After struggling seven years to conceive, an obese couple lost an astounding 432 pounds, which is nearly 31 pier or 195 kilograms, so that they can become parents.
Dustin Hall and his wife Raquel, after the doctors told them that only then they can finally have a chance to become parents, shed 317lbs, and 115lbs respectively.
So, sometime in July 2016, the 37 years old Dustin went through a gastric bypass and took a high-protein, low-carb diet, and in just two and a half years, his weight went from 534lbs to 217lbs.
Raquel, Dustins' 34 years old wife, got inspired by his successful journey, so in December 2018, she had the same service.
Racquel said, "He already had a six-pack by the time I started." She added that it really hit her when her husband suddenly weighed less than she did. She didn't want that.
A dream come true for the once obese couple
She learned they were pregnant in April 2020. On a pregnancy test, Raquel had never seen the two lines before. They randomly took a test, and it showed a very faint second line. He added that they decided to get a second test to confirm it was positive.
"My eyes lit up, I looked at my wife, and I was speechless," he said, convinced the weight loss journey is what helped them be able to conceive.
The couple thought then that they finally are healthy and that they accomplished their goal.
On 21 December 2020, the Lathrop, Northern California, USA couple became parents. They believe that weight loss made it possible for them to experience parenthood.
"My pursuit of getting healthy was so that I would be able to pick up my child and get down on one knee to play with her," Dustin said.
Raquel, who works for a non-profit organization, also narrated that they have been trying it for seven years and were already frustrated. She shares that all calories burned, every sweaty moment in the gym is worth being a mom every second weight loss.
"Losing weight allowed me to get a life I didn't know I could have," Raquel added that it is still the most fantastic dream and even better than she imagined.
It was a different level of dedication for Dustin, though. His doctors had told Dustin that he would die in six months if he didn't shorten his bulky body.
For Dustin, the whole weight took two and a half years and went from 7XL too big maximum sizes.
Dustin recalled, "He said that if I didn't turn things around, I might not be here in six months." The conversation with his doctors scared him into shape.
He experienced a hard time breathing in the middle of the night, couldn't tie his shoes. He couldn't even walk more than 100 yards without having to sit down.
Dustin also admitted that he has been genuinely uneducated in food. He'd have between 13,000 and 15,000 calories a day everywhere, and he would go to Taco Bell for lunch with 2500 calories. In a day, he could drink 2- or 3-liter soda bottles.
But Dustin is a totally new person now. He concentrates on food and whole food and stays away from food that has been processed. He has been doing HIIT training and also looked at why I've been using food for coping.
Dustin said, "Mindful meditation was essential for me - just taking a few moments to practice breathing."
READ MORE: Investing In, and Preparing For, Your Future Pregnancy
How obesity affects getting pregnant
Obesity or being severely overweight will make it difficult to conceive. What is the reason for this? The hormone levels that cause ovulation, as well as your progesterone and estrogen levels, are in a complex tango. Higher estrogen levels are produced by fat cells, which can function against your body when you're attempting to ovulate.
While having out-of-balance hormone levels doesn't necessarily mean you'll have difficulty getting pregnant, you may have irregular ovulation and menstrual cycles, making it more difficult to conceive.
A man's fertility can be affected by being extremely overweight or obese. This is most likely due to several factors, including hormone issues, erection issues, and other obesity-related health issues.
Men who have been overweight or obese can strengthen their total sperm count and quality by losing weight. It's possible to improve your chances of conception by losing weight at least three months before trying to conceive. This is because sperm requires three months to mature, and staying in a healthy weight range during this period aids in the development of healthy sperm.
