Why Do I Lose Weight On My Period

Combating The Side Effects

Period LIFE HACKS | How To Lose Weight When On YOUR PERIOD !!!!

You should combat the side effects of your period the way you would with any other bulge, exercise. You should actually drink a lot of water to help you rid yourself of water retention. Avoiding fatty foods, alcohol, and salt will help you in your journey. These foods actually trigger your body to hold onto water.

What about that weight that doesnt disappear after your period? This is the weight that could be from those pre-period cravings. Craving and eating salty, greasy foods, and sweets cause you to actually gain weight that will not come off after a period. So, before you go for that cheeseburger thing about whether or not you want to carry more weight after your period.

Moral of the story: check your weight but dont let it control your emotions. Do not get paranoid about it.

Losing Weight When Overweight

If you are significantly overweight, especially if your BMI is over 35, it is likely that you are not getting your periods regularly. Your increased fat mass or adipose tissue produces extra estrogen that is partly responsible for problems with your ovulation and missed periods.

The excess estrogen associated with obesity can increase your risk of breast and uterine cancer. Losing weight will restore your regular periods and correct your estrogen excess.

Having regular periods is a good indicator of relative hormonal balance in your body. Both the extremes of being very underweight or very overweight result in hormonal imbalances that stop your periods and over time can lead to serious health issues.

You can correct the hormonal imbalances by either gaining or by losing weight to achieve a healthy BMI. This should restart your ovulation and your periods.

Period Weight Gain Treatment

The most useful things you can do to alleviate period weight gain from fluid retention are to avoid certain foods, continue to exercise, and drink plenty of water. Here are some additional options:

  • Magnesium and calcium supplements Magnesium and/or calcium supplements may help alleviate fluid retention caused by your menstrual cycle. A recent study found that low calcium and magnesium levels during the luteal phase lead to more severe PMS symptoms, including weight gain and bloating associated with fluid retention. Always talk to your health care provider before starting any new medication, including supplements, as they can interact with other medications that you may already be taking.
  • Diuretics Diuretics draw fluid from the body and cause increased urination. You should only take diuretics if prescribed by a health care provider.

If you experience monthly weight gain despite making these changes, you may want to consult your health care provider. They may ask you to keep a symptom diary and suggest alternative options.

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Youre Overloading On Caffeine

It’s really tempting to load up on caffeinated beverages during your period because you feel so damn tired. But suddenly introducing more coffee into your diet can also introduce some, uh, gastrointestinal issues toonamely bloating and discomfort.

But coffee’s not the only culprit. Anything with caffeine contributes to thisand that goes double for carbonated drinks.

Some women are also often mistaken in thinking carbonated beverages are hydrating,” says Sara Twogood, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. But that’s not the case, especially since soft drinks usually also come with a ton of added sugar or artificial sweeteners, which are even worse for bloating.

Is It Harder To Lose Weight On Your Period How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects Weight Loss

Not Underweight But No Period? Why It Happens

You’re probably here because you want to lose weight, get in shape, and feel more comfortable in your own skin. But there’s a monthly spanner in the works. So you’re wondering if it really is harder to lose weight on your period. Or are you doing something wrong?

You’re not alone.

But you’re in luck. Because this article is going to answer all your questions.

Here’s what you’re going to find out.

  • How hormones change during the menstrual cycle and what that means for weight loss.
  • The point in your monthly cycle where hunger is likely to increase.
  • Practical tips to navigate your period and still lose weight.

So, is it harder to lose weight on your period? It’s time to find out…

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What To Expect While Weighing Myself

The scale can be a very helpful tool in your health journey. You must know when and how to weigh yourself to get accurate and helpful information from the scale.

Whatever weigh-in frequency you choose, you must remember the following things while stepping on the scale:

  • After consuming breakfast or fluids, you may get fluctuations in your actual weight. Therefore, weigh yourself in the morning after peeing and before consuming anything.
  • If you like to weigh frequently, remember that daily fluctuations in weight are quite common. Therefore, even if you get more weight than the previous day, it generally does not count as weight gain. Therefore, avoid any instant speculations about failure of your weight control program.
  • Even after exercising a lot, if you find no major change for a while, it is not necessarily a bad sign. If you can still experience inch loss or a decrease in your body fat content and feel healthier, it is a good sign.
  • Some signals other than scale numbers are also equally important. The change in appearance and one’s own body image perceptions after some time spent in a weight loss program is also a sign of success. If you feel stronger and your body is more flexible and active, then it is a sign that the weight loss program is working for you.

