Can’t get my head in the game - healthy eating for IVF

[Pennylane22]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has any tips! I’m due to start another round of ivf soon but can’t seem to motivate myself to improve my diet.

I’ve given up caffeine and alcohol no problem since January and am taking my supplements daily but I want to eat high protein low carb And cut out sugar but I can’t seem to do it!!!

For example today I had plain chicken breast and soup in with me for lunch. I was going to the canteen to heat it up and somehow ended up with a baked potato, baked beans, cheese and a caramel freddo.

I don’t know why I can’t motivate myself. I also wanted to lose a stone before this ivf - I’m not overweight for my height but I’m hovering a few pounds below it. I haven’t managed to even loose a pound since Jan.

It’s like I’m super motivated in the morning - get some kind of amnesia then feel bad and determined to start again the next day and then repeat all over again.

Help!!!!

[gracepoolesrum]

Honestly? I'd relax and go easy on yourself. There's no evidence that diet makes a difference to IVF success. If you're not overweight losing further will make no difference. I've been through IVF, it's stressful enough, let yourself eat your normal diet and don't beat yourself up.

[itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted]

I agree with previous poster - I've had 4 egg collections so far over the last 12 months and I can honestly say that the shipments and diet have made absolutely no difference (I did one collection straight after new year and ate crap for weeks leading up to that!)

It seems my body only makes grade 2 embryos and bb grade blastocysts No matter what I do

The only thing that has made difference to fertilisation rates and blastocysts numbers on day 5 has been changing the protocol and drugs regime

[Youngatheart00]

Another vote for don’t go too hard on yourself / deprive yourself.

You’ve cut out alcohol for a sustained amount of time, which is good (although my new consultant has said a glass or two doesn’t do any harm - sadly I’m not good at moderation so better to cut out entirely!)

For me, it helps to see food as something that is nourishing my body. Colours, tastes, flavours, textures. A variety. If you force yourself to eat boring food you’ll fall off the wagon entirely. Nothing wrong with jacket, beans and cheese, particularly if you ate the skin too!

Hope you enjoyed that Freddo ☺️

[BeaCat]

This sounds a bit woo but it helped me! I saw this affirmation that said - "I'm good to my body and my body is good to me" - so often when I was tempted to eat something bad I said that to myself and it helped motivate me. Good luck!

[DameSylvieKrin]

I would say don’t bother. I had a perfect diet for my two failed cycles but gave up by the third. I had a healthy BMI and an okish diet and just needed to stop having IVF influence every moment of my life. The third cycle gave me my son and several frosties.

[Dirtygirty35]

I wouldnt bother. Cutting out booze and caffeine is enough

[Viletta]

I can recommend fertility nutritionist Mel Brown, if you have some ££ to spend on her Skype/f2f consultation.