty tight. I would imagine that if you and your wife are planning another child you are relatively young.

I have low carbed with kids. I just cook basically the same for them but add an additional side dish.

I don't know what you mean by the "net carb craze". I did this diet several years ago and always counted net carbs.

Good luck to you and your wife.

Thank you for your response.

For the net carb craze... Back when I first read the book, all you had to do was count the carbs. Not subtract certain carbs from others to get the "net" carbs.

I'm unsure of whether or not we should do that or do what we originally did.

Yes we are realitivly young. We are both going to be turning 30 shortly and are just starting our family.

[aspinswramymn]

Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber, so unless you did the diet in the '70s (doubtful, taken your age :wink it's the very same thing you did the first time around.

Hmmm i thought net carbs also had something to do with sugar alchols or something?

All I know is when you look at an atkins nutrional bar, it says 2 net carbs, and 26 total carbs, with 11 fibers. The numbers just dont add up.

And dont quote me on thos exact numbers, I am just throw numbers out to demostrate my point.

[aspinswramymn]

Yes, I know, sugar alcohols are an awful confusion. Essentially, it's food manufacturers pulling wool over our eyes. They present SAs as non-digestible and subtract them so thay can market their stuff as low-carb. But they ARE digestible, they just digest slower (We have a really good article in FAQs about them if you want more information).

Your mileage may vary here - some people enjoy low-carb candy with no adverse effects whatsoever (well, maybe some gas and/or diarrhea), but others eat just one bar and stall for weeks.

If you want to be super safe - just take total carbs and subtract fiber. Can't go wrong there. If you really miss your sweets, you can cautiously try the candy - and maybe you're one of those lucky not affected by them.

One way or the other, I would recommend to do the Induction "clean" and detox properly. Experiment later.

Thanks for the great response.

How long should I stay on the induction? Last time I did it the whole nine months or so... because i do have ALOT to loose.

Should I just do that again?

[Avaindimik]

How the hell do we both go on a low carb diet, but yet feed our 18 month old daughter a regular diet which includes carbs?

A tip that I read somewhere is if your dieting and have young children to stop your self picking at their left overs squirt some washing up liquid over their food as soon as they finish.

[DioraMoostebeers]

That's a good point, Redboots. Uggg, I can't count how many times I've finished the kids leftovers without even thinking about it

[Abnorttrano]

A tip that I read somewhere is if your dieting and have young children to stop your self picking at their left overs squirt some washing up liquid over their food as soon as they finish.

What a great idea. I hadn't heard that one.

[251EPyso]

I think I lost about ten pounds from simply not finishing my kids burritos or the two bites left of pasta!

[luspikals]

It is not really reccomended to do atkins while pregnant. Maintain phase is ok, but induction & owl really aren't so IMO the best plan is this. Start to loose the weight now and get to maintain phase by the time you get pregnant.