Lifestyle changes when TTC

[ablisha]

Hi all

I know a lot of people will stop drinking or lower their alcohol intake when TTC but I wondered if anyone has any experience on lowering high intensity exercise?

I also wondered if anyone is lowering their caffeine intake when TTC? Diet Coke is my downfall.

Thanks

I've lowered caffeine to one coffee (instant) a day. I think exercise depends on what is normal for you. I've carried on as normal but I just do yoga and long hikes.

Thanks for your reply @Literaryseed

I might have to have a look at cutting down my Diet Coke intake. I don't drink coffee luckily but caffeine is caffeine!

@ablisha you can get caffeine free diet coke.

@Lilice I've seen it before years ago but couldn't remember seeing it recently - I'll go on a hunt this afternoon, thank you!

Anyone lowered their exercise?

I train a lot (and quite hard - 4 weight sessions a week and 2 cardio sessions a week). At first I never cut down really, I just carried on as normal until I fell pregnant. When I was pregnant, I only did two weight sessions a week (lighter weights) and 2-3 cardio sessions. I've had two miscarriages though, and this time around I slowed down at 2ww and trained as I'm pregnant and took an extra day off (so 4 times a week). I just got BFP again and hopefully this one sticks. I'm going to continue this lighter exercise routine and take more days off I feel tired, going to take it easier this time around.

Don't get me wrong, I doubt exercising led to my miscarriages, but I'm 36 and this is my first, I want to do everything in my power to make it easier for my body this time around.

Re: alcohol, I've always drunk when TTC, first time I got pregnant I didn't drink during TWW and I had a missed miscarriage. Second time I did drink during TWW and had an early miscarriage. This time I didn't drink during TWW so let's see what happens now 😄 I think to give implantation and everything the best shot, abstaining in TWW might be good. My own opinion.

During TWW I only drink decaf tea and coffee, outside of TWW I have maximum 1 coffee per day. I also love Diet Coke but leave it as a treat on the weekends (1-2 cans spread out over the weekend).

@ablisha I usually go to gym twice a week and do one hour of cardio so quite an intense session. With school holidays over xmas etc I've only been once in the past month. Could be a coincidence but I got my bfp two days ago.

I've reduced caffeine to one cup a day too (although I was never a massive consumer). I've also gone tee-total (but again, wasn't a big drinker).

I've not changed my diet at all really and am still running 3-5 times per week. I have dropped things like hill sprints etc from my running though and am keeping at a moderate intensity.

All that said, I'm not pregnant yet so have no clue whether or not I'm doing things right! 😂. From what I've read I don't think there is a need to go mad with lifestyle changes. In some ways I think staying relaxed and keeping things fairly normal may be better, to reduce stress etc.

I've given up drink but thinking the occasional one might be ok until pregnancy???

I switched to decaf tea and coffee and didn't drink as much cola. I then cut it right back to one decaf coffee and one cola a day after I got my BFP.

Some exercise is actually good for you but if you're running close to 2 marathons a week then you might want to cut down somewhat. My cousin did that and it threw off her periods so she cut it to running for an hour and she stabilised and got pregnant.

I tried cutting out caffein altogether but I couldn't do it. Now I have one tea a day. Don't believe the myth that there is hardly any caffein in tea, it actually has half the amount as coffee. So cutting out coffee and drinking 8 cups of tea is deluding yourself (bitter experience).

My lifestyle while TTC (I got pregnant first try but am aware it could've been luck!)

• didn't give up or cut down on caffeine. I drink 3-4 cups of weak tea a day and love chocolate!

• mainly eating healthily (apart from the odd sweet treat)

• running regularly (a good few times a week,varying between 3k and 6k) so no I didn't reduce my exercise.

• I drink lots of water.

• I took pregnacare.

• I obviously had regular sex!

• zero alcohol. I gave up several months before TTC and still haven't touched a drop now, 3 years' later.

@michone

But you are pregnant for two weeks before you have a positive test? So how does that work? Do you drink until ovulation?

Thanks all.

I current play netball at a competitive level twice a week, do bootcamp once a week and PT once a week. I didn't know whether to tell my PT we're trying or not as I didn't want to jinx anything. I'm also a secondary PE teacher.

I definitely need to cut down on the diet cokes. I'm legit addicted! Hopefully this will give me the push!

Oh and I don't really drink alcohol anyone. Maybe once every couple of months. I would drink at all while TTC or pregnant just as it's not something I do anyway

I've cut alcohol this month and haven't had any caffeine since a few days before ovulation. Have also cut out baths and sushi. Basically trying to avoid anything that's not allowed/restricted in early pregnancy.

@ablisha I'm a diet coke addict too, but have switched to caffeine free coke.

I had trouble with my periods after coming off the pill, didn’t have one for four months. Went to the doctors and she told me to stop exercising as intense as I was doing a lot of hiit and weight sessions and my periods have just started back to normal after a month and a half of reduced exercise. I’m going to carry this on just in case it affects trying to conceive. It might not, but it has helped with my periods as the doctor said it puts extra stress on your body, and I was already stressed with not having a period this can’t have helped. She also said if you don’t want to reduce exercise to make sure you are taking in enough calories for the amount of exercise you do as your body can go into a state of shock if not enough calories to the exercise and the reproductive system is one of the first areas to shut down which is why I probably didn’t have a period.

@besidesthepoint yea I figure if I stick to a small drink only during and just after period then in theory it should be fine (literally like a small glass of wine with dinner not a full on blender!) 🤣 I haven't had a drink at all since new years eve though and not really missing it so far