Diet/Exercise to help Infertility?

Jessi828

Have any one else drastically made changes to their diet or exercise in hopes to help them out? I have read a good diet and exercise can boost your chances.

I may have taken it a bit too far. In Dec 2012 I started prep for a fitness competion that I entered (and won) on July 7, 2013. (Btw, I will never do that.again ! Too much strain and stress on the body).
I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl,
but went cold turkey Vegan last November after reading about other womens success after going Vegan. Since then I eat "plant-based" during the week then eat whatever on weekends. I feel better, but still not pregnant. Wondering if its worth it still to keep up with it.

Anyone else trying or have tried drastic measures to help out ?

BunnyBerry

This surely isn't applicable to your situation, but for me the drastic measure I started to take was eating baby food, LOL...but not as crazy as it sounds. Due to Crohn's disease, I've been on a strict low-fiber/residue diet over 2 years, and anytime I tried to reintroduce any fruits and veggies I would get so sick and be afraid of hospitalization, surgery, or jumping to stronger meds.

But when we started seeing the RE, I felt really crummy about not having good nutrition for a growing baby, so I decided to take one more risk. Slowly I introduced some baby food fruits and veggies, figuring out which I could tolerate. Now I've got a beautifully varied healthy pre-pregnancy diet including such delicacies as pumpkin, mango, carrots, bananas, plums...in pureed and strained form, of course! So I would say it was a huge success for me. Couldn't claim it's upped my fertility though.

Jessi828

Oh wow, sorry to hear about your Chrons that's Great that your incorporating your fruits and veggies in someway or another though. How do you react to smoothies or juices? That is another great way to get your nutrients from the fruits and veggies without it being so harsh on your system like when you actually eating the fruit or veggie whole. Worth a shot?? But yes I also cant vouch for it helping in anyway. Part of me wants to give up and gorge on pizza and burgers :P but then again I keep holding on to hope and know I am healthier than Ive been before so may stick to it a bit longer

Jessi828

@BunnyBerry‌ ^

ronniesgirl1981

We are wheat free. It's supposed to help with a myriad of things and we've seen awesome changes to include my husband's decades long struggle with IBS disappear over night. Anyhow, it's supposed to reduce inflammation and--in theory--make your body baby friendly. We are unexplained, so it's a shot in the dark, but we still aren't pregnant...so.... Despite this, I cannot imagine ever consuming wheat agin.

Jessi828

@ronniesgirl1981‌ that's great! I wish i had the discipline to be gluten free, but I love breads and pastas too much!

Lindsey7348

I second @emilee871

I have been seeing a new acupuncturist and nutrition coach and they both suggested a high fat, low carb diet. I am still in the 4 week detox/cleanse phase, but will move to the diet after that. Will let you know

*Preg mentioned* 

I followed a strict low carb diet the month that I got naturally pregnant. Could be a coincidence, but I can't help but think it went hand in hand.

adadeart

I agree with previous replies. I used to eat breads/pasta/etc all the time but I also read and have been told by the acupuncturist to give up wheat and processed carbs. You can use quinoa and get creative with other items. You should read "Making Babies" and "Wheat Belly." It might be hard at first but it's not that bad.

Waterlily234

I've tried a bunch of different approaches... Last year summer we did VB6, we have done strict vegetarian, pescatarian, low carb. I always lose like 15 lbs then gain it back. This spring I've decided to eat whatever I want. Strangely, I've lost like 9 lbs, I think because when you eat whatever you feel like, you feel more happy/satisfied and end up eating less? In any case we have cut back on alcohol and caffeine, and we take lots of vitamins and drink lots of water. Still no BFP tho. (

airidh80

My RE *strongly* advised against anything other than a normal, balanced, healthy diet - ie, no low-carb, no gluten-free, etc (all of this is assuming you don't have any true medical need for a restrictive diet.) He suggested cutting out junk food, of course, but he felt strongly that complex carbs and whole grains should not be removed (again, assuming you don't have a true medical need to remove them.)

pmpknbride

I've been eating low-carb, high fat for about a year and a half now, and I exercise about 4 days a week.  I cheat from time to time, but overall I'm a much more conscious of what I eat.  I also skip alcohol and caffeine.  It hasn't worked for infertility, still no baby, but in generally I feel a heck of a lot better.  

I do have a cousin who also has PCOS who rarely had a period, she was on a very strict diet - though I'm not entirely sure what the diet was, and she did eventually conceive naturally. I assume it took many many years, but never got the full scoop. 

meld42

I am with everyone that said high fat, low carb! I actually don't count anything, carb wise. But, I eat no wheat, no grain.. all my carbs come from vegetables so I just watch portions for the carb-rich vegetables. Also, low impact exercise, yoga and walking. 

