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Preconception Weight-loss Planning

Easy Ways to Boost Health and Increase Fertility

By Kim Seidel

Passe believes her biggest downfall to losing weight in the past was eating too much white sugar. She has cut it out completely from her diet. When she's having a sugar craving, Passe reaches for a piece of fruit and that satisfies her.

When the weight-loss journey began, Passe cleared out all junk food in her house. She filled three giant garbage bags with foods she no longer wanted to be tempted by. These included frozen pizzas, pre-packaged meals, cookies and chips.

Doctor's Tip: At every meal and snack, consume some high-quality protein. "Blood glucose and insulin levels are more stable and appetite is minimized with regular consumption of protein," Dr. Kulze says.

When she was losing weight, Passe says she never felt like she was on "a diet." She ate six smaller meals a day, rather than eating two larger meals a day as she once did. Previously, she and her husband also ate out four times a week. Now, every Sunday she takes the time to plan and to prepare for the meals they'll eat at home that week.

Doctor's Tip: Exercising and eating right help your body to more efficiently fight off stress, Dr. Silva says. In addition, don't underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Being under extreme stress affects fertility, Dr. Silva says. "If your life is so stressful that it's interfering with your reproductive health, look at what's going on in your life," he says. Re-evaluate your job and relationships and try to bring your life into better balance. Dr. Silva recommends the following:

Want to see more?

• Preconception Top 10: Tips for a Healthy Conception
• Check out our Article Library.
• A Positive Preconception: Battling Negative Thinking While Trying to Conceive
• The Skinny on Weight While Trying to Conceive: Conception for the Underweight
• Talk about it!