TTC Girl Diet and Ovulation

[hollyberry7]

Does the TTC Girl Diet negatively affect ovulation? I'm on day 4 of the diet and feeling very, very weak. I'm struggling to get in even 1800 calories per day because I feel very restricted (have only been getting around 1450 calories per day). I really want to get pregnant on my next cycle in June and fear that this diet will prevent me from ovulating and/or change my ovulation day of CD19. Anyone have any input? Maybe I shouldn't have cut the calories out so quickly? Should also add that I'm not exercising at all as I'm pretty sure I would waste away if coupled with the diet, lol. I'm currently 5'6" and weigh 122 lbs.

[lindi]

Wasting away is kind of the idea...it sucks. I think 1450 calories a day for a short period of time while ttc won't negatively harm ovulation. I o'd as expected while on girl diet. If you really did a terribly extreme starvation diet I think things might get thrown off. Other may have better input, there may be ways to alter things so you can cope with your sway and stick to it. Are you skipping breakfast? Maybe just do a late breakfast. And exercising I think in moderation is bad for ttc girl because its builds muscle. You want to lose muscle to lower your testosterone, so its probably beneficial not to exercise.
Hope that helps for now and good luck!

[hollyberry7]

Thanks, lindi! I've been trying to make it until noon, but usually end up eating at 11. I have a cup of coffee with some skim around 8ish. On a normal day/diet, I don't usually eat until 9:30 because I'm just not hungry for the first few hours after I wake up. However, I usually throw down a bag of cereal at that time...total boy food! I miss my cereal so badly! I'm going to try eating a cup of corn flakes around 11 instead of yogurt (corn flakes in moderation sways girl, correct?). Also, I'm finding it difficult to be on this diet while working as I don't have my blender/fridge on hand to whip up whatever I want. I really have to plan my food for the entire day until 5 o'clock, so I've been keeping stashes of low sodium saltines, peppermint tea, etc. No exercise for me! I occasionally go on walks around the neighborhood with my husband in the evening, but that's it.

PS - lindi, can I ask what you ate for the girl diet? I'm desperate for more ideas! Did you sway with your son?

[atomic sagebrush]

Does the TTC Girl Diet negatively affect ovulation? I'm on day 4 of the diet and feeling very, very weak. I'm struggling to get in even 1800 calories per day because I feel very restricted (have only been getting around 1450 calories per day). I really want to get pregnant on my next cycle in June and fear that this diet will prevent me from ovulating and/or change my ovulation day of CD19. Anyone have any input? Maybe I shouldn't have cut the calories out so quickly? Should also add that I'm not exercising at all as I'm pretty sure I would waste away if coupled with the diet, lol. I'm currently 5'6" and weigh 122 lbs.

I answered this on your other thread but I will repost for anyone who didn't see it.

YES the diet can affect your ovulation. But that's kinda the point. You are trying to slightly supress your fertility. I strongly urge you not mess around much with timing or jellies and just do what you need to do to get pg, even if it means 2 or 3 attempts in your fertile window.

At some point with weight loss, your weight will stabilize (when your BMI reduces to the point where you're no longer burning as many calories) and you'll stop losing. Anyone who's ever dieted will recognize this as the dreaded "plateau". No one will keep wasting away forever unless they reduce cals more and more. I do think you need to make the effort to up your intake a little bit esp. since you're a bit taller, do what it takes to get to 1800 and stay there.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks, lindi! I've been trying to make it until noon, but usually end up eating at 11. I have a cup of coffee with some skim around 8ish. On a normal day/diet, I don't usually eat until 9:30 because I'm just not hungry for the first few hours after I wake up. However, I usually throw down a bag of cereal at that time...total boy food! I miss my cereal so badly! I'm going to try eating a cup of corn flakes around 11 instead of yogurt (corn flakes in moderation sways girl, correct?). Also, I'm finding it difficult to be on this diet while working as I don't have my blender/fridge on hand to whip up whatever I want. I really have to plan my food for the entire day until 5 o'clock, so I've been keeping stashes of low sodium saltines, peppermint tea, etc. No exercise for me! I occasionally go on walks around the neighborhood with my husband in the evening, but that's it.

PS - lindi, can I ask what you ate for the girl diet? I'm desperate for more ideas! Did you sway with your son?

I wouldn't do the corn flakes. They are highly fortified. Puffed rice is better or even just cooked rice with milk and sugar. I would eat 1/2 plain glazed doughnut along with your yogurt and that alone is going to help your caloric intake plus it's easy to find them at work. Yes, they do have more sodium so you have to take that into consideration, but sometimes it's better to fudge a little on the sodium if it helps you to stick with the overall goals of the diet. Then wrap up the other half and eat it with a salad at lunchtime. If you're not into doughnuts you can bring a homemade muffin, low sodium and made with Splenda but that's another thing to keep track of. 1/2 bagel is another idea (although they have more protein than a doughnut and also have the sodium to contend with).

Being at work makes everything harder but it is totally possible to stick to the girl diet at work.

