TTC a BOY LIBRARY

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http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...-pre-seed.html

Pre-Seed

Pre-Seed Fertility-Friendly Lubricant

Pre-Seed is a lube that was specially designed to be sperm-friendly and mimick EWCM. Pre-Seed Fertility-Friendly Lubricant Unlike a lot of lubes which are actually harsh to sperm, Pre-Seed helps keep them alive and assists them in reaching the cervical crypts. In fact, it's the only lube on the market that is non-toxic to sperm. It's actually recommended by doctors and fertility experts like Dr. Greene at Sher Institutes and Toni Weschler, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and gets numerous mentions in Conceive magazine. It's proven to help people conceive, Pre-Seed Fertility-Friendly Lubricant and as we know, anything that helps make us more fertile, seems to sway blue!!!

BTW - the Pre-Seed website is actually very helpful and informative, not your typical "selling something" website at all.

Pre-Seed sways blue because it keeps sperm alive and increases the number of living, motile sperm in the vagina. However, the pH of Pre-Seed is between 7.2-7.6, NOT the superhigh 8's and 9's that some swaying authorities recommend. If pH is very important to you, you can choose to use egg whites http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...ght=egg+whites or mix in a little baking soda to your Pre-Seed to raise the pH. http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...ht=baking+soda

WARNING for pink swayers - the chemical composition of Pre-Seed will react with the lubes typically used for swaying pink (Replens, Acijel, Rephresh, Sylk) and this will cause sperm to absorb too much liquid and explode! Do NOT use Pre-Seed with any other lubes.

Please check out our "Pre-seed and gender" poll here - very informative thread Pre-seed and gender

[atomic sagebrush]

reserved egg whites

[atomic sagebrush]

reserved for supplements

[atomic sagebrush]

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gend...g-quality.html
Boosting egg quality

This is just a general information question for ANYONE worried about declining egg quality due to age. Please note, most of these things sway blue in a fully fertile person, but if you're having trouble getting pregnant due to age or other fertility challenges, you may NEED to improve your egg quality just to get pregnant at all...if you can't get pregnant, you will have NO chance at your DG.

It takes about 90 days for an egg to develop to maturity and be released. That's three months during which you really can improve the health of your egg.

LIFESTYLE - Drink plenty of water.

Exercise 30 minutes a day 4 days a week minimum, 45 minutes a day 6 days a week maximum. More is not better for fertility, even if you're very fit.

Get plenty of sleep.

Get 10-20 minutes of direct sun a day.

Do not smoke, drink, or take drugs.

Acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, yoga, and massage may help. Tell your care provider that you are interested in boosting your fertility.

DIET - Eat a wholesome, balanced diet with lots of organic fruits and vegetables (9 servings a day) of many different colors, whole grains, and organic lean meats, grass fed if possible. Meat should be eaten in moderation and do NOT barbeque, as it can create chemicals that are detrimental to health. Eat fish twice a week, ONLY wild fish and avoid fish that are known to contain high levels of mercury. Shellfish are often sources of high levels of agricultural runoff and should be avoided.

Full fat dairy has been proven to improve fertility - look for organic dairy without added hormones.

Eat foods with good fats in them. In addition to fish, eggs, nuts, avocado, olive oil, and flaxseed are all good sources of good fats.

Eat whole grains and plenty of fiber.

Wheatgrass juice is a great fertility booster.

Soy products and alfalfa sprouts should be avoided as they can affect fertility in a negative way.

Avoid sugar and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Even natural sugar like fruit juice should be limited. Whole fruits are fine because they have fiber in them that slows down your body's insulin response. Artificial sugars should also be avoided.

Cut caffeine or better yet, avoid it entirely.

SUPPLEMENTS

Folic Acid - this should be number one on the list of EVERYONE TTC. 800 mcg minimum, up to 4000 mcg if you have a history of neural tube defects. Larger doses may be utilized best by the body if it's broken up into 4 parts and taken 4 times a day. Should be taken throughout the first trimester and then weaned off slowly.

Zinc - 8 mg is the RDA for women. Oysters are commonly suggested as sources of zinc, but they are laden with agricultural runoff and may impact fertility negatively. You can take this amount throughout pregnancy.

B6 - this vitamin helps with your luteal phase. 100 mg is believed to be safe for those TTC and even throughout the first trimester, but some people find that 50 or even 25 mg works for lengthening their LP. Should be weaned off slowly, but you can take it throughout pregnancy.

Vitamin A, C, D, E, and calcium, are all believed to help with fertility. A good prenatal multivitamin will meet your needs of these and other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A can be dangerous in large doses and so you should def. stick to the amount in your multivitamin. Of course, a prenatal vitamin should be taken throughout pregnancy.

L-Arginine - this is an amino acid that improves blood flow to the reproductive organs and may help with implantation. For now, it's best to take prior to TTC and only AF-O if you're actively trying.

PABA - this is a chemical related to B vitamins. It's not normally included in multivitamins. Some research shows that it may help boost egg quality but this is rather tentative. Do not take more than 400 mg a day, and it may be best utilized by the body if you take it in 4 doses, 100 mg 4 times a day. Wean off slowly during the first trimester.

Grapeseed extract, cranberry extract, pomegranate extract, lycopene, reservatrol, green tea, and other similar supplements - these are a source of phytochemicals and antioxidants that your body may use to help nourish healthy eggs. In dietary amounts, these are safe to take (not massive swaying amounts, just take the recommended amount on the bottle). Green tea may reduce the levels of folic acid your body can absorb, so if you want to try green tea, up your folic acid intake.

ALA - Alpha Lipoic Acid - an antioxidant that may help protect DNA from damage during cell division. Believed to be safe throughout pregnancy and may help your baby's brain development.

