my husband and i (23M and 22F) are currently on cycle #4 of trying to conceive, and have been using the syringe method due to my vaginismus. i used to struggle pretty badly with anorexia, and i still have my moments but am a lot better now and a healthy weight. my periods have been regular and consistent since october, but they’re just very long. i average about 37 days, usually ovulate on CD 23, then get my period exactly two weeks later to the day. i run a lot though, i’ve always been a pretty heavy distance runner and i average between 65-80 miles a week. i never run super fast though only an 8-9:30 average pace. but with that i make sure i’m eating enough and getting enough iron especially because i’m a vegetarian and slightly anemic. but i can’t help but wonder/worry that maybe the reason we haven’t successfully conceived yet is because i’m running too much? does that actually affect implantation? i figured it was fine because im eating enough to support it, but now i’m paranoid. right now im in my two week wait at about 6 DPO, ovulated last thursday 3/7, and ran 12 miles friday, 12 saturday, 6 sunday, 10 monday, and 12 tuesday. maybe i’m just too in my head about it but what if this is why we haven’t been successful yet? running is my stress outlet, esp in the tww. so idk what to do? thoughts?
am i running too much to conceive?
- Thread starter sahabds
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biblicalscholar
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@biblicalscholar i have not but this is a great idea!
@sahabds I just want to point out that if it’s “hard” for you to get enough iron as a vegetarian then you need to consult a dietitian. It’s a misnomer that it should be difficult, and usually a sign that one doesn’t know how to eat correctly as a vegetarian. A typical vegetarian diet does not result in anemia.
sevenout03
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horsepower
New member
@sahabds I’m an eating disorder RD and hope this doesn’t come across rudely, but sounds like you genuinely want advice. Have you checked in with your medical team and dietitian recently? If not, might be something to consider. Or, consider following RDs on instagram who specialize in this type of work. I will list some of my favorite accounts below.
You claim to be at a “healthy weight”, but it’s possible you are not at a healthy weight for your body and for optimal fertility. The running sounds excessive, and it might be wise to cut back and/or consider different forms of exercise while TTC.
You mention you are vegetarian. Do you consume dairy products or eggs? In my experience, vegetarianism can be apart of lingering AN and unless you were a lifelong vegetarian before AN, then it might be worth considering if this is the right diet for you…Also, it is not wise to get pregnant while being anemic even if it’s just “slightly” anemic. I would work on introducing good sources of iron into your diet, and consider animal sources (heme iron). You’re not getting enough iron if you are anemic. I’m an RD, 30 weeks pregnant and slightly anemic due to severe morning and all day sickness in the first and second trimesters. I’m so glad I worked on my iron stores before doing IVF or my anemia would be so much worse.
I don’t think the running is the only issue here. Please check in with your medical team and consider working with an RD who specializes in eating disorders and/fertility. Message me if you have questions. Happy to help.
Accounts I like on instagram:
ttcnutritionist
Food.freedom.fertility
Period.nutritionist
You claim to be at a “healthy weight”, but it’s possible you are not at a healthy weight for your body and for optimal fertility. The running sounds excessive, and it might be wise to cut back and/or consider different forms of exercise while TTC.
You mention you are vegetarian. Do you consume dairy products or eggs? In my experience, vegetarianism can be apart of lingering AN and unless you were a lifelong vegetarian before AN, then it might be worth considering if this is the right diet for you…Also, it is not wise to get pregnant while being anemic even if it’s just “slightly” anemic. I would work on introducing good sources of iron into your diet, and consider animal sources (heme iron). You’re not getting enough iron if you are anemic. I’m an RD, 30 weeks pregnant and slightly anemic due to severe morning and all day sickness in the first and second trimesters. I’m so glad I worked on my iron stores before doing IVF or my anemia would be so much worse.
I don’t think the running is the only issue here. Please check in with your medical team and consider working with an RD who specializes in eating disorders and/fertility. Message me if you have questions. Happy to help.
