Stubborn IVF weight gain

[Youngatheart00]

Anyone else who’s done multiple cycles finding their IVF weight just doesn’t drop off? Particularly around the stomach, I’ve now got a permanent spare tyre and no matter what I do in terms of diet and exercise (ok, I’m not perfect, but I’m trying!) I can’t seem to shift it.

Does injecting yourself with drugs in the tummy day after day time after time cause some kind of permanent fat??!!!

Or am I just deluded...and need to try harder to shift it? Honestly it’s getting me down so much. Our first IVF cycle was less than 18 months ago and I had a BMI of 23. It’s now 31 and I’m worried I won’t even be eligible anymore.

I am the exact same. Put on 1 stone each cycle and can't shift it off. Doesn't help gyms are closed and I have a crap metabolism. My BMI is 33 and about to start another round with egg collection again I'm just praying they don't weight me x

@jodesxx sorry to hear about your struggles but secretly glad it’s not just me (in the nicest possible way!!)

I don’t even feel like myself anymore - lockdown has contributed as I’ve lived in stretchy clothing and our last cycle failed just as the March lockdown started. I suppose an element of comfort eating came into it too.

I’m also hoping they don’t weigh me, our consultation is going to be over Microsoft teams and not in the clinic.

Thinking of doing a crazy shake diet to try and drop several KG to get down to BMI 29 at least but not sure what’s better or worse for my body when preparing for IVF - being borderline obese or crash dieting

Ashamed I’m in this mess

@Youngatheart00 I'm just off the view that it will be what it will be. If they weigh me, I know it's a delay and I'll be pissed but it'll be the kick I need.

I just don't want to put myself under more pressure to lose weight on top of everything else. I'm trying to lose what I can but just so hard.

Are you under the NHS or a private clinic? I think sometimes there is a bit more leeway with private.

I know what you mean about motivation. With my next round coming up you’d think I’d be motivated as hell but I’m getting disheartened that my efforts don’t seem to be resulting in weight loss and my body is unrecognisable from what it was pre IVFs

I found the only thing that shifted it was a major diet overhaul. Cutting out sugar, intermittent fasting and low carb. I gained 20lbs of ivf weight over two years and dropped it all in 4 months in between my 2nd and 3rd cycles. Nothing I had previously tried such as calorie counting or slimming world made any difference to the ivf weight. It was a slog but the overhaul worked.

Also I didn’t really do any exercise bar light walking and some pilates once or twice a week. It was all through diet.

Thanks @FitzsimmonsMarvel I think sugar is a big problem of mine. In the past I’ve been able to burn it off through a busy lifestyle but this year has been much more sedentary due to being wfh. I’ve already given up booze but cutting down sugar further is sensible. Well done on your weight loss!

@Youngatheart00 ivf weight is definitely different and hard to shift. I don’t know if it’s related to the hormones or if the additional stress puts it on the belly. I had a knee injury and piled on some weight about 3 years ago and I lost it via calorie counting but eating whatever I wanted in my calories whereas that just doesn’t move the ivf weight. I eat plenty now but just not anything carb heavy or with sugar.

An example of what I eat if it’s useful:

Breakfast: 20g milled flaxseed, 15g milled chia seeds, 5g raw cacao powder, 200g high protein full fat yoghurt, with an apple and berries choose on top. This has the benefit of having 20g of protein which is good for ivf.

Lunch: x1 Nairn super seeded oat cracker with hummus and tuna. Salad - mixed leaves, cherry tomato, cucumber, pine nuts, dried cranberry, beetroot, x2 tsp of olive oil, feta cheese crumbled on top. Lots of good veg for ivf and actually tasty too. OR homemade soup with lots of veg.

Dinner: salmon with bean mash and veg, chicken hot pot with lots of veg, steak and salad once a week, chickpea and butternut squash curry, Thai chicken curry with lots of veg etc. No added sugar or jars - slow cooker is my friend!

Then a cup of decaf tea with coconut milk and two squares of >70% dark chocolate as a treat.

Fast from 7pm until 10am.

Thanks v much for sharing your meal plans - I guess being stuck at home means I can spend more time cooking ☺️