Women - Menstrual Cycle and Weight Gain

CassieReannan

Thank god I found this thread... I am having my first period since starting the diet this week and now know not to freak out!

shakybabe

I usually gain 4-6lbs which depends also on what I eat that week.. if I'm going to treat myself to pasta or pizza I do it that week too, usually after they end I lose the water that went on plus an extra 1-2lbs.. so I'm hoping to make it to 9st 5 when this water comes off (another day of TOTM left) then have 2lb left to go to goal!!.... YEAH!!!

mrscourter2010

Hi,
I typically gain between 3-7 pounds a few days before I begin my cycle due to water weight and bloating. I have read that charcoal capsules (from a drug store) can help reduce it, but they haven't for me. I lose the 3-7 plus a couple more if I maintain the diet and exercise after my period. Don't give up!
~cc

jinjin8

A woman should only weigh in about once a month. Before her cycle water weight starts to creep up 5-7 days before, during her cycle which last another 5 days, then after her cycle 5-7 days the water starts to go away. That's a total of about 19 days of water weight.

She can do everything right, be perfect on everything but the water weight will hide her results. If I was a girl, I'd weigh in About 10 days after my cycle when water weight is at it's lowest.

I find this type of pattern is true for me personally. I weigh myself weekly and will lose a quite inconsistent amount of weight every week except for the week of my cycle where I will be up at least 2 to 4 pounds (it always freaks me out but I still do it). I will then usually drop alot weight in the second week after my cycle.

katejenkins1

I don't weigh in during that time, because I've weighed in 8 pounds heavier before. It disappears immediate after, but it's not worth the frustration.

ValerieMartini2Olives

I gain weight during my cycle but as soon as it's over it drops back down... by a lot.

Also, I have noticed since I started eating better, nixing meat/chicken/fish/eggs, and working out that my periods are very light, shorter and less painful. I have had problems for years with my cycle. I would get so ungodly sick that I could not get out of bed. I would vomit from the morning I got up until it was time for bed. I would spike a high fever. The pain was excruciating. I would put a tampon in and within minutes, it would be full. I would use pads, usually have to use 2 at a time... and well, just talk about a sheer utter mess.

I have used birth control. The pill helped me a little bit. The shot made me bleed for a year. I even had to resort to getting a D&C done which did help a little bit. The only thing that has helped a lot is eating better and working out. Now if I could just not gain 5-10 pounds during it!

JesterMFP

A woman should only weigh in about once a month.

"Should"? A matter of personal preference, surely! I weigh every day, and it works fine for me. I'm well used to the daily fluctuations on the scale and much more relaxed about it going up and down than I would have been previously. Once you know what it is and why it happens, why worry about it?

LFiestan

water weight is the cause of the extra weight. Also PMS causes us to eat alot and never feel full and easily get tired or lazy a day or two before my period starts

KilikiMom

i think it depends on the person some people do not get affected at all...me on the other hand i gain anywhere from 3-5lbs during mine...

and i too weigh myself every day but i only count it once a week...i know that my weight fluctuates on a daily basis but i still step on the scale

Naybelline

I gain anywhere from 4-6 pounds...usually a week after I have a loss again

Same here!! 6lbs was my highest!

MelissR75

I stay away from the scale. Im obsessive enough! I know I gain weight the week leading up to it. I can just tell b/c my clothes don't fit the same. 3-4 days into it and im back to normal

Faintgreeneyes

You will gain water weight during your period- I would also encourage you to use the search button on this site, as there are lots of other threads that have been started to talk about this very topic, where you could probably find out a lot more information.

Just- another tid bit to keep in mind. You need to eat an excess of 3500 cals to gain 1 pound. So if you have been eating healthy, and go up 3 lbs overnight- unless you are a sleep eater and eating in excess of 10,500 cals(3,500 x 3) overnight- you have not gained 3 lbs of fat.

Just keep doing what you are doing, drink lots of water, and stay off the scale that week if seeing the number go up will bother you.

hazelbliss6

I have learned to just never weight myself on my period. It's just not useful (or true) information. I do however still try to exercise. During your period your estrogen levels are at the highest- you actually have a fat-burning advantage hormonally if you do some cardio during that time. Figures it's not the easiest time to workout of course... low energy and more pain.

rachelelizabeth88

not even joking.. I gained 7 pounds on this months menstrual cycle lol I would def stay away from the scale until it's over I only weighed myself at night as a laugh because I knew I was so bloated lol

MJ7910

i suggest weighing during the week after TOM and the week after ovulation. these two events are typically on day 1 (period) and then day 14-15 of your cycle for ovulation. i usually see a slight gain from 2-5 lb during both of these times... actually for me it starts a few days before TOM and ovulation . so my advice is weight until like days 7-12 of your cycle and day 19-28 of your cycle to do any weighing. that is if you have a 28 day cycle... if it's longer or shorter you'll have to figure out what day ovulation and TOM happen on and don't weight a few days before, during, and after those times. like clockwork i am always up during those times. lots of others are too.

specialtreat

I'm glad you asked about this because I was wondering about it as well. However mine tends to be the week before my TOM and goes thru during. Does anyone else have this problem of it being more than a few days but a week before?

