Burning more calories when you're on your period?

Colleen118

Im on day two, and I can say there is no way I was sticking to my calorie goal of the day of 1300-1400. Other days, Im ok at 1200-1300, but today I've been ravenously hungry. Almost to the point of getting light headed by trying to stick to my goal, so of course I ate something (healthy!) and went over. Today I clocked in at 1600 and change. Am Im ok with that So I think that it is true, the metabolism bumps up to burn an extra 100 calories or so, but I dont know if its every day during the time of the month. Im interested to know, is it one of the days? Two of the days? All week? Who decided this and how can we request additional calorie burn days? Haha.

ADDITIONAL DAYS?! I understand the want for extra burn days but just do extra jumping jacks They are far less bothersome

I am SO glad my days have decreased as I've lost. I went from having HORENDOUS cycles including bad cramping, unpredictable arrival of the famous Aunt, she would hang out making me miserable for 8 to 10 days, and having no choice but to keep a spare pair of pants and undergarments on hand if I left my house because to say they were "heavy" was an understatement.

Now they the Aunt arrives like clockwork, very little cramping for one day (this alst cycle), she left after 5 days this last visit, and I haven't had a need to change clothing since the 3rd month of my lifestyle change.

iorahkwano

I've heard that you burn 15% more while on your period.. But I wouldn't eat more. I would use that to your advantage by keeping up with your working out and clean eating. You might lose more weight if this is in fact true.

I am definitely more hungry the week before my period.

I've heard this too! And something about your testosterone level becoming higher during the cycle which helps you build MORE muscle than usual. Sort of like how lucky men are to burn so much & build more than us females! I always try to workout during my period hoping I can use natural hormones to my advantage!

I imagine the whole shedding your uterine lining & cramping up burns calories too!

thecakemom

BuffMother's Hormonal Timing book says: Another interesting finding about hormones is that during the week prior to their period women can burn up to 500 calories more each day. No wonder we are so hungry during that time of the month! So know that if you can just make it through to the “other side,” to your Buffing phase, without getting out of control, you will see the fruits of your labor!

purpleipod

Uh.. never heard that before. I eat the same amount that I normally eat.

rebma1981

I'm glad I found this thread (even if I am a little late to the party). I thought I heard years ago that women burn more calories during their PMS week, and this month for me is really bad. I feel like I could just eat and eat and not be satisfied. I'm trying my best not to, though. I did go over my calories yesterday and today, but today was only by like 125 calories, so that shouldn't matter too much. Yesterday was like 500 calories. Since I started using the myfitnesspal app back in February, I've been pretty decent at staying at my calorie goal without feeling famished, but these past 2 days were so rough.

ToniKYates

I looked this up because I am ravenous & I have just started my period. I have been doing MFP for a short while so have never noticed this before. I don't intend to change my eating plan much but at least it explains why I feel so hungry, perhaps just an extra piece of fruit will do it.

kcdoodle18

According to nutritionist Mary Hartley:

"A woman’s basal metabolic rate rises by 5 to 10 percent during the week before the onset of menstruation. That would amount to burning 75 to 150 extra calories a day for a woman whose metabolic output measured 1500 calories. The metabolic rate returns to normal, or slightly less than normal, on the first or second day of menstruation. Every woman has a cyclical metabolic rate but the timing of the rise and fall is not identical for every women."

Could this be true during the first few days of your period?? When I am on my period I am still eating healthy foods but I am still very hungry all the time.. like nothing is filling me up right now :-\ (and yes I DO have cravings for chocolate and french fries, but I am suppressing those the best I can) Does anyone know if you are burning extra calories when you are actually on your period? Are we allowed more calories during this week?

KC101912

check out livestrong.com 's article

http://www.livestrong.com/article/295115-calories-burned-while-on-your-period/

it says you can burn 100 to 300 calories the week before. and to maintain exercise as normal to help with pmsing symptoms.

LexiAtel

I've heard that you burn 15% more while on your period.. But I wouldn't eat more. I would use that to your advantage by keeping up with your working out and clean eating. You might lose more weight if this is in fact true.

I am definitely more hungry the week before my period.