CoQ10 - another antioxidant to help protect that precious DNA. Believed safe during pregnancy, but there is little information known. For now it is best to only take it prior to TTC and when you're trying, take it AF-O.

Pycogenol - antioxidant. It is recommended that women NOT take it during the first trimester, so only take prior to TTC, and AF-O when you're TTC.

Tribulus - an herb that helps restore ovulation. Do NOT take during pregnancy, prior to TTC and when TTC, AF-O only.

Royal Jelly, bee pollen, bee propolis - antioxidants and contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These are great for fertility, but if you or anyone in your household is prone to insect allergies (even if you have never had an allergic reaction to bees before), it is probably best to skip these. You can get most of the goodness in other places.

DIM - take 100-200 mg per day. This is a chemical found in cruciferous vegetables that can help lower estrogen and maybe testosterone as well. May sway pink. This is another unknown, so it is best to take only prior to TTC/AF-O.

Essential Fatty Acids - include Evening Primrose Oil, fish oil, DHA supplements, flaxseed. Your body uses these oils as building blocks for the hormones that trigger ovulation and maintain pregnancy. In reasonable amounts (as suggested on the bottle), they are safe to take throughout pregnancy, with the exception of Evening Primrose Oil because it contains prostaglandins that may cause contractions and your cervix to soften. Discontinue Evening Primrose oil once you get a BFP.

Maca Root Powder - This root seems to help restore normal hormonal function. Different manufacturers suggest different dosages, but despite this, Maca seems very promising as a fertility booster. It IS really considered a food, and you can put it into smoothies rather than swallowing it in capsules, but for safety's sake, once you get a BFP, you should phase it out of your diet.

Vitex - If you take only one herb to aid fertility, make it this one. Increases LH while decreasing FSH, and helps to lengthen luteal phase and restore ovulation while breastfeeding. This is great for us older ladies who have high FSH. Some people find it works for them on only 400 mg, some 800. Best if taken only AF-O even in the months prior to TTC. Taking it every day throughout your cycle has actually caused infertility, so just take it AF-O. If your cycle is regular, it may make it longer and harder to pinpoint ovulation. May sway pink.

There are various other proprietary herbal fertility blends that may help improve egg quality, but they all seem to contain some combination of the above ingredients and usually cost WAY more.

[atomic sagebrush]

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...erbs-blue.html
Helpful Herbs for blue!!



The life span of an egg is about 90 days, and the life span of sperm is about 72 days, so for best results, try to be on your supps during this time period. We don't KNOW that it helps, but it can't hurt!!

Unless otherwise mentioned, please just take the dosage as listed on the product's label.

THE NUMBER ONE SUPP FOR ALL WOMEN TTC IS FOLIC ACID. Blue swayers, the diet can drain your body of folic acid so it's very important to take 2000 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid daily - for best absorption, you can take smaller doses (400 mcg) several times a day. Even though this is not an herb, it's always best to have a reminder. Take FA throughout the first trimester.

Herbs for DW:

Fertile CM. Contains Vit C, probiotics, and coral calcium (both of which have traditionally been believed to sway pink but other research ok for blue), grapeseed extract, an antioxidant which may make the Vit. C more effective, l-arginine, a nutrient believed to help raise testosterone, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione, which dissolves thick mucus and thins overall mucus secretions. Drink 64 oz of liquid when you take Fertile CM for best results, and discontinue once you get a BFP. Also, if you're taking Fertile CM there is no need for additional l-arg. Cervical Mucus to Help Conception | Fertile Cervical Mucus

Update - we have been having poor results with l-arg - it is drying up CM and making ovulation spotty. Give the l-arg to your husband instead, it will help his sperm count.

False Unicorn Root - Helps balance hormones and boost fertility, while increasing CM and raising pH. This is a great choice if you are coming off of birth control. Also may help with egg health. 900 mg a day and you can take it until you have a confirmed BFP.

Green Tea - if you don't like the taste of green tea, you can take it in capsule form. It's an antioxidant, boosts general fertility and may help make more EWCM. 300 mg a day from AF-O only.

Brewer's Yeast - Please read this essay for more info. You can take BY in capsules if you like, just follow the directions on the bottle because different brands have different formulation. http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...php?1513-Yeast Safe throughout cycle and pregnancy.

Gelatin - Some people are taking gelatin capsules rather than drinking gelatin as a beverage. Gelatin has all the essential amino acids for building muscle. Drink or eat the equivalent of one package 3 times a day. This is safe throughout your cycle and into pregnancy if you like.

Maca - This root seems to restore normal hormonal function and boost overall fertility. It is considered a food rather than an herbal supplement. Continue taking it until you get a BFP and then phase it out of your diet. Please see warning in the thread below.

Red Raspberry Leaf - a general fertility tonic that will help your uterus be more able to maintain a pregnancy. May make more CM. The makers of Fertile CM also make a product called, "FertiliTea" that contains red raspberry leaf and Vitex. Vitex is believed to sway pink BUT it does help restore your cycle and I personally conceived a baby boy while taking it. FertiliTea | A Delicious Tea Blend for Women Trying to Conceive RRL can cause uterine cramping (and I have experienced this firsthand and it's major and severe) so it is best to stop taking it when you get a BFP.

DH

FertilAid - If your Dh hates taking pills, this supp may be for you. It has most of the sperm-friendly vitamins and nutrients all in one. FertilAid Fertility Supplements for Women & Men

Ginseng - 500 mg can boost testosterone and may help give sperm extra energy. This may be safe for DW but it is not supposed to be taken during pregnancy. Use your best judgement - discontinue either at O or after a BFP, or reserve ginseng for DH.