[praying4princess]

Eh, honey I was only hitting about 800 calories a day!! Which I know is not good, but that was skipping breakfast...having lunch, dinner and a couple snacks in between! But I was still O like normal! Even though my calorie intake has been super low, I have hit that "plateau" and havent been able to lose anymore. I will be SOOOOOO glad when I can eat again!! I am craving EVERYTHING!!! LOL And yes, I know, it makes you feel sluggish and fatigue all the time. Thats also because we're not getting in enough iron and protein. It will be better just as soon as we get pregnant, so just hang in there!

[hollyberry7]

I answered this on your other thread but I will repost for anyone who didn't see it.

YES the diet can affect your ovulation. But that's kinda the point. You are trying to slightly supress your fertility. I strongly urge you not mess around much with timing or jellies and just do what you need to do to get pg, even if it means 2 or 3 attempts in your fertile window.

At some point with weight loss, your weight will stabilize (when your BMI reduces to the point where you're no longer burning as many calories) and you'll stop losing. Anyone who's ever dieted will recognize this as the dreaded "plateau". No one will keep wasting away forever unless they reduce cals more and more. I do think you need to make the effort to up your intake a little bit esp. since you're a bit taller, do what it takes to get to 1800 and stay there.

Thank you, Atomic! I'm trying to keep my caloric intake at 1800 but I'm finding it's very hard to keep the protein/sodium low while doing so. Do you have any food recommendations that have a lot of calories without the protein sodium?

[hollyberry7]

I wouldn't do the corn flakes. They are highly fortified. Puffed rice is better or even just cooked rice with milk and sugar. I would eat 1/2 plain glazed doughnut along with your yogurt and that alone is going to help your caloric intake plus it's easy to find them at work. Yes, they do have more sodium so you have to take that into consideration, but sometimes it's better to fudge a little on the sodium if it helps you to stick with the overall goals of the diet. Then wrap up the other half and eat it with a salad at lunchtime. If you're not into doughnuts you can bring a homemade muffin, low sodium and made with Splenda but that's another thing to keep track of. 1/2 bagel is another idea (although they have more protein than a doughnut and also have the sodium to contend with).

Being at work makes everything harder but it is totally possible to stick to the girl diet at work.

I'll buy some donuts at the grocery store and try to eat with my yogurt. It's very hard to be on the girl diet at work because I have to prepare everything in the evening/morning, so it takes a little more time. Also, I just realized that I've been eating wheat puffs instead of rice puffs, woops!

[hollyberry7]

Eh, honey I was only hitting about 800 calories a day!! Which I know is not good, but that was skipping breakfast...having lunch, dinner and a couple snacks in between! But I was still O like normal! Even though my calorie intake has been super low, I have hit that "plateau" and havent been able to lose anymore. I will be SOOOOOO glad when I can eat again!! I am craving EVERYTHING!!! LOL And yes, I know, it makes you feel sluggish and fatigue all the time. Thats also because we're not getting in enough iron and protein. It will be better just as soon as we get pregnant, so just hang in there!

Thanks for the reassurance, P4P!! I can feel that I am Oing today and my temp dropped this morning (which it always does before it spikes after O), so yay! Are you exercising at all?

[praying4princess]

Thanks for the reassurance, P4P!! I can feel that I am Oing today and my temp dropped this morning (which it always does before it spikes after O), so yay! Are you exercising at all?

I usually do Zumba and a Cardioblast class, but Ive only been exercising during the 2WW because we do alot of toning. That way atleast Im getting SOME exercise in but not too close to O ( because of testosterone) and not much at all right now. I only go a few times when I go! It makes me feel like a fat lazy bum not exercising at all!

[hollyberry7]

I usually do Zumba and a Cardioblast class, but Ive only been exercising during the 2WW because we do alot of toning. That way atleast Im getting SOME exercise in but not too close to O ( because of testosterone) and not much at all right now. I only go a few times when I go! It makes me feel like a fat lazy bum not exercising at all!

I hear ya about not exercising! Atleast you're doing something! I took the summer off from my exercise class and my husband has been all over me to exercise (only b/c it's good for my heart rate). I am definitely missing it but I'm trying to lose some muscle mass. I thought about running, but I could only do about 30 minutes and not the full hour that's required for TTC a girl.

[praying4princess]

Uh me neither, with the running for an hour!! Lol I have def lost some muscle from not exercising like I used to, and it does bum me out! It just makes me feel depressed about myself if Im not doing some kind of exercise, but theres no way I could do the 6 to 7 days a week of hardcore cardio! I just dont have the time or motivation for that!

[hollyberry7]

Me neither even though I need to! I work full-time, so by the time I get home after work the last thing I want to do is hit the road with my running shoes!!! Maybe I should though...hmmm.

[atomic sagebrush]

You don't HAVE to run for a full hour - aerobics and brisk walking still count as cardio exercise.

[atomic sagebrush]

I'll buy some donuts at the grocery store and try to eat with my yogurt. It's very hard to be on the girl diet at work because I have to prepare everything in the evening/morning, so it takes a little more time. Also, I just realized that I've been eating wheat puffs instead of rice puffs, woops!

Wheat puffs are ok too, I just bought a package of them to check the nutrition facts. I think rice puffs are "pinker" but the wheat ones are still acceptible.

