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!

@WeightlossKin did you manage to stay on plan after exercising and not eating chocolate?
It's a lot of work to plan and prep for a week, but I quite like Sundays pottering in the kitchen getting it all done. I usually put on a podcast or music and just plod along. So I'm looking forward to getting back into the habit of it.

@Hjklasdfg sorry to hear you're sinuses are playing up again 😔 I hate sinus pain, it's awful. You don't just complain, plus if you can't whinge here where can you?!

Not going to crazy in isolation, just looking forward to getting out for a walk and some fresh air again!

@Lakyta1717 sounds like a good routine to have! We usually would plan on a Sunday and do a food shop for Monday but because I’ve been ill and my husbands depression has creeped back in we’ve both not really planned, we try plan a day ahead but we plan to get better at it soon.

I just feel so drained and that’s impacting my mood too because all I can think is that’s more progress not made, I went up by a kg too which was frustrating but my carb intake has been higher since I’ve been ill.

Ah yeah! Fresh air makes such a difference. Hoping the test comes back negative on Friday keeping my 🤞!

@Hjklasdfg it's hard to feel motivated to be organised when you're not feeling well. And I'm sorry to hear about your husband's depression creeping back in. The most important thing is to look after yourselves and just get through this rough patch. So don't worry too much about that 1kg or the carbs, just be kind to yourself while you're getting back on your feet.
Take it one day at a time, make better choices when you can but don't put pressure on yourselves to do more than you can at the moment.

@Lakyta1717 thank you, it took me a long time to convince him to try antidepressants again and he’s having therapy and his mood is lifting a bit but will be a while until everything seems okay.

Thank you, I’m trying - food wise I have been eating well it’s just the snacking still, I’m trying to stop the chocolate and biscuits and will try go low carb after my appointment.

I’m due on on Monday too so I think that’s just adding to my mood and making me feel all over the place emotionally!

Hope you’re doing okay and having as much of a good day as you can in isolation!

@Hjklasdfg I know exactly what it's like. When in my depression, I really struggle to just function as a basic human being. But it's good that he's getting support and working through it all. It's important not to bury it and deny it, which is sometimes what people with depression will do (I'm guilty of this - just pretending it's all okay and that I'm fine. When in reality I'm absolutely not and need help).

Like I said, little things can help make the difference with food but don't pressure yourself right now. Being kind to yourself is important ❤️ Look after yourself and eat what your body needs and do what you need to do to just get through it. I hate the few days before your periods due, I turn into an emotional lunatic 😂 I've got the joy of being on whilst having covid, so clearly my body just wants it all to go on at once haha.

I'm having an okay day, have sorted out my cover for tomorrows lessons so I can chill for the rest of the day. Now watching Too Hot To Handle on Netflix, absolute trash but I bloody love it 😂

@Lakyta1717 I’m exactly the same as you, pretending everything is okay to most people when it’s not. It’s only my husband I can’t hold a front to as he knows me and he knows when I’m down. He’ll get there, I think the fertility stuff was the last bit that sent him back to being depressed - he’s finding it hard especially as he doesn’t know what he can do to help as it’s all on me to lose weight atm.

Oh god isn’t PMS the worst? I was on the pill for like 12 years and never had a period on them and ever since I came off the pill in 2019 my body has just gone crazy with the hormones. I already warned my husband that if I start crying at him the next few days it’s not him it’s just that the stupid period is on the way! I’ll be honest it’s a bit of a relief not having to worry about if I’m late etc (I’m not ovulating again since I came off the clomid so won’t be getting pregnant I imagine) but the last few months I’ve been obsessing even if I’m a day late and I know that’s not healthy so it’s a relief this month to just breathe and accept it’s coming.

Glad you’re okay, ah yeah I forgot about all the planning - my sister has covid atm and she’s a teacher too so she’s trying to balance resting with all the planning. Haha ah sometimes trash tv is the best, I’ve literally been switching between Married at First Sight Australia which makes me shout at the tv all the time and then either One Tree Hill or Greys Anatomy. Just trying to stick to generally feel good stuff!

