TOM experiment & preliminary results

baisleac

I've been incredibly frustrated with TOM during my weight loss... many of us gals are. I know many gain slightly right before and during their TOM, but then drop that temporary gain PLUS what they should have lost once TOM's gone. I was one of those "different" ones. I gained just before and during, but afterwards dropped only the temp weight and didn't see any extra loss from my good habits.

I thought this might be helpful to others in the same boat I'm in.

My blog post from May 2nd (TOM had just started):

I KNOW I'm losing weight the healthy way. I'm eating the right amounts of mostly healthy food and exercising regularly, but not over the top.

However!...

Week 1 - lose weight at appropriate pace, down 1 pound.
Week 2 - lose weight at appropriate pace,, down 1 pound.
Week 3 - TOM is due/arrives, weight goes up 2-4 pounds.
Week 4 - TOM arrives/departs, weight goes down exactly what it went up week prior, right where it was at the end of week 2.

Rinse repeat.

The problem here is that during Week 3 & 4 I continue eating well, exercising, keeping my deficit at the right level. At the end of week 4 my weight SHOULD drop the pounds of "water weight" AND a pound or two for the two weeks of TOM hell. Right? RIGHT?

Every month, for two weeks, I question what the hell I'm doing? Am I mis-measuring intake/outake? But, I'm doing exactly the same things I did for the previous two weeks. The only thing that changed is my f-ing uterus.

Every month, I consider dropping my calories; even though I know what I'm doing is healthy. (I don't, but I think about it)

Every month, I wonder why the hell am I still not losing?

This month, I'm armed with a BodyBugg. For the 2 weeks I've had it, I've averaged a 434 calorie per day deficit (including maintenance days). If I maintain this average for the next week and don't lose more than the TOM "water weight"... I'm going to scream.

My blog post from May 6th (TOM's gone):

Tomorrow is my official weigh in day, but this morning was right where I expected to be (though I hoped for different). End of the week after TOM, I'm right back where I was right before TOM gain... or the same as my last weigh in. I have my BodyBugg numbers to confirm I was actually operating at the right deficit, but the anticipated weight did not come off.

This morning I thought of a possibility; turns out my brilliant husband had thought of the same thing but was waiting until tomorrow to mention it, just in case). That being:

*A woman's metabolism increases during the luteal phase of her cycle. (numerous studies can be Googled).
*I'm short and within 30 lbs of my goal weight. Therefore, I have a smaller safe deficit range.
*My current Net goal is set for just above my RMR.

If my metabolism is increasing during the luteal phase then during that 1.5-2 weeks, while I'm working with the same numbers, I'm netting below my actual RMR. The BodyBugg does not vary your BMR/RMR according to your cycle... nor does any other calorie calculating site offer such a feature; probably because it is so individual, from amount of metabolic change (100-300 per day) to luteal phase length (from 10-18 days depending on the person).

So... next plan of attack. For the first 17 days of my cycle I'm going to operate at my normal 500 calorie deficit. During my luteal phase, I'm going to operate at "maintenance". That's baseline maintenance, which should be a deficit from the increased luteal metabolism (100-300 calories).

IF it works, and I lose weight after TOM, I'll be able to calculate at what deficit I was operating and adjust from there for future months.

If it doesn't work, all I've done is gain a quarter pound.


Also, I promised I'd scream if there was no change this week so...

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

Which brings us to today. I had a short cycle, but have been tracking the start of my luteal phase and made the calorie increase (and boy was I ever nervous about it) at the beginning.

Today was my first weigh in.

Followed new plan and... from my BodyBugg: "Based on today's measurement, your actual deficit for this measurement period was 800 calories. Your deficit based on your food log was 279 calories."

My body was burning more during this time frame than any online calculator would estimate, just because I'm a female and we have very strange bodies.

WIN!

Of course, I'll make adjustments so that my deficit is only 500 calories per day but... WIN!

Instead of the usual gain.. I lost 1.5 lbs this week! I'm so excited I could dance down the street. Instead I just danced in my living room. LOL. :bigsmile:

bigredhearts

way to go! *bump*

Atlantique

Very interesting! And happy this worked for you!

