I’m 32 years old, but I eat like I’m 5.
Actually, I know several 5 year-olds who eat better than I do.
I’ve improved in the last few years, gradually learning to like new and exotic foods like mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs, and spinach. Let’s just say I’ve been keeping the vitamin industry in business for a long time.
I really want to be as healthy as I can be for my upcoming IVF cycle, so I created a 90-Day Challenge for myself. I started on New Year’s Day and I’m aiming to do it until the completion of my IVF cycle in March. My husband is trying to lose a little weight and he has his own food goals. We actually wrote out contracts, signed them, and hung them up for accountability. If I mess up, I have to give my husband an hour-long pedicure (yuck). If he messes up, he has to do the dishes for 3 days in a row.
Here are my 4 food goals to complete each day:
- Eat one serving of leafy greens or a cruciferous veggie
- Drink a serving of V8 juice
- Reduce my gluten intake
- Eat an apple
These food goals may seem simple to some people, but it’s actually a big step for me. So far I’ve been accomplish the first three items every day except for yesterday. My plan was to make a spinach smoothie after dinner in order to get my leafy greens, but I had some heartburn and just couldn’t stomach eating anything else.
I’m also restricting myself from the following:
- Limit myself to one cup of caffeinated tea (I can have an many cups of decaf green as I want) before egg retrieval
- No caffeine at all after egg retrieval
- No crackers, cookies, chips, or fries
The hardest one has been reducing my gluten intake and not eating crackers or chips. I LOVE potato chips- especially Reduced Fat Ruffles. YUM. I’ve been known to eat a whole bag in one sitting.
My mom got me a brand new bag of Ruffles for Christmas and I was thrilled. We left town on Christmas Day so I didn’t have time to eat it before New Year’s and it’s been sitting unopened in my pantry. Beckoning me. Calling me. I open the pantry and stare longingly at it. I contemplate eating the bag and then buying a second one to replace it in the pantry so my husband won’t know. “Hello, my name is Lisa and I’m a Ruffles addict.”
It will be a difficult 90 Days, but I’m hoping that eating even a little bit healthier will increase my IVF odds.
What kind of diet changes will you make (or did you make) for IVF? Please share in the comments below.
*** Looking for more tips on surviving IVF? Check out my post, 10 Practical Ways to Prepare for IVF ***
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Girlfriend, I feel you on this! I too learned to eat new foods VERY recently… as in, since I got married, my husband convinced me to try broccoli and salad… as in, before I was 25 years old, I ate neither, EVER. Changing my diet and dropping carbs was a REALLY tough thing for me to do, but I think it’s really wise. Evidence shows that it helps to improve egg quality! My goal all along has been do no harm and do anything that might help… I’m pretty sure all of your choices fall into both of those categories! Kudos to both of you for doing the hard work now! Excited to cheer you on!
Thanks for the encouragement, Amanda. My husband has been a big catalyst in my eating changes, too! He’s the cook in the house, so I have to eat what he makes! 🙂
I’ve been planning everyday and focussing on no more stress eating. I’ve also been reducing my gluten daily and only have a gluten based dish once a week. The caffeine is the hardest for me. I work 12 hour shifts and coffee really does keep me going so its been a battle but I am doing pretty good limitting myself to only 8oz a day. Good luck you can do it!
Wow, Kasey, that’s awesome about your eating changes- especially the gluten. That’s been the hardest part for me. Keep up the good work!
I used to eat like 5 but changed a little bit after I got married. Husband’s a health freak 🙂 Anyway, for IVF, I’ve decided to cut down on gluten and cut off dairy. Dairy was easier but gluten is harder. Everything has gluten in it! But I’m trying not to stress too much. I also drink one decaffeinated cup of coffee a day which I will cut off completely after egg retrieval. It’s hard but hang in there! It’ll be for the best for both of us! 🙂
If I cut out both gluten and dairy, I’d have nothing left to eat! 🙂 Seriously, though, good for you for making those changes. Hopefully it will be worth it for both of us!
Great goals! Good luck!
Thanks, Melissa!
I just found your blog. I can’t figure out how to follow so I’m following via FB. Good luck with your eating goals and readying yourself for IVF. I totally understand trying to make your body as ready as it can be.
Hi Jessah, so glad you found my blog. I’m a big fan of yours!
I love how you describe hard boiled eggs as an exotic food. lol. Best of luck with everything. Visiting as part of the SITS Tribe project!!! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by trininista! I just checked out your blog, too, and it’s super-cute. I love your “About” page.
Stopping by from the SITS Girls Comment Love challenge! I can totally eat a whole bag of Ruffles in one sitting, in secret shame! My roommate makes a really good onion dip and avocado dip that I like to eat them with. Best of luck on your goals!