LADIES ~ Burning More calories when menstrating?

oceanchristy

Hi Ladies, I have heard this time and time again. Is there any truth to it? Does your body react differently during your aunt flo?

LabRat529

Nope. I don't think so. Maybe, just maybe, you burn a tinsy bit more when you ovulate.... but I'm pretty sure that you are not burning more when you menstruate.

infamousmk

I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty sure that any changes in metabolism and calorie burn during menstruation are nominal at best.

Joneses17

I've heard this before and personally if I get on the scale the week before I usually see a loss. I've heard that this is more related to water in balances and bloating. It does push me extra when I see that number even though I know why.

HealthyHappy120

I've heard this but I don't believe it... My friend is muslim and says when they have ramadan (Fasting) they are allowed to eat when they menstrate .. Idk why but I guess people think they burn and need to eat??

Rhea30

I've heard this but I don't believe it... My friend is muslim and says when they have ramadan (Fasting) they are allowed to eat when they menstrate .. Idk why but I guess people think they burn and need to eat??

It might have to do with the loss of iron

BandedTriaRN

I've read in nursing journals that you burn (on average) 500 calories more a day while having your period. Of course, I always retained fluids and gained like 5 lbs. Now, I am over that... the only good thing about menopause cause I can guarantee you that the hot flashes are like being in HELL lol

Trish,RN

Loooou

Away from the topic and Just replying to why muslims dont fast when its ramdan, when they have their period: it is not because we burn more and we should eat, It is because Thats what the islam religion said, WOMEN with their period shouldnt fast or do the usual five prayers, it is just a "pass" cause it is hard while they are giving birth/pregnant/or breastfeeding/ having their period to practice fasting. sorry to go out of the topic:)
Relating to the topic I heard this info before but I am not sure about it! I know for sure I hate that time of the month! I always gain at least 5 pounds at that time:(( whatever I DO I pack on water weight and my temptations and hormones are just on a roller coaster.

Collinsky

Since you only burn an additional 300 calories a day (approximately) when you are pregnant (and creating a whole organ and a new person) I can't imagine that the shedding of the uterine lining burns even close to that.

Even if the hormones involved increase the calorie burn, it is almost certainly a negligible amount that isn't worth counting. It's more wishful thinking, IMO, because while an increased BMR is highly unlikely, cravings and fatigue are very, very real for many women, and it would be nice to think that just the fact that we're menstruating means that it's okay to skip the workout in favor of a big bowl of ice cream. Personally that first day or so, I do skip the workout, and I do have the ice cream, with zero guilt or shame... but I don't try to tell myself it counts as a workout to be menstruating. That might look great on paper, but it would be cheating myself in the long run.

Of course, I'd be interested if anyone has any actual studies that prove me wrong.

Collinsky

Okay... the most that I can find is that a study showed that women tend to burn slightly more calories 7 to 10 days prior to menstruation -- NOT during. In general, a woman's BMR is slightly higher during the week before her period, and begins dropping the first day (but doesn't get back to "normal" until the end of your period.)

So, if you eat a little more during that week before your period (up to 200 calories is the figure I read, but I haven't verified that and of course it will vary from woman to woman) then that may be keeping you at the same deficit. If during that higher BMR time, you made sure to stay on target with your exercise and calorie, then you would have that additional "boost" to your burn to maximize your efforts. Water weight gain during your period might make it hard to know for sure what real loss/gain happened, though.

But no. During your period, your BMR is dropping back to your baseline level, so it's not the extra burn that is rumored.