Weight loss for IVF 2021/2022

[WeightlossKin]

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!

@Lauralozzle that's amazing well done! Thank goodness! How exciting for you 😊 is that it for weight checks now??
You must feel so relieved!

@MissLB I have got just under two stone left to lose too. It's a long old process and I think it's even harder if you've been going at the weight loss for a longer time. I've been doing very strict low carb... Let me know how you get on. You're still losing half a pound a week so you're doing amazingly well! Much better than I am managing anyway 😊 try to feel happy if you can that it is coming off consistently, even if you'd like it to b be quicker. Very frustrating that weights the barrier with MFI 🙄 I'm in the same boat but also have PCOS and everyone around me getting pregnant easily even though I am honestly healthier than all of them. Even the thinner people only ever eat crap and don't exercise AND they smoke and drink regularly. Probably best I don't go off on one, but I definitely sympathise. You'll get there. Hope your appointment went ok.

@WeightlossKin I Hope that’s it for BMI checks, but on the possibility they’ll weigh me at every given opportunity I’m going to continue with diet plan but up my calories slightly.

i Might have celebrated today with a toffee nut latte and a doughnut though, but I’ve been very strict on sugar and carbs, and I’ll continue to be from tomorrow.

I’ll let you know if they throw any more BMI checks at me! I still need to go in for a bloods appointment but they said they can be done before stims start. I’ll probably contact them later this week to arrange it though.

It makes sense to be cautious @Lauralozzle ! Won't it be lovely when you don't have to be harassed about your weight anymore!
I'm struggling with carbs now that Christmas is approaching. I was doing so well and managing not to miss them but I find as soon as I cave in once, it makes me crazy for them.
Did you get your bloods arranged? Any news on your actual start date? It would have been nice if it was before Christmas for you, as dieting over Christmas is a nightmare.

@WeightlossKin I’ve started! Bloods were all sorted. I’m on down regulation now, started that last Friday and now I’m waiting for my period to show up! Which is late, but I think it’s the hormones I’m pumping through me at the moment!

Diet has been bloody awful! I’m bloated and feeling a bit crap and I’ve pretty much just ate crap. Partly stressed about my period not arriving yet! Once I start stims I’ll have to limit carbs and drink like a ton of water and up my protein.

Christmas makes this really hard with the carbs. I’m with you, once I start I just can’t stop. I haven’t even weighed myself because I know it will be terrible!

Hi all 👋🏻

I haven't posted for a long while. So June or July I was told by the nhs fertility nurse that if I didn't lose a stone by January I'd have to start the whole process again. This because I hadn't lost enough 😑 which resulted in me comfort eating and becoming very low.

I have PCOS & Under active thyroid 🙄

At my highest weight of 18st (bmi 40.4) I lost a little bit of weight trying to eat well and going for walks. My weight kept fluctuating up and down and in October I started the 1:1 Cambridge weight loss plan and for the first time in yearsssss have lost 1st and half. I'm now 16st and my bmi is 35.9. To be honest I've had a few naughty meals hence why my loss is not a much as others. I'm hoping not to cause much damage over Christmas and can fully refocus Jan and onwards.

I was told by the nhs my bmi needs to be under 35 for the tube check (sorry can't remember the official name 😆) and they'd start me on medication and bmi of under 30 for IVF etc.
Private said under 35 for everything.

How long are people waiting on the nhs for treatment for medication or ivf? I will have a phone call in January but wanted peoples experience?

I'm 36 and while my private tests for amh came back slightly higher for my age, I'm worried about waiting ages 😥 feels like time is ticking away and with all the issues with nhs waiting times.

Hope everyone is doing well xxx

@MrsBiddy Congrats on your weight loss so far. I was referred to fertility clinic in January 2022, after tests, I was referred for IVF in May and then had first appointment with fertility clinic in June. I’ve had a bit of a delay since because of thyroid and prolactin levels and I’ve started down regulation this month. Without thyroid/prolactin issues probably would have been starting treatment August/September time.

@Lauralozzle
Thank you 😊
Ah ok, I take levothyroxine for my thyroid at the moment and Metformin for pcos.

I think I'm going to ask more questions to the nhs nurse, as I need to know time scales for certain tests etc.

Thank you for your help x

Hi how is everyone managing this time of year? I'm struggling as been so busy at work (think child protection stuff) and then been unwell so not exercising much and just wanting to eat carby quick stuff!

Still not 100% but making a real effort again from today. I'm part of throwing money at the problem with prepacked healthy stuff.

I've managed to avoid all christmasy things.

