[Palenaki]

Weight gain can be difficult no matter what is going on in your life, but when you’re taking weight inducing fertility drugs and being told by your Dr. that you need to manage your weight for treatment, it can be very frustrating.

You can also gain weight from emotional eating. Infertility and treatment is one of the most emotional times in your life, up to this point. For those who are emotional eaters, infertility can be a double-edged sword.

What are some of the things you can do to keep the weight down while pursuing treatment?

• Eat Healthy! Put the Doritos down and grab a slice of Cantaloupe
  
  
• Take a Walk! You’re most likely already dealing with some emotional stuff, so take a little time to spend on yourself and think about things. Walk around the block or join a gym and walk around the track!

Your exercise in combination with healthy eating will help curb those creeping pounds.

Remember, the healthier you are, the better your chances of conception and delivery of a healthy baby!

[Rachel38]

I applaud the posts where we encourage our sisters trying to have babies to take care of themselves. Many people do gain weight during a variety of treatments and yes, some of those reasons include eating out of stress but hormones do increase your hunger as well. Little known fact that is rarely shared: Fertility Docs will easily blame weight gain on you eating out of depression. My family doctor told me that is because they do not want people to fear the treatments. She cited publications that discuss chlomid and hormone shots as things that increase fluidity, hunger, and natural weight gain. (She went through IVF at 41) Only when she was on them did she note that her FD and FE told her that they blamed her weight gain on depression etc. and binge eating. She knew that was not the case and she began researching this. We had this conversation when I went up 20 pounds on meds and did not seem depressed just bloated and crampy. So IF you feel bloated and fat...just rest assure that many of us tackle this with you and those meds are not helping you stay fit. I agree with our other esteemed posters..Eat well and walk. Two ways to stay healthy, but limit excessive exercise unless that is what your body is used to and even then do less than usual. Good luck ladies!!!!!!!

[MPisready]

I know most Americans don't have the problem of being underweight and honestly, I didn't think I did either. I'm 5'1" 110# 16% body fat. I have not ovulated in years due presumably to my low body fat and intense workouts. It's hard when a doctor tells you you have to go against everything you preach and practice (almost stop working out, gain weight, etc) if you ever want to have a baby. Honestly, I'm fine with gaining weight once I'm pregnant, but for right now I fear people asking "are you pregnant?" to which my reply will have to be "no, I'm getting ready to get pregnant."

[BlueIsis]

I don't think it is your weight that is the problem so much as your percent bodyfat. You obviously lift and have a decent amount of muscle mass if you are only 16% BF at 110lbs and 5'1". Most women become amennorheic at 14-16% BF. You are unlucky in that you lose your period at the higher end of this scale. In all honesty, if you consistently don't get your period due to low BF, you need to rethink how you're working out. Not only can't you get pregnant, but you are greatly increasing your risk for early osteoporosis and ironically, cardiovascular disease (estrogen is cardioprotective). I'm not suggesting you give up your fitness routine or gain a huge amount of weight. What many women do that need to keep BF low for athletic competition or physique/modeling is cycle. Allow your BF to come up just high enough to get a regular period off-season or between competitions. It's not ideal, but it's better than being chronically amennorheic. I understand your pain...I am a gym rat, personal trainer and have had to really rein back the cardio in preparation for an IVF cycle. Good luck.

[LacyD]

Originally Posted by Rachel38

I applaud the posts where we encourage our sisters trying to have babies to take care of themselves. Many people do gain weight during a variety of treatments and yes, some of those reasons include eating out of stress but hormones do increase your hunger as well. Little known fact that is rarely shared: Fertility Docs will easily blame weight gain on you eating out of depression. My family doctor told me that is because they do not want people to fear the treatments. She cited publications that discuss chlomid and hormone shots as things that increase fluidity, hunger, and natural weight gain. (She went through IVF at 41) Only when she was on them did she note that her FD and FE told her that they blamed her weight gain on depression etc. and binge eating. She knew that was not the case and she began researching this. We had this conversation when I went up 20 pounds on meds and did not seem depressed just bloated and crampy. So IF you feel bloated and fat...just rest assure that many of us tackle this with you and those meds are not helping you stay fit. I agree with our other esteemed posters..Eat well and walk. Two ways to stay healthy, but limit excessive exercise unless that is what your body is used to and even then do less than usual. Good luck ladies!!!!!!!

WOW. That is so good to hear. Unfortunate, but nice to know I'm not alone. I gained about 10-15 pounds last July after my second round of clomid and because I did 4 subsequent IUIs I never lost the weight. I took over a month off before I started IVF for many reasons, one being to try to lose some of the weight and get back in shape. I worked out almost every day and, while I saw some more muscle tone, I didn't lose more than 3 or 4 pounds.

I'm in my 2ww now after IVF (beta on Friday) and I am bigger than I've ever been in my life. It is unnerving but I realize it's for the ultimate goal of having my baby. I have finally learned to let go a little and sacrifice my vanity and comfort for the cause!