Losing too much weight-any advice?

I posted on another thread that I didn't realize was a sticky, so am starting a post here. When I started the girl diet (IG) a few weeks back I was already slightly underweight but did not realize how hard it would be to keep weight on. I am REALLY struggling not to lose too much weight on this diet as I don't want to become anovulatory. Over the first 2 ww I put back on 2 lbs eating off the diet, but now that I am back on the diet in earnest I am losing it again.

I know we talked about just maintaining by bumping up calories, and I'm eating what seems like a fair amt. but I am still losing. MAybe I should switch diets? I am using unsalted butter on my bread, half and half on on my puffed rice...just to bump cals up...but that's increasing fat content-not good? stil lI am losin wt.

Should I just completely stop the diet for a few days-and reset my "calendar"? I am trying to up my calories, but I am still losing weight. I am wondering if this particular diet is just too stressful for my body? If I can't ovulate, obviously the diet is a moot point.

I have been on the diet very strictly (IMO for 4 of the 5 weeks since I started (the first one week was spent trying to figure it out!)

UmaJain I know you were having a similar problem. Atomic or anyone if you have some pointers, do LMK, I know I should not TTC while actively gaining-but how long after gaining should I wait-can I put on a few lbs. this week by eating A LOT of the gilr foods and then maintain? Am assuming I should not TTC now since I haven't been on the diet and all the supps a full 6 weeks (I was not going to TTC this month b/c I had not gotten the diet right until after the first week, and just started vitex). Should I reincorporate breakfast for a few weeks (was waiting til 10:30 or 11 to eat).

TIA!

Sorry if I am beating a dead horse, am just confused.

Hi fourwildones - I am having the SAME problem. I'm on week 3 of the diet, it's now CD25 and I have not ovulated yet! I am so nervous because we plan to start TTC next month but now this is throwing everything off. I've lost about 3 lbs so far and am pretty sure the diet is messing up my ovulation. I'm currently 5'6" and weigh 120 (was 123lbs before diet). I keep reading that low-fat dairy can hinder ovulation and fertility, so starting today, I will add an 8 oz. glass of whole milk to my diet to encourage ovulation. It's comforting to know that others are going through the same thing. Should also add that I'm not taking the supplements (except for standard prenatals) and replaced my cup of coffee in the AM with peppermint tea.

Hollyberry, I am so sorry to hear you too are struggilng! Do you have a log of what you are eating?

Here is what a typical day looks like in my diet:
LATE AM: 3-4 rice cakes then later huge bowl puffed rice with half and half, dried cranberries and milk, 1/2 a coke zero or 1 1/2 light coffee (still can't let go of caffeine!). Sometimes I had been eating a cin raisin bagel instead (I know raisins aren't great though)
LUNCH:HUGE sandwich with 1 1/2 slices low salt cheese, homemade low salt bread, tahini and skinless cuc, large glass low sugar cranberry juice
SNACK: cup vanilla greek yogurt with rasberries and equal
DINNER: mixed greens salad (baby lettuce and spinach) with about 5 nuts and a 1 tsp dressing, and hige bowl pasta with a cream cheese/sour cream sauce (low salt and maybe add a veggie to sauce like smidgeon of peas ) and lt. cranberry juice or dasani.
LATE SNACK: 1 morecup yogurt with berries and equal
RIGHT BEFORE BED: 1 more cup cereal, maybe 1 nitrugrain bar

sometimes a cup of milk mixed with a tad sugarfree ice cream and a tad bit strawbery syrup and equal, sometimes a handful of unsalted almonds to boost cals. occasionally drin crystal light.

Supps I am taking, Taking 600-800 mg citracal with D, magnesium 250 mg, folic acid (upped to) 800 mcg, B6 100 mg (for LPD), vitex 800 mg, cranberry 1000-1500mg (no idea of "equivalency ?).

I am 4'11 and am down to 85 lbs. (I know that sound really small but I am really short!) I need to be about 88 to feel healthy and confident in my ability to ovulate.

SO frustrating as I know one is not supposed to gain wt on girl diet but may need to... GL to you.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

I am 4'11 and am down to 85 lbs. (I know that sound really small but I am really short!) I need to be about 88 to feel healthy and confident in my ability to ovulate.

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Wowzuhs, Mama! You are TINY...Your BMI is around 17.2ish...That's probably too low to keep Oing (just my humble opinion). I'm at 18.5-19 so nothing like you! Hoping someone can give you some good, sound swaying advice. XX

I know, it's terrible, I have been watched and tested for Thyroid/TSH levels and there is no evidence of a problem, but I cannot keep weight. on. I am vegetarian and that coupled with the nursing and running after 4 kids , I guess I just burn through calories? THE GP says I need to be at 88lbs. min, so that's why I know I need to gain. I conceived my son #1 at 86, and I did just ovulate at 86, but I want to make sure I can ovulate regualrly, kwim? I don't want all this work to go to waste with no egg to benefit from it.

