to start a very low calorie diet even though there's a small chance I might be pregnant?

[RitaMorgan]

I recently bought a month's supply of a meal replacement diet (you know, shakes instead of food) - I was planning to start it on Monday as I have a month before going on holiday.

But, in the last week DP and I have had unprotected sex a couple of times. So there's a chance I could be pregnant. We're not TTC at the moment though so a baby isn't part of my immediate plans but would be welcomed.

Would a crash diet be likely to damage an early stage pregnancy? I have enough spare fat on me that I'm not going to starve or anything but I have no idea if a sudden drop in calorie intake could cause a miscarriage. AIBU to take the risk?

I have done a fair bit of research on it. I am by no means an expert, but diet and nutrition is something that as a family we have had to become quite educated about these things, (due to illness, not choice).

I dont disagree with all of your post by any means, and everyones body is of course different. I would say that exercise and the right food, is the key to safe weightloss though, and VLCD are rarely a long term solution.

I think they can be, but only for the right candidates. They're definitely not the quick fix that some people hope they'll be, even if the weight comes off very quickly. If people don't really tackle the problems that got them there in the first place and make significant changes to their lifestyle afterwards then of course it's all going to come back.

I completely agree. I had a friend who was very obese. She lost 5 stone, in probably as few months. But she didnt do any exercise, and it just couldnt be maintained when she stopped being on LL, so she is now back to exactly where she was before the diet. :(

The FitnessPal app works for me because it is surprising how many calories you eat, even when you think you are not eating a lot. I was also a complete couch potato... who would drive everywhere and be sat in an office all day. I now swim 4 times a week, go to the gym, take the stairs if it is only a couple of floors up, and walk a lot more. I feel so much healthier for it.