Works great if you don't have craps or fatigue... I am a big sufferer during this time of month... I tend to sleep a lot to sleep through the pain. Exercise of any sort just increases the pain.

pinkraynedropjacki

I'm just on the last day of mine. I ate no more than usual, I worked out as hard as usual & lost nothing. Why use it as an excuse to eat more? It's crazy but people on here WILL find any reason to eat more even if it's a stupid reason. Eat more if you want to, but damnit don't use your period as an excuse cause then when menopause hits you are going to have no reason to eat more then. Workout more if you want to eat more, don't take the easy way out.

sarahsedai

i'm not sure about the burning more calories part, but i know that i've gained up to 8 lbs the week before my period, and that's without satisfying the urge to stuff my face any chance i get. i just do my best to stay on track for numbers and continue with my workouts (though there's usually at least one day in there where i go over), and towards the end of my tom, i'm down that added weight and usually another pound or two.

daisyeyes

I get super hungry during my TOM, so I'm guessing you DO burn more calories. I don't think it's simply a good appetite.

AndiGirl70

Thank you for confirming I'm not losing my mind for roughly 3 days during the week before my period arrives. I am able to manage my craving very well all month sans those 2-3 days. I just want to pull my chair up to the nearest buffet table and have at it. No amount of food seems to satisfy my appetite those couple days a month. I hate it! Then it ebbs and I'm back in control.

As for the weight gain I feel my "truest" weight is during the week after my period.

MinMin97

Interesting!

KAS0917

I'm just on the last day of mine. I ate no more than usual, I worked out as hard as usual & lost nothing. Why use it as an excuse to eat more? It's crazy but people on here WILL find any reason to eat more even if it's a stupid reason. Eat more if you want to, but damnit don't use your period as an excuse cause then when menopause hits you are going to have no reason to eat more then. Workout more if you want to eat more, don't take the easy way out.

Well I'm on day 3 of mine, ate over 2 days this week by 500-700 calories and lost 1.5 pounds. It's not an 'excuse' to eat more (at least not for me), it's just how some of us (apparently) are wired. I'm not going to walk around for 2 days light headed and with a stomach grumbling in hunger because I'm too scared to eat a little more. If it's easy for you to stick to your daily calories goal, GREAT for you. Or if you have time to double your exercise to eat more calories, GREAT for you. Not all of us have that ability or desire.

I don't use it as an 'excuse' to gorge on chocolate and potato chips and a gallon of ice cream. My cravings during my period are for red meat. I would assume that's tied to my iron levels in some way. It's not something I ever crave any other time of month. I assume that isn't just a 'oh, it's my period, I should eat all the things' excuse craving, and it's something my body needs. So I ate a big ole dinner that included a steak, and didn't worry about the fact that I was over my calories. It's 1-2 days of a month. Not something to get so worked up over.

lislynhar

Exactly, KAS- I thought the previous commenter was being pretty rude. We're all just trying to figure things out, paying more attention to our bodies, learning new things and she had to get snarky. Before I started MFP I knew that my appetite increased dramatically a couple of days before my period and that I would gain a few pounds before and during but it always came right back off, even when I ate more during my period, so I assumed my metabolism was probably revving higher too. Lot's of other things go on during my period, some not too pleasant to talk about, so I like to know I'm not alone.

I do crave chocolate while PMS'ing, sometimes it's a very strong craving, sometimes it's not. And I really crave carbs, like pasta, etc. Mostly, I'm just really, really hungry and nothing fully satisfies that hunger. Trying to figure out how best to manage all that while counting calories and eating healthy.

gigglesinthesun

I crave cheese and even if I resist that craving, I get constipated just before. I am consciously not weighing myself until the 2nd or 3rd day after. No need to depress myself when the hormones are doing sucha good job themselves :-)

krawhitham

This is a relief! I just started with MFP for the second time (and this time I'm actually committed!) and the day before my period I ate 2,600 calories! I was *so* hungry! I ate all very healthy things, but I couldn't believe I consumed so much. I just hoped that this wouldnt mess up my weekly average consumption and thus affect my weight loss. It's comforting to know that my metabolism was working in overdrive.

christa0130

Me also goes up during and then drops quickly for the week after.

estherdfoster

Mine does it in reverse both ways.. My weight keeps dropping but my appetite increases haha. Makes it harder for me to stay at 1200 calories a day when in this mode.

Curtruns

I haven't noticed :laugh:

albayin

I read in various sources that we do tend to have a slightly elevated metabolism during the ovulation days...but not as much as it could compensate a binge...