Obesity & Fertility

Whenever I have patients that are over weight, I really try to help them understand that in order to increase their chances of conception, they must lose weight. If you’ve read some of my other articles on my blog, you’ll notice a recurring theme. I focus on health and well being. If you are healthy then you have a much better chance at conception. In our youth, we are more healthy and fit. Our metabolism is great and we can eat to our hearts desire without worrying to much about weight gain. That of course changes as we get older.

So to counter age and a diminishing metabolism, we have to make some changes in our eating and exercise habits. When it comes to diet, I recommend having more protein and fats and less carbs. You especially want to stay away from simple carbs like bread, pasta and rice. Cookies, cakes and ice cream are a no no and you want to only indulge on special occasions. Choose more grains because your body will process that much better and it’s easier on your blood sugar levels. You want to cook or eat at home majority of the time. Don’t keep any type of junk food in the house ! Keep healthy snacks around the house like nuts and fruit. Consume organic and farm food. Stay away from fake food like artificial sweetners, margarine, etc.

If your cravings are getting the best of you then we need to address your stress levels. Most people that crave sweets a lot have high stress levels or tend to be anxious. Sugar/Food is their way of dealing with not feeling emotionally balanced. Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs can be very beneficial to curb cravings and helping to feel calmer and more relaxed. When your cortisol/stress levels go down, your cravings will decrease. Once your cravings decrease, you eat less food/sugar. Less food/sugar consumption can lead to weight loss. Remember, stored fat in the body is nothing but sugar.

Finally, implementing an aerobic exercise regimen can also contribute to weight loss. Any exercise that makes you sweat will be beneficial for weight loss. I tell most of my patients to make a commitment to exercise 3 x week. Maybe Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 45 mins. I have seen so many women and men improve their FSH and sperm count by losing weight. It really makes that much of a difference. In summary, aerobic exercise, a healthy diet and keeping stress levels low will help shed some pounds. A leaner healthier you translates into a higher chance of success when trying to conceive.