To think I don’t need to eat like a rabbit to be fertile?

[Limeandlemon]

Have been trying to conceive for one year. Dh results are normal, mine too. Progesterone levels aren’t at optimal level but I’m ovulating.
I’m four stone overweight, I have been told to lose weight.
I started doing slimming world, which I know will work with shedding the pounds but I’ve been told by a fertility coach that slimming world won’t help me prepare my
Body for pregnancy.
She recommends cutting out gluten and dairy, only have organic meats. No sugar, just water and herbal teas only.
To me that is very restrictive and not compatible with family life, as someone who works full time, very busy and prepares meals for the family.
With slimming world I am eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and still have a little treat within the limits and don’t feel so deprived. Surely weight loss will help balance the hormone levels?
Would really appreciate opinions or experiences to help me decide what route to go.
Such conflicting advice all over the internet and by medical professionals.

Should say she’d pretty much given up TTC by then and wasn’t on the diet for fertility reasons!

The important thing is to lose your weight. Not just for hormonal imbalances (she's right there) but also for your general health, joint health, blood pressure, diabetes risk and so on.

Are you paying the fertility coach? you might want to lose her too You don't need a specific restricted diet, just eat less. It's a good idea to join a slimming group if you need motivation.

Low carb/sugar is a proven treatment for PCOS owing to the link between blood sugar and PCOS symptoms.

@Limeandlemon

She is a registered nutritionist and also a herbalist. She thinks my excess weight is causing me to produce or store more oestrogen which is knocking my hormone levels off. The dr has also told me to lose weight. I’m so bloody confused.

What's so confusing though? They are both saying the same thing at the end of the day - lose a couple of stone. Surely you didn't need a 'fertility coach' to tell you that!

@Limeandlemon

She is a registered nutritionist and also a herbalist. She thinks my excess weight is causing me to produce or store more oestrogen which is knocking my hormone levels off. The dr has also told me to lose weight. I’m so bloody confused.

Have you seen her qualification? Or which body she's registered with? Nutritionist is not a title protected by law, anyone can set themselves up as a nutritionist.

I think SW would be more likely to give you a rounded balanced diet, and don't cut dairy out, for the calcium, etc, as everyone else is saying.

Yes, losing weight will help, although I was 16 stone each time I got pregnant, and it only took about 6 months each time as well.

So eat a sensible diet, get plenty of exercise in, even just lots of walking, and don't worry about faddy diets.

As for cutting out gluten, well, the majority of women manage to get pregnant without cutting out gluten.

That coach sounds bonkers! You don't need to cut out anything, just find a calorie deficit so smaller portions and healthier choices. You could lower your sugar intake if it's particularly high but cutting out sugar means you'll just replace it with chemical sweeteners!

@Limeandlemon

She is a registered nutritionist and also a herbalist. She thinks my excess weight is causing me to produce or store more oestrogen which is knocking my hormone levels off. The dr has also told me to lose weight. I’m so bloody confused.

Nutritionist and herbalist are not protected medical titles. She could be 'registered' anywhere tbh.

Try not to get too bogged down with the detail. You doctor has said you need to lose weight. Lose weight using a method you are familiar with and can enjoy. Try not to stress too much and just concentrate on upping your fruit and veg and losing weight. All this hoo ha about cutting out gluten and parabens all seems a bit much to me

What are the things you are confused between, OP? It sounds like your doctor and your nutritionist are both saying you should lose weight, and the nutritionist has suggested a way of doing this that you don't like.

Nothing contradicts anything else in this situation - you just need to find a way of losing weight that works for you.

[quote Limeandlemon]@Hhusky I can’t fast because I have a really physical job, I would pass out if I didn’t eat until 1pm. I definitely need to eat breakfast.

I have read it starts with the egg and that also recommends to cut out sugar, gluten and dairy. Eat lots of green leafy veg, a whole host of supplements and organic meats. Paraben free beauty products and toxic free cleaning products, no drinking from plastic or heating things up in plastic. Cast iron pans for cooking only.
My head is absolutely wrecked.[/quote]
Well, if it starts with the egg, no food is going to affect that, as it was formed in your mother as she was in the womb.