Thank you, GL to you too! I struggled the first week of the diet and barely ate anything. Here is what a typical day looks like for me:
Breakfast - Was not eating until noon, but now eat 10:00AM (I'm up at 6, so noon was really pushing it!). I eat a bag (~1.5-2cups of wheat puff cereal (no milk), and drink a cup of peppermint tea and sip about 14 -20 oz diet cranberry juice or CL throughout the day
Lunch - Pasta with some parmesan or cream cheese (or peanut butter) & jelly (sugar-free) sandwich on low fat bread, side of strawberries, sliced cucumbers or raisins (I know they're a boy food, but I needed my potassium!) and non-fat yogurt
Snack - Unsalted top saltines with some sugar-free jelly, 1 strawberry pop tart or homemade strawberry-banana smoothie (will occasionally cheat and have reduced fat wheat thins w/ sharp cheddar as it holds me over for awhile!)
Dinner - Salad (mixed up spinach and ice berg), green beans, broccoli, corn, also mixed up the menu with the following dishes: pasta with a tiny bit of Alfredo sauce or unsalted butter, IG homemade chicken nuggets (I dipped them in egg whites and ran them through homemade breadcrumbs & Mrs. Dash...oh so delicious!), fish, ground turkey seasoned with Mrs. Dash on corn tortillas with iceberg, cucumbers & fat free sour cream (my favorite!), etc. I drink water or CL with dinner
Dessert - 1/2 C chocolate ice cream or 8 oz glass of milk w/ 1 T chocolate syrup (sometimes I'll have nothing if I'm still full from dinner)

*I do cheat here and there due to social events with family and friends :-)

Hope that helps! I usually have 35 day cycles and O around CD19 pretty consistantly, this is the latest O I've ever had since tracking my temps (if I even O at all :-( )

I'm a vegetarian too! Was mostly vegan until I added some dairy to the sway. When did you say you were planning to TTC? I would definitely try to gain that bit of weight back while doing your best to stay on the girl diet and push out TTC (if you haven't already). I know you probably told me when you were TTC but I forgot (:oops:). Tahini is okay for the girl diet and has a lot of calcium in it...Maybe you could make your own hummus and eat that to put more weight on (you'll keep the sodium down that way and it'll be healthier). There's definitely protein and fat in there but in your case you probably need it. I'm reticent to give you too much info as I'm definitely not an expert and I don't want to send you in the wrong direction. I'm hoping someone can give you some solid advice. Hugs, Mama!

HollyBerry, it looks like you too have a high metablosim, and are eating a variety of foods, I wonder if for some of us the foods on the diet are not absorbed well at all (perhaps the point of the diet) and hence the nutrient loss is too intense and causes malabsortion? It seems so strange to me as I feel like I am eating plenty...

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

HollyBerry, it looks like you too have a high metablosim, and are eating a variety of foods, I wonder if for some of us the foods on the diet are not absorbed well at all (perhaps the point of the diet) and hence the nutrient loss is too intense and causes malabsortion? It seems so strange to me as I feel like I am eating plenty...

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I completely agree! About an hour after lunch I am STARVING again, so I really can't go without that snack. Whatever it is, my reproductive system is not happy! I really want to get PG quickly and don't feel like this diet is helping :-( I know the idea is to make yourself less fertile for conceiving a DD, but it seems extreme...

I agree hollyberry it seems very extreme and odd.

Just lost my post but Jen so this isn't too lucid but, I think I agree with you, though, I need to gain wt, period. (no pun intended!) Was going to TTC in July (am due to Ovulate June 4-5 so that gives me til July 5-6) with just one attempt using the CBFM and hopefully get it over with. I am already eating 1.5 Tblsp. (which has 140 cals) tahini with my big sandwich, and the slices of bread and bowls of pasta I am eating are HUGE (IMO) I am thinking since I just ended my period, I will work on adding another sandwich with the tahini and maybe an extra glass of whole fat milk or a milkshake? (jsut not worry about the sugar?) for a few days and maybe a few more things to see if I can get to 87-88 waking weight, and then maintain.

I do wonder if I have either an undected thyroid problem, it just seems so strange that I can't maintain weight, I am wondering if the extreme low-nutrient nature of the diet ( which is the point) is just too intense for some bodies, (hollyberry's and yours included) causing malabsorption.

I'm wondering if Atomic can chime in about this....?

4wildones - DOH...didn't see you were already eating Tahini. Mea culpa, Mama...

No probnlem, I am eating it but think I may need to up it, so I appreciate the recommendation!

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Originally Posted by hollyberry7

Hi fourwildones - I am having the SAME problem. I'm on week 3 of the diet, it's now CD25 and I have not ovulated yet! I am so nervous because we plan to start TTC next month but now this is throwing everything off. I've lost about 3 lbs so far and am pretty sure the diet is messing up my ovulation. I'm currently 5'6" and weigh 120 (was 123lbs before diet). I keep reading that low-fat dairy can hinder ovulation and fertility, so starting today, I will add an 8 oz. glass of whole milk to my diet to encourage ovulation. It's comforting to know that others are going through the same thing. Should also add that I'm not taking the supplements (except for standard prenatals) and replaced my cup of coffee in the AM with peppermint tea.

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I strongly suggest that when you make changes, switching to full-fat dairy isn't one of them. The reason why we use skim milk is partly BECAUSE it can reduce overall fertility. Using full-fat dairy boosts fertility and that is not what you want.

Add in more carbs, more fruits, anything but full fat dairy. You don't have to be superstrict with yourself if you need more calories.