Pycogenol - An antioxidant that may raise sperm count and pH. (some places list this as being ok for DW but since it isn't supposed to be taken during pregnancy, I am listing it only for DH. Use your best judgement.)

DH AND DW

Essential Fats are a critical part of a blue sway. Here are several, you don't need to take all of them. These are safe to take throughout your cycle and you may wish to continue taking them during pregnancy, with the exception of Evening Primrose Oil which has chemicals in it that may cause your cervix to soften later in pregnancy and so is best skipped during the 2WW.

Often, the pills will be formulated so you have to take 3 pills to equal the 1000 mg. That is fine and even desirable, because you can space out dosages to eat with meals for maximum absorption. Please read http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...ng-supplements for more info about the best times of day to take supplements for maximum safety and efficacy.

Flaxseed Oil - 1000 mg May raise pH and help increase CM. May help raise testosterone. Great resource for vegetarians/vegans who want to conceive a boy. Update - we have had some mixed results with flaxseed - it seems to work well at first but then dries up the CM and negatively affects ovulation over time.

Evening Primrose Oil - 1000 mg may help raise pH and increase CM. This is probably best taken only by DW because it may raise estrogen.

Fish Oil - 1000 mg Improves egg health, raises sperm count, and may increase CM and pH. NOTE - some people prefer to take Cod Liver Oil, but this may be risky due to the presence of impurities and contains large amounts of Vit A, which has been proven to cause birth defects. Proceed with caution and ONLY use PURE cod liver oil like this Amazon.com: Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil, Lemon 500 ml: Health & Personal Care Elsewhere on the Internet, there is a blue swaying supplement list that states "Only use mercury-free fish oil because mercury sways pink" BUT please help me spread the word to your pink swaying friends that MERCURY IS A NEUROTOXIN. No one should EVER take or ingest mercury at all ever expecially people who are TTC because it causes horrific birth defects.

Some other sources include grapeseed oil (this is already in Fertile CM, but it's a great addition to a sway if you're not taking Fertile CM), ALA, EPA, and DHA supplements (sometimes these are sold specifically for pregnant women). Also, cooking with olive, walnut, coconut, and almond oil help to supplement your diet with healthy fats.

Borage oil and Pumpkin seed oil - I would like to research these a bit more before recommending them.

Food-based antioxidants and phytonutrients - Lycopene, blueberry, pomegranate, reservatrol, black currant, turmeric, beta carotene, lutein, cucurmin, etc. and yes, even cranberry. All these types of supplements contain healthy antioxidants and phytonutrients that will help with a blue sway. You don't need ALL of them, just buy a couple that are foods you don't normally eat much, and take the dosage on the bottle. Lycopene and reservatrol in particular may be extra good for blue swayers.

The only phytonutrients you should stay away from are the isoflavones, genistein and daidzen that are found in soy. These may sway pink.

Of course, the best way to get these nutrients is through food and you should be eating 9 servings of fruits and veg (juice does count) as a part of your blue sway.

Wheatgrass juice/supps - http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...eatgrass-juice Wheatgrass is a great choice for blue. It is very alkalinizing and chock full of nutrients. If you don't want to make your own, there are several powders available on the market. Some contain ingredients that are not strictly approved for blue swayers (they have calcium) but some research indicates that a little calcium may not be the worst thing ever for blue.

Royal Jelly/Bee Pollen - Rumor has it that this is the best kind, has both the pollen AND the Royal Jelly in it.
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/e...jsp?id=RJ-1034
RJ/BP is great for overall fertility, increases egg and sperm quality, and may raise testosterone. Do not heat and use only plastic spoons, no metal. It doesn't really dissolve well in water, so smash it on your tongue first and then drink water to wash it down with. WARNING - if you have any allergies at all but esp. to insects, or if anyone in your family has any allergies, do NOT use RJ/BP. It's not safe even if you take it once and seem to tolerate it, because you could be priming yourself for a fatal allergic reaction in the future.

Things that should be avoided for now:

FertilAid for Women - FertilAid Fertility Supplements Facts: For Pregnancy and Conception Has one ingredient that is believed to sway pink (vitex), one ingredient that we're not sure of (red clover), and one ingredient that may not be safe to take during pregnancy (ginseng).

Tribulus Terrestris - This is a bit of an unknown in terms of how it works, and we have better ways to raise our testosterone anyway. http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...lus-Terrestris

L-Arginine for DW - this is not an herb but is included in some herbal formulas. L-Arg has been messing up people's ovulation and drying up their CM.

Soy - Please read http://genderdreaming.com/forum/show...-girl-or-a-boy for a detailed analysis of soy and why you shouldn't take it (as a supplement) for blue.

Red Clover - has the same phytonutrients that are found in soy. Skip it.

Alfalfa - this used to be taken by people because it's alkalinizing but like soy and red clover to which it is related, it may interfere with the body's natural estrogen. Best to avoid for now.

We are having the best results with fish oil and EPO in combination. Flaxseed oil does not seem to be working as well and neither do just FO/EPO. So stick with the fish oil/EPO combo.

[atomic sagebrush]

USING ROBITUSSIN TO TTC A BOY
http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...n-ttc-boy.html

Cough syrup to TTC a boy? WTH??

The active ingredient in Robitussin, guaifenesin, is an expectorant and is used to loosen and thin mucus. It affects all the mucus in your body, not just in your throat and lungs. Because of this, Robitussin helps to increase egg white (stretchy) cervical mucus. Sperm LOVE EWCM and are able to penetrate it much more easily than drier CM.

Use only the plain kind with no letters after it, only guaifenesin, 100 mg per teaspoon. It is very important to avoid the versions that contain decongestants as those may dry up cervical mucus.

Robitussin is the most common brand name, but there are other brands and generics available. As long as the only active ingredient is guaifenesin, you can use any brand.

