Not sure which board to put this on...

D&F or TTC!

I went to see my R.E tonight to talk about TTC. She was asking me about my diet and excercise. She wants me to cut down on excercise. I currently workout 5-6 days a week (I really try to keep it at 5!) about 1-1.5 hours a day.

I'm obsessed with working out. It's something I LOVE to do and get antsy if I can't go for a run or get the gym.

Now she wants me to cut down to 3 days a week.

Does anyone know if working out that much really hurts our chances of TTC? I know it probably sounds selfish to not want to give up excercise but its not just a hobby, its a passion.

ANy advice?

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

Not selfish at all! We need Us time and working out is totally important for me as well. Could you compromise and still go 5 times a week but just scale it down to say 45 min max? That way you still get there as often but dont work your body too hard. I could imagine it may hurt ttc because look at athletes who stop getting their periods etc due to the workouts that they do. Good luck

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

I have heard excessive exercise can delay or even prevent ovulation. I would take your dr's advice and cut down to 3 days of what you've been doing. Then if you feel you still have to do more, maybe do something like walking or yoga instead of an intense workout. But I am not one to recommend giving anything up while TTC, since it took me a long 15 months to get pregnant with my first and 7 months for the twins. That would have been almost 2 years wasted if I would have given things up! Once you get pregnant you will have to cut back and monitor your heartrate.

GOOD LUCK!!

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

Intense, frequent workouts can disrupt your hormones & make it harder to conceive. I would think an hour 5 days a week while TTC would be fine, but not all of that should be super high intensity.

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

Blah. I'm going to struggle with this one day in the near future too.

I personally know women that got pregnant who were working out a lot but I don't know their fertility issues. It might be something to try if you doctor recommends it though.

Or maybe try yoga or pilates a few times a week for a less cardio/heart pumping workout?

Message edited 5/16/2011 10:40:15 PM.

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

I definitely think it can hurt you - my SIL is very thin and athletic and an avid runner. When she went off the pill, she never got her period - a year later, she went to an RE, had a complete battery of tests done and nothing was "wrong" - she had to gain weight, cut back on the running, and go through 2 rounds of injectibles to get pregnant because she would not ovulate on her own. My BFF's co-worker has a similar story. Both were in their 30s, but under 35 if that's useful to know.

I also know other athletic, thin women who got pregnant on the first try. You never know what your circumstances will be until you start trying and as someone who waited almost a year to get preggo, I'm with others who say not to give things up ahead of time - I wouldn't have made it through TTC without wine!

So many things go into TTC... If you're on the pill now, you will know within a few months of going off the pill if your body is not regulating itself. My body never did even though I was definitely not over-training then, but I also have thyroid issues. If your body's off after a few months, then it's worth a try, but if you're not in a hurry and time is on your side age-wise, I would probably wait it out and see if my period returned on its own first.

ETA: did not realize you were already seeing an RE - if you already have issues, I think it could add to make things harder and it probably makes sense to listen to your RE.

Message edited 5/16/2011 10:57:34 PM.

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

I'm going to answer from a fitness and TTC viewpoint.

You were already told by your RE that too much exercise will hurt your chances of TTC - I don't think anyone here is going to be more knowledge about your situation.

I think the real question is are you ready to alter your lifestyle to have a child. I had to ask myself the same thing. Fitness is my life, and I knew I would have to calm it down a bit to have a baby. I still worked out 6 days/wk, 1-2 hours a day, but I wasn't seeing an RE, and I def. lowered my intensity after becoming pregnant - bc it's absolutely neccessary.

I completely understand the whole feeling selfish thing I felt the same way), but keep in mind it is only temporary. And ask your RE if you can do 3 days of your regular workout and then 2 days of a light workout. It took me a while to actually be ready to give up some of myself for something greater :)

I was in a similar place you are, and I'm a personal trainer. If you need some low-impact, but effective exercises to work into your routine feel free to FM me :) Good luck!

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

I would listen to the RE and try to cut back on your work outs. I know it is going to be hard but try to cut back slowly. When you become pregnant you will have to cut down on your workouts so this will help with the adjustment later.

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

Thank you so much everyone for the advice- I really appreciate it!

I am going to cut down a bit..I think I will still do 5 days a week (maybe 4) but of much lower intensity on 2 of the days and we'll see how that goes.

I appreciate all of the advice so much!!

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

I also say do your full workout 3-4 days and the days where you are supposed to be resting, do a lighter workout like pilates or yoga.

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...

Your doctor probably knows more, but I look at people like Kara Goucher and Paula radcliff. They have like 4% body fat and just had babies.

Re: Not sure which board to put this on...