Question for people who menstruate

recoveringami

Do you take measurements during PMS or your actual cycle? Should I wait until after?

shaumom

I did 2 or 3 times, solely for the purpose of seeing if it was WORTH taking measurements.

For me, it's useless. On the first day of the cycle, I will typically gain 1-3 clothing sizes/gain 5-10 pounds - but I never know how much it's going to be until it happens. It will disappear within about 3-6 days, but my numbers are so bejanked for that week that tracking anything is rather pointless. It won't help me, you know?

But I know some gals who have very little weight gain, and so tracking helps. Or their weight gain/measurement gain is so regular (like, always 3 pounds higher than what your weight will be by the end, say), that it can still be helpful.

So yeah, tracking things for a couple cycles at first to SEE if it is helpful is, I think, useful.

mbaker566

i weigh every day and look at my trends as opposed to individual data points

sammidelvecchio

Yes, I do. For many years I avoided the scale during my cycle, but I have found its helpful for me to weigh every day even during that time. I swell and bloat at other times of the month than my period, but I always swell and bloat during my period. So, one of the most helpful things for me to learn is being able to recognize the way my body feels and the way the scale moves (or doesn't move) depending on if I am holding water and bloating, or if i've actually gained weight.

sardelsa

My scale isn't really affected by my cycles but I get really visually bloated around mid-cycle so I never take measurements or progress photos at that time.

Track if you want, or skip them if you find they are throwing your numbers way off.

Ldenzel

I always start retaining water around ovulation and hold onto until I start my period. I weigh everyday and look at my trending weight so it doesn't really bother me when I go up a few pounds. I know that my weight will go back down around Day 2 of my period.

lemurcat2

I always do, since I like to see the fluctuations, it adds knowledge. For me the high is usually the week before and then I start losing the week of and after.

AliNouveau

just makes me feel fat and mopey so I don't. Although I weighed myself yesterday and it told me I'm not as fat as I think I am but still it messes with my brain too much so I avoid that during my time of the month

tcunbeliever

I do weigh and measure, but I ignore the weight as well as chest measurements...I can usually still get some consistency in my other measurements, but when the water weight gain is high, then my waist will be up a bit too...my chest seems to be where most of the water weight goes, but probably everyone is a bit different.

kenyonhaff

I generally do not. However, I do once in a while to observe how my fluid retention affects my body weight. Weight is not a static number, and it doesn't mean I'm "gaining weight" exactly. It just means I'm a mensturating woman.

RelCanonical

I actually schedule my weigh-ins around my periods (I usually weigh-in 4-5 days after my cycle has started) to avoid fluctuation due to that, haha.

MichelleSilverleaf

I weigh daily. If I suddenly go up a couple lbs and know my period's started or about to, I don't worry about it. I usually won't bother entering my weight in my tracker until after my period, unless I don't have a fluctuation which has happened on occasion.

SuperstarSparkle

I can't recall the last time I weighed myself. However I've noted that when I INCREASE my water intake during my cycle, I bloat less.

hesn92

yes. I weigh every day. It doesn't bother me to see the number go up because I know why.

eccentricplaza

SuperstarSparkle wrote: »

I can't recall the last time I weighed myself. However I've noted that when I INCREASE my water intake during my cycle, I bloat less.

I’d have to agree, although I’ve been on the pill in recent years, but weighing while mixing up activity levels and water levels could reveal what helps to mitigate it.

But since the pill I’ll measure myself because I honestly don’t bloat anymore

Ironandwine69

I gain a couple of lbs during my ovulation and around 5 lbs during my period. I weigh almost every day and use the trend. I'd look 5 months pregnant if I took progress pics during my period

kshama2001

Due to my fibroids, my abdominal measurement can increase 3" when I ovulate and they "blow up".