The Fertility Fitness Podcast

Welcome to the show. Today, we're going to be answering some of the questions we've received from our listeners on various topics related to fitness and fertility. Topics covered,  "I am working out regularly, feeling good, and my clothes are fitting better, but the scale isn't really moving. What is happening, and how can I know if I am losing weight and getting healthier?" "How many calories do...

In this week's Fertility Focus, Maria shares helpful tips for establishing a morning workout routine.  The five key tips are as follows: Plan and commit to working out the night before, and prepare everything needed to minimise decision-making in the morning. Establish accountability by arranging to work out with a friend. Plan for a nutritious breakfast to avoid unhealthy food choices after the w...

Maria and Roisin discuss IVF and IVF add-ons in part 2 of their Navigating IVF episodes. They touch on the choice between fresh and frozen embryo cycles after egg collection, explaining the slow freezing and vitrification processes used to preserve the embryos. They also discuss the indefinite storage of frozen embryos and the success rates of fresh and frozen cycles, which depend on various facto...

In this week’s show I am talking about the beautiful hormone that is Oxytocin! This episode goes hand in hand with last week’s focus on Cortisol, so if you have not yet listened to the episode on Cortisol, please make sure you do. Oxytocin is commonly known as the love hormone, and whilst it’s main function is to help with child birth, it can also be a huge factor in bonding, feeling love, reducin...

Maria and Roisin are discussing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and its complexities.  IVF is not commonly discussed in everyday conversations and often requires medical knowledge to understand the terminology.  Every single person has a different IVF story and whenever I speak to clients and whenever I have consultations, I'm always really taken aback by how different every single person is: Maria....

In this week's focus Maria is talking about the hormone cortisol which  is the primary stress hormone in the body and plays a crucial role in regulating sleep cycles, blood sugar, blood pressure, and reducing inflammation. However, elevated levels of cortisol due to chronic stress can negatively impact reproductive hormones and lead to infertility. Cortisol can also affect other regulatory systems...

Amber Izzo is a self confessed avid tea drinker, wine enthusiast and lover of the TV show Friends. She is also a fellow member of the infertility community after finding out that her tubes were blocked, which despite best efforts ultimately ended up in her having to have both fallopian tubes removed. Crucially, Amber lead the the Fight For IVF campaign, which resulted in Cambridgeshire and Peterbo...

This weeks  Fertility Focus is on dopamine and its role in supporting fertility. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, optimism, and reward. It can also support fertility by restraining prolactin levels. High prolactin levels can interfere with ovulation and cause other symptoms such as irregular menstrual periods and milk discharge from breasts. A blood te...

This week we are joined by  Hannah Vaughan Jones  international broadcaster, consultant, and director who has gone through 15 rounds of IVF before conceiving her son Sunny. Hannah shares her experience with infertility, which was caused by male and female factors. She also talks about the toll that fertility treatments take on individuals and couples.  Hannah and her husband had conversations abou...

On this week's show Maria recommend's five fertility-focused books, films, and documentaries.  "One More Shot" is a documentary that follows a couple's fertility journey, documenting their highs and lows. " Romeo Romeo" is a film that follows two women's journey through IVF while maintaining their relationship. "It Starts with the Egg" is a book by Rebecca Fett that provides information on improvi...

On this weeks show we discuss supplements for fertility and fitness. Supplements can be helpful but it's important to seek advice from your doctor because they can be complicated. Good nutrition is essential for fertility and supplements are meant to be an addition to the diet when needed.  Supplements we covered  Folic acid i Acetyl L-carnitine Myoinositol CoQ10 Maria, is a PT who specialises in...

On this weeks Fertility Focus, Maria talks about 5 things that need to be remembered when having sex while trying to conceive. Lubricant, planning sex around ovulation isn’t really sexy and some medication can lead to vaginal dryness.   Timing is crucial, look for those signs that you are about to ovulate. Track your basal body temperature to help you understand if you have ovulated.  Communicatio...

Jessica Hepburn is an award-winning author, arts producer and adventure activist who has become one of the UK’s leading voices on fertility and family, as well as endurance sport. In 2022, Jessica became the first woman in the world to achieve ‘The Sea, Street, Summit Challenge’ – swim the English Channel, run a road marathon (London) and summit Mount Everest. She has been nominated as one of Amne...