Hey ladies a very brief touch base from me! (Sort of brief anyway).
Have had a huge long day and am absolutely shattered now.

@Hjklasdfg you know yourself best and can only do as much as you feel able to do. Try to make good choices where you can but don't beat yourself up. Have you tried skinny whip bars as a sweet treat? Probably not the healthiest in terms of ingredients but super sweet treat and low calorie. I cut them into three and put them in the fridge 😊 might be a good replacement for a couple of biscuits and work out less calories? The mint one is especially amazing! Your appointment is a good point to start to try to cut out the bits of your diet you think you can improve on. Depression is so hard and this whole process is hard enough without pre-existing health and mental health conditions. You can do it though, keep going where you can as every little healthy choice makes a difference 😊

@Lakyta1717 period and covid! Your body is putting you though some trials. It sounds like you're doing really well and managing much better than I would be! Jealous of your TV watching but not of the covid, period or teacher planning!!

I've eaten really well today, mostly through lack of time to go wrong 😂 no exercise today though. My plan for tomorrow: exercise in the morning, fruit for breakfast, taco beans and beef mince for lunch, yoghurt and banana for snack, small portion of chicken and chorizo pie with salad for dinner!

@WeightlossKin I’ve seen the bars around but never try, will look into it thank you :) yeah I’m trying to just work on being kind to myself right now - I’m so overwhelmed with everything and being physically unwell everything is just out the window so telling myself I’ll wait until the appointment is better as I know I will have to change my diet for the injections anyway.

Hope you managed to exercise this morning, that sounds good food wise ☺️

Have any of you heard of Skinny Bakery or The Skinny Food Company? I’ve ordered some condiments like ketchup and sweet chilli sauce as I know the popular brand is very high sugar

I use the coffee flavourings and sauces from the skinny food company - I get them from B&M bargains and absolutely love them. I haven't had sugar in my coffee for months because of the flavourings. I also use the sweet sauces in porridge/yoghurts too.
I also second the skinny whip bars - they're so good and again very cheap in B&M bargains, I have them as a snack when I'm craving sweet stuff. Usually does the trick.

This week has kicked my butt, can't even have early freedom because I'm still testing positive on LFTs 😔 I've deemed this week "crappy crappy covid week" due to aunt flow and covid hitting me all at once. Also ended up with hormonal migraines this month too, so it's been great fun 😂
On the plus side, it does give me an excuse to not drive an hour to visit my friend with a baby (the one who makes insensitive comments without realising), so silver linings I guess! 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Lakyta1717 ah I stayed away from the sweet stuff in case I didn’t like any of the others! But I did order the vegan honey as I always have honey in my tea and I know it’s very high in sugars so hopefully that will be nice. Good to know about the other flavours though as I like steamed milk so was looking at some of the flavours too, just didn’t want to spend too much on the first order.
Will definitely look at the bars! Not sure if I can go cold Turkey this time. What I did before was go cold Turkey for like a month or so and then if I was out or so I would have a tiny treat so I didn’t feel I was missing out.

Oh bless you, yeah everything at once is never good!! Have the symptoms eased? Yeah that’s a blessing in disguise, gotta look at the positives!

Yeah, they've definitely eased up thankfully - just headache and snuffles now. Nothing like yesterdays migraine thank god!

It's definitely worth trying them, just to see what you do and don't like. I found I like the squeeze sauces but not the chocolate spread stuff, that tasted too fake for my liking.
I admire you going cold turkey with sugar, that's so bloody hard to do! I would never be able to do that at all. Don't blame you for not wanting to go cold turkey again this time.

@Lakyta1717 I’m so glad the symptoms are starting to reduce! Really hope today is a better day for you ☺️

Yeah I’ll see how I get on with what I’ve ordered so far and take it from there, just trying to make swaps on simple things that I didn’t consider last time.