I promise you WILL stop losing weight at some point. You'll plateau as your metabolism goes down.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

I posted on another thread that I didn't realize was a sticky, so am starting a post here. When I started the girl diet (IG) a few weeks back I was already slightly underweight but did not realize how hard it would be to keep weight on. I am REALLY struggling not to lose too much weight on this diet as I don't want to become anovulatory. Over the first 2 ww I put back on 2 lbs eating off the diet, but now that I am back on the diet in earnest I am losing it again.

I know we talked about just maintaining by bumping up calories, and I'm eating what seems like a fair amt. but I am still losing. MAybe I should switch diets? I am using unsalted butter on my bread, half and half on on my puffed rice...just to bump cals up...but that's increasing fat content-not good? stil lI am losin wt.

Should I just completely stop the diet for a few days-and reset my "calendar"? I am trying to up my calories, but I am still losing weight. I am wondering if this particular diet is just too stressful for my body? If I can't ovulate, obviously the diet is a moot point.

I have been on the diet very strictly (IMO for 4 of the 5 weeks since I started (the first one week was spent trying to figure it out!)

UmaJain I know you were having a similar problem. Atomic or anyone if you have some pointers, do LMK, I know I should not TTC while actively gaining-but how long after gaining should I wait-can I put on a few lbs. this week by eating A LOT of the gilr foods and then maintain? Am assuming I should not TTC now since I haven't been on the diet and all the supps a full 6 weeks (I was not going to TTC this month b/c I had not gotten the diet right until after the first week, and just started vitex). Should I reincorporate breakfast for a few weeks (was waiting til 10:30 or 11 to eat).

TIA!

Sorry if I am beating a dead horse, am just confused.

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fourwild, I designed a different diet (it's not complete yet) that is available in the Dream Member section, as is the French Gender Diet. You absolutely do NOT need to follow the IG diet. It is too restrictive, some parts of it may even sway blue and then when you try to encorporate the Low-Everything stuff into it it yields a diet that you have to be nuts to follow. It doesn't have to be so hard.

I would rather see you guys increase your carbs rather than your fat. Even if you throw in some stuff that's pure sugar, pure carbs, at least it's not protein/fat.

I don't think you need to stop the diet for a few days and you don't need to skip this month either. There will always be something that is less than ideal. If you've been doing good for a few weeks, go ahead this month.

At some point, if you're eating a fair amount of cals, you're going to plateau. You won't keep losing weight forever. Bump the carbs up and go ahead and toss in more fruits and veg and TTC this month, hopefully you won't need to stay on the diet much longer.

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Originally Posted by hollyberry7

I'm wondering if Atomic can chime in about this....?

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I'm sorry, my husband switched work schedules so he's home a lot more and we are dealing with a seriously ill family member, so I don't always have as much time as I would like to answer q's...I hope you guys can bear with me, I will always answer as quickly as I am able to. Thank you for understanding!!

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

Hollyberry, I am so sorry to hear you too are struggilng! Do you have a log of what you are eating?

Here is what a typical day looks like in my diet:
LATE AM: 3-4 rice cakes then later huge bowl puffed rice with half and half, dried cranberries and milk, 1/2 a coke zero or 1 1/2 light coffee (still can't let go of caffeine!). Sometimes I had been eating a cin raisin bagel instead (I know raisins aren't great though)
LUNCH:HUGE sandwich with 1 1/2 slices low salt cheese, homemade low salt bread, tahini and skinless cuc, large glass low sugar cranberry juice
SNACK: cup vanilla greek yogurt with rasberries and equal
DINNER: mixed greens salad (baby lettuce and spinach) with about 5 nuts and a 1 tsp dressing, and hige bowl pasta with a cream cheese/sour cream sauce (low salt and maybe add a veggie to sauce like smidgeon of peas ) and lt. cranberry juice or dasani.
LATE SNACK: 1 morecup yogurt with berries and equal
RIGHT BEFORE BED: 1 more cup cereal, maybe 1 nitrugrain bar

sometimes a cup of milk mixed with a tad sugarfree ice cream and a tad bit strawbery syrup and equal, sometimes a handful of unsalted almonds to boost cals. occasionally drin crystal light.

Supps I am taking, Taking 600-800 mg citracal with D, magnesium 250 mg, folic acid (upped to) 800 mcg, B6 100 mg (for LPD), vitex 800 mg, cranberry 1000-1500mg (no idea of "equivalency ?).

I am 4'11 and am down to 85 lbs. (I know that sound really small but I am really short!) I need to be about 88 to feel healthy and confident in my ability to ovulate.

SO frustrating as I know one is not supposed to gain wt on girl diet but may need to... GL to you.

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Man, if you could put that metabolism in a bottle you could make a million!! Forget my plateauing advice, you are eating plenty of cals for your size and you're right, you shouldn't be losing.

Some things you could easily change and still be girl-friendly are - drop the skipping breakfast part (so add in another meal in the morning), keep the cinnamon bagel, add in low sodium marinara to your pasta, double the amount of cheese on the sandwich and use mayo. More salad dressing. See what that does for you.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

I know, it's terrible, I have been watched and tested for Thyroid/TSH levels and there is no evidence of a problem, but I cannot keep weight. on. I am vegetarian and that coupled with the nursing and running after 4 kids , I guess I just burn through calories? THE GP says I need to be at 88lbs. min, so that's why I know I need to gain. I conceived my son #1 at 86, and I did just ovulate at 86, but I want to make sure I can ovulate regualrly, kwim? I don't want all this work to go to waste with no egg to benefit from it.

