Infertility, weight-loss and HOPE! (My story)
kori333
Posts: 174 Member
While losing weight is no guaranteed solution for everyone, I just want to give hope to someone battling infertility due to being overweight. :flowerforyou:
When I got married at age 20 I was around 160 lbs at 5'4", so overweight but not obese. I'd been overweight since junior high but figured "that's just who I am." We waited a year for me to finish college before trying to conceive, but in that time I put on a lot of weight and my periods suddenly went screwy on me. I became very irregular which is incredibly frustrating when you're trying. I tipped the scales around 198 lbs before I woke up and realized I needed to lose some weight. I worked out some for about 4-5 months and got down to about 183 lbs when I had several false positive HPTs that sent me to the doctor only to be told there was no baby but instead I had multiple cysts on my ovaries and was diagnosed with PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome). We'd been trying for more than a year at this point so my doctor told me I could either go on birth control to regulate my cycles or try clomid. Well since we wanted a baby, clomid made the most sense. 2 cycles of that and I was pregnant with our first. It took 18 months total to conceive him. I started the pregnancy at 183 and ended up near 212 lbs. Yikes!
A week before delivering, April 2005
When my son was a year old we decided to start trying again for baby #2 knowing it could take a while. We decided not to go the fertility drug route since we felt strongly we could conceive on our own this time. During the 18 months it took to conceive, I again worked on losing weight and got down to 165 lbs before getting pregnant. I gained about 25 that pregnancy.
In the hospital with #2, June 2008
For baby #3 we again started trying after #2 turned one. This time we were thrilled when it ONLY took a year to conceive, which can be considered normal for a healthy couple. I had AGAIN worked hard to lose weight and had gotten down to 155 before getting pregnant. That pregnancy I topped out at just 177 lbs.
Baby #3 ready to go home, April 2011
The bad news is once the baby came, I got myself back down to 162 . . . then let myself go completely and climbed the scale back up to 178 only with no pregnancy. :frown: I was so ashamed at myself for completely "letting go" and using the excuse of the stress I felt raising 3 kids as a reason to do so. I was a big time emotional eater (which I still battle) and just allowed myself to be so.
That's when I found MFP in February of last year when my baby was 9 months old. I read a million success stories and decided if everyone else could do it, then why not me!?! I exercised 20-60 minutes a day (Sundays off) and counted calories for the first time in my life. I was so pleased when I managed to hit a healthy BMI of 145 in July and decided to go even further. I got to 136 in September, a number I didn't think was POSSIBLE for my scale to even say! I felt great about myself! I had started heavy lifting and was enjoying feeling strong.
February to Sept 2012
We decided to try for baby #4 at the end of summer (yes, we wanted more) thinking it would take as long as it always does, when to my surprise we learned we were pregnant after just 2 months! Being a healthy weight had returned my cycles completely to normal. I never thought it would ever be possible for us to get pregnant so easily, but here I sit at 18 weeks with the proof tapping me in my belly as I type this.
My youngest will have just turned 2 when this baby comes.
I know a lot of women who suffer from infertility have been told by their doctor "If you'd just lose some weight . . ." and you don't want to hear it, but losing weight did improve my fertility each time and once I was finally at a healthy weight it seemed to get rid of my PCOS issues completely. Being pregnant this time is different for me because it's the first time I've worked out while expecting. I still go to my Zumba class 2-3 times a week, though I did stop lifting because I was just too dang exhausted to keep doing it at night after the kids went to bed.
Good luck to each of you on your journey. And a special prayer for those out there who want children so badly and haven't had that dream realized yet. :flowerforyou:
When I got married at age 20 I was around 160 lbs at 5'4", so overweight but not obese. I'd been overweight since junior high but figured "that's just who I am." We waited a year for me to finish college before trying to conceive, but in that time I put on a lot of weight and my periods suddenly went screwy on me. I became very irregular which is incredibly frustrating when you're trying. I tipped the scales around 198 lbs before I woke up and realized I needed to lose some weight. I worked out some for about 4-5 months and got down to about 183 lbs when I had several false positive HPTs that sent me to the doctor only to be told there was no baby but instead I had multiple cysts on my ovaries and was diagnosed with PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome). We'd been trying for more than a year at this point so my doctor told me I could either go on birth control to regulate my cycles or try clomid. Well since we wanted a baby, clomid made the most sense. 2 cycles of that and I was pregnant with our first. It took 18 months total to conceive him. I started the pregnancy at 183 and ended up near 212 lbs. Yikes!