The recommended dose for improving cervical mucus is two teaspoons (200 mg) taken orally three times per day. If mucus still appears thick and doesn't stretch, you can take as much as four teaspoons (400 mg) four times per day (the maximum dose available without a prescription). Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water, and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day -- you need water to produce mucus.

Start taking the guaifenesin five days before ovulation and continue through O day (six days total). If your cycle is irregular, start taking guaifenesin about five days before the earliest day ovulation might be expected.

If you're taking Clomid, wait until the day after the last Clomid pill before starting the Robitussin. This is especially important if you're taking Clomid and want a son, because Clomid causes hostile mucus (which is why it tends to sway pink.)

If your husband has very thick and clumpy semen, it may help for him to take a similar dosage of Robitussin during the same time period that you do.

[atomic sagebrush]

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...sway-blue.html


How to raise sperm count and sway blue!!

Research indicates that one of the best things you can do to conceive a son is to maintain a high sperm count.

Be at a healthy weight - Having too much or too little body fat can disrupt production of the male reproductive hormones GnRh, LH, FSH, and testosterone.

Get regular, sane amounts of exercise - Moderate levels of exercise are great for boosting testosterone and increasing sperm count. However, care must be taken to avoid overheating the testicles while exercising.

Avoid excessive stress if you can - Stress in small doses is actually good for boosting testosterone levels and therefore sperm count. But day-in, day-out high levels of stress have the opposite affect and reduce the number of sperm produced.

Avoid pesticides and harmful chemicals Pesticides and industrial chemicals, particularly solvents, have been linked with lower sperm counts.

Eat a balanced, healthy diet - Eat enough protein and healthy fats, but you don't need to overdo! Also, foods rich in folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc will help to boost sperm production and quality. Traditional fertility foods include nuts and seeds (esp. pumpkin seeds), wheatgrass juice, spinach, and berries. Try to find organic products when possible to reduce your exposure to pesticides. Oysters are traditionally touted a fertility food but all shellfish is exposed to too much agricultural runoff to be safe.

Of course, foods high in potassium are believed to sway blue, so don't forget about bananas, potatoes and tomatoes!!

Avoid soy - Soy has been linked to decreased sperm count in both humans and animals. Best for DH to avoid it when swaying blue.

Keep your testicles cool - Heat negatively affects sperm count - spending 30 minutes in water that's 102 degrees has been proven to dramatically lower male sperm count. Avoid tight-fitting underwear, hot baths (and maybe even hot showers!) don't rest your laptop in your lap for long periods of time, and be very careful when you exercise. Bicyclists, marathon runners, and rugby players all have more daughters, probably in part because the heat generated by their exercising is killing off some of their sperm. You may want to sleep in the nude.

If, while you're TTC, you should become sick and develop a fever, DO NOT conceive that month if you're trying for a boy.

Stay away from steroids, testosterone-based supplements, and anti-androgen drugs - It sounds counterintuitive, but these drugs interfere with sperm production. The most commonly used anti-androgen drugs are those prescribed to treat prostate issues and baldness.

Avoid tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol - Regular use of tobacco (including chewing tobacco), marijuana, and large amounts of alcohol are all strongly linked with low sperm counts, lower testosterone levels, and may damage the DNA of sperm rendering it incapable of fertilizing the egg.

Sane amounts of caffeine - In small amounts, caffeine perks up sperm and actually helps it swim faster. An energy drink an hour before DTD may help conceive blue. But LARGE amounts of caffeine, day in and day out, will lower testosterone and sperm count.

Supplements - zinc (no more than 30 mg a day in the very short term, and 20-25 is safest in the long term) ginseng (500mg a day), L-Arginine (500 mg), carnitine (500 mg), CoQ10 (100 mg daily), selenium (no more than 200 mcg), and a good multivitamin (I like Men's One a Day 50+ Advanced (has a very small amount of calcium), even though my husband was annoyed with me for buying it because "I'm not over 50!!" Make sure you don't double-up on zinc and selenium because your multivitamin may already have it in there.

Also, taking fish oil, flaxseed, DHA, and using olive oil and butter for cooking instead of margarine or other vegetable oils, will help provide good fats for your body to use.

Dr. Potter recommends Naturally Smart for Men, which has carnitine in it. Dr. P is a firm believer in carnitine and wrote an outstanding post about it.

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/tryi...le-Supplements

Naturally Smart Vitamins - The Natural Choice for Life

DTD in certain patterns can help boost sperm count at ovulation- Traditional swaying info says to DTD once at or right before O for a boy for highest sperm count. (you will need to track your ovulation in order to pinpoint O) Also, BD in the morning because that's when sperm count is at its highest. You should NOT abstain OR BD every day, because both of these things lower sperm count. For highest sperm count, BD every 2-4 days seemed to keep sperm at highest numbers.

In Taking Charge of Your Fertility, it is advised that for men with low sperm count who may need more time to make sperm/semen than other men do, it may be best to have intercourse every other day beginning when eggwhite CM appears. This strategy may help people get pregnant, but it may be better for a boy if you wait until your peak day and DTD then.

[atomic sagebrush]

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...tercourse.html


How to raise sperm count around the cervix AFTER intercourse

Sorry, I know that was kind of confusing, but I mean, "what should you do RIGHT after BD to make sure that as many sperm as possible stay around the cervix?"

Evidence indicates that high sperm count seems to make it more likely that you will conceive a boy. And semen, being very alkaline, helps sperm to survive in the harsh conditions of the vagina. So for swaying blue, we need to keep as much of the sperm/semen in the vagina as we can, for as long as possible.

