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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.

Weight loss for IVF 2021/2022

621 replies

WeightlossKin · 22/11/2021 20:24

I need to lose three stone to qualify for IVF. I've got one to lose for my referral and two more after that for treatment.
Creating this for myself and for others who might want to buddy up!

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Lakyta1717 · 04/03/2022 06:50

@WeightlossKin I caved today and weighed 😂 I'm due on in a couple of days and just felt bloated, so wanted to see what the scales said. But I join slimming world tomorrow, so will be weighing myself then anyway.

I managed to do 30 minutes in total on my bike, did 15 mins then had a break then another 15 mins. Going to do the same tonight. I'm only trying to do that everyday because my mum set me a March challenge to exercise everyday. Gunna see how long I can keep doing it for.

I've also had some unplanned things (mostly custard creams at work for a quick sugar fix) but meals have been good. So hoping I'm just bloated and water retaining from being due on and I'll actually get a decent loss from being mostly on plan but doing lots of exercise.

Well done for reigning it back in! That's the hardest part when one or two snacks and unplanned foods creep into the mix. I'm gunna try to resist the biscuits today and not have any at work even if I am in need of a sugar fix.

@IsabelHerna how exciting that you're so close to jetting off to Cyprus and doing your ivf! I think it's great that you're seeing it as a chance to be positive and calm! It's definitely what's needed during the process! Sorry to hear your diet/nutrition diary was underwhelming, it took me so long before I found one I actually liked, I use a company called fox&m ion and they do a massive annual diary, but it doesn't have fixed months/dates in it, you put them in for yourself. Which works great when I forget to fill it in for two weeks because then I don't miss out pages. Would highly recommend it!

WeightlossKin · 04/03/2022 09:52

I am so emotional today 🙁 when I do get pregnant I'm going to be an absolute nightmare emotionally. I'm having a day where everything makes me want to cry. Happy things, sad things, nothing at all! I can't seem to shake it off. Going to try very very hard not to eat my feelings!!
@Lakyta1717 I can't say anything as I am the worst. I think actually I'm just going to weigh whenever I want until I get my referral as I hope I'll feel calmer than and won't be panicking on a daily basis (just a weekly basis!).
Will you take tomorrow's weight as your 'weigh in' for this week? You're doing so amazingly well and deserve a good loss! You must be doing so much for your fitness and overall health which is important too (or so people keep telling me 😂). That's a great challenge! I'm sure you'll smash it 😊 also hopefully if you can do some everyday it'll become a more ingrained habit and feel normal to do so rather than feeling like a challenge forever. I'm with you on the no biscuit train today, let's have a fab Friday!

@IsabelHerna that actually sounds really lovely. And in a way I imagine is like going on holiday to get pregnant? 😊 I've got a couple of pounds left to lose before I can have my referral. My hope is to ring up to book the appointment on my birthday next week, as a birthday treat to myself 😂 I'll only do that if I lose 2lbs this weekend though otherwise I'll delay it by a week.

I don't even have a food diary, I use MFP right now but when I do slimming world properly I record it on the app. A diary sounds a good idea for the process ahead though. I'll look and potentially invest in a good one!

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IsabelHerna · 04/03/2022 13:31

@WeightlossKin I am sorry you were feeling like this yesterday, hope today goes better for you x

Yes, my sister is making me fun for the 'holiday' part she's all "Oh you sound so much like a carefree 20yo going to an island in the mediterean and coming home knocked up" 😂 The thing is back then I was dreading this, and now I'm begging for it 😅

Aww that would be an amazing birthday treat for you! Come on, I can give you motivation for those last couple of pounds, let's do this! 💪

Update about the planner: Turns out it, it's amazing I was just too tired and sleepy last night.

It has a page to ckeck your goal progress overall, which I believe it's amazing, so you dont loose the big picture. Daily tip, and track of water intake, meal planning, notes, mood tracker! In the end of each month, it has a "Goal tracking summary" to see how you progressed in a month. I like it!