Tbh I don’t know what it was last time I think because I was so shocked the specialist said until I lose weight they can’t help I just automatically stopped with the chocolate and biscuits as I knew they were a huge contributor. I guess I feel more disheartened now because I’ve tried Clomid for four months and it’s not happened. So might aim to reduce heavily rather than cut out this time!

Ooh I'm interested in the skinny company stuff. I've never tried those but have seen them in B&M!

Hope you're feeling better now @Lakyta1717! How are you getting on? Are you weighing yourself this weekend?

@Hjklasdfg if you can manage a big reduction rather than cold turkey I do wonder if that's a better method for you in the long term? Life involves biscuits chocolate and cake sometimes and I think it's impractical to expect to never have any and better to learn the willpower to only have a little bit of it? I'm rooting for you! How are you feeling today?

I don't feel I've done well this week and am feeling quite bloated today which doesn't help with a bit of added baby shower grumpiness thrown in! I made an extra effort at shopping today to make good choices for the week ahead ! I can't do anything about the week gone by and whatever I've lost or gained this week is what it is at this point!

The skinny stuff is good, would recommend trying it to reduce sugar. It's really helped me and doesn't take overly superficial (apart from some of the spreads. It was the kinder bueno one that was super gross 🤢) my younger brother (16, plays rugby, obsessed with macros and training) swears by the sauces and has them in everything from porridge to stir fries 😂

I'll be weighing myself Sunday, feeing optimistic because I haven't been comfort eating this week. I have had some treats when I've felt like it, but it's less biscuits than I'd normally eat at work, so can only be a good thing!
My husband came home from shopping for work on Thursday with a gift of a huge box of creme eggs because I'm obsessed with them 😂 so I have to now stop myself living off of 48 creme eggs. Going to use them as a treat and have no more than one a day. Stuck to it so far, so that's good!
I had my second negative test today, so got to go for a walk earlier (not far, was exhausting!) and it's so good to know I can go out and about if I want to. Still taking it easy though, because I get tired super easy.

This week is done and gone, you've made better choices for next week so take this weeks weigh in with a pinch of salt. Don't beat yourself up with whatever the scales show, just keep making better choices 😊

@WeightlossKin yeah that’s true! Last time I cut out for three months then had a treat like once a month or so but don’t think I have the willpower to even do that, maybe it will change when I start PT and the injections etc. We will see! Thank you ☺️ I’m rooting for you too! I’m feeling a bit better today thanks, have managed to do housework so I don’t feel completely blergh today, so hoping it’s the last of the colds/flus etc for a while. How have you been?

What have you got planned for the week? And you’re right the week is done now we can focus on what’s ahead 😊

@Lakyta1717 I got the bbq ketchup as they didn’t have the ketchup and that’s slightly artificial but will see how the Mayo etc going to try the honey with my tea later ☺️

Haha ah you gotta treat yourself but not too many in one go 🤪 I’m glad you’re out and about again! Must make a difference getting fresh air.

Yeah speaking of scales I think I’m going to avoid weighing myself too frequently as I can obsess which isn’t healthy

I've lost about half a pound. Honestly I feel as soon as I think my goal is achievable within a set time something clicks in my body and my eating habits to sabotage that. Like I'm not ever supposed to get there 🤦 anyway, it is what it is. I'm due to ovulate soon so that's not going to help!

Hope you've got a loss to show for your efforts @lakyta1717! 🤞I think I'd throw the eggs at my husband if he did that for me 😂 lovely and sweet as it is. I'm obsessed with after eight mints. We're not allowed them in the house! Fab if you can stick to a limit. Glad your tests are now negative, hope you get your strength back up soon 😊

@hjklasdfg I can't wait to see how you get on when you start injections and PT. Hopefully by then you're feeling a bit more robust and ready to tackle it head on. I would hope you'd get a lovely boosted weight loss for the first few weeks to give you some much needed encouragement and that feeling of "I can do this"!

Food for this week includes homemade burgers (I'll probably have one without the bun after today's weight loss), chicken sausage casserole, pork loin steaks with veg and rice, fish and roasted veg and new potatoes! A meal out tomorrow evening, but I'll choose the healthiest options possible and that'll be my treat for the week. Hopefully a better week weight loss wise!

