Weight loss first or ttc now due to age?

[roc]

Hi all, it's been years since I've lurked among the forums, so hello!
Anyhow, I'm in a pickle, I need to lose weight, and I am, but I'm getting concerned about waiting to ttc due to my age. I'm not 35 until Christmas, but my af went missing for months last year, and I feel time is ticking for me, so i hope you don't mind me posting here.
I just don't know if I should be cracking on ttc, Or wait until I shift the Weight... opinions/stories very welcome and much needed!

 

[Aayla]

I tried to lose weigh too. Due to being on provera full time (every day for years) and having a slow metabolism it just wasn't happening. I was able to get down to the weight they first wanted to start clomid but that made me gain it all back and they stopped. i got a new doc and he said "screw it, we are putting you on letrozol. You know the risks that come with being overweight and pregnant and we will deal with that when it comes."
Clomid didn't work but the letrozole did. At least to make me ovulate. I let my weight slide a bit but I am trying to get back into the swing of things of working out. I am 37 years old and I have another issue lurking in the background (so bad that if I wasn't of child bearing years and wanted a baby so much they would do a hysterectomy). So it's go for gold for me no matter what my weight. I just don't have the time to spare anymore.
You can try and lose weight while ttc. Do both at the same time. Don't do some crazy calorie restriction diet. That can put undo stress on the body. Low carb seems to work best. Carbs should come from veggies, starchy veggies (like yams, carrots, sweet potato), and some fruit. No white foods or foods that were once white. No breads, no pasta, no regular potatoes, no rice, no sugar.
I will gladly be a buddy with you to help you and you can help me! I need someone to be accountable to.

 

[Eleonora]

Both both! Even a small amount of weight loss can boost fertility.

 

[roc]

I will gladly be a buddy with you to help you and you can help me! I need someone to be accountable to.

I would love to be your weight loss buddy! Would be good to be accountable to someone definitely! I'll pm you. 😃

 

[roc]

Both both! Even a small amount of weight loss can boost fertility.

Thanks for the reply, definitely true. My problem is my af went missing with weight loss last year! Was scary, didn't return until my diet increased in calories.... wasn't even that calorie restricted in the first place! 😕

 

[Eleonora]

uh oh! Cycle disappearing from weight loss is definitely counterproductive. It sounds like finding the right balance is going to be tricky.
(I have a 3 year old too! He gives me lots of opportunities for being active, though it is not actually exercise.)

 

[roc]

uh oh! Cycle disappearing from weight loss is definitely counterproductive. It sounds like finding the right balance is going to be tricky.
(I have a 3 year old too! He gives me lots of opportunities for being active, though it is not actually exercise.)

Exactly! *sigh* it's a tough one! My little boy has actually just turned 5, need to update my ticker! Haha!

 

[BunnyN]

Maybe partly depends on how overweight you are and if you have any other health concerns?

I think sometimes weight is made too big a deal of. There are a lot more factors than weight alone. I've known people who are skinny and eat nothing but junk food do no exercise and smoke non stop.

I have just started on my plan to loose a bunch of weight before TTC #3. I have mainly decided it is important because I had high BP during pregnancy and maybe had slight GD in my last pregnancy.

My first pregnancy I managed to eat super healthy and walk every almost every day despite being overweight. I also lost quite a bit of weight during the begining of pregnancy due to sickness and weighed less after the birth than before. I did get high bp toward the end of the pregnancy but on the whole other than awful morning sickness until about 15 weeks I felt fairly good and didn't feel my weight caused much problem. I was more or less told that I was going to have problems with labour because of my weight but I had a drug free home birth and although labour was a bit long it was a good experience.

My second pregnancy I felt like I struggled much more physically. I actually started the pregnancy weighing slightly less than my first but ended up weighing a lot more by the end of the pregnancy. Part of that was a very large baby too. I did feel like my weight didn't help and put more stress on my body. I had also been through 2 pregnancies with less than a year between was 35 and had a 1 year old to look after so didn't do nearly as well staying active, eating well, getting sleep or resting. My BP ended up high tward the end and I was on bedrest half the time or my bp shot up and I felt awful. Still I had no mayjor problems other than that and baby was healthy.

There isn't much I can do about my age, bp etc but I'm hoping loosing a bunch of weight can only help.

Maybe set youself a time like 3 or 4 months to get really stuck into weightloss and then start TTC? In that time you can see what effect its hason your cycles. I wouldn't put off TTC forever just to loose weight.

 

[lisap2008]

I am in the same boat, need to lose weight and we were planning on taking a break from TTC for a few months but my after losing 14 pounds my weight loss stalled so I tested and discovered I was gearing up to ovulate ( I retain water when I am ovulating ) I didn't want to waste a month so we BD. so now I am doing both weight loss while trying because I really dont have time to waste.