FabulousFifty

Ahhhh....this is so complicated. Are you saying you are eating more then during TOM and that is helping? I don't understand all of the scientific information. Can you spell it out for me? I am so glad you have figured this out!

mamaboobear

so does this mean we should be eating a little more during our TOM?

Nikstergirl

This is so interesting! I always knew I was hungrier during TOM, now I know it's not just in my head!!!! Thanks for the theory.. I may be testing that one out soon!!!

JennMuc

Ahhhh....this is so complicated. Are you saying you are eating more then during TOM and that is helping? I don't understand all of the scientific information. Can you spell it out for me? I am so glad you have figured this out!

I agree...Can you explain to my simple brain what you did?

JennMuc

Ahhhh....this is so complicated. Are you saying you are eating more then during TOM and that is helping? I don't understand all of the scientific information. Can you spell it out for me? I am so glad you have figured this out!

I agree...Can you explain to my simple brain what you did?

Gabby215

Bump! This ALWAYS happens to me and it's incredibly frustrating. I'm definitely going to try your experiment next month and see if it works for me. Thanks for posting )

baisleac

Ahhhh....this is so complicated. Are you saying you are eating more then during TOM and that is helping? I don't understand all of the scientific information. Can you spell it out for me? I am so glad you have figured this out!

You got it, actually. I'm eating at a regular 500 cal deficit before I ovulate and then up to maintenance (though I was nervous so I actually went with a 100 cal deficit) between ovulation and TOM (luteal phase).

Phases -
menstrual phase (menstruation) - obvious {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
proliferative phase (some sources include menstruation in this phase) - between menstruation and ovulation {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
ovulatory phase (ovulation, 2 - 3 day time frame) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}
luteal phase (between ovulation and menstruation) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}

Other sources include more phases, but these are the one's I'm using.

baisleac

so does this mean we should be eating a little more during our TOM?

Just like anything else it varies from person to person. This was an experiment I conducted because I WASN'T getting expected results. If someone's losing consistently regardless (meaning after TOM they lose the "extra" plus what they should have lost during), I wouldn't change a thing. But if someone finds themselves in the same place I was, losing only 2 out of 4 weeks, it might be something to consider.

greeneyed84

Very interesting!

otr12

This is fascinating.

busygirl1

Phases -
menstrual phase (menstruation) - obvious {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
proliferative phase (some sources include menstruation in this phase) - between menstruation and ovulation {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
ovulatory phase (ovulation, 2 - 3 day time frame) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}
luteal phase (between ovulation and menstruation) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}

OMG i feel like such an idiot but when when are these phases? how do you know which phase you are in apart from the menstrual one? I am very interested in trying this as its exactly like me!!!

MzBug

Sounds logical. Unfortunatly for me being perimenopausal I never know if it will be 2,3, 4 or more weeks between.... :ohwell: Guess I stick with the same all the time.

Therapist_mama

That is phenomenal! I love it! Thanks for taking the time to share your journey on this with us! I am very happy for you and will do a jig as well! :bigsmile:

robin52077

That's awesome. I always eat more just before TOM because I'm starving. It's nice to know its because my metabolism is raised and not just in my head cuz I want chocolate!

baisleac

Phases -
menstrual phase (menstruation) - obvious {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
proliferative phase (some sources include menstruation in this phase) - between menstruation and ovulation {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
ovulatory phase (ovulation, 2 - 3 day time frame) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}
luteal phase (between ovulation and menstruation) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}

OMG i feel like such an idiot but when when are these phases? how do you know which phase you are in apart from the menstrual one? I am very interested in trying this as its exactly like me!!!

Sounds logical. Unfortunatly for me being perimenopausal I never know if it will be 2,3, 4 or more weeks between.... ohwell Guess I stick with the same all the time.

To know what phase you're in.

Take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed.

When you are in the menstrual phase and proliferative phase, you will be at a "baseline" temperature that usually won't vary more than 0-0.4 degrees.

When you ovulate, your base temperature will jump by as much as a full degree (sometimes less, but at least 1/2 a degree) and will continue to be higher until menstruation (for some it drops right before, for others it drops just after). If you happen to conceive, your base temperature will stay at the higher level for the duration of your pregnancy.