Jessi828

Oh man, I have been eating Low fat, High Carb. And stil cosuming lots of rices/pastas /breads etc...:/
Did your RE's tell you all why Low Carb High Fat is best? I would like to know more info. Whst do you ladies typically eat?
@meld42‌ @pmpknbride‌ @Lindsey7348‌ @adadeart‌ @emilee871‌

meld42

I eat all meats, I try to buy as much pasture-raised meats as my budget allows. If buying pasture-raised, I eat full fat cuts of meat, as the fat is very nutritious for all bodies from these types of meats (CLA content is much higher than conventionally raised). However, I'm on a budget and sometimes I can't do this. I buy the leaner cuts of conventionally raised meats, as toxins are stored in fat-- so the lower the fat content = consuming less of those toxins. 

I eat all fruits and vegetables, not corn though. As well as butter and cream from grass fed cows, again the CLA content is higher and these aren't terribly expensive. I eat all types of nuts, and nut butters. For oils I use coconut oil and butter to cook with (anything solid at room temperature is best for heating) and I use olive oil on cold foods, or after something is done cooking for flavor. 

I would recommend the book 'Practical Paleo' by Diane Sanfilippo as it explains what gluten and grain do the gut during digestion. I've never read Wheatbelly, but have also heard it's a great read if you're not totally into completely Paleo. My doctors aren't the ones who suggested this diet for me, it came from my own research and what feels best in my body. For me, that means no grain and no wheat. For you, that may mean something different! But definitely do some researching, I will likely continue this diet after pregnancy, it's really helped me feel better.

pmpknbride

My diet wasn't doctor recommended, I started it after reading a book called the PCOS diet. I eat a lot of salad. I have a sweet tooth so I've tried to find good recipes that use almond flour or coconut flour instead of flour and sweeteners like honey instead of sugar, etc. When it comes to regular meals I just try to find good substitutes like flat bread instead of pizza, spaghetti squash instead of pasta, lettuce wrapped burgers instead of a bun, etc. I don't necessarily mind making these choices, but sometimes I really miss my big bowl of pasta!

Lindsey7348

I eat protein, protein and more protein! From eggs to lean meats, to even protein shakes. No red meat, except maybe once a month. I also cut back on sugar. You would be surprised how much sugar is in things, that in turn break down into bad/refined carbs.

And I have an INSANE sweet tooth! Like, kill me now if I can't have a cupcake. But I limit it to celebrations and holidays. Trust me, I love food, but I make myself prepare so that I don't cheat or fall off the wagon. I follow fitness gurus like Jaimie Eason and Kelsey Byers and get recipes from their websites.

Jessi828

I know strict diets all too well after competein, but ive been on this "break" for almostw 9 months now and plant based since last November. My DH is on a diet similar to paleo and does high fat low carb...seems that is the way to gom i eill do my research and more than liekly try that out. Thanks ladies!!

DharmaChick

I was already vegetarian (nearly vegan, as I can't have milk anyway), which has kept me pretty healthy in general.  My doctors did recommend any particular diet, but I try to avoid too much refined carbs.  I try to have whole grains only, and I watch my sugar intake.

jencity9

My RE has never mentioned any diet issues. To be completely honest, I'm not 100% sure if I have PCOS or just polycystic ovaries. I think it's the whole thing but wonder why he hasn't mentioned it. I may have to look into that book @pmpknbride‌ thanks!

knitpurl

If you haven't already, I would suggest getting blood work done to test your iron, B12, etc. to have a base line in case things change in the future. I wish I would have! I also eat a--mostly--meat free, dairy/egg free diet (occasionally have something like a caesar salad). I went meat free years and years ago and went dairy free roughly 2 years or so ago and I just found out I'm iron deficient (combo of my diet and my horrific periods). You probably already know this, but make sure you're taking B12 especially if you're supplementing with folate to avoid masking a deficiency. When I first became a vegetarian, I didn't know about the B12 thing and didn't realize it's stored and by the time you're deficient it can be a serious problem that's not quickly fixed. I've been researching like crazy recently and found that both iron and B12 levels can affect fertility. 

Pintobean39

I just exercise regularly and try to eat a well balanced diet. My RE doesn't recommend any type of diet, he just says try to be as healthy as possible. I have regular check ups with my GP and he doesn't recommend any of the "fad" diets. As he has explained your body needs a little bit of everything to function properly. So far I think it's worked for me, I've even managed to get my high cholesterol to come down and once I started adding more green vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, and Brussel sprouts my iron got under control too.

Because of my muscle issues, my neurologist has run every test imaginable looking for vitamin deficiency's or any level that could be off and it's all perfect. So I think my change in lifestyle that I made years ago is working for me.

Jessi828

@knitpurl‌ Yes! I researched like crazy before taking up this diet. Ive been taking B12 since the transition. As far as I know my bloodwork hasnt shown any B12 or Iron deficiencies. I did start a Prenatal (RAW Vitamin Code Prenatal) that has Folate, Iron, and B12 as well. Hoping that helps a bit. But yes B12 is very imp if your on a veg diet

Jessi828

@Pintobean39‌ that is great !! Good for you for eating a clean diet like that. It does make a world of difference to ones health. I just wish there was a food or certain diet that gaurenteed to help infertility blah