Hormonal weight gain? Baffled!

GrowlingLucifer58

Hello!

I don't tend to use Myfitness pal too much - but in the past, have found it useful in terms of finding out nutritional values to foods etc (and shedding a couple of stubborn pounds!) However, I do read the forums on here and always find them useful - so I'm hoping there might be someone out there who can help me!

For the last year or so, I've noticed my hormones have been all over the place (back to horrible, painful time of the month, irregular, water retention, etc.) I presumed this was just as a result of having kids, then body finally getting back to normal (my youngest is now 5) - but now I'm wondering if it's peri menopause (I'm mid-30s).

Basically, my weight is always pretty much the same, but then, every three months or so, I have this 'weird month', where my weight suddenly goes up (normally after period) then stays up for the whole month, regardless of what I do. This month has been the worst yet - two weeks ago it was 120lb, then all of a sudden, up to 124lb and it's now sticking there, regardless of what I do.

It's so unlike my usual body pattern that it's thrown me a bit. I suspect it's water weight, because when I press my stomach, it takes a while for the white patch to disappear. But if that's the case, how the hell do I get rid of it? Tried drinking more, but that seems to exacerbate the problem. Had a go with diuretic foods, didn't do anything. Tried apple cider vinegar, dandelion root - nada.

I'm trying not to get too freaked out by it, as there are more important things in life etc. Etc. But, it is concerning me a little, as every time it happens, it's more severe. And harder to get back to normal weight!

Ps - my diet hasn't changed, but is generally fairly good. I eat a lot of veg, not too many sweets, perhaps a smidge too much alcohol but nothing major - any ideas would be very much appreciated!

leahcollett1

Hi. i can relate - as last week i went up by 3.5lbs, i was completely on plan. very weird im 32, so cant be pre menopause... im putting it down to hot weather in uk ( weird for us) and water retention... we can do nothing apart from log our food.. make sure calories in are in a deficit to lose weight - and it will come off. when? no idea its take me 6 months to try get anywhere as im gaining and losing the same 4lbs but i will not give up

CattOfTheGarage

I'm afraid you can't really control water weight, it just is. Try drinking plenty, but there's no guarantee that will shift it. I'm not sure why you want to, to be honest, unless it's at the point of full blown oedema and you have a puffy face or swollen ankles, in which case talk to your doctor. But water weight is just that - water. It isn't fat, it isn't harmful, I would just leave it be. Especially if it's only 4lb. Bodies change, and they do weird things that are beyond your control. Don't let it worry you.

RoxieDawn

This can be a slew of things. You are 34 years old per your profile? First I recommend you talk to your doctor about significant changes in your pd that are happening every 3 -4 months that are bothering you and be sure to get your annual exam to rule out things.

There is such a thing called premature menopause, this must be checked by a doctor
There is such a thing called ones cycles can change up a bit due to age
There is such a thing as different side effect accompanying different stages of the monthly cycle can be worse or different (one month you may get cramps the next you may not, one month you have back pain the next you may not, etc....)

It is a fact that water weight can be in issue during both ovulation (leutil phase) and folicular phase (menses). I am peri and I get a host of things different that occurs each month but I do have to mark trends during all phases of the cycle.

Water weight is just that .. This usually go away with each part of the cycle and in stead of fighting this, mark these trends each month so you will know that you should keep a weight range instead a spot on weight.. Not doing this can make a woman bonkers.

GrowlingLucifer58

I think it's just taken me by surprise, as for the last fifteen years or so I've not really had any problems like that - occasional water weight obviously, but it just came off within a few days, pretty standard stuff. This month-long water weight has surprised me a bit - it's not even so much the weight gain as the sluggishness and discomfort that goes with it (my boobs have gone enormous, lol) and I just wondered if this was 'one of those things' as you got a bit older...

MelaniaTrump

Just make sure you tell your gyno. Have you gone lately?
Time to start putting yourself first.

GrowlingLucifer58

I went a while back (over another related issue) and to be honest, they weren't very forthcoming...

MelaniaTrump

I went to one gyno, and he just wanted to insert some y looking thing for birth control.
Probably getting a kickback for free vacations in the bahamas.
Went to another doctor (got insurance permission), and they found out I had fibroids.

jwcanfield

Try skipping that "smidge too much alcohol" for a week. My husband harmed his liver and that moved into kidney issues even after he quit drinking excessively. The resulting edema made him poofy! That's probably not the case here, but skip a week and see. As others have said, there are other things that will make you retain water other than hormones and a physical above and beyond a gyno visit may be called for.