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Just by virtue of being a vegetarian you increase your odds of pink. Feel free to eat some tofu if you like it. It's not allowed on IG but I think it sways pink.

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Originally Posted by UmaJain

I'm a vegetarian too! Was mostly vegan until I added some dairy to the sway. When did you say you were planning to TTC? I would definitely try to gain that bit of weight back while doing your best to stay on the girl diet and push out TTC (if you haven't already). I know you probably told me when you were TTC but I forgot (:oops:). Tahini is okay for the girl diet and has a lot of calcium in it...Maybe you could make your own hummus and eat that to put more weight on (you'll keep the sodium down that way and it'll be healthier). There's definitely protein and fat in there but in your case you probably need it. I'm reticent to give you too much info as I'm definitely not an expert and I don't want to send you in the wrong direction. I'm hoping someone can give you some solid advice. Hugs, Mama!

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I totally agree with the hummus suggestion, if you make it yourself it will even be low in sodium. Mix it with white rice and shredded zucchini and you have a really good casserole.

Uma - I STRONGLY strongly urge you to go back to being a vegan. I think being vegan is a much stronger sway than adding in dairy to a vegan diet. Regardless of minerals, you are sending a message to your body that you have a newfound access to dairy foods and that may inadvertently sway pink.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

I agree hollyberry it seems very extreme and odd.

Just lost my post but Jen so this isn't too lucid but, I think I agree with you, though, I need to gain wt, period. (no pun intended!) Was going to TTC in July (am due to Ovulate June 4-5 so that gives me til July 5-6) with just one attempt using the CBFM and hopefully get it over with. I am already eating 1.5 Tblsp. (which has 140 cals) tahini with my big sandwich, and the slices of bread and bowls of pasta I am eating are HUGE (IMO) I am thinking since I just ended my period, I will work on adding another sandwich with the tahini and maybe an extra glass of whole fat milk or a milkshake? (jsut not worry about the sugar?) for a few days and maybe a few more things to see if I can get to 87-88 waking weight, and then maintain.

I do wonder if I have either an undected thyroid problem, it just seems so strange that I can't maintain weight, I am wondering if the extreme low-nutrient nature of the diet ( which is the point) is just too intense for some bodies, (hollyberry's and yours included) causing malabsorption.

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If you don't like it, don't do it. There are other options out there or you can forgo diet all together and focus more on things like jellies, antihistamines, etc.

It's really not extreme or odd, it's simply what nature has designed. (and there is an entire thread where moms of girls share their eating habits and they are very very similar to this style of diet.) That is why I tell people again and again to do whatever it takes to get pregnant quickly rather than waste time on timing, etc.

It's not an issue of malabsorption, unless you are having other side effects like diarrhea...if you are lactose intolerant or have celiac disease you may not be getting all the nutrients from your food. I suspect you're actually eating less calories than you were before even if it doesn't feel like it. If you're really not going to TTC this month, do an experiment and forget about quantities or skipping meals or anything like that. Double your caloric intake (eat more frequently than you would if you were swaying) but eat the exact same foods and see if you continue mysteriously losing weight. If you don't, then you'll know that it was calories. If you do continue losing weight, you need to see a gastroenterologist to rule out absorption problems and have your thyroid checked. If the weight loss stops or reverses itself you'll know that it was just too low a caloric intake.

It is totally possible that the lower blood sugar is actually helping you lose weight. Eating more regularly, even if you are getting the same amount of calories, might help keep your blood sugar higher (there is such a thing as too low, too.)

There is nothing wrong with sugar for a pink sway. So if you take your toast, put some unsalted butter on it, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, that will help provide you with some extra cals and taste good too.

The concern in the milkshakes isn't sugar but FAT and protein. I would MUCH rather see you make a smoothie with fat free yogurt, a banana, berries, and sugar to taste rather than a milkshake. Save the fat for when you'll really appreciate it, like butter on bread or cheese on top of your pasta.

A spoonfull of oil will also add cals to your pasta and make it a lot tastier.

I've been adding unsalted butter to my breads but have also been cooking my pasta in olive or canola oil, as awalys, but the full fat dairy was increasing, only slightly, most of my cals were still coming from carbs ( bread) tahini, more nutrigrain bars, and greek nonfat yogurt or a little 2% milk, it was just a tad bit of cream. Also had added low salt almonds but it sounds like I really should be going back to more of what I used to eat, only lower salt and pot and higher magnesium? Was using whole milk ricotta but could switch to part skim...