A week before delivering, April 2005
When my son was a year old we decided to start trying again for baby #2 knowing it could take a while. We decided not to go the fertility drug route since we felt strongly we could conceive on our own this time. During the 18 months it took to conceive, I again worked on losing weight and got down to 165 lbs before getting pregnant. I gained about 25 that pregnancy.
In the hospital with #2, June 2008
For baby #3 we again started trying after #2 turned one. This time we were thrilled when it ONLY took a year to conceive, which can be considered normal for a healthy couple. I had AGAIN worked hard to lose weight and had gotten down to 155 before getting pregnant. That pregnancy I topped out at just 177 lbs.
Baby #3 ready to go home, April 2011
The bad news is once the baby came, I got myself back down to 162 . . . then let myself go completely and climbed the scale back up to 178 only with no pregnancy. :frown: I was so ashamed at myself for completely "letting go" and using the excuse of the stress I felt raising 3 kids as a reason to do so. I was a big time emotional eater (which I still battle) and just allowed myself to be so.
That's when I found MFP in February of last year when my baby was 9 months old. I read a million success stories and decided if everyone else could do it, then why not me!?! I exercised 20-60 minutes a day (Sundays off) and counted calories for the first time in my life. I was so pleased when I managed to hit a healthy BMI of 145 in July and decided to go even further. I got to 136 in September, a number I didn't think was POSSIBLE for my scale to even say! I felt great about myself! I had started heavy lifting and was enjoying feeling strong.
February to Sept 2012
We decided to try for baby #4 at the end of summer (yes, we wanted more) thinking it would take as long as it always does, when to my surprise we learned we were pregnant after just 2 months! Being a healthy weight had returned my cycles completely to normal. I never thought it would ever be possible for us to get pregnant so easily, but here I sit at 18 weeks with the proof tapping me in my belly as I type this.
My youngest will have just turned 2 when this baby comes.I know a lot of women who suffer from infertility have been told by their doctor "If you'd just lose some weight . . ." and you don't want to hear it, but losing weight did improve my fertility each time and once I was finally at a healthy weight it seemed to get rid of my PCOS issues completely. Being pregnant this time is different for me because it's the first time I've worked out while expecting. I still go to my Zumba class 2-3 times a week, though I did stop lifting because I was just too dang exhausted to keep doing it at night after the kids went to bed.
Good luck to each of you on your journey. And a special prayer for those out there who want children so badly and haven't had that dream realized yet. :flowerforyou:
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Replies
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Great story congrats! 0
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Thank you for this! Your story is very inspiring!0
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Reading this just gave me a little hope. Thank you for posting this!0
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amazing job!! and super cute kids 0
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What an inspirational story. I also have PCOS and my husband and I are TTC. Minus the last three years, I had been thin my entire adult life and even though I had PCOS, it didn't really give me many issues. Hopefully getting this weight off will help with my fertility and help. Thanks again for sharing and congrats on baby #40
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What a wonderful story! I wish you all the best for your fourth pregnancy.0
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You look stinking amazing! Congratulations on all four of your sweet little bundles!0
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Thank you for sharing and congratulations! You have done a wonderful job keep up the great work!0
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Thanks for all the congrats! And I'm glad that some of you can take hope from this.0
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Bumping for someone. 0
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Thank you for your story. Very inspiring and congrats on all 4 of your bundles of joy! That is one reason why I started losing weight. My fiance & I tried for baby #2 for about 2 years with no luck. So I decided to get healthier and lose weight.0
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Very inspiring!0
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Congratulations on all of you success, both losing weight, and having 3 wonderful children, with one on the way!0
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You have made my day with this! Thanks for the hope x0
