TTC through Donor IUI or Donor IVF - weight loss spin-off thread

[witchmountain]

A few of us on the donor IUI/IVF thread have got some weight to lose, and rather than bore everyone else we thought we'd set up a spin-off thread. So, if you're doing or contemplating donor IUI/IVF and also have some weight to lose, join us here, newbies welcome.

I guess we do introductions/goals? I'll start, but obviously share whatever you prefer in your intro.

I'm witch, froze some embryos last year with donor sperm which are waiting for me to save up enough to fund a career change post baby. I'm fortunate in that I don't have loads and loads of weight to lose, but enough that I could so with some supportive friends to do it with.

I don't really like the idea of dieting per se, I think my aim is more around establishing a healthier relationship with food. I read Fat is a Feminist Issue years ago and I probably need to re-read it again now - it's about women's relationship with food. I'd recommend it, or a much condensed book by the same author, Susie Orbach, called On Eating.

My weight has fluctuated over the years, but the band it's fluctuating within is only trending in one direction. This is almost the heaviest I've ever been, I'm too fat for my fat clothes, and my thighs are getting in the way of each other. In BMI terms I'm a little way into the overweight category, but I carry it all on my stomach so I'm quite a way over the recommended maximum waist measurement. I have been offered a seat on the tube and on one occasion asked if it was my first baby

The numbers aren't the be all and end all - for me that point is that I am at this weight because I don't prioritise sleep and activity and compensate with carbs and caffeine! And for some other more psychological reasons which I'll get to, but this is already the longest intro in history.

I'm going to take Saturday as my starting point:
5'9"/1.75m
12st10.5lb/81kg
BMI 26.4
Waist 36"/91cm
Targets, let's see, but I'm guessing somewhere south of 11st/70kg - I'll head in that direction and see how I feel. I'll never be right at the bottom end of the BMI range, I'm broad!

Eating wise - I'm cutting back on high glycemic index carbs and trying to get some more protein in. I know I feel better and less hungry when I'm not struggling from one sugar rush then crash to the next.

Well done Kwick! Hope it went ok Bear.

In terms of an update about the book I was banging on about, I do feel like I’m losing weight but I’m not going to weigh myself until I’ve been eating like this for a month so I don’t get hung up on numbers.

I’m making a few notes about how I’m finding it as it as Igo along, so I’ll report back on my experience if it proves to be a success.

I am very intrigued witch!!!

Interestingly Kwick it does seem to have fixed my massive over-reliance on sugar. This week is a good test because I so far haven’t managed ore than about 5 hours sleep a night, which would normally send me straight for the sugar.

Wow Witch!!! Sounds promising!

Right guys, rejoining you because I need to get back on the sw wagon so I don't gain more than the absolute minimum in pregnancy.
Have only been feeling mildly sick so far so I ve found my food choices have been ok but today, just a huge carb binge!! Dominos pizza has given me irritable bowel which these days is quite rare.
Expect to have my first m/w appointment in a few weeks so need to try and lose what I ve gained in treatment else I think I ll be on the clexane injections for evermore!! Also got the green light to start swimming, I ve so missed it!!
Am told that its still possible to lose a decent amount in the first 3 months and then to monitor when I do regain.

Am very intrigued about this book witch
xxx

Well done Ever! SW is midwife approved - I got a pack so both SW and midwife can monitor you properly. I think you only do online - maybe be worth going to a group to get hold of this paperwork.

Thanks kwick will have to get my arse to a group to keep having words with myself. As so far I am not having major sickness, its good to get myself back on board. I am finding am liking fruit so am happy that my body seems to have turned to a natural sugar craving, rather than the crazy white stuff. Although tonight I have gone after Caramac buttons!! But think that's been borne out of a carb binge.
Have Mabels boathouse trip tomorrow so this weekend will just keep an eye, and Monday I ll start again properly xx

Ok, so in the interests of science I have weighed myself. Been doing the hunger directed eating thing from that book for exactly four weeks and I am ten pounds lighter. I thought I was losing weight from how clothes felt and from taking a photo each week - starkers so I won’t post

Literally all I have done is wait to get hungry - eat exactly what I want with no restriction on choice - stop when I’m full - take note of how it makes me feel later. No extra exercise. In fact possibly less exercise. I realise I already sound infuriating, sorry! But previously I always ate beyond full, almost to the point of punishing myself by shoving extra food in. Yet I was always ravenous by mealtimes.

