Atomic or anyone who can help!

I need to increase my bmi as I am not ovulating and this way I will have no baby at all:(
I have a few questions:
Until ovulation returns (when I've put on weight)
Should I continue to skip breakfast?
Should I go back to eating my old pre-swaying diet or should I try to increase my calories with girl friendly food?
Bit of info, I really struggle to put on weight, through this diet I have lost about 13 lbs and have a bmi of around 17. I have been eating more normally for the past 3 weeks and have only put on 2 lbs. Any help appreciated, thanks!

Swish ~ I do not know the answer... I am sure atomic of one of the other ladies will know. :) Just wanted to send you (((hugs)))!

Is there a way to still keep your blood sugar low and yet gain weight?

My bmi is getting close to yours...

Thank you, happy heart!!!! I really want to serve as a warning about the not ovulating thing. I know it won't happen to everyone who diets or has a low bmi but I just don't want anyone else to get in my situation. I think the warning signs may have been the extended cycles and longer periods but I don't know! I really think people should try to reach the calories atomic recommended as I know I struggled with this whilst keeping protein low. It's such a hard balancing act but now I really wish i'd acted earlier.

can't really suggest much as I'm the sort who struggles to gain weight too and is naturally slim... are you stopping swaying whilst you gain this weight?
perhaps switch to full fat milk, up the calories regardless of what you eat, etc?

As you know, I'm starting to wonder if I've lost too much weight too, so I'll be curious to see what atomic says. I just calculated my BMI and got 20 - does that mean I'm not quite in danger yet?

If I don't get my BFP this month, I'm planning to eat pretty much regular food for the next 2 weeks, then I'll ease back into the girl diet for the next 6 weeks before making our October attempt. As I've mentioned elsewhere, we need to take a month off for scheduling reasons, and I can't face another 2 months on the diet, so I think I need a break for my sanity.

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Originally Posted by swish

Thank you, happy heart!!!! I really want to serve as a warning about the not ovulating thing. I know it won't happen to everyone who diets or has a low bmi but I just don't want anyone else to get in my situation. I think the warning signs may have been the extended cycles and longer periods but I don't know! I really think people should try to reach the calories atomic recommended as I know I struggled with this whilst keeping protein low. It's such a hard balancing act but now I really wish i'd acted earlier.

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I am thinking about you swish! I am so sorry this is happening....

My cycles are doing exactly what you explained! I had the longest one last month including my longest period!

ETA: I just calculated mine... I am 18.. but close to 17.

I just know atomic will have helpful advice for you! :) :)

Thanks swish, I was going to ask the same question, my BMI is 17 as well.
I´ve tried eating a lot more calories through sweets, but I´m not gaining. TIA Atomic

Just bumping this one in case it's slipped through the net, thanks!

I'm glad you bumped it, swish - I keep checking to see if atomic responded.

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Originally Posted by swish

I need to increase my bmi as I am not ovulating and this way I will have no baby at all:(
I have a few questions:
Until ovulation returns (when I've put on weight)
Should I continue to skip breakfast?
Should I go back to eating my old pre-swaying diet or should I try to increase my calories with girl friendly food?
Bit of info, I really struggle to put on weight, through this diet I have lost about 13 lbs and have a bmi of around 17. I have been eating more normally for the past 3 weeks and have only put on 2 lbs. Any help appreciated, thanks!

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1) Your ovulation may and prob. will return before you put on weight, as long as you've stopped losing.
2) Skipping breakfast is most important just prior to ovulation and during the 2 WW (because that is when the bean is developing and glucose may be more important.) So if you can't do it at any other point, make sure you stick to it then.
3)Try to stick to a vegetarian, lower protein diet and gain weight via carbs and sugary stuff.
4)Every pound is going to help, so just by virtue of gaining 2 pounds you may even find that things are back on track. You may not even need to gain any more than that.

Question - I am curious about your caloric intake...were you eating less than 1500-1800 cals?

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Originally Posted by happyheart

Swish ~ I do not know the answer... I am sure atomic of one of the other ladies will know. :) Just wanted to send you (((hugs)))!

Is there a way to still keep your blood sugar low and yet gain weight?

My bmi is getting close to yours...

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Gain weight via sugar and carbs. Your blood sugar may go up but at least your testosterone won't rise.

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Originally Posted by rainbowflower

can't really suggest much as I'm the sort who struggles to gain weight too and is naturally slim... are you stopping swaying whilst you gain this weight?
perhaps switch to full fat milk, up the calories regardless of what you eat, etc?

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I really don't want anyone to increase fat calories if at all possible. Increase calories before you increase fat.

