At my wits end

chaarlotte289

I posted on a different thread a month or so ago, but am really struggling for some guidance. My story in a nutshell is.. was maintaining on 2500 calories (light-moderately active) for a good month or two back in October. I cut my calories to 200-2100 while starting a more active job and gained 5lbs. My periods have always been irregular and now I've gotten my first one after about a year... However, my doctor does not want me having a period at 20 because of side effects + severe endometriosis that effects my everyday life (basically I'm throwing up from both ends and in extreme pain for the whole time). I was around 2300 Amorites and my weight was stabilized to some point but not down from the 5lbs I had randomly gained. With my period I'm up another pound and a half and my doctor and gyno suggested I loose 2-4lbs in order to not get my period. To be honest, I do have some eating disorder tendensies caused by stress and am really unhappy with my overall apperence after gaining the 5lbs (I'm only 5'3 and very petite). My immediate thought is to go down to around 1700 calories with 60-75 minutes of elliptical a day in hopes of loosing but I feel like once I loose the weight I will gain it back by increasing...
I literally have no clue what to do, I just wanna loose the weight that I somehow gained from LOWERING my calories and feel better
Thanks to anyone who's read this entire thing.

ilex70

Sorry you are dealing with annoying medical issues.

I am curious why your doctors would recommend weight loss to stop your menstrual cycle. Couldn't you use birth control pills to suppress it, or is that a no go due to some other complication?

The only thing I know of to maintain/improve metabolism is to add muscle so I would look at strength training over increasing cardio at this point. Over time it could help you look better at a higher weight too.

chandanista

Your gyno does know there are drugs that will take away your period, right? I didn't have one for years...

Beyond that. How accurate is your logging? Every bite weighed and measured? I personally would hold off on extreme cardio if I were in the grip of endometriosis pain, but others say it helps them.

WalkingAlong

What is your weight, hon?

Are you sure you heard your doctor right? It doesn't sound right that they'd tell someone with disordered eating tendencies to lose 2-4 lbs. in order to stop their period.

Is there anyone you can talk to professionally? I just worry with your pain issues you don't need to be stressing out over 5 lbs., especially with ED tendencies. Maybe the lbs aren't the problem, just the scale number, since you're very petite now.

scolaris

Yes, I really question amenorrhea being 'prescribed' by a certified medical team. There is something wrong here.

ClosetBayesian

WalkingAlong wrote: »

What is your weight, hon?

Are you sure you heard your doctor right? It doesn't sound right that they'd tell someone with disordered eating tendencies to lose 2-4 lbs. in order to stop their period.

Is there anyone you can talk to professionally? I just worry with your pain issues you don't need to be stressing out over 5 lbs., especially with ED tendencies. Maybe the lbs aren't the problem, just the scale number, since you're very petite now.

This.

chandanista wrote: »

Your gyno does know there are drugs that will take away your period, right? I didn't have one for years...

And this. Have you told your doctor that you tend towards disordered eating?

WalkingAlong

Also, increasing your activity probably caused some water retention (and yes, some muscle gain is possible over the months), so I would chalk that 5 lbs. up to water, which will go away on its own in time. Adding more dietary stress and more physical stress (long elliptical workouts) might delay it longer.

Good luck!

KiyaK

Ok, I don't mean to be flippant, but why do you have to lose weight to get rid of your period? Sounds like an impractical and impermanent fix, especially if you have disordered eating tendencies anyway.

I've been on multiple different birth control options that stop my period. Both the shot (depo) & the implant that goes in your arm (nexplanon/implanon, I think) have done this for me. I believe the ring (Nuva ring) can do it long term if you just put in a new one immedately & don't leave it out for your cycle.

Talk to your doctor/gyro about those options.

AlciaMode

Sounds to me like you may benefit a bit from stepping back and relaxing. Take a deep breath and just be for a while, deal with your health problems and then get back to dieting with a clear head.

angelexperiment

I'm not sure why a dr would not want you to have your period. It puts you at risk for cervical cancer not shedding the lining of the uterus.or recommend a diet so low in calories to stop it.

jgnatca

I agree with others if it is dangerous for you to have periods you can go on a birth control pill that will stop them. It's a lot safer than trying to stop it with dieting.