Food Cravings Or Overeating

The hormonal changes during your period can also make you overeat.

In the week before your period, progesterone levels increase. Progesterone is an appetite stimulant. As progesterone rises, you might eat more than usual.

Estrogen also regulates serotonin, a neurotransmitter that controls mood and reduces appetite. When estrogen drops right before your period, so does serotonin. The result is a bigger appetite.

Low serotonin can also increase sugar cravings because high-carbohydrate foods help the body make serotonin. If serotonin is low, the brain craves more sugar. Eating high-sugar foods can increase your calorie intake and lead to weight gain.

Your metabolic rate fluctuates during your menstrual cycle, so when it rises and your body is burning more calories you might have a bigger appetite and crave high-calorie foods.

Recommended Reading: How You Know Your Period Is Coming

How Does Exercise Impact Menstruation

There are two reasons why an athlete, or someone who has an extremely intense exercise regime, may not have a regular cycle, or may not have periods at all. Firstly, as mentioned above, athletes tend to have very low body fat. Secondly, considerable exercise can put the body under considerable stress, which itself can affect the menstrual cycle. The body views that as a serious negative for a successful pregnancy, says Dr. Gersh, So the body shuts those systems down.

The way that physical stress can stop periods from occurring works in a similar way that mental stress can cause amenorrhea. The systems are all interconnected, says Dr. Gersh. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-ovarian axis is an amazingly complex system in which any one of the components can interrupt the whole. Stress works to increase cortisol and cortisol, over time, alters the gut. With leaky gut, the immune system is exposed to lots of endotoxin. This leads to an inflammatory state in the body, which leads to more cortisol. In turn, the high cortisol interferes with proper ovarian function.

Rapid Weight Loss And How It Affects Your Period

Weight Loss on Your Period

J.B.

Flip through any fashion magazine and youre bombarded with images of perfect bodies. There they are stick-thin women with perfect hair and makeup, sometimes draped over hunky guys with abs of steel. Most of us know these images arent real life theyre an advertising ploy designed to sell the latest in fashion or makeup or shampoo.

What is the perfect body, the perfect weight? The answer could depend on where you live. Not all cultures value slender bodies. According to Bradley University, in Fiji larger bodies are symbols of health and connectedness to the community. People who lose a lot of weight or are very thin are regarded with suspicion or pity. In Jamaica, plump bodies are considered healthiest and most attractive. In western culture, a lean body is considered the beau ideal.

The National Institutes of Health provides a Body Mass Index calculator to provide an indication of whether someone is in the underweight, normal, overweight, or obese range. The BMI is just a loose guide to determining a healthy weight. It isnt a fail-safe and doesnt take into account factors such as age, muscle mass, bone density, or overall body composition .

There is no such thing as the perfect weight for everyone. Your ideal weight is a personal, individual thing.

Dr. Donald Hensrud recommends a moderate rate of weight loss, typically one or two pounds a week, based on a safe and healthy approach with lifestyle changes in eating and exercise.

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How Can We Treat It

There is no magic formula to help you with shedding the excess weight gain during your period. You need to spend effort on preventing excess water retention, in order to not gain a lot of weight. Moreover, if you are wondering how long after your period do you lose water weight, it totally depends on how well you work on it. Anyhow, here are a few ways you can avoid water retention during your period and stay in shape:

How Much Weight Is Considered Normal To Gain During Your Period

It’s not uncommon for the scale to swing, regardless of having a period or not, explains Charis Chambers, MD, a gynecologist in Houston. “An average adult has weight fluctuations of up to five pounds in a single day, so it is safe to say that weight changes within that range are normal,” Dr. Chambers sayson your period or not.

But PMS can make it more likely that you will experience these weight fluctuations, says Dr. Chambers, who adds that bloating and weight gain are some of the physical symptoms associated with PMS.

