Question (for women): Do you "gain weight" on your period?

sarahharmintx

Without going over calories (1320 per day), I can easily gain 2-4+lbs right before I start. I avoid the scale bc it will only screw with my head.

JenniBaby85

I'm using Mirena as birth control and rarely have cycles anymore, and if I do they are only 1-2 days of spotting at most. No bloating. No PMS. No b*tchiness.

Best. Thing. Ever.

You give me hope!

DrMAvDPhD

A few days before and for the first day, yes. I usually would hit a new low on day 2 or 3 though even if I still felt bloated and miserable.

Samanthaskywalker

I believe you retain water when menstruating.

sin485

I don't know if guys will be comfortable/interested to read this topic :P But, for all the women out there...

I feel really bloated when I'm on my period, and I have a noticeably larger midsection. I'm on the second day of my period now. Earlier, I checked my weight on the scale and was surprised to see that I gained a pound since I last checked my weight (the day before the start of my period) despite the fact that I never ate over my calorie deficit. So I am wondering if it could be because of my period.

Also, I heard that somehow you shouldn't lift weights when you're on your period? Is that true? XD Thanks.

you can because of water retention ive never heard you shouldnt lift weights while on your period though thats a new one on me

Ezada

Oh yes, I can retain anywhere from 2-15lbs of water weight before and during my period depending on my diet during my cycle.

This was my first successfull TOM where I put on about 3lbs of water/bloat and all of it came off. The key for me during that time is to eat foods very low in sodium, and if I do go over, try to do better the next day and drink lots of water.

jules1202

Very normal to hold fluid that time of month. I just started back on the pill and since then I went up a little with my period and now my weight won't budge so I am wondering if the pill is the problem or its just a coincidence.

Sabine_Stroehm

I'm using Mirena as birth control and rarely have cycles anymore, and if I do they are only 1-2 days of spotting at most. No bloating. No PMS. No b*tchiness.

Best. Thing. Ever.

You give me hope!

Mirena was THE WORST thing I ever did to my body.

jules1202

I'm using Mirena as birth control and rarely have cycles anymore, and if I do they are only 1-2 days of spotting at most. No bloating. No PMS. No b*tchiness.

Best. Thing. Ever.

You give me hope!

Mirena was THE WORST thing I ever did to my body.

Women either love it or absolutely hate it. I myself fall in the second category; it gave me a lot of problems.

californiagirl2012

I don't know if guys will be comfortable/interested to read this topic :P But, for all the women out there...

I feel really bloated when I'm on my period, and I have a noticeably larger midsection. I'm on the second day of my period now. Earlier, I checked my weight on the scale and was surprised to see that I gained a pound since I last checked my weight (the day before the start of my period) despite the fact that I never ate over my calorie deficit. So I am wondering if it could be because of my period.

Also, I heard that somehow you shouldn't lift weights when you're on your period? Is that true? XD Thanks.

You can do all your normal exercise during this time. The body fluctuates and it's mostly water. The scale is a horrible tool sometimes.

Your body loses weight in chunks, not linear. I have found that you can do everything right and your weight loss seems to plateau but if you are patient and keep exercising and eating at a deficit (however slight) you will lose it, it will suddenly "whoosh". There are so many variables for the scale; water retention, digestion, allergies, sodium, carbs, water intake, DOMS, inflammation, the list goes on. People mistakenly think they lose or gain weight when they eat more or less because of these fluctuations.

Losing weight requires tremendous patience. You will not lose it when you want it or where you want it. The body does its thing. Some apparent plateaus can last a month or so. You can not make it happen faster. You must focus on two things; calories and exercise. Nothing else matters. Scales and metrics don't matter. The day in and day out grind of exercise and calories are all that matters. It is not very exciting until things fall into place. You get your victories and you ride one victory to the next.

The scale is a trend tool. The scale is good but put it away and only check once a week and only use it as a trend tool. It will fluctuate, it does not matter. Take front side and back progress pictures at least once a month. You will see differences that the metrics won't tell you and it's that little bit of NSV that will keep you going until the next victory.