I don't know that I need to stat over (been on it 4-5 weeks) bur I realize I should revisit the french diet and your diet in the works, and tweak it, I was worried adding fruits and veggies contradicted the low nutrient theory, so had shied away from those. I also have drastically cut sugar and I think that's where I am getting a big loss. Today at the RN I got bloodwork done and she told me to go out and buy some ensures, so I did! I've drunk 4 today, agh! I hope it doesn't ruin my chance to sway in July. June is out because of lots of reasons, my need to gain a bit of weight and you mentioned that sways testosterone and DH is still very opposed-At the moment July ain't looking so hot either, (he's even talking vasectomy) he is just so suddenly fearful I will get "accidentally" pg, so I have been only doing diet factors and hoping for the best, but now I am wondering if July is out since that would only be 5 weeks from now for me to correct the mistakes of the ensures and whatever it is on the IG siet that I've done that sways blue? As you mentioned though, there will be errors- I have to act fast if I am gonig to do this, which I know sounds terrible.

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Man, if you could put that metabolism in a bottle you could make a million!! Forget my plateauing advice, you are eating plenty of cals for your size and you're right, you shouldn't be losing.

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LOL I agree it drives me nuts when people ask me how I am so thin becuase I do not want to be this thin. I need about 5 more pounds. So do I try to pack it all on this week and still give it a shot in July? Am wondering if the bump in testeroterone would only be temporary once I can maintain?

Just saw this other part of your post. I am confused about a couple of things though,

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If you don't like it, don't do it. There are other options out there or you can forgo diet all together and focus more on things like jellies, antihistamines, etc.

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I was working under the assumption that diet was most important, and if my DH were on board, I would absolutely go HT- but he's not, so I want to do the best sway I can (especially since I wont be able to fudge with sperm count) so not liking the diet is no big deal for me, what is important is keeping it rather discreet, and making sure I still ovulate-so if deviating from the IG diet is actually conducive to this, GREAT!

Also, this sugar thing is confusing me, first, I know glucose levels are to be kept low (hence the skipping breakfast part, correct? ) or is it just avoiding cereal/carbs in the AM? but I have also read sugar does not sway, so now I am thinking, do I need to add back occasional sugar as you suggest, but just not in the morning? Should I only be doing yogurt in the AM, not simple carbs abd sugars? And on the week of O (if I ever get there) should I drop all breakfast then?

I was allergic to milk as a child but have since grown out of it, but NEVER drink milk, These last few days I think whenever I drink milk my body doesn't handle it too well, it just gets rid of it. I did have a day with looser stools (sorry if that's TMI) but for the most part my digestion is fine, and I have seen a GI in the past for what was suspected IBS for pain, not malabsortion, but it turns out I think I have endometrial tissue implanted on my Upper right quadrant, and they don't want to do a laparoscopy on me because, I am too thin- agh! So I have been followed for weight issuses and gastric issues, and no one has found anything wrong other than the occasional acid reflux...

SO I think what I am dealing with is possibly a mild milk protein intolerance, (as I can handle yogurt and cheese) a lot of stress, a VERY large nursing toddler (he is 28 lbs at 15 months!), a high metabolism, and a very high activity level (I almost never sit down).

I've become a dream member so will go check out the diet pages, IF I can't gain weight with the diet suggestions you made, I will defintely do something about it. Would you still not do the ensure pluses? They have a lot of minerals so opposite to the TW theory-but they aren't too high fat, or should I just eat more white low sod bread and slather it with sugar free jam, more low sod cheese, and yogurt moothies, as you suggested.

You know, the things that I have cut out most in my diet as a vegetarian that may have had the most impact are wine, sugarm salt and the potatoes. Because so many salty foods (like nuts and chips) aren't allowed, I lost a lot of my easy ways to keep my weight up.

Last night and tonight I had to secretly spit out the pizza we ordered because it was too salty, so I know I am on the right track with the sodium at least.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

I've been adding unsalted butter to my breads but have also been cooking my pasta in olive or canola oil, as awalys, but the full fat dairy was increasing, only slightly, most of my cals were still coming from carbs ( bread) tahini, more nutrigrain bars, and greek nonfat yogurt or a little 2% milk, it was just a tad bit of cream. Also had added low salt almonds but it sounds like I really should be going back to more of what I used to eat, only lower salt and pot and higher magnesium? Was using whole milk ricotta but could switch to part skim...

I don't know that I need to stat over (been on it 4-5 weeks) bur I realize I should revisit the french diet and your diet in the works, and tweak it, I was worried adding fruits and veggies contradicted the low nutrient theory, so had shied away from those. I also have drastically cut sugar and I think that's where I am getting a big loss. Today at the RN I got bloodwork done and she told me to go out and buy some ensures, so I did! I've drunk 4 today, agh! I hope it doesn't ruin my chance to sway in July. June is out because of lots of reasons, my need to gain a bit of weight and you mentioned that sways testosterone and DH is still very opposed-At the moment July ain't looking so hot either, (he's even talking vasectomy) he is just so suddenly fearful I will get "accidentally" pg, so I have been only doing diet factors and hoping for the best, but now I am wondering if July is out since that would only be 5 weeks from now for me to correct the mistakes of the ensures and whatever it is on the IG siet that I've done that sways blue? As you mentioned though, there will be errors- I have to act fast if I am gonig to do this, which I know sounds terrible.



LOL I agree it drives me nuts when people ask me how I am so thin becuase I do not want to be this thin. I need about 5 more pounds. So do I try to pack it all on this week and still give it a shot in July? Am wondering if the bump in testeroterone would only be temporary once I can maintain?

