crazy exercisers

[Lilian78]

I've always been an exerciser--maybe 45 minutes to an hour every day on average, and tend to think that sways blue. Lately, I've been a little/ a lot obsessive about running--at least 50, usually 60+ per week. Just wondering about any runners out there . . . anyone conceive a boy while running a lot/training for a marathon?

[nuthinbutpink]

I did a quick search and two recent women marathon runners I found each have 2 kids- a boy and a girl each!

[Lilian78]

I did a quick search and two recent women marathon runners I found each have 2 kids- a boy and a girl each!

LOL, I'll take it--better than my stats :) It seems the male crazy runners have more girls--if only I could get DH off the couch ;)

[dramabird]

I work with a woman who has qualified for at least two if not three Olympic trials (she's considered an elite runner). She can run less-than-6-minute-miles for an entire marathon. And she had two sons and then a daughter.

[atomic sagebrush]

I've always been an exerciser--maybe 45 minutes to an hour every day on average, and tend to think that sways blue. Lately, I've been a little/ a lot obsessive about running--at least 50, usually 60+ per week. Just wondering about any runners out there . . . anyone conceive a boy while running a lot/training for a marathon?

The crazy exercisers I know of from IG both conceived girls while crazily exercising.

The problem with making a generalization about exercising is that it's not JUST exercising. It's what happens to your body as a result of exercising. So a person who was eating a very high quality diet, had good bone density and muscle mass to begin with, and taking a lot of time to rest and recover can withstand exercise at a more crazy intensity and still conceive boys, while another person who was not giving their body enough fuel and recovery time and/or was run down to start with, could potentially do less exercise and still be more girl friendly, KWIM?? Growing muscles = boys, shrinking muscles = girls.

The rule of thumb is, intense exercise of 60 minutes a day or more, 6-7 days a week while losing weight or holding steady at a below-optimal weight, while eating a lower cal, lower protein, lower fat diet will tend to burn off your muscle mass and sway pink. Moderate exercise of around 45 minutes a day 4-5 days a week (and as you demonstrate, if you're used to that level of exercise, you can get away with more) while gaining weight or holding steady at a healthy weight, while eating a higher calorie/pro/fat/nutrient, will grow/maintain muscle mass and sway blue.

[Lilian78]

Interesting atomic, I *generally* tend to be a "healthy" exerciser, but lately am not quite sure what is up with me . . . definitely been trending more toward over exhausting my body, so maybe that is good (?).

Related question, if I run so much that I truly have to take in some sodium and potassium (e.g. 20 miles--true need for electrolyte replacement), would I be swaying boy?

[begonia]

DD1 and DD2 were conceived when I was running anywhere from 40-60 miles a week. DD1 was literally the week after I PR'd in the marathon and qualified for Boston; I was so ticked when I found out I was pg and couldn't go. Anyhow, when running that much I always ate a ton too ... most days were an easy 3000 calories for me.

DD3 I dropped running a year ago in hopes of swaying boy and switched to weights. Fat lot of good that did for me... now I've got a heck of a long road ahead of me to get back into running competitively. And no son to show for it :(

[Lilian78]

Begonia, can't imagine giving up running for a year to no avail--really sorry it didn't work out for you. Must admit that I'm encouraged that you actually can conceive while training for/running a marathon :) Was a little concerned about that . . . wishing you lots of luck with your new little one!

[begonia]

LOL, Lillian DD1 was conceived while training AND on the pill :) Running definitely didn't hamper my fertility, FX it works in favor of swaying pink for you! It was hard to give up for sure. I actually think getting back into it competitively after DD3 is born will really help me with the GD so I'm looking forward to training again.

[Lilian78]

Following up on this. I've had two cycles since I had my mirena removed ... I'm pretty sure I'm not ovulating (crazy long periods which google tells me are anovulatory and no + opk at least this month). I'm thinking I definitely need to cut running mileage :(. Just ran a marathon a couple weeks ago and have been running 60+ miles a week. Does anyone have experience with "over exercise"? I don't think I need to gain weight--will cutting mileage a little be enough to ovulate? Or is there any chance it's just my body adjusting to mirena removal?