Many women who are trying to conceive use this method to determine when they ovulate for conception purposes.

otr12

OMG i feel like such an idiot but when when are these phases? how do you know which phase you are in apart from the menstrual one? I am very interested in trying this as its exactly like me!!!

I found a free app for my phone called WomanLog that tracks it all for me. There are lots of other ones out there too.

girlontheseesaw

Mmm this resonates strongly ... I lose on more like a fortnightly basis and hungry as hell from ovulation to menstruation.

I'm ovulating now and today gone 250 cal over goal.

I think I can at least stop beating myself up over it! Thanks for this :-)

baisleac

OMG i feel like such an idiot but when when are these phases? how do you know which phase you are in apart from the menstrual one? I am very interested in trying this as its exactly like me!!!

I found a free app for my phone called WomanLog that tracks it all for me. There are lots of other ones out there too.

I've been using http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/ to track my cycles for ages and just started tracking temperature as well for this experiment... and I'm going to keep doing it. Hee!

girlontheseesaw

I actually feel a bit dumb for having menstruated 30 years and not noticed the issue of raised temperature/metabolism. No doubt I'll just get to grips with my body then menopause will kick in LOL

katberz

I use MyMonthlyCycles too, love it!

Thanks for posting this, what a fascinating experiment. I'll definitely keep this in mind if I start stalling every month.

sassylilmama

bump for when I can read

NotAllWhoWanderAreLost

Very interesting little study you've done there... would be fascinating to see a controlled, scientific study of this (or links to already existing studies).

For those who are looking to know what phase they are in, a great (free) site to use is http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ Basically you will monitor your basal body temperature (and possibly secondary signs) to detect ovulation. There is a lot of info on that site, so i won't go on too much about it here....

Also, a great book (your library may have a copy) is "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler, MPH . I believe its a MUST READ for every woman of reproductive age.

baisleac

Very interesting little study you've done there... would be fascinating to see a controlled, scientific study of this (or links to already existing studies).

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&rlz=&=&q=menstrual cycle metabolism&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws

kell_riley

Don't feel silly for not knowing about temp rising during your cycle, I think women who are trying to concieve or have tried are the few who do actually know about this, and even then (well for me anyway) its to track your most fertile period! I would not have put the increased temp and increased motabolism together in a million years!

This is facinating tho! I am due my period within the next 3days or so, i've managed on the whole to keep to my cals and feel good but there have been a couple of real hard days where i have wanted to eat EVERYTHING! Today being one!

i weighed in today i'll see how things go next week and see if this is relevant to my weighloss.

Well done for finding a way to overcome your gain!!

jae6704

bump for later

miriamtorason

Oooh, I love TCOYF! Consider this a hearty seconding of the recommendation for Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Absolutely every woman of menstruating age ought to read this book. It helps take apart what happens during your monthly cycle, what sort of thing is normal, what typical variances are, and if you're having odd issues, may help uncover the causes - or at least point to what may be serious and what may not be. I LOVE this book. LOVE IT.

I've got "sympto" for my iPod. I'm only partly impressed with it because they don't have any accounting for partial breastfeeding, but that's just my own thing. Otherwise, it's a good app, and has conception/avoidance modes, and works pretty well. I hadn't even thought about the LP boosting your metabolism... I wonder if that's the case through pregnancy as well - I actually lost 1-1.5#/week while pregnant (not intentionally!) and this would be a good, understandable reason why. I may have to give this a go, actually... Now that I'm thinking on it, I tend to lose boatloads in the first week or so of the month, then bounce around the same one pound for two weeks, then bounce up for AF, then down to where I left off once that's done... Interesting. Very interesting...

Pebble321

Oh this is interesting - I don't experience weight gain around menstruation, but I find that my weight loss seems to stall around ovulation time. I don't do temps but base my timing on body changes. I also find that I'm hungrier around ovulation time, I might experiment with adding some extra cals a day at this time and see how I go.

Artemis726

Extremely interesting. I gain 2-3lbs during ovulation that stick around until TOM is gone. I may have to do some experimenting myself.