[atomic sagebrush]

I usually do Zumba and a Cardioblast class, but Ive only been exercising during the 2WW because we do alot of toning. That way atleast Im getting SOME exercise in but not too close to O ( because of testosterone) and not much at all right now. I only go a few times when I go! It makes me feel like a fat lazy bum not exercising at all!

2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, is not going to help lower your testosterone in any appreciable way. You're shrinking muscle, building muscle. Lowering testosterone takes time, it's not like blood sugar which changes right away. You ahve to give your body time to respond. Of course, by all means you can exercise whenever and however you like, I just want you to be aware that it's going to be less effective that way.

[zanacal]

Atomic - I'm not at all convinced I could do an hour of cardio each day and I'm not big on exercise historically BUT I went through a running phase and I've never had such good muscle tone (tummy muscles I tell you!) as when I was doing that. I also live in a very hilly town and I know that I have good muscles just from walking around with the family at weekends and to and from school. Do you say 60 minutes 6 or 7 days a week because you'd have to do that crazy amount to lose muscle tone rather than gain it? I was probably running around 4 times a week when I got really toned. How important do you feel this aspect is? I have no idea what I'd be able to do or how I'd fit it in as a working mum of 3 boys under 6 - but I don't feel I should dismiss it without careful consideration!

K x

[zanacal]

So I had a word with myself last night after saying that I don't have time to exercise for an hour each day - because I find it very easy to find at least that much time on the laptop each day! I think when it gets closer to attempt I'm going to limit myself to only once or twice a week on here, then I can make time for my exercise and do things to relax - take long baths, paint my nails, read my books. I'm sure that's got to be good for my testosterone too :D

Now I have to find a way of doing cardio without leaving the house (because of the kids). Would Zumba be ok do you think? I could get a DVD. I could look out for other DVDs, but most I have combine cardio and strength.

K x

[Out of the Blue]

So I had a word with myself last night after saying that I don't have time to exercise for an hour each day - because I find it very easy to find at least that much time on the laptop each day! I think when it gets closer to attempt I'm going to limit myself to only once or twice a week on here, then I can make time for my exercise and do things to relax - take long baths, paint my nails, read my books. I'm sure that's got to be good for my testosterone too :D

Now I have to find a way of doing cardio without leaving the house (because of the kids). Would Zumba be ok do you think? I could get a DVD. I could look out for other DVDs, but most I have combine cardio and strength.

K x

lol at "had a word w/myself last night...". IMHO, I think Zumba would be great b/c it burns MAD cals & I think it's all aerobic. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Also Zumba is sooooo much fun! GL to you!

[atomic sagebrush]

So I had a word with myself last night after saying that I don't have time to exercise for an hour each day - because I find it very easy to find at least that much time on the laptop each day! I think when it gets closer to attempt I'm going to limit myself to only once or twice a week on here, then I can make time for my exercise and do things to relax - take long baths, paint my nails, read my books. I'm sure that's got to be good for my testosterone too :D

Now I have to find a way of doing cardio without leaving the house (because of the kids). Would Zumba be ok do you think? I could get a DVD. I could look out for other DVDs, but most I have combine cardio and strength.

K x

Zumba is fine if you do it for a full hour at the very least. I have a Zumba that lasts for like 56 minutes and I don't think that's quite enough (esp. since there is stretching involved.) I want you GOING for a full 60 minutes.

[atomic sagebrush]

Atomic - I'm not at all convinced I could do an hour of cardio each day and I'm not big on exercise historically BUT I went through a running phase and I've never had such good muscle tone (tummy muscles I tell you!) as when I was doing that. I also live in a very hilly town and I know that I have good muscles just from walking around with the family at weekends and to and from school. Do you say 60 minutes 6 or 7 days a week because you'd have to do that crazy amount to lose muscle tone rather than gain it? I was probably running around 4 times a week when I got really toned. How important do you feel this aspect is? I have no idea what I'd be able to do or how I'd fit it in as a working mum of 3 boys under 6 - but I don't feel I should dismiss it without careful consideration!

K x

Running 4 times a week is not enough to get you into overexerciseland. Running 4 times a week sways blue.

Just to clarify, it's not "cardio sways pink". It's, doing fairly intense cardio for 60 minutes minimum 6-7 while eating a low protein, low calorie, low fat, low nutrient diet and hopefully losing at least a little bit of weight, that sways pink. It's the shrinking muscles that reduces the testosterone and actually sways, if you're eating like a stevedore and building muscle despite doing a lot of exercise, you're STILL going to be swaying blue.

The reason I say 60 minutes is because your body doesn't even start burning fat/protein for fuel until around 45 mintues into a workout. Until that point, you're just burning off the carbs your body has on hand, which is fine but you're not going to be shrinking your muscles that way.

[zanacal]

Lol, I'll do my best! Maybe I'll jump up and go for a run afterwards :D I'm wondering whether to get up at the crack of dawn (I already get up at 6 to get us all ready for work and school!) or try and do something in the evenings. Which, if either, is best?

[atomic sagebrush]

I don't think it matters, whatever is easier for you to fit into your day's schedule.