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Post by iwannabeamomx5 on Apr 20, 2010 14:33:48 GMT -5
So I'm on day 16 of the endo diet and doing really well, but...
There are a couple of things I refuse to give up - and it's all about my normal breakfast routine. I look forward to my coffee with creamer and 1 slice of Oatnut bread/toast with my Parkay brand spray butter - EVERY morning, and I'm not willing to stop doing that!
That said, my cup of coffee consists of 1/3 cup of flavored coffee creamer, LOL, and 2/3 cup of coffee (approx 5-6oz coffee), so it's not that much. Also, my bread has wheat in it obviousy, but it also has whole grains and nuts too, and wheat is not the main ingredient. I do start my day by drinking 1 quart of water and eating a piece of fruit before having my coofee & toast though. (read about that on the 21 day fertility diet challenge website)
So, what do you think is the lesser of 2 evils when it comes to these things:
fat free coffee creamer with sugar OR sugar free coffee creamer that uses something like Splenda, but is fattening? (artificial sweeteners have bad chemicals)
half caf (caffine) coffee OR caffine free coffee OR regular coffee? (is the caffine worse for you than the chemicals they use to decaffinate the coffee?)
Parkay brand spray butter OR regular butter OR regular margarine? (the Parkay spray or pourable has soy in it - and this is something I use on EVERYTHING I want butter on - like baked potatos, broccoli, etc... I originally started using it because it's fat free!)
I just want to make the best decision when it comes to these particular items (to choose the best/safest option) since it will always be a part of my morning routine - well for the butter, that affects other meals too.
Thank you for your help ladies!!
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Post by hellsbells on Apr 20, 2010 16:21:10 GMT -5
Personally, I'd go for a bit more fat than sugar, if you only have one cup of coffee a day I'd go for caffeinated, and I'd go for a smaller amount of real butter. I'm all for having less processed stuff. Low fat tends to mean higher sugar which can make you gain more than straight fat, all to do with insulin etc etc.
However, thisis just my personal preference and by no means a recommendation. To get full facts you need to ask the experts.
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Post by Karen on Apr 22, 2010 18:23:29 GMT -5
I think it's impossible to follow the endo diet to a T and think that some exceptions can be made, within reason. But, my nutritionist/naturopath told me once that it's all or nothing when it comes to food intolerances. Cutting back won't have the same effect as cutting it out.
But, if you're hell bent on sticking with your routine, I'm with Helen - would likely avoid anything processed and go with the lower sugar as opposed to lower fat. Processed foods often have extra sugar and extra preservatives/colorants/artificial flavorings/additional sugars that our bodies just don't quite know what to do with. I used to be a fan of the butter sprays, too, but have since switched to butter as it's all natural and just use it very sparingly. Much better flavor, too!
But, that said, there are some things that our bodies just can't cope with, no matter how much we want to bargain with it. For a long time, I refused to give up my morning coffee and my afternoon Diet Coke, but after a while I still had some funky things going on and decided to cut out all caffeine and noticed a difference. I haven't had any caffeine since December and I really don't miss it. Give it a shot, and if you don't get any results, then make some more cuts. Or, consider cutting it out now, then slowly adding a few things in one by one.
Everyone's body's react differently. It'll take some trial and error, but if you can figure out what works for you, then stick with it.
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Post by iwannabeamomx5 on Apr 22, 2010 19:29:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice ladies...
Karen, see that's the problem for me - there is no way for me to guage what foods are doing something bad and which ones are not, because I don't have pain or anything like many of you have described having - just the ovary pain on ov day.
I think I'm going to have to just keep going with the way I am (been drinking 1/2 caf coffee - 5-6oz in the morning only) but perhaps switch to regular butter, and use the sugar free creamer - I'll have to compare the ingredients from the fat free vs. sugar free though and see how different they really are.
I've been reading from some other ladies like I mentioned before, that the supplements is what gave them the most relief from their pain, and a couple of them were also pregnant within the first few months of taking the supplements, and not doing the diet...in fact the gal who started that topic quit the endo diet because it wasn't helping and it was almost the holidays and I guess she wanted to enjoy all that good holiday type food, LOL, and started the supplements and right away she was getting relief from the pain and within 2 months she was finally pregnant too!! Then another gal who read that thread and started the supplements also fell pregnant right away! Another gal said just cutting out red meat and dairy and taking the supplements was enough for her to get some good pain relief.