Yes mine starts at least a week sometimes even 10 days before my TOM and I am so bloated during this time and the week I have them. Things settle down 2 days after they have finished. My extreme hunger is only for the week before but during, I hardly get hungry. Still bloat though.

Aleara2012

I always gain 2-4 pounds of water weight before and during that dreaded week. So far I have been weighing-in and even logging the 'gain', only to be followed by a big 'loss' the week after... I think from now on I will just not weigh in and wait for a couple of days after it's over, it doesn't make sense to log that water-weight...

AngelAura777

Make one of the days during your period a cheat day where you can satisfy your cravings and then be really really good for the next week after it and you will return to normal weight and you will feel better emotionally as well. I was really good for the week before my period and then on the weekend my boyfriend took me to a pancakes restaurant where I had the most AMAZING strawberry pancakes with cream and ice cream and I ate a bit of crap that day but I felt so full but great after it I really enjoyed it and it was easier to stay away from those foods in the days after it knowing that I had splurged. Im finding the more im healthy the more I resist cravings but it does get really hard at that time of month! I figured I would use my cheat day to kinda reset my metabolism and use the food as extra fuel for when I go running/ lifting again.

mangohead100

For those chocolate cravings-I found an idea on MFP that hits the spot. Take 4 ripe bananas and mix with 2 to 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder (depending how dark you like your chocolate) spread on a small pan or plate lined with wax paper. Let in firm in the freezer then break up into little chucks (about 10 - 15 calories for a 10g serving). I keep in the freezer & snack on it when I have those cravings.

I usually gain about 4 pounds and I struggle with getting workouts in as I get very tired. Yes it does come off quickly after...it tends to makes me refocus & be stronger after my cycle-regenerates me!

That is an absolutely awesome idea. I may try it with greek yogurt!

britneyy32

I gain like 5 or 6 lbs of water weight during mine and then it goes away within a week

rlt2005

During my cycle, I avoid the scales like the plague. There's water weight gain & that higher number on the scale just feels like a someone in the crowd boo-ing me. The good news is, you usually lose all of that water weight by the end. I take a fluid pill after mine to rid my body of any excess water weight, but I also have a high tendency to retain so badly in my legs that it hurts, thus the reason I have a prescription for the fluid pills. The second piece of good news is that there are studies that show that during PMS (when you're ravenously hungry!) you're body actually metabolizes food more quickly. Because of that, your case of the munchies aren't AS harmful to your progress, and it is the best time to exercise/burn calories.

Anya06

so happy reading this as I have just had a complete freak out past few days as i am weighing 4lb more..:but I am on so that explains it lol x

staceyb_2003

This also happens to me i'm at 5lb at the minute makes me wanna give up ... i don't over eat by more than 300 calories but i eat a load of crap a week before my period and sometimes during ovulation time :-(

staceyb_2003

Do you mix them to a mush ?

alyciadinyll

That was very informational. Thanks.

pecksy75

10 to 14 days before my period I put between 3 to 5 Ibs on in weight!!
I do also eat a bit more but I crave food at this time!!
A couple days after my period starts it is back to normal, but I wee for England!!
I think a lot of it is water rentention ;-)

MsTanyaRN

I've noticed that when I exercise regularly I either don't gain any weight during that time or it's just a couple lbs but when I'm not exercising regularly I easily put on at least 5lbs during that time!! I would either just skip weighing during that time or know it could be more than usual. I also get extreme exhaustion during that time but, again, when I work out regularly even when I don't want to I seem to feel a whole lot better and I have a burst of energy even if it just lasts for a few hrs after working out.

emma155

Can someone tell me how my cycle is going to affect the scale. I'm doing so good these last two weeks and weighing every couple of days. I think I read a post one time that said we gain weight during our cycle. Does anyone know? Is it best to stay off the scale until I'm off? Thanks!!

Hi, yes you will hold on to a bit of water but please remeber this is not an actual gain, it will go. Thing is you often get a gain just before your period starts so you may not realise this is the reason at first. I would advise only weihing once a week and probably best not to weight until you a few days into your period or have finished. My water weight goes before my period finishes but all women are different.

MandiISFitness

I'm actually super happy I saw this post. This morning I woke up and was all excited to weigh myself . . only finding out that I went from 128 to 130. I worked out and kept my diet the same! Then I remembered my period comes within about a week and a half. I always gain water weight before my period. I immediately went to the community posts to see if I could get some help and then this post is there right in front of me!! With hundreds of women with the same issue!! *happiness* I hate periods . . especially when you're trying to diet.

Mother Nature: "Oh, you want to lose weight, get in shape and impress the boy across the street without paying for plastic surgery?" *takes a sledge hammer to your uterus and injects you with 5 pounds of water* "DENIED!!!! I'll be back next month to keep you in check . ."

hausisse

I usually don't weigh myself during my period, as I know that the number isn't "technically" accurate and I'll just freak out when I see it!