Help Please

Jane800

I Need to lose 3 stone in 4 months to qualify for IVF, The doctor has told me they will not consider me if I do not lose the weight. I was thinking of doing a 1000 calorie a day diet but have read some really negative stuff about it. I really don't know what to do for the best. I plan to to 45 mins 3 times a week at the gym (mixture of cardio and weights).

SezxyStef

42 lbs in 120 days...tall order...that is 2.63lbs a week.

Why 4 months?

Not to be negative but you could be setting yourself up for failure ...1lb a week or a more reasonable goal...

psuLemon

42 lbs in 120 days...tall order...that is 2.63lbs a week.

Why 4 months?

Not to be negative but you could be setting yourself up for failure ...1lb a week or a more reasonable goal...

This.

Hopefully, you also lose a lot of water weight. I have seen as much as 20 lbs lost from water weight. I would suggest eating a very high protein diet if you plan on doing low calories, but 1000 calories is not enough and it will only be a matter of time until your body adjust. You might be better off at 1500 and keep macor's around 30% carbs 40% protein and 30% fats. When you lower carbs you will see some good weight loss as your body will store less glycogen/water. Between doing that and starting to eat in a deficit, you should see some good weight loss. I would recommend weight training though to maintain as much muscle as possible which will also help maintain your lean body mass.

Jane800

4 months is the time the consultant gave me - If I go back in 4 months and haven't lost it they will probably delay for another few months and then i still have to be put on a waiting list and to be honest I am running out of time!

Mokey41

I'm thinking that if they told you that you have to lose 40 lbs to be considered that you have a lot more than 40 lbs that you should be losing for your overall health so it's entirely possible that you could lose that in 4 months and you wouldn't need to go to the extreme of eating 1000 calories a day to do it. What are your stats? Age, height, weight?

Jane800

37, 5ft 4, 13st 8, size 18 - Ironically I know that to be say a size 12 I would still sit at the top end of the overweight category from a BMI perspective.

MysteriousMerlin

I think you're going to push yourself too hard. Please consider giving yourself more time.

I know how you feel, I honestly do. We've been trying for 5 years to concieve, and I'm only now going to try clomid in February. I need to lose 25-30lbs by then, but that's 5 months away.

yarwell

37, 5ft 4, 13st 8, size 18 - Ironically I know that to be say a size 12 I would still sit at the top end of the overweight category from a BMI perspective.

13st8 = 190 lbs, BMI = 32.6

150 lbs, BMI = 25.8

If you're being asked to lose for medical reasons I should ask for referral to a dietician etc to help you get there. 6-8 weeks of high calorie restriction are clinical options for obese patients.

soupandcookies

This amount of weight, in 120 days, is most likely not going to leave your body in a healthy enough state, to get pregnant. This is just my opinion, but I feel that losing so much weight, in such a short time, is both unrealistic and unhealthy. If you want the IVF to work, it is probably best to get as fit as you can, and to work toward weight loss in a realistic and healthy way. Just my opinion....

Jane800

Thanks for all the advise - I thought I understood dieting (but just wasn't very good at doing it!). It's just all so confusing!!!

OllyReeves

Obviously a bit personal, but must it absolutely be IVF? I guess you have considered adopting......not so many time limits there...

Jane800

I have considered it and it's not off the table - but they are not keen on you adopting if you're fat either!

OllyReeves

Wow that's so short sighted, there are so many babies that need parents

Stage14

I think you definitely need to be under the care of a dietician to attempt this. That is a lot of weight to lose in a relatively short time, and doing a very low calorie diet without supervision can wreck your body's nutrition, causing a whole other set of issues that may disqualify you for IVF. I won't say it isn't possible, but it will be difficult.

bob_day

To lose 3 1/4 pounds per week is doable, but it will take a lot of very serious work. Perhaps four hours per day of fitness exercises and about a 1400 calorie a day strictly controlled diet. Here's my advice on the diet part:

1) Three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That's it. No snacks, and no "in between" meals.

