What is healthier low carb dieting or calorie counting?

[YellowCanary1]

I am bf my gorgeous 7 week old and have approx. 50lbs to lose. If you are making healthy choices under both diets which diet is better? It strikes me counting calories allows for a more balanced diet to support bf?

What do others think?

One thing I have taken away from low carb and calorie counting is that now I naturally eat more protein and little or no white carbs. It is just natural to me now.
Protein really fills you up for longer. Took me a while to get my head round that

Good luck and congratulations on your new baby

I'd say that day sounds great. A healthy mix of all food groups. If you're happy doing what you're doing stick with it, if you've lost 24lb it's obviously working for you!

All of that may be true, but these diets are still not recommend- which is what I said.

You may feel happy ignoring those recommendations. I don't. Breastfeeding is too important to me, and might be to the op. especially as you can still lose weight sensibly by following the guidance and know you are not risking breastfeeding.

I don't know if low carb or 5:2 is recommended for breastfeeding. But Logon, I do know there was a study that studied the breast milk of women in scandanavia vs those in third world countries. They found no nutritional differences in them. We prioritise producing milk over our own body.

Hower, like Logon, I firmly believe you could still lose by following the standard mainstream dietry guidelines (eg the NHS eat well plate). You just cut out the crap. That's what calorie counting really is. You can easily track it via something like myfitnesspal. Stop eating the pudding and the cakes, do some exercise. I'm still eating 1/3 carbs, but mainly starch and not sugar.

And yes, if you have lost 24lb, surely it's working? There is a saying that it takes as long to lose it as the time you put it on initially!

i prefer calorie counting tbh - and i personally just couldn't go low carb (and i have tried it)

but remember you are only 7 weeks post birth and BFing so don't push yourself too hard x

Its definitely working weight loss wise was just wanting to check it was still a healthy way to go whilst bf. Only friends comments about low carb being healthier which confused me. Must say rate of weight loss has surprised me (3 to 4lbs) a week but think its largely due to healthy diet, bf and loads of walking with children!

Diets are something everyone has an opinion on unfortunately!

If you feel healthy, have plenty of energy and are having no supply issues then I'd say you're doing great.

I calorie count and it works for me. I would struggle on low carb at the moment and I do a lot of exercise. When I get close to my ideal weight I will probably stop calorie counting and change some of the foods that I eat so that I am eating better things for strength and toning.

I would say do what's best for you. I know people that love slimming world but it really isn't for me. It doesn't mean they are wrong just that different things work for different people.

Carbs should be balanced, but low to the extreme of Atkins etc. Low carb like Atkins tends to be very high in saturated fats and while fat isn't bad, it should be balanced along with carbs and protein, plus you are missing out a whole food group, which is never healthy unless you have an intolerance.

I generally try to have one carb-y meal a day and try to make it my first meal of the day. I had sardines on seeded bread today for breakfast so the rest of my carbs for the day will come from salads and root veg rather than bread, cereals and potatoes.

I can't be bothered to nor do I have the time to work out how many grams of what I should be eating and stick to it religiously so I just try to make sensible, balanced choices. Making sure my diet is not too high in grain based carbs or potatos, I have protein and some kind of salad or vegetable with each meal and I eat a good variety of foods. I also try to limit fruits due to the sugar content and I just don't like them much, but I will eat bananas, berries and pineapples when I fancy them, just one portion a day, making sure the rest of my 5 a day comes from salad or veg sources.

just eat a proper balanced diet (NHS eat well plate) and move around.

you should find that weight is also transferring from you to the baby.

'little or no evidence for mainstream nutritional guidance' - yeah, right...feel free to use crazy fad diets from people who want to sell you something. Of course the silly diets will make you lose weight, they involve eating less.

I lost 5 stone whilst BF. I walked over 6 miles a day and ate 2000 calories at least.

It took a year, I could have done more excercise but I was bloody tired. Babies are hard work as is BF.

Take it easy, cut back calories and get out walking everyday, it's good for your body and mind.