How much weight should I try to lose?

[atomic sagebrush]

I think the idea is to lose as much as you can in a short space of time (if you have it to lose) and, if possible, to get to your lowest pre conception weight and/or your lowest adult weight.

The reason for losing weight quickly (in a not very nutritious way!) is related to the Trivers Willard hypothesis, whereby your body will think 'times are hard' and that resources are limited if you're doing this and, hopefully, will 'want' you to conceive a girl because a girl needs less resources to raise and produce grandchildren.

The low-everything diet Atomic devised also advises restricting protein because protein helps your body to build testosterone and for conceiving a girl we want lower testosterone (the idea with being your lowest ever adult weight is that you're guaranteed to have lower testosterone than you ever have because you'll have less muscle - if you've lost in this manner).

Thirdly, it's been proven that for a girl conception you want your blood sugar levels to be low - so no breakfast and no snacking - and 2 or 3 spaced out meals only.

I just saw your siggy, I'm so sorry about your little boy x

Great post Zana, thanks so much!!

Just to clarify, low protein shrinks your muscle mass which then in turn sends a signal to your body that it doesn't need to make as much testosterone. Losing weight (esp. on a low protein diet) will shrink your muscle and also losing body fat helps to reduce estrogen, so it's a win-win...whether you lose muscle or fat or hopefully both, it's still good for a sway (lowering estrogen and testosterone are believed to sway pink).

Low fat (and especially saturated fats and cholesterol) actually deny your body the raw materials it uses to make testosterone and estrogen. So losing weight on a low protein, low fat diet is best.

[atomic sagebrush]

I think that losing weight quickly right before ttc will likely sway more than being at your lowest adult weight that has been pretty stable for a while.Example Suzy conceived her son when she weighed 190 pounds so in the month before she got pregnant again she lost 20 pounds because she was not eating much,i really think this would sway more than Sally who weighed 190 when she concieved her son then she lost 60 pounds in a year and then after being her steady weight of 160 for another 6 months she concieved again i think this has way less sway power because her body is not as shocked by the weightloss and less food.This is just what i gather and others may dissagree.I also think a combo of both of these would be pretty good too.

I am inclined to agree with this analysis, thank you!!

But losing weight, whenever and however you can, is still a great idea. No one needs to panic or despair if they don't lose weight superfast, it's still a step in the right direction!!