Limit movement after intercourse. Standing up after intercourse can cause the semen to leak out, and the semen will carry sperm along with it. Wait thirty minutes after DTD (or just go to sleep for the night) before getting up and moving around. you don't need to lay down any longer than that, because the sperm have left the vagina and are in the safety of the cervix by that point.

Try to keep the semen inside your vagina longer. Some advise holding the labia together to try to keep the semen and sperm inside of you (although to me, it seems that the changing of positions you would need to do to accomplish this would probably expel more than you would save!). You can also try putting a pillow under your pelvis to help tilt your body so the sperm can travel upwards more easily, or try bringing your knees to your chest (again, you may end up pushing out more semen that way.)

Some people have suggested using the Instead Cup, moon cup, Diva Cup, or a diaphragm after BD to hold the semen at the cervix longer. After investigating this, I don't advise it because the maneuvers you have to go through to get the cup into place cause you to lose a lot of semen, and it also stands to reason that you're effectively sealing OUT more semen than you're keeping in. You're basically putting a barrier in front of your cervix so any troops that don't make it into the boat in time are left behind.

Having DH ejaculate into the cup and then inserting it may even be worse, because it's hard to get the cup into place without spilling the contents everywhere and also having DH ejaculate manually into a cup rather than actually having intercourse produces fewer sperm to begin with. I believe it's far better to just stay laying flat for 30 min, hips propped if you'd like.

[atomic sagebrush]

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/tryi...naturally.html
foods that raise testosterone naturally

Here's a quick reference to which foods raise testosterone and why!

Foods rich in cholesterol - Cholesterol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Eggs, butter, lard, full-fat dairy, fatty meats, poultry skins...Cholesterol is the building block from which all your hormones are made. Testosterone and estrogen are not really supplied to your body by being eaten themselves; rather, your body manufactures them from the foods you eat. So keeping your body supplied with cholesterol will ensure that it has enough on hand to manufacture testosterone and estrogen.

Foods rich in saturated fat - Saturated fat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In addition to the foods in the cholesterol group above, ANY foods rich in saturated fat will help boost your supply of testosterone and estrogen, even if it has no cholesterol. There are some plant-based saturated fats like coconut oil, dark chocolate, and palm oil that are high in saturated fat but contain no cholesterol. (only animal products have cholesterol.) Saturated fats from these sources help your body to make its own cholesterol. 30% or more of your calories should come from fat.

Foods rich in healthy fats - Polyunsaturated fat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Monounsaturated fat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fish, avocado, nuts, seeds,olive oil, oatmeal, whole wheat, meats, eggs, and full-fat dairy. Interestingly, there are a lot of healthy fats occuring alongside the cholesterol and saturated fats in animal products! This group causes some confusion for people because eating a lot of healthy fat can actually LOWER blood cholesterol levels, but it does so in such a way that your body is still able to produce ample amounts of testosterone and estrogen. Research has shown that men who ate the most healthy fats had the highest levels of testosterone. 30% or more of your calories should come from fat.

Foods rich in Vitamin D - Full-fat dairy is the best source of Vit. D. Vit. D has been proven (more than most things in swaying!!) to dramatically raise testosterone. If you're scared of taking Vit. D or drinking dairy products because they are traditional pink swaying tactics, simply go outside and sunbathe for an hour a day.

Foods high in protein - Protein is a building block for muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more testosterone your body produces. So if you increase your protein intake, esp. while following an exercise program that builds muscle, you will be "telling" your body that you "need" it to make more testosterone.

Healthy, nutrient rich carbs - Protein eaten ALONE is not enough to build muscle. Your body needs carbohydrates as well. In fact, a high protein, low carb diet like Atkins actually was shown to LOWER testosterone production in at least one study. If possible, try to focus on carbs that contain some healthy fats in them - whole grain breads, oatmeal (oats contain a chemical that is proven to raise testosterone), and of course lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Garlic contains a compound in it that has been shown to raise testosterone and makes a great addition to any meal. Remember, protein + carbs = boys, for both blood glucose and for testosterone!!!

Foods rich in Vit. A - Like Vit. D above, Vit. A is a fat soluble vitamin that has been shown to raise testosterone. DO NOT take large doses of Vit A supplements, Vit. A through diet is what you are after. Vit. A supplements can KILL you or give your baby birth defects. Carrots, tomatoes, any brightly colored orange fruits and veg will have ample amounts of Vitamin A. Meats and dairy foods also have good amounts of Vitamin A present in them.

A few things to be aware of:

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage (also called cruciferous vegetables) contain a chemical that has been shown to raise testosterone but may do so at the expense of estrogen. We want things that will boost BOTH our testosterone and our estrogen. Eating a cruciferous veggie here and there will not affect you negatively, but there is a supplement based on this chemical called DIM which we may want to stay away from.

Lignans and other phytoestrogens, which are chemicals that may mimic estrogen in such a way that it represses testosterone production and/or competes with the body's natural estrogens, may not be the best way to go to raise T levels. A lot of swayers believe phytoestrogens sway blue and we honestly don't have enough info to know for certain, so I'm just sharing this and then y'all can decide for yourselves what makes the most sense. Flax, soy, sesame seed, and the brans of various cereal products all contain lignans/phytoestrogens.Lignan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...icals/lignans/
Phytoestrogens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...micals/soyiso/

Fiber - LARGE amounts of fiber can absorb and sweep fats out of the digestive tract. (This is why pink swayers are taking fiber supps). This doesn't mean you should switch to refined white breads and skip vegetables...fiber in dietary amounts probably does not affect fat absorption very much at all. Don't take fiber supps if you're swaying blue.

Quick list of foods that will raise your T levels!!

