body fat percentage

[Lilian78]

I've been on a bit of a running kick . . . decided to ttc starting in December but I'm going to be in a bit of a hurry since I want to avoid another December baby (in other words, want to get pregnant in December-February), so I'm wondering about body fat percentage. I'm normally at about 18-19%--never had trouble getting pregnant. But I've been going lower than that. Maybe 16-17% at the moment. I haven't had my mirena removed yet, but *think* I still have a "cycle" (as in maybe 1-2 days of really light bleeding with mirena).

I don't plan on doing a swaying diet, but figure weight loss is good. However,google tells me going below 18% is bad for fertility. Do you girls who got super skinny on the girl diets think getting thinner affects your fertility? And if so, how much?

[nuthinbutpink]

I think only if you don't ovulate of course. I have always been thin. My cycles are like clock work though. People that are too thin just don't ovulate. I don't think there is any risk to eggs just not having one. Good luck!

[michaela]

No idea but I'm squealing about you having another!! How exciting!!!

Good Luck!

[rainbowflower]

there are a couple of ladies on here who have lost too much weight (although mainly through diet), and it can mean that your body stops ovulating if you lose more than 10% of your body weight or become underweight
myself, I'm also losing too much weight but still ovulating (fingers crossed!) and not quite in the underweight category yet
if you are ovulating normally I don't think you need to worry about it.

[happyheart]

Hi there ~

I went from 116lbs to 105lbs and I am 5'4". Like rainbowflower stated, this was due to the diet. I have since gained just over a pound back and have about a 18.2 BMI. I would like it to be a little higher yet as it has caused me to worry about ovulating. I have not stopped ovulating as far as I can tell though. So that is really good! ;) GL to you!! :)

[Chicky]

I am 5'6" and went from 135 to 120 and I am pretty sure that is the reason I stopped ovulating. I have since started having full fat everything to gain a couple lbs so I have some to lose again before my next O.

[Lilian78]

No idea but I'm squealing about you having another!! How exciting!!!

Good Luck!

Yup definitely want one more--finally really getting the baby fever now that my daughter will soon be THREE. Been wondering how you're doing though. Hope all is well and there's a baby in your future soon <3

[Lilian78]

Hi there ~

I went from 116lbs to 105lbs and I am 5'4". Like rainbowflower stated, this was due to the diet. I have since gained just over a pound back and have about a 18.2 BMI. I would like it to be a little higher yet as it has caused me to worry about ovulating. I have not stopped ovulating as far as I can tell though. So that is really good! ;) GL to you!! :)

Thanks! You're thinner than me, so I find this encouraging :) Wonder if the activity itself is a problem or just the body fat %? Got a little obsessed with the running since I need something to obsess about while waiting to ttc (going on a cruise in December, and decided to just wait until then for completely superficial reasons like looking good in a swimsuit and drinking on the cruise LOL). Was considering doing a marathon in November, but decided not to so as not to affect fertility. I have been and always will be an eater, so hopefully that will keep me ovulating even if the exercise is a little much? I read some odd stuff online suggesting that you need about 22% bodyfat for fertility which is way more than I ever was, so I suppose I'm not too concerned. But definitely interested in hearing about anyone who quit ovulating due to weight loss or exercise--thanks ladies :)

[atomic sagebrush]

I've been on a bit of a running kick . . . decided to ttc starting in December but I'm going to be in a bit of a hurry since I want to avoid another December baby (in other words, want to get pregnant in December-February), so I'm wondering about body fat percentage. I'm normally at about 18-19%--never had trouble getting pregnant. But I've been going lower than that. Maybe 16-17% at the moment. I haven't had my mirena removed yet, but *think* I still have a "cycle" (as in maybe 1-2 days of really light bleeding with mirena).

I don't plan on doing a swaying diet, but figure weight loss is good. However,google tells me going below 18% is bad for fertility. Do you girls who got super skinny on the girl diets think getting thinner affects your fertility? And if so, how much?

I personally believe that lower body fat does sway somewhat pink altho it's not reliable because there are plenty of women at every shape and size with both genders.

Irregular ovulation (as would happen when your body fat drops) does sway pink by suppressing overall fertility. I agree totally with what NBP says, when you get too thin, you just don't ovulate, and then when your body is ready, it starts Oing again. This is normal and happens to most of us at one point or another. Nature's way of making sure we don't conceive if we don't have enough food to sustain a pg because every pg is risky and our bodies don't "want" to take the chance if it might not work out. The amount it reduces fertility varies by every individual and lifestyle...if you were eating a lot of good foods despite having low body fat %, you're more likely to stay fertile than someone who eats very little.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks! You're thinner than me, so I find this encouraging :) Wonder if the activity itself is a problem or just the body fat %? Got a little obsessed with the running since I need something to obsess about while waiting to ttc (going on a cruise in December, and decided to just wait until then for completely superficial reasons like looking good in a swimsuit and drinking on the cruise LOL). Was considering doing a marathon in November, but decided not to so as not to affect fertility. I have been and always will be an eater, so hopefully that will keep me ovulating even if the exercise is a little much? I read some odd stuff online suggesting that you need about 22% bodyfat for fertility which is way more than I ever was, so I suppose I'm not too concerned. But definitely interested in hearing about anyone who quit ovulating due to weight loss or exercise--thanks ladies :)

I did actually stop ovulating due more to exercise than weight loss altho I did lose weight as well. I was exercising like 60-90 minutes a day, 7 days a week, and had dropped from 150 to 115 over the course of several months. It was only when I started doing the 90 minutes every day and dropped from 118 to 115 that my O went screwy. It lasted for 3 months and then came back again like it never left even though I was still exercising a lot. I conceived my second two after that happened. I am 5-4 and still had PLENTY of flab on me at 115 so I am pretty sure it was the exercise more so than the weight loss.

My thinking is that if you are still ovulating, then there is nothing to worry about, and if you stop ovulating, then you can worry and do something about it at that point. I don't personally believe that anyone who is ovulating should try and gain weight and even if you are not ovulating, most likely all you need to do is stop losing and be patient and you will O again. Some evidence indicates that long cycles (where it takes a few weeks to O instead of just 2) may sway pink anyway (or at least indicate that your body is in a more girl-friendly place than it was when you had regular cycles.)