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CONGRATS ON UR SUCCESS, ME TOO WANNA LOSE 10 KG TRYING FOR BABY SINCE 3 YRS I ALSO HAVE PCOS PROBLEM TRIED TO CONCEIVE WITH THE HELP OF MENOGON INJECTIONS AND OVITRELLE SHOTS ENDED IN MISCARRIAGE AFTER 62 DAYS WANNA DESPERATELY HAVE CHILD . PLZ DO LET ME KNOW UR WEIGHTLOSS TIPS TRYING DIETING BUT NO GAIN0
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A real push for me to get to my goal. I have 3 and would love to have another.0
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This is exactly what I needed to hear! I am trying to conceieve about a year and a half now. Have had PCOS since age 15 when I was diagnosed. Have been on Clomid and last year had 5 failed IUI's. I usually don't ovulate without a trigger shot. In March we are switching to a new insurance and will be trying IVF which will be more advanced and hopefully will be the key for me to concieve since my PCOS is so bad. I would like to lose 60 lbs doing this diet with MFP. Hoping I can do it, and hoping that the fertility aspect will be a big motivator for me. I am excited about the almost 5 lbs lost since starting January 1. I would love to "friend" other people trying to conceive and lose weight on here. Thanks for your story! Dana in Newtown PA0
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Beautiful Story!!!! Loved this!!0
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Having dealth with some IF issues myself, I would never, ever wish IF on anyone! I'm so glad that through your hard work you were able to get your fertility back where it should be (you look great, by the way!). I'm impressed that you're going for kid #4! I've got two, and while I have severe baby fever, I know that's all it is. BABY fever. Our life is actually perfect with two; there's just a part of me that really misses those newborn baby cuddles. Wishing you a happy & healthy pregnancy!0
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Congratulations on your success and on your pregnancy, you look lovely!0
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Thank you for posting this! We have been TTC our 1st for 6 years. I have PCOS & thyroid issues. We've tried clomid, femara, menopur, & metformin but nothing will make me ovulate or regulate my cycles. When I did my own research about PCOS, I learned that weight loss is the most effective treatment! My Drs never even suggested it.
This struggle with fertility is why I'm here losing weight. Congratulations on your beautiful children & here's to having my own some day! :drinker:0 -
Well done! and congratulations, I also have pcos and have struggled for many years with weight and miscarriage issues. i am blessed to have had my second child last year and now am hoping to get the weight off for good.0
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Amazing story! So happy for you!0
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Thank you for posting this! We have been TTC our 1st for 6 years. I have PCOS & thyroid issues. We've tried clomid, femara, menopur, & metformin but nothing will make me ovulate or regulate my cycles. When I did my own research about PCOS, I learned that weight loss is the most effective treatment! My Drs never even suggested it.
This struggle with fertility is why I'm here losing weight. Congratulations on your beautiful children & here's to having my own some day! :drinker:
That's crazy your doctor never even mentioned weight loss as a treatment! It really can help for many people. I had read even losing 10% of your weight can make a difference. I'm so sorry it's been 6 years already. I have a sister with different fertility issues who eventually got pregnant after 8 years and 2 miscarriages. She has to go the IVF route but she's now having her 3rd. Don't give up hope! 0 -
Having dealth with some IF issues myself, I would never, ever wish IF on anyone!
I agree! I wouldn't wish it on an enemy!0 -
Thank you for your story. Very inspiring and congrats on all 4 of your bundles of joy! That is one reason why I started losing weight. My fiance & I tried for baby #2 for about 2 years with no luck. So I decided to get healthier and lose weight.
Looks like you're well on your way to a healthier you! Good luck with everything!0 -
Congrats on not only your weightloss but on your expanding family, your story truly touched me. My hubby and i have been trying for some time and although I did manage to get pregnant last year after only losing 15lbs it was an ectopic so now a year later I had gained all the weight back and of course periodes went away so i talked to my dr who put me on clomid did manage to ovulate but no pregnancy
joined a program and am now down a few lbs periods are back and i actually managed to ovulate on my own now we are not really trying but not preventing I too have severe PCOS and diabetic but now am no longer on my meds ( don't need them anymore !!) and am working on my blood pressure next but feel great working out and plan on keep doing it when i get my miracle baby
Thanks again for sharing your story0 -
You look absolutely amazing! Congratulations on #4.0
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Awesome! You look great and happy!0
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Yeah, congratulations! I am one of 6 kids!0
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