Getting your body ready.

[PurpleLove19]

Since finding out back in Nov 18 that we have a low count and low morphology we decided to not give the doctors any reason to blame our diet, lifestyle or weight.

We weren’t over weight really- just a bit of post wedding/honeymoon happiness. We ate pretty wellish and other than dog walks I hated exercise.

I was off work with stress anyway so my appetite wasn’t great but I supported my husband as much as I could. Lots of spinach!

After the Christmas we both started to really get into planning our meals, prepping and cooking. Our food bill has almost doubled but I suppose it’s worth it when you see those scales coming down.

I also saw it as having control of my own body. If my body isn’t allowing a pregnancy then at least I can be fit and healthy.

We also started running- together. But he is much fitter than me so I decided to download the Couch to 5K App. It was the best decision I’ve made. I never thought that I could run for that amount of time! Only three runs a week and it really coaches you through each run.

Not only did I start seeing physical changes but I noticed changes to my mental state. I have become more focused, stronger and it genuinely blows off the cob webs. Sometimes after a really crap day at work the last thing I want to do is run. I just want my pjs and a brew. I can have a banging head ache, like last night, and if I go it just gets rid of all them toxins.

Another thing I’m interested in now is hula hooping- burns so many cals.

When I went for my first appt at the clinic the first thing they said was can we take your BMI. I remember looking at my husband quite smug as I’d been training so hard and eating so well. Since then I’ve lost a few more pounds and I’m in the best possible shape I’ve ever been! (I didn’t even diet for my wedding!)

Some people might think it’s a bit back to front getting bikini ready when all you want is a bump but the way I see it is I’m getting my body to the best health.

My husband wants to wrap me in cotton wool if we ever see those two lines.

We dog walk too and I think I would definitely stop running and do power walks instead but in the meantime I’m enjoying having this control.

Anyone else feeling similar or have had their weight used as a possible hinder to falling pregnant?

Anyone got any tips on how to improve sperm quality and quantity?

xxx

[MissSaoPaulo]

Sounds like you're doing great and when you hopefully do get pregnant the healthy diet and exercise habits will be really beneficial xxx

[Fingerscrossed34]

Hi Dace19, that all sounds brilliant especially the impact it has on your mental health. We don’t have an issue with weight but we do have male factor fertility issues and we’ve been following the diet tips from Fueling Male Fertility by Lauren Manaker it’s a book based on actual proven research so we felt it was a good place to start. Lots of whole grains, fish, fruit, veg, while fat dairy. I thought it would be really hard to change our diets but so far so good. As you say we don’t know if it will help our fertility but it will help our health and hopefully get our eggs and sperm into prime condition for IVF at least. Working on the exercise part. I really enjoy doing Pilates at home could be good in combination with you’re running to do a bit of stretching. It’s great that you’re feeling so positive, keep going and fingers crossed you’ll get the BFP you’re waiting for. x

[PurpleLove19 in reply to Fingerscrossed34]

Thank you l- I will look into that.

We are going away this weekend for my Husbands birthday so we are going to have a big blow out but we soon get back into it again. The guilt eats me up- literally.

I’ve heard Pilates is a good one with running.

Xxxx

[Fingerscrossed34 in reply to PurpleLove19]

No guilt! It can’t always be a healthy diet your sanity and enjoying yourself is just as important. x

[Kaylon]

Hi Dace19, what an inspirational post. Can I ask what plan you are following for your healthy eating regime?

My husband and I are generally very healthy and not overweight, we dont smoke and hardly ever drink. But my recurring IVF cycles have left me with a bit of excess weight which I'm really not happy about. I find I go through a cycle and put on 4-5 kg that are hard to shift. The only way I've ever managed to lose weight is with the Cambridge diet which I think is too extreme while doing IVF. I went back on Cambridge last year to get ready for our wedding but the next cycle I had only half the eggs collected as in the previous round. It's extremely low calorie and have a feeling really bad for my developing eggs. On top of that I also feel really low in energy since our last FET am really struggling to get motivated to exercise.

I've actually downloaded the couch to 5k app this morning after reading your post and will try that! Which one did you download? There were so many!

Anyhoo good luck for your first cycle and keep up the positive spirit. Lots of baby dust xxx

[PurpleLove19]

Thank you- for my eating I don’t follow a plan of such.

I’ve recently brought a fit bit which I log all my food and drinks into and the fit bit works out how many calories you can have based on your heart rate and steps/exercise a day you do.

So if I run- I can eat more!

I try to stay under if I can. You can also change it if you want to set up a weight loss goal and it will set it as a deficit. I did that to start but I’ve been finding it hard as I’ve been hungry due to exercising so I’m just sensible but not to restricting.

My BMI is fine so it’s just maintaining now.

Yes I don’t want to diet to the extreme during a cycle of IVF. But I’m not going to lie I am worried about gaining weight- especially if it’s a BFN and you have no bump or bundle of joy afterwards. This is why I waned loose weight so that when it happens it won’t be too noticeable. Some people think I’ve gone a bit too thin so I don’t want loose too much more and be under weight.

I’m glad you have downloaded the Couch to 5K app- it’s the BBC one.

I hope you find it helpful and positive hun. Let me know how you get on.

Get yourself a hula hoop too! They are easy to fit in.

Lots of love xxx