Thin cysters TTC, please give me hope - Page 8

amdg · 08-21-2009, 10:32 AM

penguin -

wow - our stories really sound so similar...especially regarding our relationships to exercise. I remember so many times when I just felt so tired and so sick, but I exercised anyway. I'd tell myself that working out would make me feel better, when frankly, part of the reason I was most likely so susceptible to illness was because overexercise taxed my immune system! I practiced Bikram yoga everyday for a long, long time (that's the yoga in the super hot room). A few years before I started TTC I developed a terrible case of eczema, which the heat would only further irritate. I went to two dermatologists looking for a cure...but of course the cure was that I just need to STOP doing 90 minutes of strenuous yoga in a 105 degree room everyday. Funny how unwilling I was to except that! I couldn't see the ways the exercise was hurting me then, just like I couldn't see it when I was running and lifting weights and so on when I was TTC... Like you said, my body was just kind of a hostile, unwelcoming place for a little baby!

It's *great* that you'll have the chance to relax on a vacation in a few weeks - and have far fewer opportunities to work out. I'm glad that you got the Rose Frisch book. In moments of stress and panic (when I'd incredulously stare at the container of full-fat yogurt I was eating and have an overwhelming urge to go running for a long time), I'd read it and feel very encouraged. I also used Toni Wechsler's book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Frankly, the temperature charting thing NEVER worked for me, but paying attention to my EWCM was extremely helpful.

Make sure to have lots of wine and yummy dinners on your vacation, and keep me posted! I have a good feeling for you! :-)

penguin82 · 10-20-2009, 11:26 AM

Hey amdg

I just wanted to check back in and let you know what's been going on!

I really cut down on my exercise (from 6/7 90min sessions a week to no more than 40 mins 'calm' exercise every other day - not easy at all..) and got my period just over two weeks later which made it all worthwhile. Whilst we were away I tried really hard not to stress over not being able to exercise and just relax and enjoy eating and going out for drinks. I got my period when we got back - 5 weeks after the previous one. I've put on almost a stone (about 14 lbs) and gone up a dress size but I really don't care - I feel really good (I'm still a US size 6 so hardly huge!), look really healthy and have energy for everything, not just working out. I've also gone up a cup size which is very exciting for someone who's never been bigger than an A cup!

I also had an appointment with my gynae at the hospital in the interim and explained all this to her. She now thinks that I was misdiagnosed with PCOS and never had it in the first place and that it was the exercising/insufficient eating which was holding everything up. She did more bloods etc and everything came back totally normal and healthy, so I'm tempted to agree.

My husband and I are planning on TTC in the new year and now I feel really positive about it - so thank you so much for your advice and story - it was a real inspiration and really helped when all I wanted to go was go work out!

xx

jcza · 10-20-2009, 09:56 PM

Wow, I fit in here too! I was diagnosed with PCOS Sept. 2009 after not getting af after stopping bcp in May 2009 and having elevated testosterone. In the past, I have had very disordered eating. I suffered from bulimia for a long time, and then hit a pretty low body weight for a year (5'3 1/2 and weighed 105lbs). That was 7 years ago. Since then, I was steady for a while at 110-112lbs, and still exercising a lot (1 hr of cardio ~5 times per week and weights 3 times per week). This past two years I have slowly gained a few pounds, and then several more since getting off bcp in May. I'm now at 118-120lbs (all in my butt/legs, lol). I eat healthy fats, and desserts occasionally, though still no af. For exercise, I'm pretty sedentary in my job, but still do 1 hr of cardio 3 times per week and very basic, light weights 2 times per week. I have no idea what my body fat % is, but I feel like I'm at a healthy weight. Still no af though...

Any other tips? What BMI did you need to get to in order to ovulate? I'm just over 20. I'll do whatever it takes...

penguin82 · 10-21-2009, 07:19 AM

Hey

Glad that you've found us! It sounds like you're making all the right changes - being mentally ready to do it is over half the battle...

My current BMI is 21.7 - I'm 5 foot 7 (169cm) and weigh about 62kg (136 lbs). If you'd have told me that a year ago, I'd have been horrified - it sounds so much, but it really isn't. I got my period after coming off the Pill back in June this year (I came off in December) when I probably weighed a bit less than now, but this is a good weight for me - I don't have to struggle to maintain it which is how I know it's healthy. I eat when I'm hungry and don't over-exercise. No idea what my current body fat is but I've read in lots of places that you need at least 20% to ovulate/menstruate (some people even say 22%). A book was mentioned earlier up in this thread which explains this.

I currently exercise four times a week (twice at the weekend and then twice during the week) for about an hour max (a bit less during the week), and then walk for about 45 mins a day to and from work (total). It's a balance between not doing too much and making me feel like I've had a work out if that makes sense. I'm a lawyer so I'm pretty sedentary all day too!

I make sure that I eat properly even when I haven't worked out (something I never used to do). I saw a nutritionist and now have a mainly low GI diet (although I do slip up occasionally!). So I avoid things like white rice and pasta and white bread, and eat rye bread and sweet potatoes instead. I also make sure that I eat plently of protein - with every snack (so not just an apple, but a block of cheese plus an apple). I also take supplements - currently agnus castus and evening primrose oil. I've also started to take a new supplement called shatavari which is meant to be great.

I think it's important to realise that your body needs time to get used to the changes you're making and just to keep plugging away at it.

I hope that this helps. xx

amdg · 10-21-2009, 10:28 AM

Penguin82 -

What a coincidence that you sent an update because I have been thinking about you! I was going to send YOU a message to see what's going on...

Well, it sounds like you are 100% on the right track. Honestly, this is almost exactly what happened to me - as soon as I cut back on the exercise and gained weight, my periods came back. Only, YOUR periods are coming back with MUCH more regularity!!! I still had super long cycles even when they came back...so you really in a quite a position of advantage. Get ready - I think you are going to get your BFP very, very SOON. :-)

I have a huge smile on my face, and I'm just so glad that you are having success. Choosing to not work out is a daily struggle - I know it is! - but you are absolutely making progress toward a much more important goal. I am so excited for you. Promise to keep me in the loop!

amdg :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguin82

Hey amdg

I just wanted to check back in and let you know what's been going on!

I really cut down on my exercise (from 6/7 90min sessions a week to no more than 40 mins 'calm' exercise every other day - not easy at all..) and got my period just over two weeks later which made it all worthwhile. Whilst we were away I tried really hard not to stress over not being able to exercise and just relax and enjoy eating and going out for drinks. I got my period when we got back - 5 weeks after the previous one. I've put on almost a stone (about 14 lbs) and gone up a dress size but I really don't care - I feel really good (I'm still a US size 6 so hardly huge!), look really healthy and have energy for everything, not just working out. I've also gone up a cup size which is very exciting for someone who's never been bigger than an A cup!

I also had an appointment with my gynae at the hospital in the interim and explained all this to her. She now thinks that I was misdiagnosed with PCOS and never had it in the first place and that it was the exercising/insufficient eating which was holding everything up. She did more bloods etc and everything came back totally normal and healthy, so I'm tempted to agree.

My husband and I are planning on TTC in the new year and now I feel really positive about it - so thank you so much for your advice and story - it was a real inspiration and really helped when all I wanted to go was go work out!

xx