How strictly do you follow a low carb / low sugar diet

[GreatEggSpectations]

I feel really down because my diet is far from perfect. I'm doing embryo banking and, whilst I try to eat healthy and nutritious food, I seem to struggle with avoiding sugars.
I do eat enough protein, I start most morning with eggs and for either lunch or dinner will have chicken and veg. Lots of salmon, nuts, greens, some fruit too. But between trying to maintain a life whilst doing IVF and having a toddler, I seem to eat more carbs and sugars than I'd like - easier to finish off my toddler's banana cake crusts than make myself a bowl of yogurt, if my husband suggests a date night I may end up ordering the chips with my steak, going to a friend's house and being offered cake I'll probably say yes. I know none of them are excuses - I could make myself a healthy snack and just tidy the toddler's crumbs, I could order a salad on our date and I could politely decline cake. But I'm weak and I don't 😄

How much is this likely to affect results?

We've had a total of 30 eggs collected, 12 blasts sent off for testing and... (waiting on all the euploid results for the last 4 embryos, but from the first couple of cycles it's 4 euploid out of 8 embryos sent off).

I'm 29.

I think no one really knows the answer.

There was one study I think that said it improved likelyhood of IVF being successful by 5x but I think that might be mostly for people with PCOS.

I don't have PCOS but had about bit of weight to lose before starting my first round. I signed up to a nutrition and exercise plan with a local PT. The nutrition plan was lower carbs and mostly concentrating on proteins and carbs that don't cause a sugar spike. I found the diet easy to stick to so have been somewhat continuing it through IVF. I've had plenty of treats during this time though, my main goal was not to gain weight so have been easy on myself and allowing the occasional biscuit or hot chocolate.

If low carb made that much of a difference, all clinics would tell you you have to do it - mine certainly didn't.

I didn't change my diet at all. I eat reasonably well but certainly not perfectly healthy. My diet is quite carby because I find if I don't eat them I don't feel adequately full or energised. I''m a healthy weight admittedly but being slim doesn't equate to healthy overall! As PP said, I think the stricter carb advice is for PCOS. My clinic didn't even mention it. FWIW I am currently 12 and a half weeks pregnant from my first round of IVF on a fresh cycle. It sounds like you've been quite successful with egg collection so far, and remember sperm quality is also important - it's not all on your health. Good luck!

I see what you mean about the clinics recommending it if it was that helpful to limit sugar... do some doctors? Did anyone's?

I don't have PCOS though.

"Eat reasonably well but not perfectly healthy" is a good way to describe my diet tbf...
when you say "quite carby" is that more like lots of fruit and whole grain rice and sweet potatoes, or a slice of chocolate cake after lunch?

Congrats on your pregnancy 🎉🎉🎉

@GreatEggSpectations definitely more the slice of cake after lunch!