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Don't worry about "mistakes", control what you can control and let go of the rest.

There is nothing magic about the 6 week number. It's just a number. 5 weeks is still good. Don't get too hung up on the numbers, do what you can do and let the rest go.

Fruits and vegies do have some nutrients, it's true, but if you're eating lower cal/fat/protein the nutrients don't "count" as much as they would otherwise. You HAVE to eat something and it is far better (for your sway anyway) to eat unlimited fruits than to drink 4 Ensures LOL.

Please understand, both for yourself and anyone else reading this, that the rules are WAY different for someone who weighs 85 pounds. I am a fairly tiny person too at 5-4 and 125 lbs but I could easily drop 20 lbs at the drop of a hat and still be at a close to normal BMI and have no effect on my fertility. If you REALLY TRULY have no weight to lose, then DON'T lose weight, you're already AT a weight and size that will sway pink.

I do sometimes see people saying "but I can't lose weight because I have no weight to lose" who are maybe exaggerating a bit - and I am not trying to judge anyone, just explain where I'm coming from because when I first started answering your q's I had no idea you were so tiny. Again, for anyone who REALLY SERIOUSLY weighs 85 pounds and cannot spare a pound, do not try to lose any weight. If you weigh 130 or even 120 lbs you probably CAN spare a few pounds, and it's only going to help your sway.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

Just saw this other part of your post. I am confused about a couple of things though,
I was working under the assumption that diet was most important, and if my DH were on board, I would absolutely go HT- but he's not, so I want to do the best sway I can (especially since I wont be able to fudge with sperm count) so not liking the diet is no big deal for me, what is important is keeping it rather discreet, and making sure I still ovulate-so if deviating from the IG diet is actually conducive to this, GREAT!

Also, this sugar thing is confusing me, first, I know glucose levels are to be kept low (hence the skipping breakfast part, correct? ) or is it just avoiding cereal/carbs in the AM? but I have also read sugar does not sway, so now I am thinking, do I need to add back occasional sugar as you suggest, but just not in the morning? Should I only be doing yogurt in the AM, not simple carbs abd sugars? And on the week of O (if I ever get there) should I drop all breakfast then?

I was allergic to milk as a child but have since grown out of it, but NEVER drink milk, These last few days I think whenever I drink milk my body doesn't handle it too well, it just gets rid of it. I did have a day with looser stools (sorry if that's TMI) but for the most part my digestion is fine, and I have seen a GI in the past for what was suspected IBS for pain, not malabsortion, but it turns out I think I have endometrial tissue implanted on my Upper right quadrant, and they don't want to do a laparoscopy on me because, I am too thin- agh! So I have been followed for weight issuses and gastric issues, and no one has found anything wrong other than the occasional acid reflux...

SO I think what I am dealing with is possibly a mild milk protein intolerance, (as I can handle yogurt and cheese) a lot of stress, a VERY large nursing toddler (he is 28 lbs at 15 months!), a high metabolism, and a very high activity level (I almost never sit down).

I've become a dream member so will go check out the diet pages, IF I can't gain weight with the diet suggestions you made, I will defintely do something about it. Would you still not do the ensure pluses? They have a lot of minerals so opposite to the TW theory-but they aren't too high fat, or should I just eat more white low sod bread and slather it with sugar free jam, more low sod cheese, and yogurt moothies, as you suggested.

You know, the things that I have cut out most in my diet as a vegetarian that may have had the most impact are wine, sugarm salt and the potatoes. Because so many salty foods (like nuts and chips) aren't allowed, I lost a lot of my easy ways to keep my weight up.

Last night and tonight I had to secretly spit out the pizza we ordered because it was too salty, so I know I am on the right track with the sodium at least.

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Diet IS the most important thing but if you're killing yourself and cannot get pregnant, diet is irrelevant. Being 85 pounds sways pink for everyone, period.

I have NO clue why IG says whatever-it-is they say about eating carbs in the morning. I've tried to explain again and again but it seems to fall on deaf ears and nothing changes. I don't know if it's a misunderstanding or just an attempt to simplify a complex explanation. The reason why I suggest skipping breakfast is not because there is anything magic about eating in the morning. It's because a)The Oxford study found that moms who skipped breakfast had more daughters b) anecdotally, moms on IG and this site who have daughters also tend to skip breakfast c) skipping breakfast is just one way to keep your blood sugar on the low side for a long time and it seems to be easy for a lot of people to do d) it helps reduce overall caloric intake. But there is NOTHING magic about it. You don't NEED to reduce your overall caloric intake and your blood sugar is prob. on the low side because you're so thin anyway and so you don't need to worry about that, even. For you, eating breakfast would be an easy way to up your caloric intake a bit and if you ate girl-friendly foods at breakfast it won't hurt your sway in any way.

I personally would not do the Ensures. The level of nutrients in a bell pepper, while not insignificant, is NOTHING compared to a vitamin or an Ensure. But you need to do what is right for you and your health.

I think potatoes are FINE for pink and I would def. eat them. There was certainly no shortage of baby girls born to the Incas or the Irish. They have a lot of carb calories so right there you're on the right track. With some unsalted butter and a bit of sour cream they are another option that will help up your caloric intake.