2) Give up sugar. No sugar in coffee, soda, or on cereal. Give up fruit juice -- it's mainly just another form of sugar. Water is the only liquid you need.

3) In the beginning, establish a very regulated 1400 calorie per day diet. Don't follow any sort of fad. Just pick a selection of foods that add up to a normal balanced diet -- whole grains, veggies, fruit, dairy, a little meat, etc. But start out by having exactly the same three meals each day -- the same foods and the same amounts. Weigh the portions on a scale. Consider frozen dinners. Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Kashi, Smart Ones, and probably other brands have several that are low in calories and saturated fat, 25% daily value or less of sodium, and high in fiber.

5) Weigh yourself every day on a 0.2 lb. accuracy scale. Your weight will fluctuate, but with a constant diet it should trend down over every two or three days. If it doesn't, eliminate items from your diet or reduce the size of portions until you achieve your desired rate of weight loss. (If you don't have a 0.2 lb. accuracy scale, I'd recommend the EatSmart Precision Plus Digital Scale, which is sold on Amazon.) Don't obsess over the scale — let it be your friend and keep you on course.

6) When you have achieved the weight loss rate you want, then you can start making adjustments to add variety, but make sure that you keep losing the weight.

rosemary98

It is possible. if you are strict about eating 1000-1200 calories a day. Try to get some light exercise in, but don't overwhelm yourself. choose chicken and fish, lots of vegetables, limit fruit. i would avoid cheese (unless it is reduced fat string cheese or low fat cottage cheese), egg whites, consider switching from cow milk to 30 calorie per 8 ounce almond milk. i would avoid bread...opting for small portions of rice along with a meal. low calorie, no sodium soup make wonderful lunches. just a few suggestions.

Stage14

It is possible. if you are strict about eating 1000-1200 calories a day. Try to get some light exercise in, but don't overwhelm yourself. choose chicken and fish, lots of vegetables, limit fruit. i would avoid cheese (unless it is reduced fat string cheese or low fat cottage cheese), egg whites, consider switching from cow milk to 30 calorie per 8 ounce almond milk. i would avoid bread...opting for small portions of rice along with a meal. low calorie, no sodium soup make wonderful lunches. just a few suggestions.

You do realize that you are telling a woman trying to prepare for pregnancy to cut out her best options for natural calcium sources, right? And her most common natural sources of healthy fats which help regulate metabolism, allow the to absorb the vitamins and nutrients (that she needs even more if she's on a VLCD), and which will be utterly essential to a healthy pregnancy. This is why I recommend OP talk to dietician or nutritionist. The very things we tend to commonly do to lose weight are often the polar opposite (aside from the calorie intake) that we need to do to help prepare our bodies for a healthy pregnancy. And if OP is already seeking IVF, then I don't think adding more possible issues with fertility or pregnancy is the best way to go.

rosemary98

I am not familiar with IVF, I assume the OP is. I was answering the question if losing the weight she was asked to lose, was possible. I wasn't telling her to cut out food groups, but make choices less calorie dense, essentially. Also, my list wasn't conclusive by any means...just suggestions. almond milk and lower fat cheese are very high in calcium. They are just lower calorie options.

OP: I meant no offense; I am certainly not in the medical field. I wish you luck in your path to pregnancy.

It obviously was not my intention to give a woman preparing for pregnancy bad advice.

Stage14

I am not familiar with IVF, I assume the OP is. I was answering the question if losing the weight she was asked to lose, was possible. I wasn't telling her to cut out food groups, but make choices less calorie dense, essentially. Also, my list wasn't conclusive by any means...just suggestions. almond milk and lower fat cheese are very high in calcium. They are just lower calorie options.

OP: I meant no offense; I am certainly not in the medical field. I wish you luck in your path to pregnancy.

It obviously was not my intention to give a woman preparing for pregnancy bad advice.

I was talking more about the fats than calcium, though one either has to be sure and get fortified almond milk with added calcium and vitamins or get less calcium intake. And I do understand now that you were just giving standard weight loss advice.