Losing too much weight-any advice?

[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.

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.

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?

[fourwildones]

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

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.

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.

[atomic sagebrush]

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?

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.

[atomic sagebrush]

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.

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.

[fourwildones]

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

[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.

[fourwildones]

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.

[atomic sagebrush]

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.

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.

[atomic sagebrush]

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.

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.

[fourwildones]

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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!"