MVY_

I gain about 5 lbs.

sizzle92

My gain/bloat is before. Like the 5 days prior. Then usually when I start it goes away. It can be like 5 pounds! UGH!

zaynad

I don't know the science of it, but yes, I show no weight lose the week before my period. After my period I show the entire lose

NeverGivesUp

I'm using Mirena as birth control and rarely have cycles anymore, and if I do they are only 1-2 days of spotting at most. No bloating. No PMS. No b*tchiness.

Best. Thing. Ever.

You give me hope!

Mirena was THE WORST thing I ever did to my body.

The mirena was really bad for me too. I am soooo happy that I got it out, hubby is getting fixed on Friday YYYYYAAAAAAYYYY I hate periods, can't wait till menopause but at least I can get my non hormonal IUD out in 3 months so my TOM won't be as terrible and long.

rinaliz

It is usually around a 2 pound gain for me. After my period passes so does the 2 pounds.
About the lifting weights while on your period, I would think that you should at least take
it easy. No power squats or anything extreme.

momxs2

Yes, I agree, I usually do gain slightly but if you really want to track it I recommend the "period tracker" app...it's free. You can easily track your symptoms/weight gain/moods etc...

givenshl

Yes, I gain but it's gone a couple of days after my cycle is over. I truly can't stand it, I get so miserable. I went close to 11yrs of having periods once or twice a year to now having them regular. Blah!

onyxgirl17

weight stays stagnant that week, but I'm losing weight so if I was maintaining I bet it would go up.

fit4lifeUcan2

I do not gain but I also do not lose while TOM. Once TOM is over I'll drop 2 to 3 lbs. I stay as far away from salt as possible before TOM and during. Before is very important because thats when the body starts to get ready for TOM and bloating slowly builds up. I drink loads of green tea with lemon and water with lemon to help if I feel I need it but for me typically since eating clean and not much in the way of processed foods I haven't had much of a problem with it. I even have fibroids. We're all different. Don't take what I"m saying as something that will work for you but its worth a shot. I used to blow up like a balloon in my gut and my face would puff up, eye lids swell up, hands used to get puffy, even ankles swelled. Not anymore. I also find that pushing through exercise helps with my cramps. I force myself to keep moving and its worth it. After a couple of minutes into the exercises the cramping stops. I've tried OTC meds and prescription meds for my horrible cramping but for me the only thing to help is exercising.

EndlessSacrifice

Periods can cause weight gain, bloating, and just about any other uncomfortable feeling. It's not permanent, so don't worry.

rahrahrita

Yep, the day before I start and the first 2 days of my period I gain 2-4 pounds and then it goes back to normal.

mrs_joshica

Pre-TOM I Gain usually 6lbs, but the norm is for me to continue to do what I am doing, and when that TOM really starts those lbs plus my normal loss appears. This month has been really funky for me, but that is how it "normally" works. The key here is do NOT let the scale discourage you when you start to see that pre-TOM gain, but continue on your plan that is already working for you, and you normally will see the lbs fall off again, plus your normal loss.

kat8604

i tend to retain water when im on my monthly so thats probly where the extra weight comes from. i havnt heard anything about the weight lifting.

GeekGirl23

Knowing that your body can go thru some pretty dramatic changes... I don't weigh myself during that time at all... I just focus on my food and work out if I can... I also drink plenty of water. It balances itself out.

virichi08

Very normal and it is different every cycle (at least for me) one cycle my moods were affected more than my weight was. This time I weight about 5-7lbs heavier. Today is my last day and im am still 2lbs heavier. And i have never heard anything about not lifing weights, i dnt see how that would change or harm anything

fit_librarian

I gain 1lb-1.5 pound of water weight and I drop it once my period is over.

knwitall

Yes, I've gain up to 5 lbs. I just stay away from the scales.

jensfitpal2012

Yes,I think everyone tends to gain some.I usually gain abt.5 lbs.I try not to weigh myself during this time,so I do not get discouraged.Don't worry,it will come back off when it's all said and done.Keep exercising it helps shed the water weight and you feel better,less crampy,less moody...

janlee_001

Every month

VegasStage

absolutely. anywhere from 1-5 pounds! weird. makes me feel terrible and us ladies don't need that!