Weight and Health when TTC

[Eadwacer]

Hello!

This seriously TTC business is quite new to me and I would be really interested to hear some thoughts and experiences about weight and health in the lead up to conceiving (hopefully, anyway).

I lost about 3.5 stone 18 months ago (ahem, I have just gained just over a stone owing to Major Birthday plus Christmas...), and felt incredible. At that weight I was, for the first time in my life, in the 'overweight' rather than 'obese' category. Being tall, one of life's walkers, and having a very healthy diet, I didn't look particularly overweight and wouldn't have wanted to get much lighter (as it was my face got a bit sort of sharp and hooked, which was rather a shock after a lifetime of being a plump and round-cheek'd).

I am therefore a)mad keen to lose the weight I've gained recently, preferably before conceiving, and b)even madder keen not to put too much weight on during pregnancy (ideally doing SW throughout).

However you get lots of mixed messages on how much weight you're likely to gain - one website suggests for my height and weight it would only be about a stone, whereas people talk about gaining 4 stone! Being a heavy lass to begin with, that would make me very obese just when I need to be fittest.

Secondly, I'm not exactly a caner but I do drink heavily when I'm out - and I'm now in the position of wanting to cut back the booze and (I suppose) stop smoking. But if I do that all of a sudden people will think there's something terribly wrong with me. I don't want to email my friends and say, oh just for your information, I'm trying to conceive so kindly stop giving me bottles of brandy.

Oh dear this isn't really a question, is it, just some ramblings. I'd so like to know your thoughts - and my apologies if this is frustrating repetitions of previous discussions.

[fidelma]

If you want to bring a child into you life,trust me you want to give it the best possible chance.I would stop smokings,cut way down on your drinking and maintain a healthy weight.If you eat sensibly when you are pregnant you will gain the correct weight needed for that new life.In my experience within 6 months of giving birth my weight has always gone back to normal.(i usually put on 3-4 stone)

It is a great time to start as you can tell all your friends that you have made new years resolutions to stop smoking etc.

Good luck.You will be great

[Italiangreyhound]

Just curious, how did you lose all the weight?

I don't think people will be surprised if you say you are trying to get healthier by giving up smoking, and drinking in moderation.

Certainly it will help you conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. I am overweight so I can't say much about that. I gave up smoking, miraculously, about 15 years ago and certainly don?t miss it at all.

All the best.

[Eadwacer]

Hi Italiangreyhound - I did Slimming World, and just generally noticed what I was eating. I do recommend it - the habits stick with you, and although I personally find all the 'syn' business and the motivational stuff rather coy and excruciating, the principles are sound.

People would never believe it if I said I was giving up smoking or cutting down the whisky just out of healthiness - I might have to claim I'm doing it for a bet or something!

Thanks for you advice & support!

[superchick]

I'm in a very similar position. Not seriously TTC but kind of.

I gave up smoking recently and although I'm struggling (occasional lapses) I reckon that the more you put it off the harder it gets. Bite the bullet!! It's not very helpful to read the advice sometimes given (here and other websites) that is largely preaching and telling off. I assume you know the risks to unborn baby and so just need to make up your own mind.

I imagine that if you were sucessful at slimming world you had to cut back on the booze so you could say that you are back on diet? On the other hand you'll have to cut right back when you are PG so perhaps you could just enjoy getting pissed for a bit!!

I've also lost weight and put it back on again over the last few years and am a bit (!) overweight at the mo. I'm not really a diet fan and try to remain relaxed about my weight because my mother's obsession about her weight really rubbed off on me in a negative way and i don't want to do the same to my kids.

IMO try and be healthy, happy and relaxed and you'll be fine. Moderation in everything!

[RockBird]

Not advocating being overweight and pg at all but I was (and still am) a size 20/22 when pg and I put on about a stone, all of which, and more I lost the minute dd was born. A week afterwards I was over another stone lighter. What I mean is that being overweight in the first place doesn't necessarily mean you'll pile it on even more. It always seems that slim women are the ones who put on the four and five stones as they don't have it there to start with IYSWIM.

Am also going to be TTC in a few months so am trying to lose some weight before then but I know I will still be big. It's just that age is against me now so I haven't got much choice.

[shushpenfold]

I don;t think that anybody is going to question your motives of wanting to stop smoking and reduce your drinking levels - to be honest, it's a January thing!! I would second the others in saying, give up now, totally (pg or not quite frankly!) and just watch the drinking, especially in the second half of your cycle when you could be pg. Reducing your overall intake and binge drinking is going to improve you overall health and quality of your eggs. Don;t forget the folic acid too - drs suggest 3 months B4 starting so get going now.

[shushpenfold]

P.S. It should help with the weight too!

[Eadwacer]

superchick - I think you're right (about moderation and relaxing etc.) - frankly, one of the things that put me off motherhood for a few years was that pregnant women suddenly become subject to thousands of puritanical rules, and endless government disapproval! That being said smoking isn't really an option so I'll just stop with that now, I think

the thing is - I always knew that when pregnant I would have to instantly stop the smoking and almost completely stop drinking, and it didn't bother me at all. But I've only really just cottoned on to the fact that there's a week or so when you could be pregnant so you can't really take any chances!

rockbird - that's really interesting, actually, and your theory makes sense. I know what you mean about wanting to lose weight before TTC but I'm 31 this year and my husband 37 - of course I could try and lose a couple of stone and become a triathlete so I'm a machine, but time's not on my side. As my mother WILL insist on pointing out.

shushpenfold - You read my mind! Just came from Sainsbury's with some folic acid! Ooo does it help lose weight?!

[Italiangreyhound]

Eadwacer Well done on making a decision re not smoking. I smoked from age 12 to 30 and gave up miraculously at church (just threw my fags away) but prior to that I had tried to give up a lot and failed. I would suggest those NHS help with stop smoking initiatives. I don't know for sure as I didn?t use them (they probably didn't have them 14 years ago!) but getting help must help!

If anyone questions your motives they would be a bit crazy as half the world is probably trying to give up smoking! You could say you are saving up for a holiday. Put the money you would spend on fags in a jar and see how far it gets you by the time you are preg!

Even if they guess it's because of trying to get preg then you don?t have to tell them! Just smile and leave them guessing! I think it is best not to tell people in case it takes a while.

By the way, you are YOUNG! Just a good time to start ttc. Don't worry about your age.

I have battled with weight for years, it really is hard, you seem to have had some great success so well done.

Second that Folic Acid too!

[skihorse]

I've overweight and at 13 weeks have put on just 2lbs. As others have suggested it seems my very overweight/obese friends have put on less weight during their pregnancies than the slimmer friends. In fact one friend went from 17 to 14 stone during pregnancy (post-partum weight).

[skihorse]

Oh and as for being healthy... well, I was in training for a triathlon, not drinking, not smoking - all my food was carefully monitored to within an inch of its life. The week I got pregnant? I was moving house... I lived on drive-thru, fizzy drinks and ciggies. I'm obviously not advocating such lifestyle choices but they seem to work for 13 year olds! (I'm 35)

[shushpenfold]

No - sorry love.....the reduced booze helps with the weight loss, not the folic acid. (nice thought though!)