I've stayed the same this week. Think a big factor for me is getting steps in, which has obviously been difficult this week 😂 I'm gunna take it easy the next week or so, stay on plan food wise and work my strength and stamina back up. Go for some walks over half term and work back up to feeling like I can do a HIIT workout again. I want to exercise so bad, but I know I'll get annoyed if I can't finish one, so I'd rather wait until I feel like I can do a full 30 minute session.

@WeightlossKin Half a lb is still a downwards trend! How much have you lost in total now? Think of the bigger picture - how much closer you are now compared to say a month ago.

@Hjklasdfg really hoping it's the last of the colds/glue for you. Hopefully you're on the mend now! I'm excited to see how the injection and PT sessions go for you. You'll be inspiring us with your weight loss before you know it!

I'm doing my meal plan for the week today, going to get a shop delivered tomorrow and then prep during the day. Thinking some salads, chicken and veg meals and maybe some Mexican - really fancy a rice bowl of some kind...

Going to try to get out for a walk later today, even if it's just around the block. I would venture into town but there's a huge festival type thing going on and I'm a bit nervous about being around such a huge crowd after just getting my freedom back if that makes sense?

Ah sorry you've stayed the same @Lakyta1717! Sounds like you've got a good mindset for the week ahead though. Some walks to get your stamina etc. Back up sounds like a good idea. If you rush into more than you're ready for it might delay you getting back to your usual abilities.

I am happy it's a downward trend I guess. I just keep setting stupid deadlines for my referral. Wanted it by November then before Xmas then I said by the end of Feb and then my birthday in the second week of March and now I don't even think I'll make that 🤦🤦 I'm just getting pissed off. The problem is I've not made much progress in the last month (or three). I've lost 47lbs since I started this time last year but only 9lbs since the start of November. Frustrating. And the more frustrated I get the harder it is so I really need to chill out!

Hope you managed to get your meal prep done 😊 It's understandable to be a bit nervous about a big crowd of people right now after being in isolation. It's a weird feeling.

Ugh. Struggling today feeling like I'm never ever going to get there 🙁
Hope you're both managing ok so far this week!

@WeightlossKin I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. I've felt the same this week - weight has crept up and I just feel out of control and like it won't ever happen for me.

Just think - 47lbs down, that's way closer than you were! And yeah, you've "only" (I don't think it should be only, I think it's amazing!) lost 9lb since November, but you've kept off all that weight for so long now. This isn't just a change in weight to get to IVF, it's a change in you're lifestyle and it's a permanent change to your health and weight right? Think about the long-term benefits of losing weight slowly but surely - you'll be a healthier mum (WHEN it happens - no Ifs not buts no coconuts here!) who can do in around after your kid, who can get involved in all the activities and not feel exhausted by trying to keep up and be active. You'll have improved your overall health long term as well. You'll get to that target weight soon (whether that's next month of April, as we say, life happens and sometimes it doesn't quite go to plan like we want it to) and then you'll get the IVF and you'll get through that and have a gorgeous baby (can you tell I'm trying to be more positive lately? 😂)
Yes, it may not be happening on your first choice timeline, but you can and will get there. Just take it one day at a time.

I feel like a such a hypocrite telling you all this. I believe everyone else can get there, but never take my own advice... but I really do believe you'll get there soon ❤️

Thanks @Lakyta1717. I'm feeling quite blah.
I know I'll probably get there eventually but when? A year from now? I don't want to have to wait anymore but don't know what more to do really.
I know I should be woohoo about the progress and long term benefits and all that. I am looking forward to those things eventually. But I don't care about them right now. All very sensible things to point out but just not any benefit to the IVF referral. 🙁 Thank you for being a sensible voice and rational though, it is helpful and it'll help me when I come out of my slump! It's just not happened on my 1st/2nd/3rd or 4th timeline! I know I'll feel so much more positive after we've had our referral I just can't seem to bloody get there.