Full-fat dairy (whole milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt)
Poultry (choose fattier varieties like dark meat and skin)
Meat (choose fattier, well-marbled cuts)
Animal-based cooking fats (lard, butter, ghee, bacon grease, schmaltz)
Eggs (eat at least 2 a day and 4-6 a day if you are a vegetarian)
Nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts)
Seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower, sesame seeds)
Olive oil and other plant-based oils like nut oils, palm oil, coconut oil
Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, tuna)
Gelatin (in Jello desserts, consomme, aspic, or taken as a supplement)
Orange and dark green fruits and vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, swiss chard, winter squash, apricots, V-8 juice)
Garlic
Oatmeal
Whole Wheat Bread

[atomic sagebrush]

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gend...e-%96-how.html

Guide to Weight Gain for Blue (there's also a handy essay in the Dream Members section called 'Eating Smarter, NOT Harder for Blue which goes into this issue in depth.

:bike:Why do we want to gain weight for blue?

Gaining weight for blue helps you by increasing muscle mass and body fat. It can help raise your blood sugar as well. Plus, eating more food means you have more nutrients coming in, and that helps send a message to your body that a boy baby has a better shot at survival.

Also, stored body fat binds toxins safely where they can no longer affect your fertility negatively. If you are conceiving girls because of previous exposures to toxins in your environment like pesticides or heavy metals, this is one easy way to sway effortlessly. (ample evidence exists to demonstrate that exposure to chemicals does alter the gender ratio - too many to post here but a quick Google search will bring up dozens of studies and articles.)

:bike: How much should I gain?

Weight gain for blue sounds great but it’s actually very tricky. Too much weight gain is bad for health and fertility, so it’s best to limit it as much as you possibly can. 3-5 pounds is plenty for most people; however, if you are someone who is chronically thin (BMI beneath 20) and/or a very intense exerciser, you may want to increase this to 5-7 pounds. I would advise limiting weight gain to 15 pounds maximum, for everyone UNLESS you are also exercising and certain you’re adding mostly muscle (more about this below.)

:bike: Is it possible to gain too much?

Yes, it is possible to gain too much weight. The Nurses’ Study II Role of diet in ovulation problems found that BMI of 20-24.99 was the best for fertility. Women with BMI of 25-29.99 were 32% more likely to have issues with ovulatory infertility and women with BMI of 30 or more were 35% more likely to have issues with ovulatory infertility than women whose BMI was in the normal range. BMI of 20-24.99 is ideal for blue. Here’s a handy calculator that will help you determine your BMI Calculate Your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator

:bike: Do I really HAVE to exercise??

Yes. Exercise (Vitamin X) is MANDATORY for blue. By doing regular moderate exercise (45 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week) you help build muscle mass that will raise your testosterone levels http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gend...h-genders.html

Contrary to what you may read on other websites, BOTH cardio and weight training are great for blue. Weight training builds muscle and increases your metabolism. According to the American Council on Exercise, a pound of muscle burns 7-10 calories an hour while a pound of fat burns only 2-3 calories. This doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but remember, this goes on even when you’re sleeping. Even better, during and after exercise (possibly for up to 36 hours after exercise Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) muscle burns up to twice as many calories as it does at rest, and if you eat a snack containing carbs after you exercise, which, on the HE Diet, you should be doing regularly anyway but especially after exercise, you won’t even store additional calories as fat. Instead it will go to restoring your body’s stores of glycogen (exercise depletes glycogen stores) which will fuel future workouts and muscle growth. Exercise enables you to consume more food without gaining weight, which is very important if you’re following the HE Diet approach.

Beyond that, exercise itself raises testosterone. This is especially the case if you are doing a form of combative exercise like kickboxing, where your body is actually going through the motions of fighting; your body may interpret those movements as fighting for survival and raise T levels even higher.

Please be aware you can actually do MORE exercise (you could do both cardio and weight training, for example) but break them up into 2 45 minute sessions, morning and evening, rather than consecutively. Around the 45 minute mark, your body stops burning carbohydrates for fuel and starts burning stored fat and muscle instead. You may need to increase calories and particularly protein intake to compensate for more exercise.

:bike:What if I’m already very heavy?

You have two options. One is to maintain where you are at (and if you’re just a bit overweight, less than 30 lbs or so, this is the best option for you.) and add in exercise to change the proportions of muscle to fat in your body. This can be challenging but it IS doable provided you eat enough.

If you’re over 50 lbs. overweight, it’s best for the sake of your sway and also for your health to postpone your sway for 6 months to a year (provided that you can do so and are not in a hurry to conceive due to advanced maternal age or family/job requirements, of course) to lose the weight on a balanced, healthy diet and become more physically fit and muscular. Then, you can start onto the HE Diet and your increased level of physical fitness
In between 30-50 lbs, go with what your gut instinct tells you. Weight on a scale can be somewhat misleading. If you know you’re pretty muscular, even if you’re closer to 50 lbs. overweight, you may wish to go ahead and sway, esp. if you’ve already conceived a son at that weight. If you know you’re lacking muscle and have conceived several girls at your present weight, it’s best to get some weight off even if you’re only 37 pounds over your ideal.

:bike: How soon before I sway should I start to gain weight?

That depends on a few different things. The conventional wisdom espoused on other sites is, you can start the diet 90 days before you start to sway because the egg has a lifespan of 90 days (grows from a tiny seed to a mature egg in that time) and the “egg priming” theory suggests there is some benefit to be gained by dieting for 90 days OR you can start diet 6 weeks out because the French Gender Diet/InGender Diet claim that your mineral levels take 6 weeks to change. I don’t personally believe in either egg priming or mineral levels swaying but just so you guys are aware of these options.

If you have a lot of weight to lose, you’ll need to start losing weight up to a year in advance. This will give you time to take the weight off and normalize before your sway. Warning – while you’re losing the weight, be VERY VERY careful to use protection every time you BD, even if you think you’re in a safe zone. The last thing you want to risk, is an accidental pregnancy when you’re losing weight.