Before you do anything, I really truly hope that people at least make some effort to a) stick to the 1500-1800 cals a day guideline and b) not get too hung up on timing, douching, etc. for this very reason. I'm not trying to criticize anyone or anything but just so people can see that it can be difficult, if you don't get that BFP the first month or two.

1st priority - increase calories in the form of carbohydrates/sugar, to the point where you are holding steady or gaining slowly. you want to gain the barest minimum of weight.
2nd - be patient and if you are holding steady or gaining even if it is slowly, just wait. Your cycle will most likely come back, sooner than you think it will.
3rd - if that doesn't work, then try increasing protein ~slightly~ to 50-60 g
4th - be patient and as long as you are either holding steady or gaining, just wait and see if your cycle normalizes.
5th - only if you are not gaining any weight at all after all those things, then up the fat. Try to minimize saturated fats and cholesterol as much as you can.

My thinking is that muscle building takes time so you have a little cushion in which you can eat more protein (to help you gain) without raising your T levels. But eating fat/cholesterol will give your body the materials it needs to make more (even though I tend to think protein sways "harder" than fat for the most part, if you've already shrunk your muscles, there will be nothing there to send that signal to your body that you need more testosterone...muscle signals your body to produce testosterone.)

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Originally Posted by Mochagirl

As you know, I'm starting to wonder if I've lost too much weight too, so I'll be curious to see what atomic says. I just calculated my BMI and got 20 - does that mean I'm not quite in danger yet?

If I don't get my BFP this month, I'm planning to eat pretty much regular food for the next 2 weeks, then I'll ease back into the girl diet for the next 6 weeks before making our October attempt. As I've mentioned elsewhere, we need to take a month off for scheduling reasons, and I can't face another 2 months on the diet, so I think I need a break for my sanity.

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Normal BMI is between 18.5- 24.9. But you can have spotty ovulation whenever you lose weight, even if you are at a healthy or even overweight BMI. So whether your BMI is 17 or 27, the issue can be the same...there is no number at which you're in a "danger zone" though 17 is def. low for anyone over about 5 feet tall. It's the quick weight loss that affects ovulation and unfortunately it is something some of us are going to have to endure while swaying because the weight loss really does seem to help.

I know it's hard, but that could very well be what we want for TTC pink, for our fertility to be slightly depressed but still functional.

Mocha, I'm SO hoping this is your month! If not, I do want to put your mind at ease about taking a break because I found that when I gained weight during my pg with DS4 and then lost it all, I had a lot less muscle mass than I had when I lost weight when swaying. Some of us lose more fat than muscle when we lose weight and it may be that gaining some and then relosing, may even help a little.

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Originally Posted by Indira

Thanks swish, I was going to ask the same question, my BMI is 17 as well.
I´ve tried eating a lot more calories through sweets, but I´m not gaining. TIA Atomic

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How much is a lot more, out of curiosity?? Are you guys burning off thousands of carb calories??

The first thing I would do is start drinking a pop with every meal - that has never failed to make me gain weight. o.O

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Originally Posted by Mochagirl

I'm glad you bumped it, swish - I keep checking to see if atomic responded.

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Sorry, I had to get through the TTC boy q's as well!! Thanks for keeping it bumped up for me!

I don't know if my answers were helpful at all or not...hope so!

Thanks, Atomic - your answers were helpful. For the past 3 weeks or so I've been able to keep my weight pretty steady by sticking to around 1500 calories per day, but when I still lost a pound last week I decided to make it 1600 calories per day instead. I also might aim for 50g of protein instead of 40, at least some days, just so I can eat tastier food once in a while. I'm lucky compared to the other girls in that I don't really need to gain any weight, though I definitely don't want to lose anymore!

Sadly, I don't think this is my month - I got a BFN today with a FRER at 11dpo, and I don't really have any symptoms to speak of. After much thought, I think we may go ahead and make a September attempt despite the awful logistics in our house for a June baby (my mother - our only potential babysitter/helper while we have the baby will be in Spain for 3 weeks). I just can't face having to wait so long before attempting again, and I worry it will be too hard to leave the diet and come back to it again. I will find the arrival of af much less depressing if I know I can make another attempt in 2 weeks....