Sorry for being very negative in response to your positivity. I'm usually a bit better at it but I've hit a bit of a mental wall this week. Not sure why.

For what it's worth I believe we'll all get there with the effort we're putting in, it's just so hard to deal with the dips/lows along the way!
I'm sorry you're feeling a bit low too. Has your eating been okay so far this week? You don't officially weigh in until Sunday do you? I do find I gain weight through the middle-end of the week so I try not to let it get to me too much!

Actually I think maybe I'm suffering from sugar misery? As I've totally not had any sugary treats since Monday and my body is probably feeling sugar depression or something.

I totally understand - I've just had a full blown melt down when my husband came upstairs and found my lying on the bed staring at the ceiling 😂 he asked what was up and it all just came flooding out. I knew I'd been holding stuff in and that I've felt quite down lately, but don't think I realised how much until it all just came flooding out.
I feel exactly like you - I know I will get there eventually, but when is eventually going to be? I'm so fed up of having to go through all of it and just want to click my fingers and be at the end goal already.
My foods been good this week, sticking to my meal plans and not eaten all my creme eggs yet. I'm not even snacking as much as I normally do. I know I just need to keep plodding on but it's so hard. Like you said, it's so hard to deal with the dips and lows along the way.
Definitely feeling fed up right now. Felt awful dumping it all of my husband - he was just about to leave for work in Southampton, so now he'll just worry about me all day which I don't want. Especially not driving in this horrendous windy weather.

Do you think you used up all your positivity on me and it sent you into a downward spiral?! Have I made you fall to bits by being negative? 🙁 I'm sorry if I have ❤️
You obviously did need to let it out though and you've not been well and all that adds up. It's bound to need to come out. I sometimes feel a bit better after I've let it out in an emotional burst so I hope that is the same for you. Do you think you need to just hide those creme eggs for now? Or is it helpful to have them as a planned treat/snack?
Your husband sounds lovely but I'm sure he'll be okay and focused on his driving. The people in our lives are probably used to these outbursts and know we'll recover from them 😊
Hopefully as you've been on track this week you'll get a nice weight loss on Sunday to make you feel a bit better?
I do wish I could just not think about it for even ten minutes but I can't seem to. Sometimes are better than others but I've literally been writing IVF instead of INV when processing invoices this morning 😳. Oops. 😂

Not at all lovely! It's been brewing for a while and the straw that broke the camels back was trying on a pair of jeans that felt far too tight 🤦🏼‍♀️
Sending you my positivity did not cause me to spiral at all. It's been building up and I've just ignored it. I do feel better for having cried it out a bit. And my husband is logical, so he's coming up with ideas to help us both.
It's so hard not to focus on it. I do the same when I have to write something similar to IVF 😂 let's hope you find all of those typos on the invoices before they get sent to anyone! That made me giggle, imagining someone getting and invoice and being totally confused why it says ivf 😂

Oh no that's the worst isn't it? You can always rely on jeans to be the item of clothing to cause that. It's helpful your husband is coming up with ideas for you both 😊 it's too late for those invoices, they're all on the system under different IVF numbers now 😂 it won't make a difference until the vendor gets some strange reference numbers.
I'm not sure how supportive I'm finding my husband in the last two weeks. He's really lovely and is supportive and is trying but keeps not getting it? Asking me if I want chocolate to be polite, eating it in front of me when I say no (not in a mean way, just eating whilst I'm there 😂). Offered to get some English breakfasts muffins so I had "something for breakfast" and I'm like... That's not health food? I can't eat that right now. Why does he think I can eat that?! It's because he can eat whatever he wants and to him eating a lightly buttered English muffin IS a healthy option compared to a huge bowl of sugary cereal 😂 I can't really blame him but I'm sick of everyone being able to eat whatever they want because it makes no difference if they're overweight or they're lucky and just maintain their weight. People going on strict diets at work and immediately eating a cupcake or muffin or pastries for breakfast. It's frustrating to be the only person in my life trying to actually follow a fucking diet instead of just pretending to because there's no consequences if they fail. 😳 Rant.