Losing weight for IVF/fertility treatment

[Bec18x]

I wanted to start a thread for people that have been told they need to lose weight to qualify for IVF or other fertility treatments. I have been ttc for 3 years and have PCOS and endometriosis. I lost 1stone 7lb to get my BMI below 35 before I was given medications. I have tried clomid 100mg and 150mg but failed to ovulate and I have tried Letrozole 7.5mg and also failed to ovulate. My next step looks like IVF, however I need to get my BMI below 30 so I have about 2stone 7lb to lose before I can be referred. I am starting the Cambridge weight plan to lose it as I lost a lot of weight on this diet previously.
If anyone wants to join this thread so we can encourage and motivate each other to lose weight on this crazy journey

Yes me! I have lost almost 2st I think and have about 1.5 more to lose to be down to a 'healthy' weight. I was kind of happy being a bit bigger and quite liked my body. But needs must!

I don't have pcos but I do have some symptoms of it and I also found out I had elevated TSH, so I have started Levothyroxine, which is supposed help with weight loss.

I am following the paleo diet and have cut out foods that I am intolerant of like oats, eggs, dairy, citrus and tomatoes (I did the Yorke test to find out) and have cut out alcohol, dairy, sugar (most the time!), red meat, gluten, caffeine (the hardest - still drink green tea) and basically anything fun. I tell a lie I do enjoy the diet, it just whole foods essentially and I am still have treats like dark vegan choc, a glass of red wine or a steak. A lot of nuts for snacking. Mainly chicken and fish.

I have been doing exercise for first time in my life too. Just a mix of stuff - stuff to build muscle and burn off fat.

I am hoping to start ivf in February, but not sure as we have genetic stuff we need to sort out, and might have to change clinics. Still trying naturally, but period due Christmas Day, so either I'll have a Christmas miracle or a full day or two of complete diet Armageddon.

Christmas is such a temptation - think I'll eat what I want and drink a bit but keep exercise up x

Well done @farfromperfect82 on the weight loss so far! My next appointment was in February so my goal was to lose the weight by then but then have brought my appointment forward to next week so I'm definitely not going to have lost it by then! I'll see what they say and if they say they will give me a few months to lose some more weight and then I can be referred for IVF I'll be determined to lose it x

Yes @Bec18x I think it happens a lot. The thing is you want the weight loss to be sustainable and not put your body under too much stress. I am dubious about stuff like keto, a lot of saturated fat and think most the loss is water weight plus proven to increase cortisol.

One thing that has worked for me is an eating window, so I generally start eating at midday and finish at 7, including any drinks. I have lunch and proper dinner and a snack in between.

Symprove is something I would recommend, it's a strong probiotic but it can get your digestion working better and a lot of people report losing weight by adding that in. You take it for 12 weeks and eat healthily and will help your body to crave the right things x

I had IVF in 2017 and lost 3st over 6 months to get to a BMI of 29. I was very lucky and the IVF worked and resulted in my DC.

The weight kept off throughout pregnancy and until my baby was about 6 months and then it has crept back on again over the last few years.

My BMI is 35 now and we want to do IVF again so I have been calorie counting and plan to get serious about losing weight again straight after Christmas.

For me what worked the first time was calorie counting (1350 a day) and eating within an 8 hour window.

Hiya am currently 17 weeks and 4 days and I lost 10 kilo for IVF.

You can do it! I did but it was hard.

Congratulations @thefishthatcouldwish so nice to hear positive outcomes. I've just been reading all about IVF and it all sounds very daunting. I'm so determined to lose the weight

Hi. New here! I need to lose 2 stone to qualify for IVF. I know exactly what I need to do to achieve it, but my problem is I just can't seem to get motivated :( I want to WANT to get there, but I don't know what my issue is. I do wonder if the years of infertility heartbreak are subconsciously self sabotaging? Fear of failure? At least if I don't get the treatment it can't fail 🤷 anyone feeling like this?

Hi @Hol87 this thread is almost a year old so I'm not sure if anyone will reply.
I need to lose a stone for my referral to fertility and two more stone for IVF so I can understand how you feel. I would be happy to join you if you wanted to make your own thread here or on the weight loss boards 😊
It's understandable to hesitate about the next step. But you have to make a choice about if it's right for you and if any potential "failure" is worth the possibility, and if it is you have to start fighting for it ❤️ let me know if you make a new thread, I could do with an IVF weight loss buddy 😊

@Hol87 I still didn't lose the weight but have decided to go private as there is no weight limit. I have PCOS and really struggle to lose the weight and then I had some time off work and ended up gaining more weight so had 3 stone to lose. Hopefully starting in January

Oh no 😬 I've got PCOS and am struggling too. I'm worried I'm not going to get there 🙁 it's so hard isn't it? If I could afford to I think I'd do the same!
Exciting for you that you're not far away from starting privately 🤞

Thanks guys, yeah can start a new thread... no idea how to do that though lol. Really nice to talk to people in the same boat. Having a good day today

Hi please may I join?
I'm 31 and was diagnosed with pcos 7 years ago
Struggling to lose weight to get any help from doctors
:(

You go back to the infertility board and at the bottom should be a start thread option 😊 let me know if you struggle and I'll start one.
@lol2015 please join us when we've a new thread! I'm 31 too.

Ok, thank you
Will keep a look out x

Here you go @Hol87 and @lol2015 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4408690-Weight-loss-for-IVF-2021-2022?watched=1
😊

This was like reading what is going on in my brain!!!
I get so far and then something happens and I pile it all back on.
This year is my last chance of 2 free ivf cycles so I HAVE to loose the weight, 4.5 stone!!! I’ve nearly got there before so I know I can do it again, I’ve started the year with a 5.5lb loss this week by calorie counting and moving more along with dry January x