Thank you, atomic! Firstly, no I don't think I was eating enough calories as I struggled to keep protein low and calories higher. From now on obviously I will try to do that and if my protein hits 50g that's fine. I do know that the weight loss is good as it supresses fertility but I feel for me personally I went too far and truly I want another baby first and foremost and if it's a girl it's a bonus. I have really worried myself that I have made my body stop completely and I'm frustrated with myself that I let it happen. I didn't get hung up on timing at all, bedding through ovulation on my attempts and I wil continue to do this once ovulation returns.
I'll definitely add full fat pop to my diet. I've been eating a lot more fat for the last 3 weeks as I thought this was a good way to get things back to normal so I'll cut back on that. Having said that I've hardly put on any weight, I've been eating ice cream and chocolate like it's going out of fashion but still not much weight gain!!! I think I'll try upping protein as I have definitely lost muscle (my arms are really thin!) thank you for advice and any more ideas really well come, I'm going to look back at girl food ideas in private section again too

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

Gain weight via sugar and carbs. Your blood sugar may go up but at least your testosterone won't rise.

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Thank you atomic! My bmi at the moment is 18.23 ... is it a given that if you drop down more you will lose ovulation? Have you heard of women that have a low bmi and still have no trouble with conceiving? I beleive I was close to this bmi when I conceived number two.

Thank you! :)

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Originally Posted by Mochagirl

Thanks, Atomic - your answers were helpful. For the past 3 weeks or so I've been able to keep my weight pretty steady by sticking to around 1500 calories per day, but when I still lost a pound last week I decided to make it 1600 calories per day instead. I also might aim for 50g of protein instead of 40, at least some days, just so I can eat tastier food once in a while. I'm lucky compared to the other girls in that I don't really need to gain any weight, though I definitely don't want to lose anymore!

Sadly, I don't think this is my month - I got a BFN today with a FRER at 11dpo, and I don't really have any symptoms to speak of. After much thought, I think we may go ahead and make a September attempt despite the awful logistics in our house for a June baby (my mother - our only potential babysitter/helper while we have the baby will be in Spain for 3 weeks). I just can't face having to wait so long before attempting again, and I worry it will be too hard to leave the diet and come back to it again. I will find the arrival of af much less depressing if I know I can make another attempt in 2 weeks....

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I totally understand all those emotions! So sorry for the BFN. :( We are so due for some pink BFPs around here!!!

FWIW I had a friendly neighbor sit for my DS 1 when I had DS 2 (altho it's a bit different when there are three!) Good luck!!

I'm glad that you're holding steady at 1500-1600!! :agree:

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Originally Posted by swish

Thank you, atomic! Firstly, no I don't think I was eating enough calories as I struggled to keep protein low and calories higher. From now on obviously I will try to do that and if my protein hits 50g that's fine. I do know that the weight loss is good as it supresses fertility but I feel for me personally I went too far and truly I want another baby first and foremost and if it's a girl it's a bonus. I have really worried myself that I have made my body stop completely and I'm frustrated with myself that I let it happen. I didn't get hung up on timing at all, bedding through ovulation on my attempts and I wil continue to do this once ovulation returns.
I'll definitely add full fat pop to my diet. I've been eating a lot more fat for the last 3 weeks as I thought this was a good way to get things back to normal so I'll cut back on that. Having said that I've hardly put on any weight, I've been eating ice cream and chocolate like it's going out of fashion but still not much weight gain!!! I think I'll try upping protein as I have definitely lost muscle (my arms are really thin!) thank you for advice and any more ideas really well come, I'm going to look back at girl food ideas in private section again too

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Thank you so much, because that info helps me to understand what I need to tweak/clarify. I want everyone to fall pg easily and quickly hopefully with their DG!!!

I didn't mean you specifically with the timing, just a general observation...some people think I am against timing because I don't "like" it but the real reason is because I hate that people have to stay on the diet a second longer than necessary!!!

I hope you don't go too far in the other direction, because I strongly suspect that a slight increase in calories is going to set things right for you probably by next month. Your body "wants" to get pg and fertility comes roaring back as soon as it can.

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Originally Posted by happyheart

Thank you atomic! My bmi at the moment is 18.23 ... is it a given that if you drop down more you will lose ovulation? Have you heard of women that have a low bmi and still have no trouble with conceiving? I beleive I was close to this bmi when I conceived number two.

Thank you! :)

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Yes, the number doesn't mean anything really. Some people are just naturally thin, and some women with a higher BMI have wonky cycles after losing weight quickly, even though their BMI is normal or high.

I know it's hard to believe and it's scary, but even if your ovulation does get a bit spotty, it's temporary and will fix itself in short order, for most of us it will happen even if we don't gain back any weight at all.

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

Yes, the number doesn't mean anything really. Some people are just naturally thin, and some women with a higher BMI have wonky cycles after losing weight quickly, even though their BMI is normal or high.

I know it's hard to believe and it's scary, but even if your ovulation does get a bit spotty, it's temporary and will fix itself in short order, for most of us it will happen even if we don't gain back any weight at all.

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Thank you Atomic!! :) :)