Good luck on your journey, and Merry Christmas

@MrsBiddy im using concept fertility they take bmi 40 and under.

@Lauralozzle how is it going?? So sorry I haven't popped back on to check in with you. Let me know how you're getting on x

@MrsBiddy well done on your weight loss so far! I have PCOS too and it's a nightmare.
My local fertility clinic doesn't have a waiting list (not sure why?) So I can start whenever I'm ready. I'm not really getting any closer. We've agreed if I'm not at target by end of March (that means losing 20lbs in 12 weeks...) Then we'll pay privately. Purely because it's been more than three years now of trying for a baby and more than a year and a half of torturing myself with diets and being obsessed with weight loss and food and I can't do it to myself anymore. I don't actually know how we'll afford it and am dreading the cost of it but it is what it is... I guess! How are you getting on? When is your phone call appointment?

@IVFlife Christmas is SO hard! I feel like I manage to restrict loads but always find it hard when everyone else can eat as much as they want to. I've been pretty good but fell off the low carb wagon so have gained two pounds. Two painful pounds.

I've tried almost everything and don't know what's wrong with my body. 800 calories a day for 6 weeks and I lost a few pounds but then stalled and fell off the wagon for that as it's ridiculous. Tried low low carb, lost a bit then stopped, then gained. I've tried saxenda as well hoping for this magical weight loss other people experience but all it's done is make my bank lighter 🤦🤦🤦 I'm not giving up but even pretending to entertain the notion that I can lost so much in 12 weeks is stupid.

@WeightlossKin Hey! keep at it, although I know it’s hard. Although private being an option might help take away some of the stress of it all.

For my weigh in, I water loaded, was low carb/low sugar/low sodium for 5 days and then effectively dehydrated myself 16 hours before for weigh in. It worked, but it was all water weight I lost, not real fat loss. Not at all healthy but I was desperate. If this doesn’t work we’ll go private and then the weight won’t be an issue and that will be a massive weight off my shoulders.

My weight is back up, luckily they haven’t weighed me since my bmi check.

I started down regulation meds on 9th December. Had a scan on the 29th, I’d not down regulated. Had to take half my trigger as I had a follicule that was borderline, I presume to make me ovulate, so I’m waiting for my period which should start next week sometime. I’ve been taking down regulation meds throughout. So, although I’ve started I’m not getting anywhere fast!

Christmas food wise was a nightmare. I was rationing sweets but last 3 days at work and I’ve literally been a sugar monster!

@WeightlossKin

Thank you, I put 2lbs on over Christmas but now lost that now 😊

I had to phone the nhs fertility nurse for when my appointment was. She called me back saying nothing was booked in but then booked our telephone appointment 17th Jan 🙄😑. I have lots of questions to ask, regarding timescales etc.

I am going to also call the private clinic and find out timescales aswell.

Im 36 so I don't have ages to waste so if it means getting treatment quicker then that's what we will do.

In the meantime I have taken redundancy and trying to find a new job 😑😞
Just frustrated as I thought I'd be in a stable job and have maternity benefits etc 😞

My bmi is currently (via nhs website) 35.9. Honestly I'm so happy with doing the 1:1 Cambridge diet, I tried slimming world and would fluctuate so much. I have never been this weight for years!

I wish you all the best for your weight loss journey and I'm sure you will get to your target xxx

Out for a walk. Done ok so far today. I donated any left over sweets to the food banks.

@Lauralozzle I will definitely do similar i.e. extreme last minute measures! I'd worry about getting weight and okay'd for funding if they're going to then weigh me immediately before starting meds. I wonder if it'll just be the one before funding and nothing else? 😬 I feel like you got weighed a whole bunch of times!

That's frustrating but I guess bodies are unpredictable! How are you feeling about it? Hopefully it feels good just to be on the right path, even if your ovaries aren't doing as they're told? I'm not surprised it's harder to stay off the sweets etc. When taking any kind of IVF meds though. I'm sure you're doing amazingly well!

@MrsBiddy glad you've got your appointment booked in 🤦 have you got all your questions written down? 😊
I'm 33 in March and definitely feel the time pressure. I'm also done torturing myself I think so what will be, will be!
Sorry to hear about redundancy, it's such a hard time! Whatever happens though, I'm sure you'll make it work. You're doing amazingly well with your BMI!

@IVFlife great idea to get rid of those leftover sweets and well done getting out for a walk 😊 I hope today is going okay for you so far too!

