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Running and low body fat

spedrunnerspedrunner
in Health & Exercise

My husband and I are TTC. I just had a dr appt for my annual and to discuss ttc.  I currently run between 5-7 miles per day and am not training for anything at the moment.  THe dr advised me that my body fat may be too low for ttc and that if i do get preg my risk for miscarriage may be higher.  He advised that i should really cut back a bit on running. I am not loosing my period and eat well.

 

Has anyone has similar experience? Have you had any trouble TTC and had to decrease your mileage? I dont feel i run too much ?

 

Thanks 

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Re: Running and low body fat

  • genekellygenekelly member
    If your cycle were wonky, then I could see how he might say that.  Plenty of runners with low bodyfat get pregnant.  Heck,Paula Radcliffe and Kara Goucher both recently had babies and I'm sure they ran more than 5-7 miles a day.(Granted I don't know if they required any IF treatments or suffered any miscarriages.)  I'd do what most people do, try for 12 months(if you are<35) then consider seeing an RE if you're still not pregnant.
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  • mrs.mastromrs.mastro member

    I had problems TTC because I never ovulated after I went off the pill.  A lot of people told me to stop running and gain weight, but seriously I was not under weight at all and I had issues with my cycle since I was a teenager before I even started running regularly.  I ended up gaining weight when I started taking Clomid (an ovulation inducing drug), and I did get pregnant.  I continued to run until delivery and only gained 15 lbs over the weight I had gained on Clomid.  DS was born at 36w6d (only 3.5 hours of labor) perfectly healthy.

    I think you should keep running and see how it goes.  If you still have your period and truely do eat healthy, it shouldn't affect getting pregnant or your baby.

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  • dukestar5dukestar5 member

    Everyone is different, but as the other ladies mentioned, I don't think your mileage and low body fat percentage should keep you from conceiving.  I'm an avid runner and was fortunate to conceive while still training for long distance races.  I even ran two half marathons in the first trimester and have been able to maintain six mile runs since then.  

     My advice would be TTC while running and if you are not successful in the next few months, maybe try cutting back on the number of days you run.  Obviously, you and your doctor will know what is best for your body.  Good luck!  I hope you're able to keep up your running. 

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  • AmandaP678AmandaP678 member

    I was never underweight, but  did work out excessively and it took me a while to get pregnant. The longer it took the more I decided to cut back on how my much I worked out.

    I do have a few friends who had low body weight and had to gain weight in order to stay pregnant.

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  • SFAug07SFAug07 member
    I ran about 60 miles per week when I got pregnant with both girls. I never had a miscarriage. It took me a little longer to get pregnant with this girl but that might also have to do with my age (I am 40), and I had to take Femara (ovulation inducing drug). I was underweight but that didn't impact my ability to get or stay pregnant. It sounds like you are doing fine.
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  • laurakaz13laurakaz13 member

    I was very similiar.  I run between 5-8 miles a day, 5-6 times a week.  My body fat is extremely low (about 13%).  I am tall and thin and my cycles were non-existent. 

    I got pregnant within the first month of being off birth control.  It was not a problem and I would never stop my exercise regimen for this reason. 

    During my pregnancy I gained 35 lbs and lost most of it within 4 weeks.  I think being extremely fit beforehand helped so much.  I also have a flat stomach again and am back to running as I previously did.  Except now that I have a baby I can only manage it around 4 times per week. :-(

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