Accounts I like on instagram:
ttcnutritionist
Food.freedom.fertility
Period.nutritionist
lcnolen2022
New member
@horsepower seconding “food freedom fertility” on IG! i was diagnosed with HA and her acct was really helpful for me
@horsepower thank you for this response 
you are absolutely right and i have a therapist but not an RD, and that would probably help me immensely. i always wanted to be vegetarian most of my life, i just didn’t actually start until after a lot of recovery work with the ED. i think sometimes it may be correlated to me subconsciously trying to restrict (which i try to catch myself when that’s the case) but i really want to remain vegetarian for my own personal reasons. you’re so right about all of this though and i’m sure getting with an RD would not only help me straighten out my food intake to ensure i’m getting the right nutrients and macros, but an RD could probably help bash any of my food distortions or stupid thoughts about food.
you are absolutely right and i have a therapist but not an RD, and that would probably help me immensely. i always wanted to be vegetarian most of my life, i just didn’t actually start until after a lot of recovery work with the ED. i think sometimes it may be correlated to me subconsciously trying to restrict (which i try to catch myself when that’s the case) but i really want to remain vegetarian for my own personal reasons. you’re so right about all of this though and i’m sure getting with an RD would not only help me straighten out my food intake to ensure i’m getting the right nutrients and macros, but an RD could probably help bash any of my food distortions or stupid thoughts about food.horsepower
New member
@horsepower ^ I agree. This was the first thing I thought of, it’s probably not the running. It’s possible your body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs even at a healthy weight according to charts it may not be healthy for your lifestyle!
horsepower
New member
daivakumar
New member
@horsepower Amazing response
@horsepower This
loganjansen
New member
@horsepower Also adding Heidi Strickler to the list - she’s a certified sports RD who also works with disordered eating clients and may be able to assist with things like food timing around exercise, which I know can be a factor. @hkstrickler_sportsrd
@sahabds Ask your doctor.
65-80 is extremely high to maintain if you're not in training cycle. It's entirely possible you're too active.
In my experience my period got spotty at anything over 50 mpw and it also was non existent below 11% body fat. Activity level and body fat level both impact fertility.
But this is a doctor question not an Internet forum question. I recommend speaking to one that runs and is knowledgeable about fertility (so maybe an obgyn that runs?)
You're also going to have to develop new tools for dealing with stress while pregnant so I would work on that now, rather than later. Fighter games, sex, yoga, playing piano all helped substitute my need for speed and trails during my pregnancy.
65-80 is extremely high to maintain if you're not in training cycle. It's entirely possible you're too active.
In my experience my period got spotty at anything over 50 mpw and it also was non existent below 11% body fat. Activity level and body fat level both impact fertility.
But this is a doctor question not an Internet forum question. I recommend speaking to one that runs and is knowledgeable about fertility (so maybe an obgyn that runs?)
You're also going to have to develop new tools for dealing with stress while pregnant so I would work on that now, rather than later. Fighter games, sex, yoga, playing piano all helped substitute my need for speed and trails during my pregnancy.
@sahabds Cycles longer than 35 days are considered irregular, so even though yours has a pattern it’s still outside the realm of normal and I’d consider seeing doctor if I were in your shoes. Your long cycle lengthy makes me wonder if conditions in your body aren’t ideal for pregnancy even if you are ovulating. Are you really sure you’re eating enough to support that mileage and single to your body that it has the resources to support a pregnancy? Check out the book Real Food for Fertility. That said even in perfectly healthy couples 4 months is about the average time to conception.
I also day this kindly, but pregnancy and postpartum can be incredibly anxiety inducing and having a plan to manage that without high volume running will be important. This is another thing I’d encourage you to talk to a doctor about preconception.
I also day this kindly, but pregnancy and postpartum can be incredibly anxiety inducing and having a plan to manage that without high volume running will be important. This is another thing I’d encourage you to talk to a doctor about preconception.
@sahabds I’m writing this with so much love - but I think you might need to slow down and take a little time to focus on your own healing first. You’re young and have so much time to have kids, but I’m concerned about a lot of other things you’ve written in your post. Between your history of eating disorders and potentially unhealthy relationship with running, it may impact your periods (although only a doctor could tell you that) but what about when you are pregnant and the first trimester wrecks you - I was nauseous and certainly not exercising through most of it. Will you be mentally okay when you can’t keep up your routine or as you progress through pregnancy, will you be okay with the weight gain and how your body changes?
I would really encourage before you continue trying to conceive to focus on your own healing first - even if it’s a year or two
pregnancy is weird. I’m in the start of my second trimester and I’m exhausted and just started getting back into workouts but they’re different. I know this isn’t everyone’s story, tons of people maintain their exercise routine awhile but in case you can’t, I’d want to know you’d be okay and that some of this is just out of your control while you grow a human. sending love.
I would really encourage before you continue trying to conceive to focus on your own healing first - even if it’s a year or two
pregnancy is weird. I’m in the start of my second trimester and I’m exhausted and just started getting back into workouts but they’re different. I know this isn’t everyone’s story, tons of people maintain their exercise routine awhile but in case you can’t, I’d want to know you’d be okay and that some of this is just out of your control while you grow a human.
sending love.