Should I take some time off to lose weight?

[Anonymous]

I’ve gained 15 lbs during this pandemic. I am 5’2” and 180 lbs!! I’m 34, almost 35. Planning to do IVF next month for secondary unexplained infertility after 3 failed IUIs. Should I take a few months off to get down to, say, 160 or 165?

[Anonymous]

I did IVF at 225 and I’m 5’2”. Did you doctor ask you to lose weight? Mine was fine to go ahead and it worked out.

[Anonymous]

No. Implement a routine that you do to trim some weight while you are preparing your cycle. With the pandemic who knows how easily schedules can be blown off course.

[Anonymous]

I had a failed induction at 39 weeks I'm pretty sure was largely due to weight. I weaned the older sibling, gained weight from being used to eating alot, did the IVF cycle, gained weight from the meds, got pregnant, covid hit and I quit the gym, gained more weight. <=O When my embryos were still on ice I asked my family doctor what to do and she said transfer. Maybe do the IVF cycle then lose weight before the transfer? Tough call.

[Anonymous]

I'm a firm believer in doing what you can to feel good in your body and gain physical / emotional strength. If taking a few months to improve your lifestyle i.e. eating habits, work out regimen, sleep and relaxation can benefit your overall quality of life and put you in a better headspace for your next round, then my personal opinion is yes, go for it. My personal approach though would be to make incremental lifestyle changes rather than focus on dieting / overexercising just to lose weight. Hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. No the doctor hasn’t said anything about losing weight. I’ll take the advice of trying to be healthy but continue on. I’m certainly not getting any younger

[Anonymous]

I was 5'2" 160s/170s during IVF. I lost some weight, down to 153, and got pregnant. I also had started supplements and thyroid meds. So who knows. I just know I got pregnant naturally at a lower weight, and felt better (said as someone else who's carrying a quarantine 20 and not getting pg)

[Anonymous]

2:42 has solid advice. 8:28 does not - whiff of sanctimony and lack of awareness of others' situations. I.e. - taking months off would be a disaster for some women starting IVF. Every month matters at a certain age.

Do both! You spend 6 weeks just doing the prep for a cycle. You can do a Joel Fuhrman-type nutritarian eating plan which is nourishing and not a "crash diet." But you could lose 12+ pounds doing that for a few weeks and cutting out sugar, processed carbs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Healthier is better but FWIW I did IVF while my BMI was in the obese to borderline severe obese category and no one ever said anything about my weight. I watched what I gained while pregnant of course and had a healthy pregnancy and baby upon delivery.

[Anonymous]

I mean, most people I know who are overweight/obese and TTC have been overweight/obese most of their lives and have tried many diets without luck. It feels like a shame to hold off on something so important for a goal that might not be achieved. Why not try infertility treatments WHILE trying to lose weight at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Don't focus on the weight. Focus on health. You'll need the energy, stamina, and health if you have another kid. And easier to tackle these issues in your 30s than your 40s and 50s. Focus on healthy food and some activity. Cut back on drinking (if you drink). Focus on portion control but don't starve yourself or cut out "bad" food. You can do this OP.

[Anonymous]

I definitely would if I were you.

Not only will pregnancy and delivery be more difficult when you're overweight, but it will also be harder to lose the weight after baby (particularly if you breastfeed).

[Anonymous]

The last PP is not offering evidence-based advice. Plenty of overweight women have easy, health pregnancies and deliveries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The last PP is not offering evidence-based advice. Plenty of overweight women have easy, health pregnancies and deliveries.

Have you tried Googling “obesity in pregnancy: life-long implications on health of the child”?

Offspring of overweight and obese women are at increased risk to be born large-for-gestational age and become overweight or obese as children or adults.

At 5’2” 165 lbs would still be obese though.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, I did IVF while morbidly obese. I also had a successful and uninteresting pregnancy at the same weight.

I didn't have gestational diabetes, I didn't have high blood pressure. (My blood sugar/A1C and blood pressure were also normal before pregnancy.) I was induced at 39+3 simply due to my age and data from the ARRIVE study. I had a c-section due to failure to progress - turns out my kid's neck and torso was wrapped in the cord. She wasn't ever coming out the old fashioned way.

If you're in good health aside from your weight, I recommend moving forward. Time is not your friend.