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I think potatoes are FINE for pink and I would def. eat them. There was certainly no shortage of baby girls born to the Incas or the Irish. They have a lot of carb calories so right there you're on the right track. With some unsalted butter and a bit of sour cream they are another option that will help up your caloric intake.

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LOL! I am so glad you said this! I have been thinking about the Irish all the time lately! Surely the Irish would have all boys if potatoes were so evil for conceiving girls! In fact, I think in times of famine potatoes are depended upon. perhaps as you mentioned, low everything, in moderation is where I should be headed, but still keep salt and pot. low and mag and calc high. So sounds like the french diet is more up my alley. In fact Tamara on IG recommended low salt potato chips-which I have but have only eaten a handful as I was so scared off by the potato thing!

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Diet IS the most important thing but if you're killing yourself and cannot get pregnant, diet is irrelevant. Being 85 pounds sways pink for everyone, period.

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OK I am going to take a deep breath and sigh of relief about all of this and keep trying to put on weight. Rest assured, I never intended to lose weight when I embarked on the diet (hence my concern and intiating of this thread) I want to stay around 88 to guarantee regular, ovulatory cycles. I seem to be able to ovulate as low as 86, but going below that is WAY to risky to me, add to that the factors of the diet and I am putting myself under unneccesary stress all to not be able to get pregnant-insane!

I was 86.5 when I got pg with my first son so I know my EWCM and or possible testosterone must have been a dominant factor. I was 87-88 with all my others, so my weight alone does not seem to have swayed in either direction.

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I have NO clue why IG says whatever-it-is they say about eating carbs in the morning. I've tried to explain again and again but it seems to fall on deaf ears and nothing changes. I don't know if it's a misunderstanding or just an attempt to simplify a complex explanation. The reason why I suggest skipping breakfast is not because there is anything magic about eating in the morning. It's because a)The Oxford study found that moms who skipped breakfast had more daughters b) anecdotally, moms on IG and this site who have daughters also tend to skip breakfast c) skipping breakfast is just one way to keep your blood sugar on the low side for a long time and it seems to be easy for a lot of people to do d) it helps reduce overall caloric intake.

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Sounds like it makes sense to delay it a little if I can, just to actually increase chances of swaying girl, but still get calories in throughout the day. Now that I have been skipping it or delaying it in the AM I am not hungry anymore! SO I'll continue to delay it but maybe eat at 10 or so, and not worry about what kind of food it is in the late AM. or just eat when I am hungry. and maybe only week or two leading up to attempt skip it.


Lastly, how quickly should I attempt to put back on about 3 lbs? If I gain wait gradually, is that worse for raising testoterone? I had thought getting it over with quicky would be best. Should I just eat crappy sugary foods for a week if gaining weight defeats the prupose of swaying at all-and start over with a good maintenance plan in 1 week or once I am @ 88? Sorry if you addressed this elsewhere.

I will ditch the ensures, and bump up my calories some other way (still have the receipt so I'll return unpoened boxes).

Thanks again for your input.

I had the same problem. I am 5ft 9in and normally 9st-9st 3lb. My BMI is normally about 19. On the girl diet I went down to 8st 8lb at the lightest and felt really unfit with no energy at all. In the end I had to cheat a bit during the 2ww eating more calories whilst still trying to each calcium/mag rich food and low salt/potassium.
For the last month which I conceived in I tried some acidifying foods and allowed myself more calories.
It was our agreed last month of TTC when we actually did and I am glad because I couldn't have been on the diet any longer.
Hope you work something out.

Me too! I am so gald you were able to get off of it before you lost anymore, what a pain!

I am up a tad today, if I can gain 1-2 more pounds and maintain, it would be great, I am imagining I'll have to "cheat" in the 2ww, if it's a no go in July-I may stop it completely.

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

LOL! I am so glad you said this! I have been thinking about the Irish all the time lately! Surely the Irish would have all boys if potatoes were so evil for conceiving girls! In fact, I think in times of famine potatoes are depended upon. perhaps as you mentioned, low everything, in moderation is where I should be headed, but still keep salt and pot. low and mag and calc high. So sounds like the french diet is more up my alley. In fact Tamara on IG recommended low salt potato chips-which I have but have only eaten a handful as I was so scared off by the potato thing!


OK I am going to take a deep breath and sigh of relief about all of this and keep trying to put on weight. Rest assured, I never intended to lose weight when I embarked on the diet (hence my concern and intiating of this thread) I want to stay around 88 to guarantee regular, ovulatory cycles. I seem to be able to ovulate as low as 86, but going below that is WAY to risky to me, add to that the factors of the diet and I am putting myself under unneccesary stress all to not be able to get pregnant-insane!

I was 86.5 when I got pg with my first son so I know my EWCM and or possible testosterone must have been a dominant factor. I was 87-88 with all my others, so my weight alone does not seem to have swayed in either direction.




Sounds like it makes sense to delay it a little if I can, just to actually increase chances of swaying girl, but still get calories in throughout the day. Now that I have been skipping it or delaying it in the AM I am not hungry anymore! SO I'll continue to delay it but maybe eat at 10 or so, and not worry about what kind of food it is in the late AM. or just eat when I am hungry. and maybe only week or two leading up to attempt skip it.


