Working out Week Before Period

Jesscfer17
Jesscfer17 Posts: 1 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Sorry if this thread is tmi for some!
I am really looking for some encouragement and advice here.
I started dieting and working out last Wednesday (one week ago). I either do weights or yoga each day. For context, I am 138 lbs and if I am consistent with my diet and have a calorie deficit every day, working out 3 days a week, I usually see about 7 or so lbs drop in the first 3-4 weeks.
However, on the Saturday after, so last Saturday, I weighed in at 135. Woo 3 lbs down, making progress - this is what I'm used to. Then Sunday I get on the scale and am back up to 137. I am the week before my period so I know I am bloated and holding water weight. But I have continued to diet and workout each day. I jumped back on the scale today ... still 137 at 5 days later.
What I am wondering is - is it even worth it to workout the week before your period if it isn't doing anything? Or is it still doing something and I will see the weight loss drop after my period and the bloat is gone?
Just feeling discouraged! Anyone have this experience and advice?

Replies

  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,833 Member
    Water weight from hormonal fluctuations is precisely that: retained water. It doesn't stop you from losing bodyfat.
  • serpentegena
    serpentegena Posts: 43 Member
    Jesscfer17 wrote: »
    Sorry if this thread is tmi for some!
    I am really looking for some encouragement and advice here.
    I started dieting and working out last Wednesday (one week ago). I either do weights or yoga each day. For context, I am 138 lbs and if I am consistent with my diet and have a calorie deficit every day, working out 3 days a week, I usually see about 7 or so lbs drop in the first 3-4 weeks.
    However, on the Saturday after, so last Saturday, I weighed in at 135. Woo 3 lbs down, making progress - this is what I'm used to. Then Sunday I get on the scale and am back up to 137. I am the week before my period so I know I am bloated and holding water weight. But I have continued to diet and workout each day. I jumped back on the scale today ... still 137 at 5 days later.
    What I am wondering is - is it even worth it to workout the week before your period if it isn't doing anything? Or is it still doing something and I will see the weight loss drop after my period and the bloat is gone?
    Just feeling discouraged! Anyone have this experience and advice?

    I think there is an issue with what you're describing, and I feel like I'm going to burst your bubble here, but I doubt that you lost actual weight (as in, body fat) over the course of your first week dieting. If you did, Dr. Oz or some other guy would make a fortune peddling it. You have probably lost water weight, and water weight fluctuates naturally. What you really want to lose is body fat, and it's only through a consistent process of caloric deficit that your body will start accessing your fat stores for energy

    You should always look at weight loss progress on a weekly basis instead of daily. To have a better estimate of your progress, you may weigh yourself every day, ideally in the same conditions (like after you've gone to the bathroom but before breakfast) and at the end of the week, do an average of your daily data points. Your actual progress is closer to the difference between two weekly averages than the daily figures.

    Secondly, to answer your question: I think it's essential that you continue your training regimen throughout your "red" week, even if it's hard! A very important part of a weight loss regimen is consistency. And here's why:

    1) Your body burns more calories at rest after a workout. By continuing your weight training, you are burning more calories in between workouts.
    2) Workouts generate endorphins (the "happy" hormone), which in turn motivate you to continue working out. By stopping, you'd miss out on that virtuous cycle effect. It might even be more difficult to find the motivation to start again.
    3) If you don't continue to stimulate muscle growth during your diet, your body may begin to break down your muscles for energy before dipping into the fat. That is bad!
    Muscle tissue burns energy to exert, and having less muscle implies burning less energy overall. If your body breaks down muscle first, that's obviously also an obstacle to getting rid of body fat (which is what we want). You might end up with a "skinny-fat" body, where you got to your goal on the scale, but you have no muscle tone, and you still carry around unsightly fat.

    So keep working those muscles!
  • Courtscan2
    Courtscan2 Posts: 499 Member
    Exercise is always "worth it"! As mentioned above, you shouldn't exercise to lose weight - that's what your calorie deficit is for. You exercise for strength, fitness, endurance, general health, and to look good naked. I never consider my menstrual cycle when I workout. Yes, some days I'm probably more draggy than others, and don't get as good a workout in, or don't have as much strength at other points in my cycle, but any workout is better than no workout, in my book.

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