If you are already very thin and eat poorly and have for years, you may also want to start a diet and exercise regimen sooner rather than later, because it may take time for your body to replenish itself and get in the best physical condition that it can. Testosterone and estrogen do take some time to increase so you need to allow time for that to happen.

I think you should start many aspects of diet and also exercise, as far in advance of your sway as possible. But when it comes to gaining weight, I would ~try~ to keep that for the few months prior to your sway. When I was TTC DS 3, we started TTC in May but I didn’t conceive. I ate a ton of fertility-friendly foods, continued doing a lot of physical exercise (I had a very physically demanding job), and ended up gaining 3 lbs that month. Then in June, I got pregnant. This is pretty close to ideal for blue.

If you find you’ve gained weight sooner rather than later, that’s ok. I wouldn't lose any weight. Just try to maintain where you’re at rather than gaining much more. Remember, it’s best not to gain more than 15 lbs. and also to stay within the 20-24.99 BMI range.

:bike: What if I’m gaining TOO much weight on HE Diet??

The guidelines for the HE diet are 2200-2500 cals a day, 90 grams of protein a day (vegetarian sources of protein are fine), increasing healthy fats and complex carbs while still staying in your caloric guidelines for the day, and trying for 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. You also need to eat 3 balanced meals and 2-5 snacks (breakfast is the most important meal and a bedtime snack is the most important snack), eating both protein and carbs at every meal and snack. That does seem like a lot of food, esp. for pink mamas who may not typically eat that much (if you check out the “How We Got Our Boys” thread here, you can see this really IS the type of diet that boy moms eat on a daily basis How we got our boys!)

Firstly, on the HE Diet, you need to eat smarter, not harder. (this principle is a bit beyond the scope of this essay so I’m going to write another one in more depth.) You don’t have to blow up like a balloon and many moms of boys are quite slim but still consume large quantities of food. You need to pick the RIGHT foods, in the right combinations, and eat wisely. Pick the most nutrient dense foods you can find so you get the maximum nutrients for the minimum calories. Avoid Franken-foods that are high in nitrites, transfats, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners….transfats in particular have been linked to increased obesity rates and the Nurses’ Study II found that the more transfats a woman consumes, the more likely she is to have ovulatory infertility. Combine foods to increase nutrients and also slow down rises and falls in blood sugar…eating protein and carbs at every meal and snack, can be as easy as a handful of nuts and a V-8, string cheese and grapes, or a hard boiled egg and a cup of fruit juice. You do NOT need to eat nuts, meat, dairy, fruit juice, and a baked potato at every sitting.
The foods suggested on some websites are TERRIBLE for TTC blue in addition to contributing to weight gain, and I actually think it’s miraculous that anyone conceives a boy eating that way. Diets consisting of Rice Krispies with non-dairy creamer, bacon, Campbell’s Soup, 8 glasses of fruit juice, rice milk, iceberg lettuce salads, and fries…people conceive boys in SPITE of those diets, not because of them.

The Nurses’ Study II found that women who ate primarily simple carbs (Rice Krispies, tomato soup, potato, rice milk, fruit juice) had lower fertility than those who ate complex carbs or simple carbs plus protein, and this finding is also supported by the blood glucose research of Elissa Cameron and others. You need consistent, even blood sugar for TTC a boy, not wild fluctuations in blood sugar caused by overconsumption of simple carbs that the traditional sway diets encourage. If you are going to follow the HE Diet, DO the HE Diet and not some halfway version of IGD/FGD mixed with HE, because trying to combine them WILL make you gain massive amounts of weight and is not going to help your sway any. Eating smarter means blue swayers may have to let go of some of the old ways of doing things.

You CAN eat sugar/sweets when you TTC blue, you don’t need to avoid them all together, but just make sure you eat them as a PART of a meal or snack, not the entire thing. Dark chocolate in particular is a very boy-friendly food, but dark chocolate BY ITSELF will cause your blood sugar to rise and then crash afterwards. Eat it as a part of a meal containing some protein.

Dairy foods are proven to aid in weight loss and it may very well be that by limiting/avoiding calcium, blue swayers are actually causing themselves to gain more weight than they would otherwise. I have not been as vocal about calcium for blue swayers because I believed that your body would simply rob your bones to take the calcium it needed, but we’ve been having too many failed blue sways with people who had limited calcium even tho they ate otherwise HE Diets, for my liking. Blue swayers on the HE Diet, from now on, you MUST include 1 serving of full-fat dairy a day minimum and I strongly suggest getting calcium from other sources as well – supplements are not that well absorbed, so choose other foods like salmon, broccoli, and almonds instead of or in addition to calcium supplements. The Nurses’ Study II found that women who ate ½ c ice cream 2 times a week had 38% less risk of ovulatory infertility. DO NOT consume skim dairy, you rob yourself of fertility-friendly nutrients and skim dairy may be harmful to fertility.

Excessive sodium is also a big no-no on HE Diet. Thus far I’ve been tolerant of the sodium but again, I think we’re having too many failed sways with people doing HE Diet while trying to stick to IGD/FGD mineral recommendations and I think I’m going to have to emphasize a sane sodium intake more than I have been from here on in. Sodium is NOT good for fertility, it’s NOT good for potassium and in fact causes potassium to leach from your body, it’s not good for your folic acid levels, and it’s NOT good for preventing weight gain because it makes you retain water and also stimulates the appetite and makes you hungry. There are studies that show higher sodium intake in rats = more girls conceived. ScienceDirect.com - Physiology & Behavior - Maternal dietary sodium chloride levels affect the sex ratio in rat litters Logically speaking, sodium intake cannot even sway by the mechanisms the FGD authors claim, because X and Y sperm don’t have different electrical charges and therefore cannot be attracted by sodium ions in cervical mucus or semen, either. I got a baby girl eating TONS of sodium, after a failed sway with DS 4 where I was limiting sodium.

