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.

You are 30, are ovulating and everything is normal.
Focus, as you are, on healthy eating and dieting. If SW suits you stick to it.
Lose a couple of stone and see what happens.

@Limeandlemon

I do have an 11 year old child that I had when I was 19! I am 30 now and three stone heavier The coach is asking for £100 for an hours call to analyse blood results, send out herbs and give me a diet plan to follow for four months. The other option she has is £750 plan which is a diet plan, herbs and a weekly call and guidance. I was confused because I am committed to losing the weight and hearing all sorts of conflicting advice. I want to do it the right way. She says slimming world is too carb heavy and I shouldn’t be eating pasta or rice or bread....or dairy...or sugar...or meat that isn’t organic! Crikes. My worry with all that is I would get the blues and end up binge eating!

What nedical qualifications does she have? I'd guess none.

Where is she getting blood results from? Most blood results don't include a micronutrient analysis as standard, only straightforward organ function enzymes which don't tell you about nutrient requirements.

She's a charlatan.

Stick to slimming world (focus on veg rather than carbs/sweetness)
Or calorie count or both

Oh love.

A friend of mine is a herbalist or as she says a qualified witch.

Nutrition is important for fertility.

Zita West built her whole IVF clinic on nutrition for fertility!

Also Gluten causes inflammation.

Food for thought.

We are 5+3 (or thereabouts) and I am almost 5st overweight and 36 years of age.

We had been TTC for around 6 months.

I started doing Slimming World myself just after New Year and managed to lose 3-4lbs but it's hardly a huge amount that would've made that much difference given my starting weight.

I also had started doing C25K at home as I want to be more active.

I found the biggest thing to help me was a period tracking app. It helped me to understand my cycle much better and predicted ovulation.

Another thing. Before I found out I was pregnant I was doing SW but also intermittent fasting, so I followed SW but only ate between 12pm and 8pm.

I didn't do this everyday as some days I couldn't wait until 12pm! But a few days a week is better than none at all.

I'm still trying to stick to SW now although struggling somewhat due to sickness etc, but trying is better than giving up x

I'd advise spending the money on some nice curtains. What a rip off.

Good luck with your diet. I think it's far more sustainable to aim for smaller portions, more fruit and veg, less carbs and fat than a faddy restricted diet you can't stick to long term. Planning a change in diet isn't that hard, it's just sticking to it that's tricky!

There are some weight loss threads on here I think that might help you stay on track. Once you lose a few pounds and start feeling the benefits, it's easier to stay motivated.

Lose weight by whatever means works for you.

Do not pay that fertility coach any more money.

FWIW, your more likely to get pregnant at a BMI of 26 than a BMI of 18.

Oh OP ditch that 'coach' immediately. Clearly a scammer trying to convince you to fork over cash for pointless herbs. Utter bollocks and all sounds suspiciously similar to a juice plus dickhead rep I know wanting £100 a month for capsules of coloured powder.

Slimming world and a folic acid supplement is fine. You don't need to spend all that money on snake oils. If you want proper guidance see a dietician, they won't be peddling herbs.

You can have carbs, sugars and all foods in a healthy balanced diet and loose weight.

@BiddyPop

Cut out dairy?! I am neither a fertility coach nor a dietician but that sounds daft.

You would need strong bones for carrying a pg.
You would need to be able to pass along calcium to the baby for developing bones.

There is nothing particularly wrong with dairy as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Only organic meat?

It's impossible to totally cut out sugar as it naturally occurs in things like fruit - which are important for other nutrients and vitamins etc.

TBH, it sounds a bit faddy to me....eat a decent range of healthy food, keep well hydrated, move more - all to help the weight loss but also to help with the pg when that comes along.

If you can afford organic meat, organic dairy, free range eggs, GYO veggies etc - great. But if not, go as high quality as you can, don't go mad on sweet stuff and fatty stuff. But everything should be balanced. Even the treats. You need some.

And there are some things that you may have to cut out while pg - like soft unpasteurised cheeses and all blue cheeses, shellfish, deli counter coleslaw etc. But that list is surprisingly short when you actually look at the reasons for each rather than a "the internet/my Grannie's 2nd cousin twice removed/(add non-trusted sources here)...say you shouldn't eat those in pregnancy".

Dairy does not give you strong bones. It actually depletes the calcium in bones.

You’re better off getting your calcium from veg and greens....like the cows do.

@Limeandlemon there are two things here.

1st the dietician is not talking crap as others are saying. I have done two rounds of IVF and failed to get any embryos. I also saw a fertility dietician who recommended I cut out gluten, cow dairy and sugar , went low carb and did intermittent fasting from 7pm until 10am.