Lastly, how quickly should I attempt to put back on about 3 lbs? If I gain wait gradually, is that worse for raising testoterone? I had thought getting it over with quicky would be best. Should I just eat crappy sugary foods for a week if gaining weight defeats the prupose of swaying at all-and start over with a good maintenance plan in 1 week or once I am @ 88? Sorry if you addressed this elsewhere.

I will ditch the ensures, and bump up my calories some other way (still have the receipt so I'll return unpoened boxes).

Thanks again for your input.

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1) Totally! If magic foods existed the whole human race would have died out a long, long time ago. It don't add up. I wouldn't waste my precious calories on low-salt potato chips though, I would go for something with a lot more bang for the buck like a baked potato with lowfat sour cream, unsalted butter, and homemade no-salt salsa on top.

2) Testosterone can stay high even if you're very thin unfortunately. One of the thinnest ladies I know has 4 boys. You have to reduce both the supply (by eating the right kinds of foods and taking supps, if desired) and demand (by calming down and not taking on projects and challenges) for best results with lowering T.

3)I find that I also can do without breakfast after the first few days. Eating at 10 sounds just fine to me as does waiting until a few days before your attempt.

4)I actually think quicker is best because that makes it more likely it will be in the form of fat rather than muscle. Muscle takes time to add and your body adds it when it thinks you NEED it, when you gain weight very quickly and without doing any exercise, it's more likely that at least some of it will be stored as fat. I think muscle sways "harder" than fat does.

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Originally Posted by nicnee1976

I had the same problem. I am 5ft 9in and normally 9st-9st 3lb. My BMI is normally about 19. On the girl diet I went down to 8st 8lb at the lightest and felt really unfit with no energy at all. In the end I had to cheat a bit during the 2ww eating more calories whilst still trying to each calcium/mag rich food and low salt/potassium.
For the last month which I conceived in I tried some acidifying foods and allowed myself more calories.
It was our agreed last month of TTC when we actually did and I am glad because I couldn't have been on the diet any longer.
Hope you work something out.

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That is why I tell people to skip out on some of the more extreme things that prevent pregnancy in lieu of hitting it hard on the diet, getting pg quick, and getting off the diet again. I don't want anyone to be on the diet any longer than necessary.

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1) Totally! If magic foods existed the whole human race would have died out a long, long time ago. It don't add up. I wouldn't waste my precious calories on low-salt potato chips though, I would go for something with a lot more bang for the buck like a baked potato with lowfat sour cream, unsalted butter, and homemade no-salt salsa on top.

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OK, I am terrified of potatoes as I finally have my CM pH at a 4.5 during O-but will perhaps have one 2 days a week or something...

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2) Testosterone can stay high even if you're very thin unfortunately. One of the thinnest ladies I know has 4 boys. You have to reduce both the supply (by eating the right kinds of foods and taking supps, if desired) and demand (by calming down and not taking on projects and challenges) for best results with lowering T.

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This will be really hard for me, since TTC in itself, esp. under my circumstances/age seems like a huge/unattainable goal-will have good think there...am trying to table my other "projects" like trying to get out of the house, etc and work on trying to take all of it more one day at a time.

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4)I actually think quicker is best because that makes it more likely it will be in the form of fat rather than muscle. Muscle takes time to add and your body adds it when it thinks you NEED it, when you gain weight very quickly and without doing any exercise, it's more likely that at least some of it will be stored as fat. I think muscle sways "harder" than fat does.

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I was thinking that I would be putting back on fat, but that that might be a BAD thing for swaying pink, so thank you for clarifying that this would more likely sway pink than slowly and more consciencously putting on the weight: ergo muscle mass. I will try to put the lbs. on quickly during the 2WW while still skipping breakfast-I just lost the 2 I had put back on-agh!

Thanks for "weighing in!"

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Originally Posted by fourwildones

OK, I am terrified of potatoes as I finally have my CM pH at a 4.5 during O-but will perhaps have one 2 days a week or something...



This will be really hard for me, since TTC in itself, esp. under my circumstances/age seems like a huge/unattainable goal-will have good think there...am trying to table my other "projects" like trying to get out of the house, etc and work on trying to take all of it more one day at a time.




I was thinking that I would be putting back on fat, but that that might be a BAD thing for swaying pink, so thank you for clarifying that this would more likely sway pink than slowly and more consciencously putting on the weight: ergo muscle mass. I will try to put the lbs. on quickly during the 2WW while still skipping breakfast-I just lost the 2 I had put back on-agh!

Thanks for "weighing in!"

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1) Don't fear the potatoes...think of Ireland!

2) I totally understand that but that is the number one reason why pink sways fail. Boy moms tend to be control freaks and that feeds the testosterone (by upping demand...your body will ~try~ to make ample amounts of testosterone if it thinks you need it to survive, even if you aren't providing it with the right building blocks to do it.) Now since you already HAVE daughters, this may be less of an issue for you than it is for someone like me.

3)Fat is MUCH better for pink than muscle. Interestingly, even when I lost weight with my sway for DS 4, I was still pretty muscley, but then I gained 70 lbs of preggo weight and then lost it and now I am a lot more pudge even at the same body weight. It could very well be the case that you'll actually have helped your sway a bit, but I don't advise people to do this deliberately because it's too risky.