In this weeks focus, Maria discusses running and how to get into it. Start slow. Really slow.  Hydrate. Being dehydrated makes a massive difference to how comfortable the run feels.  Run with a friend.  Food is fuel.  Try a park run or running club.  Follow Maria www.instagram.com/fitness_fertility https://twitter.com/fitnessfertili1  www.facebook.com/fitnessfertility This Podcast is a Worth a Lis...

This week we talk about the importance of our metabolism and our metabolic rate. This is crucial for anyone trying to manage their BMI, especially in relation to fertility treatment.  We cover; What is our  metabolic rate, why it is important and how this all relates to fertility? What is NEAT? Why does it slow down? How can we speed it back up? Why is eating more and clod showers will really help...

Welcome to this week’s show. We all know that if you are on this infertility journey with a partner then it can really take a toll on your relationship. So, with today being Valentine's Day, this week’s episode is focusing on couples workouts; as the saying goes, couples who train together stay together. Here are 5 ways you can work out effectively as a couple.  Make use of the time after the work...

In this week’s show we are discussing training techniques you can use to really spice up your workout. Follow Maria www.instagram.com/fitness_fertility https://twitter.com/fitnessfertili1  www.facebook.com/fitnessfertility This Podcast is a Worth a Listen production   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diag...

In this weeks Fertility Focus we are zeroing in on sleep and how to get more of it! From   our devices that directly affect our melatonin levels, to food to avoid and much more. Tune in to get some badly needed rest!   Follow Maria www.instagram.com/fitness_fertility https://twitter.com/fitnessfertili1  www.facebook.com/fitnessfertility This Podcast is a Worth a Listen production   DISCLAIMER: The...

This week we are talking about testosterone and why it s important for your fertility. Topics we covered  this week. Testosterone is an androgen (male) hormone. In women, testosterone production is split between the ovaries and adrenals. testosterone is a necessary hormone for a woman’s sexuality, libido and energy. A recent study shows overweight women given testosterone lose more body fat and ab...

Key factors you need to consider when training for fertility.  1.. Time to treatment. If you are three months or more away from treatment, then you can afford to work out with more intensity. 2. if you have less than three months to treatment, then you must consider your intensity. Aim for around a 6 out of 10 3. Time you're spending working out  4.  Consider weight training  5. Do not skip your c...

This week we are explaining the incredible hormone that is Progesterone.  This hormone is a powerhouse in the world of fertility, an for good reason. Topics covered in this show are:- • What is a normal cycle? • When does progesterone come in and why is it important? • How does it work with Estrogen? • Can foods help improve Progesterone? • Can training help improve Progesterone? Maria, is a PT wh...

In this week's show Maria discusses five mistakes you need to avoid when trying to lose weight.  Eating more than you are burning.  You’re not eating all day to try and skip meals.  You’re not eating enough.  You’re drinking calories.  Eat your greens.  Maria, is a PT who specialises in helping women have babies.  www.instagram.com/fitness_fertility https://twitter.com/fitnessfertili1  www.faceboo...

 This week Maria and Roisin discussed the beautiful hormone Estrogen and how important it is for your fertility. Topics covered In this week's show, we are touching on a topic close to both our hearts. Hormones. What are Hormones and what do they do? Different hormones connected to fertility? Focus on Estrogen and how it works? Low Estrogen, how to improve it? High Estrogen, how to lower it? Follo...

This weekly minisode is designed to help you improve your fertility. Every Tuesday Maria will be focusing on actionable steps to help you take control of your own trying to conceive journey.  How to achieve Habit change Start small , Pick one small habit that you'd like to change and focus on that. Make your goal specific;  You must state your intention. So where, when and how. Consider smart targ...

This week Maria and Roisin discuss diets. If you are confused about Keto, perplexed about Paleo and fed up with fasting, welcome to the club. We have both dabbled with the odd diet in the past and tried some real corkers.  Topics: Roisin has tried almost every diet imaginable, including the cabbage soup diet The Paleo diet is sometimes referred to as the “Caveman diet” Intermittent Fasting, time r...