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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

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Original poster

weight loss for treatment

34 replies

lugo40 · 28/05/2015 08:24

Hi,

i need to lose weight before starting any treatment. I am thinking of lighter life or slimming world. Has anyone got any experience with these or knowledge about whats best before treatment/pregnancy etc

thank you

OP posts:

Elektra83 · 28/05/2015 09:13

Hi Lugo, I think I'm in a similar situation to you - I also need to lose weight before treatment.

I have done Lighter Life before and would never recommend it to anyone! It was a horrible experience and I think has made my food issues worse than they were before I did it. I lost a lot of weight very quickly, but found that it was just as quick putting it back on.

I have friends that have done slimming world and that seems to be a better way to lose weight, it's slower but you are eating real food all the time so when you come 'off' the diet, that process is still ingrained in you. I don't know the ins and outs to it but compared to LL it seems to be the better option!

Good luck x

Original poster

lugo40 · 28/05/2015 10:50

thank you Elektra. How are you going about your weight loss this time?

OP posts:

Elektra83 · 28/05/2015 14:13

I'm trying to be sensible about it - eat more veg, less junk (which is mostly cheese!), make sure I am taking in protein etc. For me it's more of a food thing as I exercise a lot anyway and enjoy the routine I have.

It's definitely the food side of things that I fail on! I like my carbs and cheese heheh! So I need to cut down on those things.

Dollydewdrop21 · 28/05/2015 15:55

Hi. I am in the same boat as you. I can really reccomend slimming world. Its not a diet but healthy eating. I have done weight watchers and other diets but never had much success. With Slimming World nothing is forbidden and there is not a lot of weighing and measuring. I have lost 4.5 stone and got my bmi down from 42 to 34! Believe me, if I can do it anyone can! I really encouage you to go for slimming world. I had PCOS and was not ovulating but over the last year my PCOS is gone and I am ovulating all by myself!

The sad thing is that I still cant get any help on the NHS because my bmi is not 30 or below.. Sorry to have a rant but I have worked so hard with diet and exercise and its still not good enough for them!! I am 6ft and now size 14 on top and 16-18 bottom but my bmi is still too high. Aargh I hate bmi...
Let us know how you get on and goid luck. xx

Original poster

lugo40 · 28/05/2015 17:10

thank you both!! so great to hear others going through the same. I have joined a gym but never been - same old story!! but i am reducing my hours at work and plan to use days off to get me in the habit of using the gym. I will also join slimming world.

Dolly- BMI is vert frustrating. NHS do use it as a way of saving money i believe as o me it sounds like for your height you are a good weight and size and surely they could refer and start the process while supporting you to contiue loosing>! theres no thinking outside the box sometimes.

Good luck and keep me updated with how you get on x

OP posts:

Dollydewdrop21 · 28/05/2015 17:49

Good luck Lugo! I wish you luck
How much do you need to loose and what treatment have they suggested? I still need to loose around 10kg but after my initial sucess I am finding it so difficult now.

Unfortunately with nhs its one size fits all, I know they need to draw the line somewhere but its so frustrating when ive come so far!

Original poster

lugo40 · 28/05/2015 18:40

I need to lose about 6 stone to get my bmi down to healthy. so long way to go but i will think of it as a year long approach to get healthy and lose weight and then decide if we want to continue with treatment or adopt. They have suggested ICSI for us which is why i am a little unsure as there seems to be more risks than standard IVF.

10 kgs is great and you will achieve it so easily as you already done so well. at 0.5 kg a week you would do it by christmas!! i understand your frustration though, i hope when they do refer you for treatment there is not a long a wait to be seen x

OP posts:

Elektra83 · 28/05/2015 19:26

Hi Dolly, I agree that the bmi rule is nuts. It's what I am really worried about, we have our first fertility appointment in a few weeks and I'm worried they may tell us they can't do anything because my bmi is just over 30.

I'm hoping I can lower it over the next few weeks but I'm not hopeful :-(

Dollydewdrop21 · 28/05/2015 19:55

Hi Elektra,

Good luck! All I can say from experience is just get it as low as you can before you go. I do hear the odd story of people being referred for treatment with a bmi higher than 30 but that is not my experience at all!

Its worth checking the guidelines for your pct. Some will take you with a bmi of up to 35 but most are 30. If you were to go private they are happy to treat you with a bmi of up to 35.

Dollydewdrop21 · 28/05/2015 19:59

Good luck Lugo! You can do it! You also never know what will happen to your fertiiity if you try get a little healthier.

How about your DP? My DH had a low sperm count but did Slimming World with me and his is back to normal now.

Its hard work but just put your mind to it. There is so much support on here too. xx

Original poster

lugo40 · 29/05/2015 06:58

Thank you! Interesting that if you go privately they accept a higher BMi - must all be about the cost!

My husband has low motility, his BMi is 29 so it's more lifestyle with him- diet, exercise etc and maybe lost 5kgs. We were discussing it last night and I may stretch the budget to have personal training for a little bit. I was having reflexology, acupuncture etc so have cancelled all of that and will use the money on PT. Expensive but if it works it's worth it!! I am reducing my hours at work from 1st July as I work with children it's been really tough . I love my job but it's not been very enjoyable at all and I'm hoping the extra day off a week at home will help.

