Thinking about starting a family in the future? Maybe babies are on your 2026 bingo card, or you’re just trying to get your body back to a place where you feel confident, strong, and stable again. Either way, this blog is your go-to guide for understanding how your metabolism health plays a massive role in your metabolic health during pregnancy and sometimes even your postpartum recovery.

Let’s spill the tea on what no one talks about enough 👇🏼

What Your Metabolism Has to Do with Pregnancy (Hint: Everything)

Your metabolism isn’t just about how many calories you burn, it’s your body’s entire energy system. 

When it’s running strong, everything else runs smoother too:

• Hormone function 🧠
  
• Ovulation 💛
  
• Blood sugar + mood regulation 🩸
  
• Thyroid + adrenal support 🔋

But when your metabolism is slowed from chronic under-eating, overtraining, stress, or restrictive diets? It sends your body the message: “Hey, we are feeling underfueled and unsafe.”

Spoiler: a lot of women unknowingly enter pregnancy already eating less than they should.

Why Pregnancy Is One of the Most Metabolically Demanding Seasons

Here’s what’s wild, pregnancy isn’t just about growing a baby.

You’re also growing an entire organ (the placenta), expanding blood volume, balancing shifting hormones, and keeping your own body alive and functioning.

In other words: Your body’s calorie and nutrient needs skyrocket.

Here’s the general breakdown:

• Trimester 1: Little to no increase (nausea often makes eating harder anyway)
  
• Trimester 2: ~300 extra calories/day
  
• Trimester 3: ~400–500 extra calories/day
  

But if you’re starting pregnancy from a low intake like 1200–1600 calories? Those extra calorie needs feel like a mountain. 

And yep, it can make postpartum recovery feel 10x harder too.

Why You Should Reverse Diet Before TTC

This is where reverse dieting comes in, and no, it’s not a trendy gimmick. It’s a strategic process to restore your metabolism, bring your hormones back into balance, and allow your body to function optimally before a pregnancy ever begins.

A solid reverse diet can help you:

• Restore healthy ovulation cycles
  
• Support hormone production and balance
  
• Increase intake without mass fat gain
  
• Build up nutrient reserves like protein, B vitamins, iron, omega-3s
  
• Stabilize blood sugar before it becomes a complication during pregnancy
  

By the time you’re ready to conceive, you’re not just ready. You’re thriving.

If you’re not sure where your metabolism currently sits, this is a great time to figure it out. Start with the Heal Your Metabolism Starter Kit — it walks you through the basics.

What to Focus on Now (Even If You’re Not TTC Yet)

Here’s where I’d start if I were building from the ground up 👇🏼

• Start tracking your intake: most women are surprised by how little they’re eating
  
• Focus on protein, carbs, and fats: all 3 support hormones and fetal development
  
• Strength train (not cardio bootcamps)!
  
• Ditch extremes: no to low-carb, low-fat, or intermittent fasting
  
• Prioritize sleep, blood sugar balance, and stress regulation
  
• And if your intake is low? It’s time to start your reverse diet now
  

Even if pregnancy is 1–2 years away, this is an even better time for you to start your metabolism health journey so your future body will thank you.

Real-Life Client Example

One of my clients came to me eating around 1600 calories with irregular periods, bloating, and fatigue. Over time, we reverse dieted her up to 2400+ cals, her cycle normalized, energy came back, digestion improved! The best part? At 33, she got pregnant naturally.

She told me during her second trimester:

💬 “I can’t imagine doing this if I was still scared of carbs or barely eating.”

It’s a whole different experience when you go in well-fueled and hormonally balanced.

Related Episodes That’ll Deepen Your Understanding

→ Listen to: What is a Reverse Diet and How Does it Work?

→ Also check out: Overcoming the Mental Struggle of Eating More Calories During a Reverse Diet

My Honest Final Thoughts

Your body isn’t broken. You don’t need to wait until you’re actively TTC to start making changes.

In fact, what you do now sets the tone for your energy, hormones, and recovery later.

If you want a healthy pregnancy, and feel like your metabolism might be holding you back, it’s time to heal first.

Curious where to begin? Start tracking your macros and see where you’re really at. You can use the CSchmidt Macro Calculator to get your customized starting point.

And if you’re in a fat loss plateau already and know it’s time to heal? I’ve got you, we’ll reverse diet the smart, strategic way.

Disclaimer: my team and I are metabolism, hormone, and fat loss experts. This blog and podcast episode is not intended to be used as medical advice, nor is it fertility advice.