Anyone trying to gain weight to conceive?

[snowberry86]

Since coming off the pill in March I have dropped from 9 stone 10 to 7 stone 12. Have seen my GP several times, had numerous blood tests and everything is fine. I've never been good with food and so the pill helped me gain weight and keep it on.

I am desperate to get pregnant and think the weight lose is affecting my cycle.

Is anyone else trying to gain weight to conceive? I would really like a buddy!

Hi Snow

I'm in a similar situation. I haven't list any weight, but have always been quite small.
We have been ttc for 14 cycles and have just had our first appointment at the fertility clinic. The doctor said that my bmi is normal but at the low end and that putting on a few pounds could help, although hormone level are all normal.
So, I an embarking on 'project fatso' now!

What are your cycles like at the moment? X

They have been all over the place, ranged from 28 days to 5 days. At the minute I am having very very light periods every 20 days or so but am not convinced I am ovulating. I am going to give it until March and then go back to my GP as it will have been a year.

Have you tried temping to see if you are ovulating? X

No not really, I did give it a go but could get consistent results so gave up! I have just started AF today (although it's so light I don't know if it even counts) and so next month I will give it a go. Also going to try using ovulation tests to see if I can get a postive result.

I've installed my fitness pall on my phone and am trying to hit 2500 calories a day to weight gain. So far I'm finding it impossible and barely manage 1500 most days.

Opks with temping is really useful. Opks tell you when you are about to ovulate and the temp rise (a few days later) will tell you if you actually did. You have to make sure you take it at the same time every day though after 3 hours solid sleep ideally.

Are you at a consistent weight now? Or are you still losing?
I'm just trying to include more protein as I think this is where I'm lacking. X

I think I've stopped losing weight now, been the same for about a month but I am really unhappy at this weight, it's far too skinny.

Is first thing in a morning ok for temping? I will try get in a routine of doing it.

First thing in the morning is perfect. I tend to set an alarm for 5am to make sure it's the same time every day. I test then go back to sleep ??

If you're unhappy then that's reason to put some weight on regardless of ttc!
I bet your cycles will get more regular if you increase your bmi too! X

But don't do opks in the morning! Can give false positives! X

Eating more is very difficult for me as I have struggling with an eating disorder for years. Being on the pill helped me to gain weight and develop a more feminine figure, now I'm not taking it I have gone back to the ghastly figure I had 10 years ago before I started it!

I have a good friend at work who is supporting me and encouraging me to eat lunch everyday day. I have a very busy job so most days I don't eat anything at all until I get home about 7pm.

I can understand how that makes it harder, I'm glad you have the support of a friend. The specialist I saw suggested seeing a dietician to help plan meals. Perhaps you could look in to that? You can tell them your history and they can help you plan lunches? Or at least some healthy (bmi increasing) snacks for during the day?

I'm also having a glass if milk before bed which maybe you could try? X

Are there particular food groups that you struggle with getting enough of? How have your eating habits changed since coming off the pill?

I only eat pasta or pizza. No veg, no fruit and no potatoe. I know it's dreadful, but it's so hard to change.

You mention an eating disorder, do you resist the standard ideas for getting more calories in your diet, like putting good fats in your pasta or drinking some of your calories. Just trying to understand whether it's more of a mental block to eating enough, a practical one (too busy) or more of a physical lack of appetite. Sounds a bit like all three. What do you think your biggest barrier is?

It is a mixture of the three. I have very little appetite having managed on so little food for so long. I have big anxieties when it comes to food which can make me feel sick so then I can't eat. I have a very busy lifestyle so rarely have time to eat at work and because I don't feel hungry I don't prioritise it. Plus I still have the demon locked in a closet in the back of my brain screaming at me how useless I am.

So the emotional stuff probably tops the list then? My experience is more the opposite around food but I think the underlying issues are basically the same. Feeling like you have to eat more/less than you want is stressful (more maybe worse). I've heard that the first step is to eat mindfully, being honest about the feelings we experience when eating, but not giving in to them or trying to repress them. I am trying to practice this and it is very hard - but honestly I know that there is no way that I will control what I eat through willpower alone - that demon needs dragging into the sunlight and shown up for the pointless little bastard that he is.