When you’re expecting a visitor, you usually make preparations to accommodate them. You ensure there is ample food, you clean your house and put plans in place to see to it that their stay is as comfortable as possible and they feel welcome. Think of a fertility diet the same way. When you’ve decided to have a baby, the same principle should apply. You need to get your body ready to host your special guest for 9 months.

If you are overweight, you may experience difficulties conceiving. If you follow a weight loss plan before getting pregnant – call it a fertility diet – you can drastically improve your chances for a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby.

The Fertility Diet

If you plan on losing weight to have a baby, having a healthy diet will boost your fertility. Nutrition plays a major role in ensuring that your body is ready for reproduction. You will need to consume foods that are rich in the nutrients necessary for protecting the health of eggs and sperm, improving hormonal balance and function, good for the development of your baby and providing all the building blocks needed for a healthy body and baby.

Many studies have shown that foods that contain pesticides, negatively affect fertility for both men and women. Therefore, foods for fertility should include lots of organic meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Nutrients that are important for fertility health include vitamins B6, B12, C, D & E, CoQ10, Lipoic Acid, Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, Omega-3 acids and fats, protein and fiber. You will now need to get into the habit of going to the farmers market or visiting the grocery store more often.

Foods to avoid include soy, caffeine, alcohol, and foods that are high in fats and sugar which can affect your blood sugar levels and immune system. It’s also very important to drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated. You can research which foods contain the necessary nutrients that help with fertility or consult with a nutritional specialist who can create a fertility diet plan for you.

Good Old Exercise

If you plan to embark on a weight loss plan before getting pregnant, you MUST exercise. There is no other way around it. You should aim for a realistic weight loss objective, as losing drastic amounts of weight in an unhealthy way will throw off the body’s natural balance and may interfere with your efforts for losing weight to have a baby.

It is recommended that you work out for a minimum of 30 minutes per day, 3-5 times per week. To increase the chances that you will stick to an exercise routine, choose a variety of activities you know you will enjoy and mix it up to break up the monotony. Include lots of aerobic exercises, stretching, such as Yoga, and try something new like swimming which is low impact, but burns lots of calories. And if you don’t feel like exercising on a day, just get out and take a 30-minute walk.

Conclusion

Always consult with an OBGYN or GP for tips on losing weight to have a baby. When you get pregnant, the good habits are likely to stick throughout the pregnancy and even after you have your baby. The video below further explains how to make the most of a fertility diet and, thus, increase your chances of becoming pregnant sooner. Remember that, as with anything else, consistency is the key to success. A healthy lifestyle will have positive consequences for a lifetime and you owe it to yourself and the little one you’re about to conceive.