Lakyta1717 · 05/03/2022 07:22

Morning, weighed in officially this morning and am fuming! Had such a huge gain 😔 it is my time of the month, and I usually gain a bit but not this much. According to my stats, I have gained muscle though so that's a part of it (makes sense which how far I've been cycling this week). I can't join slimming world today as at a friends and she lives an hour away, so I wouldn't be able to get to the earliest slimming world group and make it to hers on time which is so frustrating as I wanted to start this week. But I don't want to do an evening group as I don't like going after work. So I'll have to join next Saturday.
Had a frustrating and emotional week all round, so not in a great place at the moment and to be honest, I'm just trying to function at a minimal level because my depression is really bad at the moment.

I'll stick to my food and exercise plan, so why I can and start slimming next week and see how it goes!

@WeightlossKin sorry to hear you had an emotional time, hope you managed to not eat your feelings! I get days like that where absolutely everything sets me off, even stupid adverts on tv! Dread to think how pregnancy hormones will affect me 😂

@IsabelHerna that sounds great, I love a food diary where you can track it all. Mine has a weekly reflection page and I find it helpful to look at what I can improve on.

WeightlossKin · 05/03/2022 16:31

Oh @Lakyta1717 I'm sorry! At least your scales tell you it's muscle? It means you're making a huge difference and muscle builds a faster metabolism so should aid weight loss in time?
An emotionally trying week isn't helpful either. I absolutely get that frustration. I'm not going to lie, I deliberately don't push my body that much in exercise because I don't want to gain muscle right now. It's probably not the right frame of mind because it'll help you and your health in the long run ❤️ I'm sorry you're feeling that way. It's so hard. You can only do your best and we're not super heroes. Sometimes our "best" varies. Be kind to yourself please!

@IsabelHerna 😂 it's so annoying isn't it? Spent 30 years trying not to get pregnant. Wish I'd not bothered to put my body through all those hormones!! Thank you for your support 😊 I'm feeling pretty excited to be so close to the first stage and will worry about the last two stone I need to lose when I get that far! Glad to hear you love your planner! I had a look to see if there were any I like but I just know I won't fill it in as evidence by all the unfinished diaries and notebooks all around my house!

Weigh day for me tomorrow and I think maybe finally ovulation day for me today? Which makes this my second longest cycle ever. So no doubt I'll be a bit bloaty but have everything crossed for a good loss 🤞

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WeightlossKin · 06/03/2022 09:27

I've stayed the same this week. I'm putting that down to those days where I had a few chocolate or biscuit type things? I guess 🤔 but I've done three 800 calorie days this week. So definitely feel a STS is bullshit. Nothing I can do to change that now though so onwards I go!
I am ovulating which makes me bloaty and constipated so I'm trying not to be too defeated. Cracking on with another week!

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WeightlossKin · 06/03/2022 09:29

Oh actually I did have pancakes this week! So probably that too!

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IsabelHerna · 08/03/2022 10:32

Don't worry, you can do this! Three 800 calorie days? How did you manage!? Have you thought that maybe you need a take-out night? A nutritionist I used to consult, used to use this method with me whenever I was following a strict diet for a time and stayed the same.

I stayed the same too, but will be more strict this week. Today and tomorrow I will do the fertility salad mix and match I saw on Instagram.

Focus on the excitement, you're going to need as much as you can master for the next stages Smile

WeightlossKin · 08/03/2022 12:17

Well I'm testing out the 5:3/4:3 way of dieting but with 800 calorie days rather than 500 as 500 feels too low. I don't think I need a takeaway but it's a lovely thought! I'd never enjoy it. I've only been doing this 2 weeks so don't think I need a blowout already 😊 I know people say it works and they advise it etc. But it would be pointless for me if I'd feel terrible afterwards.

Fertility salad sounds interesting. Hope it's yummy!