Good luck elektra - I hope you sw a consultant with common sense who starts the process knowing you can continue loosing weight x

OP posts:

Elektra83 · 29/05/2015 09:16

Good luck to you too Lugo, keep us posted! :)

The guidelines/eligibility criteria given to us from the GP said bmi had to be 29.9 or lower and for 6 months...hmmm. The last time I got weighed I was around 30.6 but that was pre holiday - where I didn't go too mad but was a bit more relaxed about food. I now have 3-4 weeks to get back on track :(

Dollydewdrop21 · 29/05/2015 10:06

Lugo - the reason why they accept a higher bmi when going private is because you are paying for it! I tried relfexology for a bit but gave up on it. How do you find the accupuncture? I am thinking of giving it a go.

A pt is worth a go if it focuses you and helps you to achieve your goal, its also going to be cheaper than paying for ivf or icsi! I startws swimming which is proving to be good exercise.

Dollydewdrop21 · 29/05/2015 10:09

Elektra you can easily do it, you dont have much to loose (although easier said than done and I actually put on before my appointment because of the stress of it!)

The hardwork is maintaing it for 6 mths.

Original poster

lugo40 · 29/05/2015 13:14

Oh wow, I was thinking a year to get to the weight but now I need to add on 6 months for maintenance :-( WTF?! Sorry. I don't see what maintenance has to do with it if it's just about improving chances of the Ivf working. Ah well, them are the rules!! Every time I look into it I hear something extra you need to do.

I found accupuncuture odd really. Best part for me was the therapist was very knowledgable, prob due to all the a clients she sees, so she gave lots of tips and advice which was really helpful. I found reflexology better as it relaxed me more and I might start again once treatment starts but for now all my money needs to go into exercise classes etc

Good luck to both of you. Elektra you are so nearly there!! When is your appointment?

OP posts:

Elektra83 · 29/05/2015 14:44

Thank you both. Tbh, I wonder how they would enforce the maintaining it for 6 months side of things? I mean if someone was at 29 and got there just before their appointment, would they really potentially scupper their chances by saying they only just got there?

A PT is great if you have a good one who will push you and don't be afraid of resistance/weight training! It is an effective way to lose weight and makes you stronger, win win!

I want to get acupuncture done, not for the fertility side of things but have some really sore muscles and my husband reckons it would could help, just need to find a decent one.

Lugo, my appointment is on 24th June I think, it's our very first appoint and some people here have said they will just do check ups/make a plan of action first, I just want to make sure I don't give them a reason to say I need to lose weight - no pressure(!)

Dollydewdrop21 · 29/05/2015 16:37

Elektra dont be afraid for 1st appointment. They will ask for your and dh history. Probably do an examination on you and talk about scheduling tests before they make any kind of diagnosis.

Good luck. x

Goandplay · 29/05/2015 16:55

Hello I lost weight for treatment and I was private. They wouldn't treat me until I was at a BMI of 32.
I would say healthy eating is the way forward because you need to be healthy for treatment. I changed the way I ate, similar to SW, and lost weight over a year.
I also started walking every day and then tried running which I didn't enjoy. I then joined a local boot camp class and started a spinning class which I loved and went as often as I could. I also did an exercise DVD most evenings unless I had done a class.
It was a massive accomplishment and I was proud of myself.
You can do it.

Dollydewdrop21 · 29/05/2015 17:01

well done goandplay. How much have you lost? It is a big achievement.

Goandplay · 29/05/2015 17:04

I lost nearly 4 stone.

I then had twins and weighed even less once they were born but with tiredness and a whole load of excuses I've gained quite a lot back. They're 2 years old now and I'm just starting to feel ready to get back to it. I love junk food/snacks so I get into a cycle of eating and grazing all day. Just need to cut it out again.

Goandplay · 29/05/2015 17:05

Thank you.

It does feel unfair when you have to lose weight for treatment.

Dollydewdrop21 · 29/05/2015 17:10

Well done goandplay. I dont think people understand how difficult it is. I think its more difficult to maintain than loose. I lost 4 1/2 stone but finding it difficult to loose the rest. Are you trying to loose so you can get pregnant again ?

Goandplay · 29/05/2015 17:18

No not this time. I just feel disappointed in myself for slipping back.

Goandplay · 29/05/2015 17:19

I hit stages where I just couldn't get anymore off. Then it would just starting coming off again. My DP was always surprised it didn't just fall off!
How much do you have left DewDrop?

Dollydewdrop21 · 29/05/2015 18:40

men!!! I have 10 kgs left. I have only just started exercising recently as I thought I was active enough before. I commute by train so walking between stations, walk the dogs and a nursery school teacher so always on the go. I do find it exhausting to get to the gym after a long day at school though . Dont feel disapointed in yourself, you did it once you can do it again, just need to get your head in the right place. xx

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