Portion control is very important when swaying blue. Serving sizes are actually much smaller than most people realize. If you find yourself gaining weight or feeling stuffed, stop and analyze how much you’re really eating. It is a great idea to count calories to make sure you’re not getting massive amounts of calories and also to help yourself get a handle on what the appropriate serving sizes even are. A serving of fruit juice should be one measuring cup, not a Big Gulp. Also, where fat is concerned, remember, while fat is unlimited, calories are NOT unlimited on the HE Diet...since fat has calories, you do need to be aware of how many cals you are consuming, even with healthy fats. Low carb vegetables, just like on the LE Diet, are unlimited and you do NOT need to count any calories in low carb vegetables at all. Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, spinach, fresh tomato, zucchini are examples of low carb vegetables that you can eat as much of as as you want. Avocado is low carb but DOES have fat, and so the calories in avocado do need to be counted.

Don’t forget the Vitamin X! Exercise 4-5 times a week, 45 minutes a day. It IS possible to add in more exercise if need be, but break it into two 45 minute blocks rather than all at once.

Finally, when swaying blue, most people should be getting pregnant MORE quickly than you have in the past. We are doing something wrong with the blue sway, when blue swayers are taking LONGER to get pregnant than pink swayers are. I strongly urge all blue swayers to let go of tactics that have been debunked like timing and baking soda finger, that serve no purpose other than preventing pregnancy. Your odds of getting pregnant from one attempt on O day are less than 8% and sperm do NOT thrive in baking soda (if they did, your body would make baking soda at ovulation rather than EWCM!!) Staying on the diet for awhile is fine if you’re very thin and need to restore your health, BUT if you’re already packing a few extra pounds, every month that passes is simply more opportunity for weight to creep on.

Since that was a little meandering and covered a lot of ground, here’s the nutshell version: to prevent excessive weight gain while on the HE Diet a) stick to the overall dietary guidelines of 2200-2500 cals a day b) include fat intake as part of your day’s calories…while fat is unlimited, calories are not and fat does have calories! But DO NOT eat transfats c) eat smarter, not harder and pick nutrient-dense foods so you get more bang for your buck, and avoid highly processed Franken-foods with lots of artificial chemicals in them d) combine foods to increase nutrients and eat protein and carbs at every meal to keep blood sugar stable e) remember, you don’t have to eat EVERY boy-friendly food in existence at every meal f) limit simple carbs and/or always eat them with protein g) full fat dairy at least once a day and also other calcium-rich foods h) limit sodium i) watch portion sizes j) exercise k) get pregnant fast!

:bike: What about DH?

For men, higher estrogen (more body fat) lowers testosterone and sperm count and so his being a little on the cuddly side (or a lot) can sway pink. Somewhat annoyingly, when men lose weight, they often lose mostly fat while preserving or even increasing their muscle mass. Testosterone levels increase accordingly. Also, less body fat can mean lower temperature in the testicles which helps raise sperm count and quality. So if your husband is overweight, having him drop a few pounds can help your sway. He does need to lose the weight in a slow, healthy way while eating protein and healthy fats rather than crash dieting, however. No artificial sweeteners, transfats, or soy foods if possible. Lower sugar intake, and more fresh fruits and vegetables will help.
If DH is severely underweight, he should also try and gain a bit of weight, esp. while lifting weights. Thin guys tend to add muscle long before they add fat, and so for a thinner man to gain weight, oftentimes only will add muscle and increase his testosterone levels. Thin guys also need to increase intake of protein and healthy fats and fresh fruits and vegetables while eliminating artificial sweeteners, soy foods, and transfats.
If your husband is more in-between, it’s best for him to hold steady at his current weight, because having him gain weight might mean adding body fat/estrogen, and losing weight might mean he will shrink his muscle mass and lower testosterone. It’s different for every man of course, but it’s just not worth the potential risk. It’s still good advice for him to eat more protein, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, and avoid artificial sweeteners, soy, and transfats.

:bike: Is this sort of diet healthy?

As long as you limit your weight gain to less than 15 lbs while exercising to ensure most of the weight gain is in the form of muscle rather than fat, the HE Diet is safe and healthy to follow indefinitely. It will boost your fertility and the high intake of fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fat is in line with a well-balanced and healthy prepregnancy diet. It is a bit higher in saturated fat than the type of diet most cardiologists might recommend in the long term (altho eliminating transfats should more than make up for that!) and may be a little too high in calories for some people’s liking, particularly with the inclusion of full fat dairy, but overall this diet is excellent for fertility and will not harm health. The tiny increase in cardiovascular risk and possibly higher risk of breast cancer, from eating more saturated fat will be more than compensated for by improved bone health and possibly lower risks of other cancers as well (diets high in fruits and vegetables and also complex carbohydrates have been shown to reduce odds of some cancers.) The addition of exercise will help to remedy any small disadvantage for heart and breast health that the increase in saturated fat may carry with it.

:bike: Studies that show a more nutrient dense diet sways blue:

Maternal Eating Disorders Influence Sex Ratio at Birth

The contrasting effects of ad libitum and restri... [Biol Reprod. 2007] - PubMed - NCBI

Striking variation in the sex ratio... [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003] - PubMed - NCBI

High fat diet prevents over-crowding induced decrea... [PLoS One. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

You are what your mother eats: evidence for maternal preconception diet influencing foetal sex in humans

Strong mothers bear more sons in rural Ethiopia

Hungry mothers give birth to more daughters : Nature News & Comment