Hi all

Been a while since I've posted. Really struggling at the moment.
Had some time off dieting over Christmas and gained 4 pounds which isn't ideal. 25 pounds to go now rather than 21. Starting a 6 week weight loss challenge tomorrow so hoping that does the trick to get me going again.
We decided if I hadn't lost the weight by end of March we'd look at private IVF. It will have been a year since I started loosing weight then and it's been like torture trying hard and loosing small amounts every week.

@MissLB genuinely had to wonder if you were also me!! I need to lose about 21lbs but my goal is 26lbs for some comfort room! I'm also giving myself until the end of March and then we're going to look at paying privately. I'm here with you! I'm not torturing myself any further than 31st March. I thought that decision would be a relief but struggling with the guilt of our life savings going down the drain because I can't lose the weight. Equally I'm looking forward to no longer crying because I can't decide what to eat and decide eating nothing is bloody easier.
do you think it's doable in the time we have?
what's your six week challenge?

I was so excited at not feeling alone on the planet, I forgot to give you any sympathy at all - sorry! I know it's an absolutely shit place to be and SO hard, especially over Christmas but also just day to day. You're doin amazingly well for not giving up and getting back on it!

@WeightlossKin I felt great going into Christmas. The four weeks before Christmas id lost 10 pounds and it meant I had exactly a stone and a half to loose (started with over four stone) so was really feeling manageable. Told myself I was going to be good over Christmas but then think I needed a break from thinking about fertility and my weight and then blaming myself for being fat.
The challenge is like a 20 pound in 6 weeks challenge. Looking at the company's feedback most people manage to do it. I know it'll be hard to sustain afterwards because the diet is really strict and it's like 3 boot camp sessions a week with 2 at home HIIT workouts. But if I manage it I'll just have a couple more pounds to loose hopefully! And going to start taking orlistat again tomorrow. I had given up with that over Christmas too

@WeightlossKin I'm struggling with the guilt of paying for it too. I've just had some inheritance that we've set aside just in case we had to pay privately. But I feel like I'd be wasting the rounds on the NHS. And what if it was going to take us 4 rounds and then we'd only have had to pay for one. But my mental health is also really struggling

Hi Ladies

I joined a while ago but just catching up. Just reading recent comments about paying privately and i am in the same situation but with more weight to lose (3 stone) i have my nhs follow up appointment this month to see if i have lost any weight from my last appointment 6 months ago (i have lost half a stone so i am worrying this will discharge me and ill be back to the start which means losing all the weight before even being referred again then waiting so its looking line we will be going private.

Been TTC 18 months, im 35 and have unexplained infertility. I am giving it a few more months as want to lose 1 1/2 stone before going for IVF so my bmi js lower and i am more healthier just feel like it will take me forever to lose the 3 stone plus all the extra waiting added on its likely it would be another year.

I feel so guilty using all our savings/inheritance i was left because i cant lose the weight x

@MissLB I know what you mean. It's such a constant thought obsession. Sometimes you need a break from it. I genuinely can't wait to be able to not obsess all day everyday about food, weight and fertility. I hope the six week challenge works for you. Even if you don't lost exactly 20lbs, if it gives your weight a kick in the right direction then hopefully it is worth it! The guilt is crazy. I keep telling myself that I haven't done anything to deserve this and I am healthier and eat less (and better) than all of the thinner people I know, so I don't deserve to be overweight and being punished for it either. I'm going to give the next 10-12 weeks a huge push and see where I get to but I'm not putting IVF off any longer than that.

Hi @NatW2021 when I started trying to lose weight I think I had 6.5stone to lose! I think these huge targets are achievable, but not on a time frame we're happy with. I've been trying to lose that now for .. forever. Since March 2021 when we had fertility tests done. So not far off two years! I don't even know how long we've been trying now it's been so bloody long. somewhere between 3 and 4 years maybe? That would be so unfair if you were discharged 😔 places seem to do it in such different ways. I hope that doesn't happen to you. My clinic said there was no time frame to reach the weight, I would have gone private much faster if there was I think as I have no control over how quickly my body loses weight The guilt is awful and unfair. But you're not alone in that feeling.

My plan for most of the days in the next 12 weeks: 200 calorie low carb breakfast of some kind every day, 200 calorie meal replacement shake for lunch, 500 calorie low/no carb dinner. 200 calories for fruit and nut snacks if I'm about to die. Exercise as much as possible. 🤞🤞 That's as much as I can do! I'll be having special event meals off because I don't know how not to? E.g. wedding anniversary, weekend away. But I'll be sticking to low carb options on those!

How is everyone?

@Lauralozzle ! How are the IVF meds going? Are you on stims now?

I'm doing ok! Plodding on. Still hopeful I'll be there by end of March. If not definitely getting a loan to do private! Low carb is brutal 😂