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Lakyta1717 · 12/03/2022 07:18

Hey ladies. Been a bit of a weird week for me so haven't been on here.
Official weigh in day results: lost 0.5kg which I'll take. Just happy not to have gained. Also going to my first slimming world session this morning so that'll be good.
Sorry to hear you stayed the same last week, fingers crossed you get a loss this week!
How have your weeks been?

WeightlossKin · 12/03/2022 09:37

Hi @Lakyta1717 I hope your week hasn't been too bad if a little weird! .5kg is just over 1lb isn't it! That's 1lb and half a kg closer to your goal 😊
My weeks been okay. Hoping for a loss when I weigh tomorrow!

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WeightlossKin · 12/03/2022 09:37

Hope slimming world is good 😊

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Lakyta1717 · 12/03/2022 10:58

Slimming world was alright. May have to try the later group as the one I went to, not gunna lie, is full of some odd people... 😂🤦🏼‍♀️
Fingers crossed you get a loss!

WeightlossKin · 12/03/2022 11:14

😂 I've never been to a SW group where I didn't think that. Not to ruin your hope of finding a more normal group to go to. Some people really talk for hours don't they? I stopped attending group when I started having actual nightmares about not being able to leave the group 🤣

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Lakyta1717 · 12/03/2022 11:23

I'm glad it's not just me that thinks that! I'll give it a few weeks and see how I get on with the group. He did say that normally more people stay, so hopefully that'll be true next week!

My scales are 0.5kg lighter than theirs, so that was a sad moment 😂 but I'm gunna give it my all and see how much I lose this week!

WeightlossKin · 12/03/2022 13:58

Hopefully you'll feel more comfortable after a few weeks 😊 I do think it's helpful sometimes to have that extra accountability when weighing in.
Oh how annoying that there's a difference in your scales but at least you're aware of that difference now!
I had a subway salad for lunch today but it was absolutely massive??? I never believe in 'massive salads' really being massive but this was huge. I'm sure I've just eaten a whole lettuce. I asked for extra gherkins so have had like a kg of gherkins 😂 I was having a jacket potato for dinner but am going to have to rethink as I ate two hours ago and still feel stuffed!! I only went to subway as husband had a McDonald's and I felt sorry for myself! 🤦

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Lauralozzle · 15/03/2022 09:35

Hi, can I join?

I’ve recently had my first fertility appointment at the doctors where they weighed me and my bmi is over 30! I don’t have that much to lose but I usually weigh in first thing in the morning and obviously can’t do that when they weigh me! So need to get my bmi comfortably under 30 for mid afternoon weigh ins with clothes! Haha

Im currently on SlimmingWorld but to be honest, I’ve not been that good at it. Stress of TTC leads to emotional eating and it’s a vicious cycle!

WeightlossKin · 15/03/2022 14:11

Hi @Lauralozzle! You're more than welcome 😊I've got a "light outfit" that I get weighed in.
@Lakyta1717 has just gone back to slimming world and I was following it before trialing with 5:2 for a bit. So you're in good company 😊 exciting that you aren't that far away from where you need to be! TTC is the most stressful thing ever and all those hormones rocking around can cause weight gain/eating badly etc.

What did you go over in your fertility appointment if you don't mind sharing? 😊

My update: lost 1lb this week (considering it was my birthday last week and we had a meal out and cake twice that's quite good!). I've got 2lb left to lose to be below BMI 35. I'm nervous that when my GP does my referral it'll get rejected because everyone else has to be under 30 🤦 we shall see. I've booked my appointment for end of March to see if my GP will send the referral anyway!

@Lakyta1717 I hope you are getting on alright with your first proper SW week!

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Lauralozzle · 16/03/2022 08:26

@WeightlossKin I’m glad I’m in SW company!

I’d already had bloods taken (day 21 and day 2) with my GP. Fertility clinic weighed me, they have arranged for a scan, HSG and another blood test for AMH. They should all be done within the next 8 weeks when I should have another appointment and my bmi has to be under 30 by then!

Lakyta1717 · 16/03/2022 20:37

Hey everyone!

Welcome @Lauralozzle that's amazing news about how far along you are in the process. I'm sure that you'll be able to get your BMI lower than 30 in no time!

