Should i take a break?

chelseasans

I am a distance runner and usually run between 3 to 10 miles a day. I have not been training for anything specifically, just general weight management and stress reduction. Lately, over the past two weeks, i feel very different. It seems like my times have gotten longer and i have no motivation. My hip flexors are feeling very tight despite daily yoga. I also suddenly put on 5-7 pounds for no reason as evidenced by my clothes feeling tighter. My diet has not changed at all.

Im really terrified to take a break from running because after that weight gain, i do not want to risk gaining any more. I also know from the past that when i take any rest days i feel very irritable.

Thoughts?

jsmommy1999

I don't pretend to be an expert but that sounds exactly what happened to me last year around the time my period stopped. Unfortunately I kept going and am now a hormonal mess. I threw off my whole system and feel like crap all of the time. Are you restricting calories too? I can relate to being afraid of stopping, but truly it sounds like you need a rest.

chelseasans

I am a hormonal mess as well! I lost my period 3 years ago and have been a mess ever since. Yes i am restricting calories because im really not at my goal weight yet. My lowest was 100 and now im a little over 120 but i want to get to 110

SecretAgent27

Sometimes, the combination of burning a lot of calories and restricting your diet can cause your deficit to be too low which can result in a general lethargic feeling. When I started logging a bunch of miles, I had to actually had to pay attention to make sure I wasn't eating too little. If my deficit was too low, then my body would start to hold on to its fat/energy stores and the result was I'd stop losing weight and feel worn out all the time. It takes a certain kind of balance. Creating enough of a deficit to lose weight while also making sure your body has the fuel and energy needed for your physical activities.

DavPul

1. Take a break. Because breaks are a "thing". The body needs rest and it's showing all the signs that it's being overworked. ignore it's signals at your own peril.
2. Looking at your pics I honestly can't see where you think another 10 pounds is going to come from. I suggest that you rethink the reasoning for this seemingly random 110 pound goal.
3. You lost your period 3 years ago. Was that from weight loss and unusual low bf%? If so, rethink...everything.
4. If, in the face of significant evidence that you are working out too much and weighing too little, you still feel an obsessive need to continue dieting, over exercising, and not resting, seek professional therapy before it's too late.

ChelseyDAdams

Hon, if you lost your period that should be a serious wake-up call in and of itself. You don't go from having a period to not having one for no reason - especially at your age. That is a clear sign from your body that something is off - generally due to too much fitness or too low body weight, too few calories, or all combined. You really need to see that as a sign.

There is no way you need to lose 10 more pounds, and that mentality of thinking is absolutely not doing you any favors. If you are really doing this for health, than don't focus on a number.

I would actually recommend increasing your calories with healthy foods and try getting in more lean proteins as well. And yes, give your body a break and allow it to recover. And I agree with DavPul, that if you find this hard to do, you may need to get some professional help.

Anytime our bodies start behaving like this, it is important to take note. These are the things that inform us that something is not right and that we need to adjust - and for three years, your body has been telling you that by not having a period. Time to start listening!

Hope you focus on increasing your health and start feeling better (and getting your cycle back!)! Best wishes!

tiptoethruthetulips

Hon, if you lost your period that should be a serious wake-up call in and of itself. You don't go from having a period to not having one for no reason - especially at your age. That is a clear sign from your body that something is off - generally due to too much fitness or too low body weight, too few calories, or all combined. You really need to see that as a sign.

There is no way you need to lose 10 more pounds, and that mentality of thinking is absolutely not doing you any favors. If you are really doing this for health, than don't focus on a number.

I would actually recommend increasing your calories with healthy foods and try getting in more lean proteins as well. And yes, give your body a break and allow it to recover. And I agree with DavPul, that if you find this hard to do, you may need to get some professional help.

Anytime our bodies start behaving like this, it is important to take note. These are the things that inform us that something is not right and that we need to adjust - and for three years, your body has been telling you that by not having a period. Time to start listening!

Hope you focus on increasing your health and start feeling better (and getting your cycle back!)! Best wishes!

+1

OP, one of your goals is a clothing size 00? I never knew there was such an adult size. Sounds like to me you are over exercising and over dieting...time for a break and definitely seek some professional help.

Jim_Barteck

What you're describing sounds a lot like adrenal insufficiency caused by a combination of chronic stress and overtraining. It's not uncommon in endurance athletes.

You say your hormones are a mess and that you lost your period some time ago. This also would be consistent with a possible adrenal connection.

I would suggest:

- Schedule an appointment with your doctor and have your hormone levels checked.
- Back off your training. You don't have to stop, but until you have a definitive answer, you need to give your body the break it's clearly asking for or you run the risk of creating longer term issues.
- Give your *self* a break. You say that one of the reasons you work out is to relieve stress. That implies to me that you must be feeling a great deal of it. I have no idea what the source is, but anything you can do to ameliorate it will likely be helpful.

jsmommy1999

I finally had my RMR tested and it was 20% lower than it should have been despite all of the working out I was doing. Just curious, have you had problems with brain fog, dizziness or confusion or extreme exhaustion? Could your weight be water retention? I seem to put on several pounds every time I try to work out now. I think my body is just kind of damaged now and needs to heal. I've tried everything though so I am not sure where to go next.

WillUAre

1. Take a break. Because breaks are a "thing". The body needs rest and it's showing all the signs that it's being overworked. ignore it's signals at your own peril.
2. Looking at your pics I honestly can't see where you think another 10 pounds is going to come from. I suggest that you rethink the reasoning for this seemingly random 110 pound goal.
3. You lost your period 3 years ago. Was that from weight loss and unusual low bf%? If so, rethink...everything.
4. If, in the face of significant evidence that you are working out too much and weighing too little, you still feel an obsessive need to continue dieting, over exercising, and not resting, seek professional therapy before it's too late.

+1

Edited to add quote

WalkingAlong

Two things to google:

1- Exercise induced amenorrhea
2- symptoms of overtraining

(Yes, you need a break.)

chelseasans

What you're describing sounds a lot like adrenal insufficiency caused by a combination of chronic stress and overtraining. It's not uncommon in endurance athletes.

You say your hormones are a mess and that you lost your period some time ago. This also would be consistent with a possible adrenal connection.

I would suggest:

- Schedule an appointment with your doctor and have your hormone levels checked.
- Back off your training. You don't have to stop, but until you have a definitive answer, you need to give your body the break it's clearly asking for or you run the risk of creating longer term issues.
- Give your *self* a break. You say that one of the reasons you work out is to relieve stress. That implies to me that you must be feeling a great deal of it. I have no idea what the source is, but anything you can do to ameliorate it will likely be helpful.

Thank you for this, it really makes sense to me. My father passed away suddenly this month, and i think i used running as a tool to grieve, when really all this did was put my emotional stress on my body.

As for my period, I have seen a specialist and am getting that figured out.

I have just always had this ridiculous fear of gaining weight and now that its happening, its quite terrifying!

Thank you everyone for your responses!