Teacher loses FOUR STONE in under a year in a bid to conceive a baby through IVF

A teacher who is desperate to have a baby has revealed how she lost more than four stone in under a year in the hope of conceiving through IVF.

Hannah Doyle, 32, from Selby, North Yorkshire suffered a miscarriage in the weeks following her wedding to her husband, Martin in 2013.

Her weight began to creep up as she focused on falling pregnant again, reaching her peak weight of 15st 3lbs and a UK size 18 to 20.

When she visited her doctor in March 2016, she was diagnosed with unexplained infertility and was told to reduce her Body Mass Index (BMI) by shedding three-stone to help her chances of conceiving with IVF.

After her weight loss: Hannah has a new healthy diet and fitness regime

Hannah pictured before her weight loss (left), used to eat fish and chips for dinner and snack on chocolate. To lose weight (right), she has swapped takeaway dinners for healthy chicken and vegetables

After: Hannah Doyle, 32, from North Yorkshire pictured after losing four stone in under a year in a bid to conceive a baby through IVF

After: Hannah Doyle, 32, from North Yorkshire pictured after losing four stone in under a year in a bid to conceive a baby through IVF

Before: Hannah's weight crept up after suffering a miscarriage as she focused on falling pregnant. At her peak weight (pictured) she was 15st 3lbs and wore size 18 to 20 clothes

Before: Hannah’s weight crept up after suffering a miscarriage as she focused on falling pregnant. At her peak weight (pictured) she was 15st 3lbs and wore size 18 to 20 clothes

Hannah has since beaten her doctor’s target and slimmed down to 11st and a UK size 12, and hopes it will increase her chances of falling pregnant as she undergoes fertility treatment.  

She said: ‘I have always been slightly overweight, but following on from my wedding I suffered a miscarriage and for the next two years my weight crept up as my focus was all about falling pregnant.

‘Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and we were referred for sub-fertility tests where I was told I needed to lose three-stone to reduce my BMI in order to qualify for IVF treatment should we need it.’  

She began her first round of IVF in July 2017 and has since become physically active by running four-times-a-week after re-joining Slimming World; which she originally joined in the run up to her wedding when she initially lost one-and-a-half-stone.

Hannah and her husband Martin after her four stone weight loss. Hannah said losing weight might be the only way she could give herself and her husband Martin a chance at having a family one day

Hannah and her husband Martin after her four stone weight loss. Hannah said losing weight might be the only way she could give herself and her husband Martin a chance at having a family one day

Before the weight loss Hannah hadn't noticed how big she has got as the weight steadily crept on over the years

Before the weight loss Hannah hadn’t noticed how big she has got as the weight steadily crept on over the years

Hannah shown before her weight loss (on the left) and after her transformation (right). The teacher used to consume nearly 5,000 calories a day but has now reduced her intake to between 1,200 and 1,500

Hannah shown before her weight loss (on the left) and after her transformation (right). The teacher used to consume nearly 5,000 calories a day but has now reduced her intake to between 1,200 and 1,500

She said: ‘My main reason for losing weight was in response to our infertility journey. However, I was shocked by photos I saw of myself from a friend’s hen do where I looked enormous.

‘I knew that health-wise, I needed to focus on myself. I was wearing size eighteen to twenty clothes and as the weight had gone on steadily over a period of around two-years I hadn’t noticed how big I had got.

Hannah’s GP gave her a target BMI to work towards in order to receive fertility treatment. 

She said: ‘I set my target to lose just over four-stone to ensure my health was as good as possible. I knew that it might be the only way I could give my husband and I the chance to have a family one day.

Before the weight loss: Hannah used to do no exercise and eat a high-carb diet

Before the weight loss: Hannah used to do no exercise and eat a high-carb diet

What a difference: Hannah shows the drastic change, going from a UK size 18-20 to a size 12

What a difference: Hannah shows the drastic change, going from a UK size 18-20 to a size 12

Hannah before her weight loss was desperate for a baby so flipped her lifestyle in a bid to lose weight

Hannah after her dramatic weight loss. The 32-year-old was told she had to lose three stone in order to conceive via IVF

Hannah before her weight loss was desperate for a baby so flipped her lifestyle in a bid to lose weight to help her conceive

‘Not only was I able to qualify for the treatment but my overall health has improved vastly. Whilst our treatment has yet to be successful, I believe that I have given myself the best chance of having a family by ensuring my health is as good as possible.

Hannah is now a size 12 and says she feels much fitter. She is now able to run ten kilometres without stopping and is training for a half marathon.

She added: ‘My confidence has increased hugely, and my hair, skin and general health is much better. I am very happy with how I look; I’m much more confident in many aspects of life and really proud that I have been able to achieve such a significant weight loss.

‘It takes a lot of determination and willpower over a long period of time to get results and if it were easy, everyone would be slim, I guess.

Hannah pictured after her incredible weight loss. As well as increasing her chances of conceiving through IVF, Hannah's new diet and exercise regime makes her feel more confident

Hannah pictured after her incredible weight loss. As well as increasing her chances of conceiving through IVF, Hannah’s new diet and exercise regime makes her feel more confident

Hannah before and after her dramatic four stone weight loss which has helped her feel more confident and she is much more happy with how she looks

Hannah before and after her dramatic four stone weight loss which has helped her feel more confident and she is much more happy with how she looks

‘But the feeling each week of stepping on the scales knowing I’d made good choices and they show in the numbers was great.’

While Hannah would do no exercise and indulge daily in a high carbohydrate diet of two slices of buttered white toast, cheese sandwich, an evening meal of fish and chips and two packets of crisps and a chocolate bar, she now commits to running four-times-a-week.

Before her transformation: Hannah has re-joined Slimming World and now runs four times a week

Before her transformation: Hannah has re-joined Slimming World and now runs four times a week

Her breakfast now consists of poached eggs on wholemeal toast with spinach, for lunch she has a ham salad and enjoys homemade chicken, roasted vegetables and rice for her dinner.

She used to consume up to 5,000 calories a day, while now she has reduced her intake to between 1,200 and 1,500.

She says that making good choices in her exercise and diet has not only made her feel more confident, but also increased her chances of conceiving through IVF treatment. However, it has also made socialising with friends difficult.

‘It can be hard in social situations for example eating out, or nights out with friends, but it all becomes about choice,’ she said.

‘There will always be low-fat, low-calorie options on any menu and you can swap out chips for a jacket potato or salad.

‘On the days where my ‘choices’ weren’t the best they could be; I just had to start again and not let it escalate into a week of bad choices.

Hannah has received lots of lovely compliments about her weight loss and admits some people are shocked when they see her. 

She said willpower is key when it comes to weight loss. 

‘I think you have to be in the right frame of mind and know that you have the willpower to sustain your weight loss as it takes time and you really do have to take each day at a time.

‘My advice is to plan, plan, plan. I tend to plan a day ahead of myself but I know some people plan their whole week.’

To find your nearest Slimming World group, call 0344 897 8000 or visit Slimming World

Hannah showing the transition of her weight loss journey, going from a UK size 18-20 to a size 12 in under a year 

Hannah showing the transition of her weight loss journey, going from a UK size 18-20 to a size 12 in under a year 

After not doing any exercise, Hannah now runs four times a week and is training for a half marathon. She has shed more than four stone in just under a year 

After not doing any exercise, Hannah now runs four times a week and is training for a half marathon. She has shed more than four stone in just under a year 

 

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