Worried my diet is going to ruin my chances

[Millie202020]

Probably a stupid post but it seems ok these forums that everyone has their shit together before an ivf cycle and try and get really healthy.
I should hopefully be starting November time (1st round) and I have been taking pregnacare conception and coq10 but my diet hasn’t been amazing.
I came off holiday 2 weeks ago, I had alcohol ( not over the top though) and are pretty much what I wanted ( had salad with every meal tbh though) since I’ve been back home I’ve had a Chinese takeaway 3 times and a dominos 😐 I feel so guilt and almost tell myself why do I deserve for it to work if I can’t even eat healthily?
My bmi is on the high side at 28 but told ok to start ivf. My consultant basically just said try not to put any weight on.
Am I messing up my chances? Or am I being too hard on myself?
Promised myself from Tomorow I’m going to exercise and eat as healthy as I can!
My group session and amh blood test is also tomorow 😬

[Samosaurus]

I am a bit sceptical about diet and fertility if you are at a healthy weight, it's more that if you are overweight this can mess up your hormones. But I guess if you are doing IVF your homones will be artificially balanced by your clinic, so I would try not to worry about it too much, and turn over a new leaf tomorrow :)

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Being overweight is hampering your chances, not necessarily your diet (unless you have pcos in which case yes you absolutely need to cut off the takeaways / carbs!). But as your BMI is only 28 it shouldn’t take you long to get down to 25 - it took me a month as I was losing a respectable 2kg a week. I then went onto maintenance mode and incorporated daily exercise.

[Freespirit24]

@Millie202020

I share the same problems as you. I have gained alot of weight in the last year and I have been struggling to remain eat healthy. My BMI is about 26.6 and I would like to get that down to 25. I am starting treatment in January sometime.

I think first of all, please do not beat yourself up. I read alot of stories from women who say they changed everything, thier diet and all thta jazz and it did not work, others who say it did. Others who say they never changed a thing and then they got pregnant.

Before you change your diet, you need to understand what you need to change and why you need to do this. From my research while healthy diets are important, it is more about reducing your sugar content or cutting out completely. Sugar can negatively impact your egg quality and I have been trying to cut that down because of this.

I am going to advice some basic steps and see if you can implement some of these into your diet. I am trying this also and its just trial and error really.

1. If you must have a takeaway, have a healthy one. When I feel like this I order plain chow mein noodles from the chinese with curry cause on top. Its much better than rice and chips or pizza as its so much carbs. Theres also a few healthy grilled options in the indian takeaways. In Mcdonalds for on the go food, get their grilled wraps (on its own no chis).
   

1. I have been looking at the sugar content in my foods like I go for a sandwich which has a low content or I found a protein bar which is fab and has less than 1 gram of sugar in it. I really like pret as their food is very healthy and organic so a good option for lunches. Greggs sandwiches are also a good option.
   

1. Reduce your fizzy and caffiene juice intake. At the moment as I am starting off I am only having 500ml of caffiene a day which is one bottle of coke zero for me. If I must drink fizzy, I consume sprite as it has no caffiene. At home I drink dulated juice and I also upped my water instake as well. You need to drink water as you are watering your eggs.
   

1. Look at it like a 80/20 rule. Be good 80% of the week and then have your dominos on a Saturday night.
   

1. Start with walking for excerise. Thats what I did and I am slowly starting to return to the gym also.
   

1. I started buying clothes that fit me, wearing my tan again, went back to blonder etc and I started feelig mire confident, sexy. Do something which makes you feel confident and then you will want to feel more confident.
   

1. Remember why you are making these changes. Do not look at it as weight loss just think, I cant eat that chinese because it is not good for my baby. Act as if your already pregnant.
   

I am by no means perfect but alot of it is down to having meals prepared, cooking at home and having will power. You can loose 2 pounds a week so start tomorrow. You can do this. xxx

[Yurtle]

My incredibly eminent infertility consultant said a BMI of 27 is absolutely fine. I very much believe him as he’s not quibbled about being harsh (but fair) about other lifestyle factors!

[blackcat86]

Going against the grain here but sometimes doing what you want is ok providing it balanced. When we were trying for DD I actually ended up conceiving over xmas having blown the diet and got ludicrously drunk at an xmas party. Before that I'd had months of the right vitamins, no booze and watching my diet. Just try to get that balance back now for your general wellbeing if nothing else.

[Millie202020]

@Freespirit24 wow Thankyou for taking the time to write so much advice! I’ve read about the sugar being bad for eggs so have been trying to cut it down.
I generally don’t drink and don’t even have the odd glass every week so that’s completely cut out.
I’m just bad with the takeaway I suppose lol
From tomorow I’m only have one takeaway on a Friday. I don’t drink fizzy pop either and only have water or squash.
Also been making sure I have milk every day too.
I struggle with portion size tbh. Going to really start trying though now.
I feel my bmi might hinder my chances, btw I’m 28 so just glad to be starting this younger tbh

[Freespirit24]

@Millie202020

We are both very similar as I do not drink either and for me its just food. I love food way to much and I order takeaways as I am often to lazy to cook even when food is there ready to be prepared.

I really hope some of these suggestions helps you. Remember this is a journey and even though you may have a bad day where you eat unhealthy, just start being healthy again the following day and do as best as you can.

Your BMI is not what hinders your chances. Your BMI is based on your weight and your age. What hinders your chances is what you eat which influences your BMI.

I read the other day that:

You are what you drink

You are what you eat

You are what you excerise

You are what your baby needs

So if you are negative in all of these things then you will have negative results. Just make slow changes and remember healthy takeaways.

Best of luck when you start your cycle!

[AliceAbsolum]

Tbf a bmi of 28 is better than 18. I got told to put on a stone, fat is good for making babies! If a few takeaways are what's stopping you from getting pregnant I'd be very surprised.

[shazzz1xx]

I did my 1st cycle beginning of last year and changed to be healthier and i miscarriage at 10week.. so my cycle this time last year I changed nothing.. ate utter rubbish, never exercised etc and it was successful.. I gave both 11 week ago to a beautiful perfect baby girl.. so it goes to show

[Viletta]

My BMI went from 25 to 28 in a year during my IVF cycles, it's a really stressful time and the hormones don't help losing the weight. I'd recommend trying to switch away from food to healthier things that would have same effect, meditation, walking, tea, music, yoga. Don't beat yourself up. Good luck!

[Millie202020]

Thankyou for the replies and advice!
I’ve definatly had a better week this week and been eating a lot healthier, I’ve had a friend say I look like I’ve lost weight so maybe I was being too hard on myself after being on holiday.
Feeling a lot more positive now Thankyou again x

[Maggie272]

@Millie202020

Try to relax, I'm sure that you are doing better than you think. If diet played such a huge part then the clinics would be making it a bigger part of the prep. Mine certainly didn't.

I think @Freespirit24 has given excellent advice. I would add - make sure that the self care you are doing, you are doing it for you first, not just because you want a baby. I am a vegan, very healthy weight, and bloods all done. Fertile on paper. Still not pregnant! So there you go. It's not a guarantee. Look after yourself first and foremost xxx