Fat and Fertile

Nicola Salmon
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
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Navigating getting pregnant in a weight-obsessed world can be really flipping hard, especially when everyone is telling you that you have to lose weight to access any kind of support.Join Nicola Salmon - fat-positive fertility coach and author of the book “Fat and Fertile” - as she explores the complexities that fat folks face when they want to grow their family.If you identify as fat or being in a bigger body, want to get pregnant and want to find a community of other folks navigating this, this podcast is for you.Learn more and get full show notes and transcripts at http://nicolasalmon.co.uk/fatandfertilepodcast fatpositivefertility.substack.com

  1. What You Can Actually Do to Support Your Fertility (That Isn't Dieting)

    3D AGO

    What You Can Actually Do to Support Your Fertility (That Isn't Dieting)

    This is episode four of Fat Fertility 101, and we're getting really practical about what you can actually do to support your fertility that doesn't involve dieting or weight loss. In the last episode, we busted the myth that you need to lose weight to get pregnant. Today I'm sharing evidence-based, weight-neutral approaches that can genuinely support your fertility and overall health. But first, something really important: diets don't work. If this is new information for you, that's okay. Take your time with it. Wherever you are in your relationship with dieting, I see you. In this episode, we cover: - Why diets don't work long term and the reality of intentional weight loss (including medications like Ozempic) - The three main health-promoting behaviors I focus on with folks: sleep and rest, movement, and food - How to reframe movement from punishment to care, and why "are you eating enough?" is the only food rule that matters - Supplements that actually have evidence behind them, including why the folic acid recommendation for fat folks is questionable - Why you shouldn't have to perform health or weight loss to access fertility care Useful Links: Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call Follow me on Instagram Email me a question for a future episode Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    26 min
  2. The Myths About Fat Fertility Are Complete BS

    FEB 17

    The Myths About Fat Fertility Are Complete BS

    This is episode three of Fat Fertility 101, and today we're diving into my absolute favourite topic: myth-busting. If you're in a bigger body and want to get pregnant, you've probably heard things like "fat people can't get pregnant" or "you need to lose weight first" or "you'll definitely get gestational diabetes." I'm here to tell you that so much of this is complete bollocks. Today we're going through the most common myths about fat fertility, and I'm sharing what the research actually says. Because you deserve to know the truth, not just what healthcare providers assume based on bias and fatphobia. In this episode, we cover: - Why the myth that "fat people struggle to get pregnant" is rooted in anti-fatness, not evidence, and what's actually true - The research on how long it takes fat folks to conceive (spoiler: it's one to two months longer, and that's about healthcare access, not our bodies) - Why weight loss research is deeply flawed and what actually matters for fertility (hint: it's behaviours, not the number on the scale) - The truth about PCOS, weight, and hormones, and why being fat doesn't cause hormonal issues - What the research really says about pregnancy risks in bigger bodies, including the actual statistics (not the fear-mongering versions) Useful Links: Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call Follow me on Instagram Email me a question for a future episode Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  3. Finding Your Fertile Window (Even When Cycles Don't Cooperate)

    FEB 10

    Finding Your Fertile Window (Even When Cycles Don't Cooperate)

    This is episode two of Fat Fertility 101, and we're getting practical about how to actually find your fertile window. In the last episode, we covered how the menstrual cycle works. Today we're diving into the details of figuring out when your body ovulates so you can time sex or insemination for the best chance of getting pregnant. For folks with irregular cycles (especially those with PCOS), this can feel like stabbing in the dark. So we're going through practical tools to help you figure this out, even if your cycles are all over the place. In this episode, we cover: - How to calculate your fertile window if you have relatively consistent cycles, using your last three cycles to find patterns - What to do when your cycles are completely irregular and tracking feels impossible - Three different ovulation tracking methods (BBT, OPKs, and devices like Mira) with honest pros and cons of each - Why ovulation predictor kits sometimes don't work for folks in bigger bodies and what's actually happening - Why trusting your body's signals matters more than any pee stick reading Useful Links: Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call Follow me on Instagram Email me a question for a future episode Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min
  4. Fat Fertility 101: What They Didn't Teach You About Your Cycle

    FEB 3

    Fat Fertility 101: What They Didn't Teach You About Your Cycle

    This is the first episode in a new mini-series I'm calling Fat Fertility 101, where we're going back to basics about fertility, but not the basics you learned in school. We're talking about real, practical information for understanding your body when you live in a bigger body and want to get pregnant. In this episode, we're breaking down the menstrual cycle, and I promise it won't look like those textbook diagrams. Because that "perfect" 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14? That's actually quite rare, and if your cycle doesn't look like that, nothing is wrong with you. In this episode, we cover: Why the textbook 28-day cycle is a myth and what's actually normal for most folks The two phases of your menstrual cycle and what hormones are doing in each phase How to identify your fertile window (it's only about six days, not the whole month) Signs of ovulation you can start noticing in your own body, from cervical mucus to energy shifts Why the second half of your cycle usually stays consistent even with irregular periods, and how that helps you understand your patterns Useful Links: Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call Follow me on Instagram Email me a question for a future episode Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min
  5. When "Unexplained Infertility" Actually Has an Explanation: Zoe's Story