That came out more garbled than I meant. You were born with all your eggs. No food will affect them now.

@Merryoldgoat

Registered nutritionist means nothing. Dietician is the protected profession. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist.

What the fuck is a herbalist?

This. Nutritionist means nothing, it's like the equivalent of toothologist compared to dentist - anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, it's not a regulated term.

Definitely lose the weight - it really can and does affect fertility, it's well studied. Excess fat can affect your hormonal balance.

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

That came out more garbled than I meant. You were born with all your eggs. No food will affect them now.

In fact, it’s your mother’s diet that would’ve impacted your eggs as they would’ve formed whilst you were in utero.

You mention cooking for the family - do you have DC already? Were they conceived easily?

I was just agreeing with you @NeverDropYourMoonCup

I have read it starts with the egg and that also recommends to cut out sugar, gluten and dairy. Eat lots of green leafy veg, a whole host of supplements and organic meats. Paraben free beauty products and toxic free cleaning products, no drinking from plastic or heating things up in plastic. Cast iron pans for cooking only.

Cutting down on sugar is good for a sensible diet. I'm doing that. I eat plenty of veg, although I don't eat organic meat.

The jury is still out on whether parabens are harmful. Studies so far have confirmed they are safe, and links to breast cancer are currently discounted. Toxic free cleaning products are better for the environments for several reasons, but generally using chemicals according to the instructions shouldn't cause a problem.

There was a ptential problem with plastics containing BPA, but the evidence isn't that strong, and in any case there should be no problem drinking from, or heating things up in, BPA-free plastics.

And only using cast iron for cooking? I'd like to see evidence that other metals shouldn't be used for cooking.

OP, I'd say save your money and ditch the fertility coach, as most if the information is freely available online, some of it on the NHS site itself.

Fertility veteran here too. Extra weight can affect ovulation for some women.
I had ovulation issues which were sorted out with clomid.
As weight can be a factor for some women you will be advised to lose weight before infertility investigations are taken further.
I'd try and lose some weight by just cutting down on your calories for a while, do some regular exercise, limit alcohol etc

Oh, and I meant to add that there are a lot of plant foods that contain parabens naturally.

BMI under 30
Mediterranean diet
Try to get some extra protein (no need to go crazy)
Don't go mad with dairy
Exercise but limit ab work

All of the advice I was given by by fertility specialist when waiting for and undergoing IVF - may be worth having a look at the infertility boards on here as there is (or atleast always used to be) loads of advice on diet and supplements.

One year also feels like a long time but it's really not. Try and concentrate on improving your health so if no joy in 6 months you can start further investigations without having to wait to lose weight, cut down on booze etc.

Look at this link. www.secondnature.io/guides/nutrition/dietitian-vs-nutritionist

Nutritionists are not qualified to give advice on special diets for medical conditions. I don't think herbalists are even recognised.

Just follow a healthy, balanced diet. Good luck.

[quote Merryoldgoat]@Crosstrainer cutting sugar isn’t the same as what this person has recommended though. And your friend’s experience is anecdotal - my friend tried the same and didn’t get pregnant.[/quote]
Totally anecdotal. Completely agree.

@RefuseTheLies

Fertility treatment veteran - I've never heard of a fertility coach.

Second this. And third it.

You know you've got a lot of weight to lose, so just focus on that.

Swap big dinner plates, which are massively oversized these days, for side plates for your meals. You'll naturally eat less at meal times. Ask for a referral to see a dietician, and in the mean time write down everything you eat and drink everyday. This is to get an accurate picture of what changes can be made. Sometimes changes are easy to make, like my friend who was eating so healthy! So much veg! All cooked in butter. And another who is five feet two eating the same potion size as her 6 feet four very sporty husband.

@Merryoldgoat

I was just agreeing with you *@NeverDropYourMoonCup*

I'm just glad somebody understood the brain fart that came out!