So how much weight gain is normal? Many women typically see around two to six pounds of weight gain around their period, but every body is different. Though if you’re experiencing rapid or persistent weight gain, it’s best to speak with a doctor who can determine if there are other issues at play besides your period. Dr. Chambers also recommends seeking medical advice if you feel like your PMS symptoms are beginning to interfere with your life.

If you want to know learn more about period weight gain, here are five reasons why those numbers on the scale seem to inch up during your period. Plus, doctors explain how to combat that weight gain and bloating to make your time of the month a little less uncomfy.

Recommended Reading: If You Have Irregular Periods Can You Get Pregnant

Tackle Food Cravings With Exercise

Any physical activity, from swimming to running, that gets the heart going will raise serotonin and lower cortisol levels, Peeke says. Though most experts recommend working out for 30 minutes, four to six times a week, even a 10-minute walk will put a serious dent in your cravings, she says.

Plus, if you sweat a lot, you’ll get rid of water and feel less bloated, Wurtman says. And once you get going, anger dissipates, “so you may not feel like murdering your colleagues.”

Some studies suggest that mind-body activities such as yoga and tai chi can help calm a woman while lowering cortisol and increasing serotonin levels, Peeke says. And a massage by an experienced therapist evokes the same benefits. “That’s also why a good massage makes you so sleepy.”

Losing Weight From A Normal Weight

Pin on How To Lose Weight

Just like weight gain, there is no defined amount of weight loss that results in missed periods when starting from a normal weight. The more weight you lose and the faster you lose it, the more likely your period will be affected.

Sudden and significant calorie restriction paired with strenuous exercise may cause a stress response that alters your hormone levels, interrupts ovulation, and causes you to miss your period. This results in a lower estrogen level in your body, which is especially harmful to your bone health.

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How Does Menopause Affect Weight Loss

It can be harder to lose weight after menopause. In fact, many women gain an average of 5 pounds after menopause.5 Lower estrogen levels may play a role in weight gain after menopause. But weight gain may be caused by your metabolism slowing down as you age, less-healthful eating habits, and being less active. You also lose muscle mass as you age, so you use fewer calories.

Staying active and eating healthy foods can help you stay on track with your weight-loss goals.

How Much Period Weight Gain Is Normal

Whilst every woman differs, the general consensus is that us females can gain between 1 to 2 kg of weight during our period.

Around the time of your period you may notice your weight gain is more than at other times during your menstrual cycle and some women can notice between 1-2kg during this time, Dr Ellie tells us.

Alison Cullen, a Nutrition Practitioner and Health Education Manager for A.Vogel agrees:

Some women barely notice their period, with just a little bloating during their bleed, she says. Others may find their weight bobbing around by as much as 3-5lb/1-2kg.

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You Dont Really Feel Like Going To The Gym Tbh

You feel irritable and tiredI get it. But even though hitting the gym may be the last thing on your mind, working up a sweat might help keep your body feeling normal, says Dabney.

That’s because sweating helps you shed extra water weight. Plus, that endorphin boost can squash cramps, she notes. Then again, if you’re not feeling a sweat session, there’s nothing wrong with taking a day off.

I Just Got My Period And Im Gaining Weight Whats Going On

Losing my period.

Im 15 and I just started my period. I have noticed that I am gaining weight in many places, like my stomach and thighs. I weigh about 145 and am 510. I run cross country in the fall, play basketball in the winter, do soccer in the spring, and am exercising every day. I also eat pretty well sometimes I will have some chips or something but I always have wheat bread and eat healthy. So what do I do? Maybe I eat too much? Or is there a good exercise that can help me lose weight? Raye*

First, congratulations on your good exercise and eating habits! Based on your height and weight, your body mass index is in the healthy weight range. So what could be going on?

Getting your period and developing into a woman usually comes with changes in how a girls body looks and the places where she carries her weight. Its normal to gain weight in the areas you mention. Sometimes, a girl gets extra weight around the midsection in preparation for a growth spurt. During puberty, body fat increases and is redistributed, especially in the hips and thighs. Weight should stabilize as growth slows and a girl reaches her adult height usually a couple of years after her first period.

It can be hard adjusting emotionally to a new body especially one that seems to keep changing. Both guys and girls go through this. Eventually it all balances out and most people feel less out of step and more comfortable with their new body.

Date reviewed: November 2013

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