    JAN 27

    When "Unexplained Infertility" Actually Has an Explanation: Zoe's Story

    Content note: This episode discusses weight loss, weight-based medical discrimination, and fertility challenges. Please take care of yourself as you listen. This week's episode is one that made me both furious and hopeful in equal measure. I sat down with Zoe, who spent years being told to lose weight before she'd be taken seriously about her fertility. After losing nearly four stone and still getting nowhere with UK fertility services, she went to Greece for testing and discovered extensive uterine scarring that would've prevented pregnancy entirely, regardless of her weight. If you've ever been dismissed by doctors who only see your body size, or if you're stuck in "unexplained infertility" territory, this episode is for you. Zoe's story shows why proper investigation matters and what becomes possible when you get the care you actually deserve. In this episode, we cover: - Why "unexplained infertility" often means "we haven't investigated properly" and what testing might be missing - How Zoe discovered extensive uterine scarring that was completely treatable but would never have been found in the UK system - The reality of accessing fertility care abroad and why Greece became the answer when UK services kept saying "lose weight first" - What a hysteroscopy revealed in 10 minutes that years of UK appointments had missed - Why weight loss couldn't have solved the actual problem and what that means for anyone being told their size is the issue Useful Links: Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call Follow me on Instagram Email me a question for a future episode Emma Haslam's work helping UK folks access fertility care abroad Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min
  6. When Your Doctor Says You Have PCOS But Only Looked at Your Weight

    JAN 20

    When Your Doctor Says You Have PCOS But Only Looked at Your Weight

    This week's episode tackles a question I hear far too often, and it gets me every single time: "My doctor says I have PCOS but only looked at my weight. What now?" If this is your experience, I want you to know something right away, what happened to you isn't medicine. It's bias dressed up as care, and you deserve so much better.In this episode, we cover: - What the Rotterdam criteria actually are and why they matter - Why weight doesn't cause PCOS (and why that distinction is so important) - Other conditions that might be going on if you haven't been properly tested - Practical ways to advocate for the healthcare you deserve - What to do if you suspect you've been misdiagnosed Useful Links: Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call Follow me on Instagram Email me a question for a future episode Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    27 min
  7. When Your GP Won't Test Your Fertility Until You Lose Weight

    JAN 13

    When Your GP Won't Test Your Fertility Until You Lose Weight

    Episode 23: When Your GP Won't Test Your Fertility Until You Lose Weight This week, we're tackling one of the most common issues fat folks face: being denied basic fertility testing until they lose weight. In this episode: - Why it's not your fault when doctors refuse testing based on weight - The basic fertility tests you deserve access to - When to seek testing - Why your sperm-producing partner should get tested first - How to advocate for yourself when doctors say no Key takeaway: You are not broken and you do not need fixing. The healthcare system needs fixing. There are absolutely tests that can and should be done regardless of your body size, and you deserve to have your health needs met. Resources: Book: "Fat and Fertile" - available on Amazon Instagram: @fatpositivefertility Email: nicola@nicolasalmon.co.uk Fat Positive Fertility Roadmaps: personalised 90-minute calls to create your fertility plan Send me your questions for future "In Your Corner" episodes via DM or email! Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    27 min

  8. 10/23/2025

    PCOS: Busting Myths and Weight-Neutral Care

    In this personal episode, I'm sharing my PCOS journey - from diagnosis at 16 to navigating fertility and finding weight-neutral care approaches. What We Cover: My PCOS story and unexpected fertility journey 3 major PCOS myths that need busting Weight-neutral care advice that doesn't involve weight-loss! Sponsored by Inofolic Alpha Plus - The only PCOS supplement designed for folks with BMI over 25. Use code NICOLAPOD for 10% off. Resources: Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Session Join the Substack community Get the book: Fat and Fertile Have questions about PCOS? Share your story in the Substack comments - I'd love to hear from you! Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe

    38 min
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About

Navigating getting pregnant in a weight-obsessed world can be really flipping hard, especially when everyone is telling you that you have to lose weight to access any kind of support.Join Nicola Salmon - fat-positive fertility coach and author of the book “Fat and Fertile” - as she explores the complexities that fat folks face when they want to grow their family.If you identify as fat or being in a bigger body, want to get pregnant and want to find a community of other folks navigating this, this podcast is for you.Learn more and get full show notes and transcripts at http://nicolasalmon.co.uk/fatandfertilepodcast fatpositivefertility.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Nicola Salmon
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Nicola Salmon
  • Show Website
    Fat and Fertile