I'm doing the diet ANDtaking the supplements, so we'll see. If I get pregnant with a baby that actually sticks in the next few months, then we'll know *something* about the diet or supplements worked!!! Because we've been TTC for over 4 years and just had our 10th IUI and only had 5 very early losses in all of that. (several of my IUI's I've had multiple follicles/eggs too and still got nothing) I'm not thinking this current cycle will amount to anything though, with it being unmedicated and only one follicle, and my DH's sperm counts & motility were the worst we've ever seen too....maybe next month will be a good chance when I'm on meds again & have a couple good follies, and hopefully my hubby's numbers will have rebounded by then too!
Who knows....I'm going to give the diet until the end of summer and if I'm not pregnant by then I'm just going to stick with the supplements. I may still be careful about/limit certain foods, but I'm not going to do this forever. We're already preparing to become foster parents and if we end up getting to adopt, we will stop TTC anyway. Plus 4+ years ago, my hubby already said age 40 was his limit, so I'm lucky he's still willing to TTC at age 41, but I know he won't be willing to keep on TTC forever. Especially if/when we start having grandchildren - which realisticly *could* be in the next couple of years.
I had no idea 4+ years what I was getting myself into. I've prayed and asked for the desire to be taken from my heart if it wasn't meant to be - but it's as strong as ever. Sigh....
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Post by Karen on Apr 22, 2010 20:06:33 GMT -5
Keep in mind, diet seems to work because it reduces inflammation and irritation, so even though you may not feel any changes, they can be going on inside. Also keep in mind that as Americans, we often have way too much sugar in our diets which throws off our entire system, including hormones and thus ovulation. That, and other reasons, seem to be why diet often works for some women in both feeling better and having better chances at conceiving. I'm all for supplements, too, but everyone is different and has different experiences. Endo isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of disease. Better body, better chances.
Count your blessings that you don't have pain or other symptoms. Keep in mind, though, that could change in the future. I'm certainly not trying to scare you, but it's something to keep in mind as many other women went from 0 to horrible in a split second. Doing anything you can to treat your body as well as you can, whether you can tell a difference or not, is only going to help you in the long run. I realize a super strict diet is impossible to keep up long term, but making some modifications that you can live with for life might be something to consider.
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Post by melswan on Apr 23, 2010 10:11:23 GMT -5
Karen, you make some really excellent points!! My advice as far as food goes (and life in general, really!) is to keep things as natural as possible. That means real sugar over nasty chemical substitutes, real butter over margarine or the like, etc. I personally feel that the substitutes are far worse for our bodies than the real things are. But moderation is key. Cut back to the least amount of cream and sugar you can tolerate in your coffee! I completely understand how hard it is to give up your morning routine. I am a hot tea drinker myself, and I always loved having a cup of PG Tips tea with milk and sugar (or honey) every morning! But, black tea has more caffeine than white or green teas, so I switched to those and gave up the milk (I've actually given up dairy altogether) and sweetener. So, though it isn't quite the same, I can still have my hot cup of tea every morning! And now I' beginning to not miss the PG Tips....
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Post by hellsbells on Apr 23, 2010 15:05:48 GMT -5
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Post by Karen on Apr 23, 2010 17:29:10 GMT -5
I agree with you Helen - I'd rather have good, natural fats if given the choice between that and sugar.
I had a friend in town from Norway a few weeks ago and at the grocery store, she made an interesting observation. Foods over there often say 'no sugar' or 'low sugar', but over here, everything is 'low fat' or 'no fat'. Even on some of the same foods/brands she buys in Norway!
I thought I should also add to my previous comment - I'm not implying at all that you will start to feel the nasty effects of endo. Some women just don't. But some do, seemingly out of the blue. Endo is not a static disease - it's constantly changing. Some women get cleaned up in a lap and when they go back in a year or two later, it's all over the place again, and for some women, it's just the opposite.
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