Don't diet, just eat healthy. We have heard that before. But dieting is what many women are attempting to do, even as they are also trying to conceive. Are the two compatible?

Obesity makes it harder to conceive, that we know. Obese women may ovulate irregularly or even have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Doctors try to be gentle with this recommendation, but they would prefer that overweight patients lose weight before trying to conceive, especially if they are looking to try IVF. Part of the reason for their preference is that obesity is linked to a higher miscarriage rate.

But back to the question about dieting while trying to get pregnant. That depends on the diet. Any extreme diet, like Atkins, would be a bad idea. You need carbohydrates, although most of us eat far more carbs than we need. But these extreme diets play havoc, even if it is temporary, with glucose and insulin levels as well as other hormones. That can affect ovulation as well as implantation.

I know we hear so much about "good" versus "bad" fats, but you do need some cholesterol and saturated fats in your diet to make hormones. Now, trans fats are truly "bad" fats, so avoid those because they are toxic to reproductive cells. They are getting easier to avoid as many companies are removing them from processed products. The thing to watch with fats is that they are calorie-dense, so you can easily exceed your daily caloric intake with too much fats. The benefit of fats and proteins is that, because they are more calorie-dense than carbs, they fill you up longer. That leads to fewer spikes in your blood sugar during the day.

If your "diet" is simply cutting down on calories while maintaining a balance of healthy fats, proteins and some low glycemic index catbs (like apples rather than potatoes), that is a great idea. Doctors will tell you that the baby will take what he or she needs from you, which is reassuring, but you still don't want to be eating poorly.

Now, how do you know how many calories you need daily? There are calculators on the web that can calculate based on your height and weight and activity level how many calories you need daily to maintain your weight or to gain or lose. I have listed one calculator below, but there are many others.

The best idea is to be moderate. Talk with your doctor if you are overweight and trying to conceive about how much protein and calories you should obtain every day. And exercise! That helps you to lose weight as well as to control blood glucose levels. Good luck!