 

[chrisnik]

I am thinking my weight is the reason I am not conceiving. Although, it could be a lot of different factors. I am also type 1 diabetic, so that with that thrown in the mix I feel like it will never happen. If I had my weight under control, my sugar would be better. I am 37, ttc #1, over weight and diabetic...oh and I have a tilted uterus. With all that against me I feel very alone and sad. Anyone looking for a buddy to help motivate? I need someone to kick my butt in gear. LOL

 

[fatandlumpy]

Oh God! I tried to lose weight by running in order to drop my BMI before TTC. I used to be quite fit when I was younger and you never 'lose it' really. I lost about 6kg in a month (June!) running 5-6km every other day or so. Nearly killed me in the begining, but then my joints got used to the extra weight and I got to the stage where I was considering upping the distance once a week to a full 10Km...

Then my periods stopped for July and now August! Apparently exercise can induce a temporary menopause even in fatties like me (I was about 80kg when I started - now about 74kg - so defo not anorexic...). I'm 5'5'', size 14 (UK).

The docs tested me for premature ovarian failure (took FSH and LH levels, but had no idea where in my cycle I was though). My results came back as not even in peri (phew - horrible week...). I've been told to ease off the running until AF comes back. If she doesn't show next time around then I may have to get a shot of oestrogen or something to kick them off again. I'm also BF'ing so trying to cut out the night feeds now to help things along a bit more.

By all means get fit - but don't overdo it. No one warned me that this could happen!!!

 

[BunnyN]

6kg is a lot to loose in a month. That probably scared your body into 'starvation' mode. I have found in the pSt when I loose weight quickly it is hard to keep it off so now I am aiming for 2kg a month and I think that is about right for my body.

 

[Aayla]

weighed myself today. I am the heaviest I have ever been. 2 lbs heavier than on my wedding day 4 years ago, and that day was the heaviest I had ever been. Time to get back into it.

Today I start a program called 21 Day Fix. It's amazing and it has worked wonders for me in the past. I've honestly been afraid to exercise. Not to miss periods but I am so terrified of causing a miscarriage but I just can't doing this. The workouts aren't strenuous. Oh, they kick your butt but there is a modifier and i am going to take it easy.
The food part is the best though. Portion controlled with containers and 1) I will never go hungry 2) it makes sure that I get 6 servings of veggies in so I know I won't be malnourished.

I'm kinda excited now.

 

[BunnyN]

Keep us posted, hope it goes well!

I have found a new diet too. Having problems with a wisdom tooth and eating makes it hurt. Not my chosen diet but quite effective, lol.

 

[fatandlumpy]

It's so tricky at our age - we have to be a decent BMI, but we're at the stage where we have to work so damn hard to get there

I've always refused to diet as I like my food too much and have just upp'ed the exercise if my trousers get a bit tight.

Thanks for the support. I've stopped the running now and just cycle into work and back.

 

[Aayla]

I actually have been doing a lot of thinking today. I hit 310 lbs today. That's a lot. And not healthy. My fear of causing a miscarriage has kept me from working out. I have so much against me already that this would just be too much. I already fear a chemical but to do something different and possibly be the cause? I just don't know.

So I have thought that if this round doesn't take I may just do one more round, since I have the pills. and if that doesn't take, to take some time off. It's only been 3 cycles, 2 of which I have ovulated but I know I need to get this weight off. I don't even know if the doc will write another prescription when they see that I am heavier than when I started so long ago. (I spent years dealing with another uterine issue).

I haven't mentioned this to DH yet. I'm even tempted to stop after this cycle if I am not pregnant. Start again in the new year and take the next 4 months and work my butt off again. My only fear is that this other uterine problem may come back. If it does they want a hysterectomy done. Which is why we are in a rush. I am also 37 years old. Time is ticking away. But I don't want to bed ridden or end up with gestational diabetes.

Just not sure what to do.

 

[BunnyN]

I always used exercise to loose weight but now I have a toddler and baby I just don't get the chance to exercise much. I also tend to make up for lack of sleep with snacking which doesn't help. I really need to loose some weight before getting pregnant again so it has to be by cutting down on food. I do eat quite healthy food, just too much of it and some extra snack food on top like crisps. I am starting by trying to cut out empty calories and not snacking in the evenings.

 

[BunnyN]

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[Wcpp]

Hi everyone. I am in the same boat. Well, I have had a feeling for 3 years the reason why I haven't gotten pregnant is bc of my weight. Yes, I am in my late 30s but I had a feeling. I finally saw a fertility doctor and had exams etc. All of my numbers are good. I even have a blocked ovary from a ectopic pregnancy despite that my doctor said he believes my weight is preventing me from conceiving. He wants me to lose 10% and you know what. I haven't tried at all. I just feel overwhelmed.

 

[CaliChristine]

Hello ladies
I came across this thread and instantly felt better reading that others are going through the thing- debating whether to lose weight or start TTC. I'm 36 and just started TTC and I'm overweight....not by a whole lot....20 lbs. but I'm only 5'1''! So I decided like many of u to get started on TTC and try and lose weight at the same time. The clock is ticking! Keep updating each other!