Posts by feydruss

FWIW, what you describe:

"FSH, E2, and LH were all normal, as was every single other hormone value except progesterone. "Support" is the wrong word. As she explained it to me, a progesterone level that low, according to her clinic's protocols, indicates that the doc should assume anovulation, which is in keeping with my clinical presentation (very light periods w/no cramping, spotting for weeks at a time, no changes in cervical mucous) for the last 7-8 months.

So far everything but progesterone has been totally normal. They did a full prenatal hormone panel, a full infertility panel, a PCOS panel, an A1C, an HSG, three vaginal ultrasounds, a pap, STD testing, and re-tested progesterone over several months. Nothing is out of a normal range except progesterone."

is EXACTLY what I had. I had approximately one week of each month that I wasn't bleeding in some form or another. The Clomid/Prometrium REALLY helped all that, but we still had to go to IVF because of male factor.

Good luck with your tests! 

FWIW, I know how it feels. We just spent the last two years in fertility treatment, starting with Clomid/Prometrium, and 3 IVF cycles. Our third cycle, which was the WORST ever in terms of response and every factor, worked, and now I'm PG with twins. So don't give up.

My DH is a physician, so we started off very clinically, but then I moved into seeing a naturopath and an acupuncturist, and that helped a lot.

If you're low on CD21 progesterone, that means that you're not ovulating properly. I was ovulating, but poorly and not producing enough progesterone to support implantation. Clomid and Prometrium helped a TON with that, but we moved on after six months and discovered that DH's swimmers had some issues too.

Get your RE to do a full workup on you and DH (semen analysis). And plan a strategy that works for all of you, whether that's Clomid then IUI then IVF if need be, or something else.

It always feels better when you're actively DOING something. The worst part for me was the wait in between cycles. I lived the last two years in 2-week increments, and it sucked.

Apparently I'm not supposed to do:

overhead shoulder presses

lateral raises

crunches

deadlifts

any move with a barbell on the neck/shoulders

and not lift any free weight more than 20lbs.

So I can still do leg presses if my back/neck are neutral and well-supported, as well as some upright rows, chest presses, etc.

Basically, I haven't properly trained in six months, and now that I am trying to get back into it with limitations, I'm getting a little stymied.

I want to get strength back, and especially need help in my doughy arms, legs and midsection. My physiotherapist has been pretty helpful, but he's very conservative. I certainly don't want to get hurt, but I want to make sure that I'm doing the most efficient and effective exercises right now!

Does that make sense?

I don't think I'm being too hard on myself, but I do think of my body as a "failure" right now. And maybe getting some fitness back would make me feel some level of control over my "defective" body.

But you're right--it's a balance between self-love and self-improvement.

Right now I'm waiting on tests to find out if I have cervical cancer before I can try IVF again, so I was hoping to fill some time (mentally and physically) with working out. But although the mind is willing, the body and soul are still trying to catch up. :)

Original Post by raven21:

Awesome! I have a hell of a time trying to keep track of calories and to be honest I hate doing it so this is something I'd like to try. Can you explain the 3 bite rule when eating out a bit more? You don't mean you only have 3 bites of food when you eat out obviously....

And the eating chocolate before bed, what do you have because I LOVE chocolate but have thought I need to give it up cold turkey.

 

The three-bite rule is for each kind of food on the plate, essentially. So if I have a burger and fries, I might actually cut three bites off the burger with a fork and knife (weird, but easier to see how much I'm putting in my mouth!), and then three fries. The bottom line is just being mindful.

But like fitmom said, it also depends on what you order. If I order a salad with no dressing and poached salmon on top, I might eat the whole plate! :)

But when in doubt, I'm using my mindful 3-bite rule, and noticing that after three bites, I don't really need/want any more.

As for chocolate, I usually have one or two dark Lindt truffle balls or something like that. I suck them slowly and enjoy them while reading or something before lights out. And that's pretty much the only time I eat chocolate now.

I have notoriously wobbly ankles that used to pop and crackle and hurt. One thing that REALLY helped me strengthen them was swimming with flippers on. No kidding! Most pools will have some on deck to use for free. Try it! Not only is it kind of empowering because it makes you go faster, feeling like you're superhuman, but it really makes your ankles stronger and more flexible.

When I had an ED and was at the point of being hospitalized, I only got down to a size 8. I have an hourglass shape, and no matter how thin I get, I still have hipbones! According to everyone who knew me, I looked TERRIBLE at a size 8. My goal is to get back to a 10, which I think is the lowest I should be as an adult and still be healthy and happy. I'm between 12-14 right now.

It drives me crazy to read posts about girls/women along the lines of "OMG, my size 2 jeans don't fit anymore!" For some people, it's just not possible.

I was reading an interesting book lately called "The Rules of Normal Eating". In it, I was reminded that only true HUNGER can be satiated by FOOD. If you eat, and you're still "hungry", then you're looking for something else. It was kind of a revelation for me to understand that difference. I think a lot of the time my "appetite" is not for food, but that's what I turn to in the complete lack of knowledge of what I really want.

Original Post by trueg:

The downside unfortunetly is the added hormones and antibiotics.  I can't find organic skim milk in my area, just 1% & 2%.  When I was in Florida, I was able to buy 4L (1G) organic skim milk for not much more than regular which was awesome.  We don't have that here in Victoria, BC, Canada.  I'm hesitant on drinking more until I do.  Right now I drink 250 ml (1 cup) every morning.  I use 1 to 1.5 cups of almond milk in my protein shakes.  I add glutamine-L to my shakes to aid recovery.

Actually, it's illegal to put hormones and antibiotics in milk in Canada. So you if you live in Canada, you don't need to get organic milk. Any milk (Lucerne, Dairyland, anything) is pure.

In the US, it's another matter.

I'd love to invite you all to join our group. It's small, and we could use more members! go to Groups, Losing Weight, then "Monday Weigh In - Support and Inspiration." It's a private group, but anyone can join. And then we're not always looking for the thread every week...