I lost 24lbs and in subsequent two rounds of IVF I got 5 top quality blastocysts. This was on the same ivf protocol so diet was the only change I made.

However point number 2 is that you have a lot of weight to lose. I was actually only around 5lbs overweight. So losing that weight might be all you need to do to conceive. I would focus on losing the weight whatever way works for you and if you still haven’t conceived then consider the advise of the dietician.

I should also add I don’t eat like a rabbit. Far from it. I have sheep’s Greek yoghurt with apple, berries, flaxseed and chia seed for breakfast at 10. This keeps me full until lunch compared to previous breakfasts I’ve had. I have a large salad with feta for lunch along with two healthy crackers and tuna or homemade soup. I then have dinners like salmon fillet and 4-5 servings of veg with some cauliflower rice for dinner or chicken and prawn with veg in homemade sauce ( spices and chopped tomato) or chickpea veggie dishes, or salmon salad with falafel. I fast longer on a Sunday and in return have nice gluten free brown bread with Turkey rashers and avocado for brunch. I also tend to have steak & homemade potato chips once a week. Also decaf tea with coconut milk and decaf coffee with oat milk. The odd two squares of dark chocolate if I need a chocolate fix.

Op have you had your thyroid checked?
My friend ttc for a good 4 years and nothing happened , after 3 weeks of being diagnosed with overactive thyroid and starting meds, she was pregnant.

OP could I ask if you rounded the figures up from something ending in a 7? I’ve been sucked in to an extraordinary thread it three on tattle about coaches and scamming. A fertility coach was named on there - worth a little dig to make sure you aren’t being scammed for your long awaited dream.

Or three not it three!

Slimming World was one of the worst possible things I did to my body, due to all the carbohydrates that were “free”. I followed the plan exactly and followed all the advice the consultant gave me. I actually gained weight even though caloric intake wasn’t much (1400 cals tops), just very carb heavy with all the “FREE” slimming world chips, baked potatoes, rice, pasta etc then the cereals, bread etc as healthy extras and the syns. Oh and “FREE” mullerlight, all fruits free etc etc.

I didn’t know but I had a thyroid autoimmune condition. The Slimming World diet saw me with a rapid decline in my health and higher levels of inflammation in my blood than I had pre SW.

I’d seriously consider the advice of cutting out what is suggested if a baby really is your goal. It seems like a tiny sacrifice. Some people are fine with starchy and carb laden foods but if there is an underlying condition then all extra inflammation caused by those foods will tell in your body some way.

I follow a similar diet to *Igiveyouanonion”. I don’t eat like a rabbit. And my health is a million times better, including my gynaecological health.

Oh and I’d save the money and see an actual medical professional privately. Don’t be surprised if somewhere along the line you are given the same dietary advice.

I had PCOS and insulin resistance. Losing 2 stone reversed the insulin resistance and then pregnancy happened quickly.

@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.

I have pcos and this is the exact diet my dietician (nhs) advised too. She said I could have small portions of full fat dairy as I also had to limit carbs to under 50g a day. It did work to help me lose and maintain weight loss. And probably worked to help me produce healthy eggs for ivf.

I have pcos that metformin has massively helped, I now ovulate regularly and have regular periods. My egg collection I got 15 mature eggs! I was expecting none to be mature ! I stopped drinking and the weight fell off me, that along with a half decent diet seemed to do the trick

Do you have PCOS OP?

I would sack off this "coach" and spend the money on a private fertility clinic consultation instead. You say your progesterone levels aren't great - private clinics can prescribe you progesterone pessaries which can really help with this. Also worth getting your thyroid checked. By all means losing weight will help as well but I don't see why you couldn't do it by slimming world if that suits you better.

Good luck!

@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.

Stick with what is working for you. If SW is working for you, keep going!

Ironically I am obese due to eating disorder and had a CPN whom I was seeing about another mental health issue tell me to give up Overeaters Anon and do Slimming World instead! But OA was mostly working for me and I couldn't afford SW!

And BTW, am infertile also, due to severe PCOS. I still say, so what works for you

Do*

Hey @Limeandlemon sorry if I am repeating someone else's response but yeah eff the whole being over weight being a factor. Of course it never is a bad idea to get "healthy" but that means physically, mentally and emotionally. Have you tried progesterone pessaries? There are some natural ways to rebalance your progesterone and estrogen if that is what you prefer. Remember even if you are planning to lose weight, this may take a few months too so I would say take your time and stop blaming yourself! Start off slow with the food change diets for example make it a lifestyle change rather than a short term fix. Wish you all your best on your journey.