I'm having a good week starting out on SW again. Been really good, stuck to my syns and eaten so much fruit and veg this week. Hoping I see a decent loss on Saturday to spur me on. I have been hungry, but I'm not used to eating carbs and feel like I'm cheating. So keep reminding myself it's okay to eat them as long as I follow the third being speedy fruit/veg. Just got to work it all out again. I've even managed to have the odd creme egg as still have loads left from when my husband bought them 😂

Well done for losing 1lb @WeightlossKin you're so close now! Hopefully they'll refer you and you can get to that final goal for your treatment in the coming months! How's your week going so far?

I have a bit of added stress this week as have just found out I've got an interview for a job, but I'm not going to let it derail me. I'm on track so far and want to see a loss on Saturday so badly! Actually excited to weigh for once which is weird!

WeightlossKin · 16/03/2022 21:04

@Lauralozzle that makes me feel better! Can I be rude and ask if your BMI was over 30 when you GP did the referral? 😳 Sorry for being so nosy! Feel free not to say.

I'm feeling really nervous about potentially being referred (finally!) As I've had to lose so much weight and worried they won't do anything until my BMI is under 30. It's nice to know they're doing the other bits for you even though your BMI is over that right now. So exciting you're only 8 weeks ish away, do you think that's doable weight loss wise?

🙄I've been trying to post this all day 😂 half expected to see it uploaded 100 times!

@Lakyta1717 I'm so glad to hear you're having a good week SW-wise! I used to say I always knew when I was doing it correctly as I was always hungry 😳 what I will say though is remember it's okay to be a bit hungry? I bet it feels weird suddenly being "allowed" to eat carbs again, trust in the plan! Glad to know the creme eggs are still on the go 😂 how many syns is one of those?! At least on SW you can have one and balance it in! I can't wait to see how you get on 💪

An interview can be so stressful. Will you have plenty of time to prepare yourself and do some practicing with how to answer typical questions and everything? Goodluck!

I'm having a really shitty week. I stuck to my fast day Monday and just about today but had some exciting things planned this week and a day off but for one reason or another all of those things have fallen through and I just feel like crying about it all. I had a little chocolate and just want to eat until I feel better. I need to just shake it off but I'm so sad about it all and like every time I get excited about anything life effs it up 🙁

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Lakyta1717 · 16/03/2022 21:20

That's what I'm trying to think - it's obviously working because I'm going to bed feeling a bit hungry. I'm not ravenous or on the verge of binging, but I could definitely do with some snacks. A creme egg is only 9syns which I was surprised at as thought it would be much higher!
I have a week to prepare thankfully. So going to get it all sorted over the weekend and get organised.

@WeightlossKin I'm sorry to hear your having a crappy week. It can be really upsetting when plans fall through, especially when you've been really excited about it. Don't let it completely derail you. You'll regret it so much if you do and you've managed to do your fast days, which is great! Can you rearrange your plans or do something else instead to take your mind off things?

WeightlossKin · 16/03/2022 21:34

It's quite nice to be able to build some snacks in without feeling like you've ruined your diet! I quite liked saving my dairy allowance X 1 and having some cubes of cheese as a snack 😊only 9 syns is so good! I was thinking it'd be more like 14?! Maybe that's a sign they've gotten smaller over the years 😂 is your partner doing it with you?

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your interview, how exciting!

I think I'm just sick of everything always being cancelled or postponed. I can't really rearrange everything as some of it is out of my control. There's just no enjoyment in my life right now even though I'm trying to fill it with nice non baby things 🙄
I'll definitely not give in and eat my feelings (I would be gutted not to get my referral weight!) But not eating means I'm just left with this shitty miserable feeling. How do other people feel better about things if they don't eat their sad?! 😂

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Lauralozzle · 17/03/2022 00:53

@Lakyta1717 thanks. It should be totally doable but I’ve gained and lost the same 7 lbs since June last year. I might have to have a week of slimfast before the next appointment just to make sure.

