Losing weight in hopes to improve fertility

[TTCmama]

Anyone here doing the same?  I'd really like to find a daily check-in for this.  I have around 50# to lose.

Anyone game?

[objet_trouve]

I'm trying to lose weight to improve fertility and because I have hypertension. I'm 5'4 and 200 pounds, haven't been able to lose a single pound now for about 4 years, even when I exercised for an hour each day and had a mostly vegetarian diet. My doctors are baffled, have tried a wide range of hormone tests, ultra sounds, upper and lower endoscopy, omeprazole...I had psychiatric care for several years and they never saw signs that I could have an eating related disorder, and though I eat when depressed, I don't eat enough, or often enough, to account for the gain and inability to lose. I'm type 2 bipolar, and exercise when manic (and I'm more often manic than depressed, although lately I've been very stable with the help of fish oil and lifestyle modifications). The only medication I'm on is labetolol. We're about to move, so I can't get a new gym membership yet, but I will soon. We're rather on the poor side right now while my husband is looking for work, so whatever I do, I need it to be as inexpensive as possible.

My current theory is that I've messed up my metabolism by eating one or two big meals a day. I'm looking into trying to eat small meals throughout the day. I have an urge to snack anyway that I usually replace with cigarettes (I know, I know, I'm trying to quit), I'm hoping I can use that in my favor.

My current plans include going back to near vegetarianism, trying herbal supplements and/or vitamins, and finding exercise methods that will be healthier for my knees (I was mugged and beaten up several years ago and it damaged cartilage in my knees, causing them to swell up easily and make movement harder). I'm currently taking a break from quitting smoking, partly because I gain when I smoke and want to deal with getting healthier first, mostly because we're moving and quitting is a lot harder while moving. I use the patch when quitting.

I was skinny as a rail all my life, and some of the weight gain was actually pretty nice, aesthetically. I like not looking like a crack addict, having bigger boobs and actually having hips for once. But this has gone too far in the other direction and I need to be healthier.

Before weight gain (around 135 lbs):


Currently (202 lbs):