How Much Weight Can You Lose To Help Hormones To Conceive?

Being overweight or obese may cause you trouble when attempting to conceive, but it does not prevent you from becoming pregnant if physically possible. Many overweight women have healthy pregnancies, but losing excess weight may be best for your health, your pregnancy and the health of your child. Losing too much weight, however, can be just as detrimental to your reproductive health as being overweight.

Weight-Related Risks

Being overweight is responsible for nearly 10 percent of infertility cases, according to FertilityPlus.org. Being overweight will cause your body to make extra estrogen. Excess fat-produced estrogen will stop or slow ovulation, making it virtually impossible to conceive. Another weight-related condition that prevents conception is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder of the endocrine system that causes your ovaries to enlarge and grow cysts on the outer layer of each ovary. PCOS can cause irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts, pain during ovulation, acne, body hair and painful periods.

Ideal Weight (BMI)

Getting to a healthy, ideal weight can be beneficial in helping you conceive a child. To find your healthy weight, consider the body mass index (BMI) scale, which is calculated from your height and weight. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, your BMI may determine your risk for obesity-related disease. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal or healthy. An overweight BMI is between 25 and 29.9, and obesity occurs when your BMI is 30 or above. A woman who is 5 feet and 6 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds has a BMI of 24.2, putting her in the healthy category.

Exercise

Exercising is effective for increasing your health and losing weight to prepare your body for conception. According to the Mayo Clinic, to lose weight you need to burn plenty more calories than you will consume every day or every week. If you weigh 200 pounds, jogging at 5 miles per hour can burn 872 calories each hour. Brisk walking at 3.5 miles per hour burns 414 calories if you are 200 pounds. You should strive for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes of running each week, and at least two days of strength training that works all your major muscle groups.

Diet

HelpGuide.org suggests filling your plate with high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains to attain the weight loss you desire before you attempt to conceive. These foods are satisfying, full of volume that makes them filling, and they take longer to digest, keeping you fuller for longer. A diet rich in vegetables will fill you up before you can eat too many calories and will increase your overall physical health. Avoid high-fat salad dressings or sauces when eating vegetables or fruits because they will only defeat your weight-loss goals.