Good luck for your interview!!!

@WeightlossKin so, at first the doctors had my height down about 7 cm too short, basically tried to refer me to an obesity scheme thing which was a bit extreme given I’m a size 12/14. They never did it, but was given a lecture over the phone when I told them my weight! They had arranged all the bloods though even though they couldn’t refer me. So I got on with that. Bloods were a bit of a mess - my thyroid is basically borderline but technically ‘normal’ according to GP. It was 9.8, they made me retake it in 3 months time, it went down to 4.6 - better but everything I’ve read for ttc says 2.5 or lower. GP won’t do anything though.

Also have elevated prolactin levels which a double what they should be. They got retested too and they’re still high. Then GP had to write to endocrinologist to see if I needed to be referred to them.

It was at second meeting about bloods (managed to nab a face to face appointment) they weighed and measured me. They measured me in my trainers (hehehe) so then they amended my height by about 9cm (2cm too high) which put my bmi under 30 and I was about 5 lbs lighter than I am now. This was before Christmas when I was being strict and hadn’t caved in and eaten all the mince pies.

Didn’t go into the GP after that just another telephone appointment where they discussed that endocrinologist didn’t want me to be referred and they then sent fertility referral.

On Monday they weighed and measured me (trainers off) properly! My bmi is 30.5, so not too high but technically obese. I’m luckily really that when the referral was sent off by GP they measured me in my trainers. Otherwise I think I’d still be waiting for the referral. We’ve been trying for 3 years come July so I thought it was time i had some luck on my side! The weight loss is totally doable but I just cave in the evening and want to eat everything.

It’s been a nightmare but I fully admit I lucked out on the bmi at the doctors.

I’m sorry about your crappy week. When I’m feeling rubbish I have a bath - I know I break all the TTC rules with hot baths (it’s not scolding) but I lock myself away, have a bath, read a book get ready for bed and then hibernate. Probably not the best way to deal, but having a bath means for at least an hour I’m less likely to automatically grab DH’s snacks (I mean all of them, he’ll often be like… what happened to my pack of mini eggs! Or my lower calorie ones but eating 5 bliss bars in the space of ten minutes stops being lower calories!) by the time I’ve finished my bath I’m not clawing at chocolate draw anymore.

Just brushing my teeth doesn’t work, I’ll eat until the taste of toothpaste goes away and then eat some more do it tastes like how it’s supposed to. I think I clearly have food issues which makes this so daunting because it will be 100% all my fault if I can’t drop this half a stone or whatever it is I need to drop.

WeightlossKin · 17/03/2022 09:21

I really appreciate you taking the time to share all of that 😊 it's so helpful to hear how the process has been so far for other people. It's so hard to have a good relationship with food isn't it?? A bath would have been a lovely idea, wonder why I didn't think of that really - well actually it was because I was too busy feeling really sorry for myself.
I think I'd probably bite someone if they are still telling me I'm too fat when I'm a size 12? 😒 I can't imagine ever being a 12 and have no idea what size I will be when I've lost my last two stone! Will be interesting I guess.
I had my day 21 (day 28 for me that cycle) bloods done to confirm ovulation - they were just below the range but put down to my wonky cycle. Was meant to get them redone but then my husband got his SA results back and they were awful, so I didn't see the point. I went for a scan to check my uterus etc. All "normal for someone with PCOS", meaning it was not normal but not unexpected. I had my thyroid etc tested but was told it was all normal! Who knows what the actual levels are.

I am genuinely expecting my GP to send off my BMI of 35 referral just to have it rejected 🤦 although our CCG says access to things like clomid etc should be given under BMI 35 and it's only IVF itself that's under 30? So we'll see!
I thought I'd have a nice bit of calm after my GP appointment but I think I'm going to go straight into being stressed about the next two stone instead!

I'm sure you can achieve your half a stone! Even if it's 1lb at a time you can do it in time.

Thank you for the pep talk ladies! 😊 I'm confident we can all meet our goals 💪

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