[Lilian78]

P.s. atomic, just reread your reply on this and now I'm thinking maybe I should just wait it out to sway girl lol. I'm not in a hurry to get pregnant and love the running ... Do you think I'll eventually ovulate even while running a lot?

[atomic sagebrush]

yes, I do think that you will eventually. Rather than dropping it all together you might try some very small changes, even like 10 min. less a day might make a difference.

[atomic sagebrush]

sorry it looks like I missed a post in there! Never be shy about giving me a bump if I miss something.

Re sodium and potassium - I am not even convinced that these minerals even sway. Plus, your body is very good at regulating them - people go on the diet for months only to find their levels have not changed one iota. I think you should def. do the electrolyte replacers for benefit of your health.

Re overexercise, yes, I have had experience with being anovulatory due to overexercise. It lasted 3 months when I went from exercising 60 min a day to exercising 120 (I did very hard exercise tapes with cardio and 8 lb weights, not like "sweating to the oldies" so prob somewhat similar in intensity to what you're doing). I didn't alter my food intake but I wasn't eating very much to begin with. After three months, things went back to normal again. I didn't increase my food at all, but I did ease up somewhat on the exercise. Not much tho. Instead of doing 2 exercise tapes I did one tape and ran stairs for 30 min.

Tell me more about your periods - when you say they're crazy long, are they at the normal time of the month? Are your cycles lasting the normal amount of time? My cycles were longer than normal and I barely had a period. It's my understanding that you have to go for several months not ovulating with no/very light periods before you begin to have anovulatory bleeding...like, it would start with NO periods or light periods at weird times of the month, not heavy periods coming regularly. I'm concerned that something else may be going on - there are a lot of causes of heavy periods and few are good. I think you need to be checked out. Even if it is just from anovulatory cycles, you should be given something to help straighten it out because over time estrogen withdrawal bleeding can raise your risks of certain cancers (your body is always building up a uterine lining and you never get a break from the estrogen). They may want to put you on the Pill or Mirena for awhile.

[Lilian78]

Thanks atomic ... I have an appt with my Doc this week for my annual so hopefully she'll have some input. My two cycles actually were normal in length (actually had one that was 28 days and that never happens lol). But AF was forever--about 10 days. Maybe it's some kind of mirena issue?

I am pretty certain I have not ovulated this month but that doesn't surprise me since I just did the marathon and also got pretty sick right after. Just looking back and thinking I didn't ovulate the last two months is what has me concerned (we weren't ttc and I didn't track).

What else do you think it could be? I think I will be running at least a little less in any event so I guess I'll be waiting it out to see if that will help...

[atomic sagebrush]

yes, do go get checked out because that just doesn't sound like the way being anovulatory due to exercise, usually presents itself.

Endometriosis, fibroids, and some things that are worse than endo/fibroids that are very rare and very unlikely so you shouldn't worry about them just yet (the usual suspects.). It may also be that you haven't been ovulating for some time and it's now progressing from the light periods to the heavier period stage.

[Lilian78]

Well went to the doc today and she said I might just. It know what a normal period is since I've been pregnant, breast feeding, or had mirena for so long. Which, though annoying, is totally true :p. I am moderately concerned that I have some issue that I wouldn't have noticed with mirena but I think I'll wait it out. After all the stressing about not ovulating I had 2 positive opks really late ... But with a negative in between lol. If I wanted to stress this much I'd just go high tech again :D. So I think my current plan is to quit stressing, run a little less and reevaluate in a few months if I don't get pregnant ... Thanks for all your help atomic--you are awesome :)

[amari]

lilian-That's an interesting question. I don't know the answer though! Are you keeping up with your cardio?

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh please tho - really? I'm sure you are quite well aware of what a normal AF is for you. Now that doesn't mean that your cycles might not change over time, but I really dislike it when dr's. act like we just fell off the turnip truck and are asking them the diff between our a--h--le and our elbows. :hair:

The odds are VERY high that just cutting back a bit on the running and stress is going to set everything right but PLEASE get a second opinion if you are the least bit concerned about it.