Let’s give it another four weeks and see how it goes. But honestly, it has been fascinating to really pay attention to the conversations I have with myself about food and exercise. I think one of the the things that resonated with me was that it is about learning to trust yourself, which I really felt I needed to do, and that is helping me trust myself more in other areas of my life too.

Was just thinking I should clarify that when I said “Literally all I have done...” - that’s physically what I’ve done. The mental bit is obviously what makes that possible, which is what I’ve found the book useful for - rethinking my relationship with food.

Sounds very encouraging Witch!!!! Looking forward to hearing progress reports!

I have been awful, really need to get back to slimmming world. Away with old Uni friends this weekend so back on track after that

After scoffing copious amounts of food over the weekend and yesterday I had lost weight the morning I am beginning the secret in all this is to just keep my body guessing if it will be in famine or feast!!!

I made Club 10 this week!!! That means since May I have lost 10% of my body weight!!!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well!!!

Well the Club 10 did not last long... what a horrendous week for food!!!

Hi guys, hope you don’t mind if I join this thread. I’ve been going to SW for 5weeks now and lost 8lbs. Trying to get down another stone and a half before treatment starts in February. Sounds like you are all doing well...I keep having setbacks...last week I put 1/2 on and the week before I maintained. Hopefully back on track though now. Good luck x

Welcome Mandy! That’s a tough one over Christmas!

Was hoping you’d come and announce your Club 10 victory Kwick! Sorry the last week has been hard for food.

I think it’s a week on Monday that I’m going to weight myself again (4 weeks since the last time and 8 weeks since the start). I think I’ve found it harder more often to just eat when I’m hungry in this second four weeks because I’ve had more going on emotionally. What’s been interesting is that it’s not just negative emotions I seem to try and numb with food, it’s emotions in any direction.

I’ve also had a few occasions when I’ve made a conscious decision to eat beyond full (speacial occasion meals mainly) and then try not to berate myself for it and simply wait for the next time I’m hungry to eat. It’s hard to get out of the habit of stressing about it!

I kind of wish I hadn’t weighed myself after four weeks because that has definitely made me more hung up on what the number might be next time. But I’m trying to make it all part of the experiment rather than the be all and end all and I am sort of interested to know what the weight loss profile looks like. Writing this I’m thinking that I would recommend anyone else doing it not to weigh themselves and I’m thinking maybe I won’t weigh myself in a week. So let’s see!

Witch I know right but I’m hoping if I get down enough before Xmas eve I can afford to put a couple of pounds on over that week.

Welcome @Mandy002 !!!

witch I am so proud of you!!! It has been a well difficult time and you are doing amazingly well!!! I love your experiment!!!

I use food for everything- when happy, sad, stressed, tired, energetic etc etc.... hope I can show my child a better way 😬

Thanks kwick- hope you guys are doing ok. I’ve had a crap weekend food wise. Lost 1.5 lbs at SW on Saturday and haven’t stopped eating since . I need to get back on the wagon! I’m now 17st but need to be 15.5st to be just inside the top of overweight BMI. Made some quinoa salad to take to work this week so hopefully this will help a bit. Good luck x

Ah mandy it is hard. I am not sure whether to go to my weigh-in tonight or not... I have definitely put on
Club 10 did not last long 😩

Kwick hope your weigh in went ok. I find the more hectic work is the worse I do as I can’t be bothered to cook when I get home- so I eat quick and unhealthy. I also have book club tonight which I would have blown off if it wasn’t my book we were reviewing lol

What was the book mandy? I used to be in a book club but the choices were too high brow for me and my “good old romp” choice did not go down so well 😬

I did not go to the weigh-in. I was really tired and just wanted the comfort of home.

It was called no and me. It was ok but not great...required reading for my alevel French class so as I had to read it anyway I figured I’d set it as my choice. I do weigh-in on a Saturday morning which works well as I don’t have to be worried about what I eat all day beforehand. Is there one by you on a Saturday or Sunday morning? Anyway I’m sure you’ll have a loss next week...I’m hitting the tread mill tonight not sure how I feel about that. Lol

I have lost this morning - I just hope I can be good this week.

Well done kwick