Womanly issues

rayvynn5374

Ok men you probably want to move on to another thread or be forever scarred for life.

So I am training for a half marathon that is quickly approaching in two weeks. I do not plan to do the half and stop running. This is a forever thing. I hope! Anyways have always been a heavy bleeder so don't be alarmed and start telling me to go see the Gyn please. Got my period Tuesday it was light throughout the day, come Wednesday morning I was now heavy. This morning it was way worse. I was "free flowing" as I stood in the shower trying to get out and get ready for work. I should also tell ya that Tue night I ran 3 miles, Wed night 7 and tonight another 3. Tue and Wed runs weren't too bad. Tonight's run was horrible. Yeah I know some runs are better than others but tonight I felt weak and defeated.

I am wondering what is the best course of food to help replenish myself during these times. Steak and heavy carbs? I am searching the internet as well but wanted to ask in here since so many of you seem to have some knowledge on nutrition and the like.

Thanks in advance.

jzammetti

How much do you eat a day?

Are your hormones all at healthy levels?

have you had bloodwork done (are you inclined to be anemic)?

rayvynn5374

I aim for about 1500 calories a day and generally eat back my calories.

Just had the yearly everything was fine with bloodwork

I don't tend to be anemic, that has never been detected I should say.

4n6babe

I felt like that during my last period.. lots of working out AND losing all that blood is a lot of work for the body. I felt sick at the same time so I didn't even feel like eating what I probably should've eaten - the steaks & carbs & stuff, but I'd say yeah, work them in if you can. Or whatever your body is telling you it wants - its likely that you probably actually NEED it during this time.

Edit ~ I'm not a professional but I'm just going off of what I would do if it were me. If I wasn't feeling so horrible I would've grabbed the nearest meat product lol. Oh, and plenty of sleep is probably a good idea too.

krissydawn16

No advice... just replying so I can follow the thread. I have similar issues at my "time of the month". Thankfully, I'm still breastfeeding and haven't had to deal with it for quite a long time!! But, I know it's fast approaching for me so I'm hoping someone has an answer for you!!

liesevanlingen

If this is normal for you, then i wouldn't worry about it too much. Check with your doctor about taking an iron supplement, perhaps. If this is different from a regular menstrual cycle for you, it could be related to your age--peri-menopause can begin in your mid thirties for some women and then periods start becoming irregular, heavier, lighter, all over the place due to those lovely hormones that start rampaging about.

As far as nutrition goes, make sure you're getting enough iron and protein--leafy green veggies, red meat, maybe take a multi-vitamin during this time. You said everything was fine with your bloodwork, so I don't think you need to be too concerned, Good luck with your marathon training!

kristy6ward

I imagine you're heavier than normal because of all the prolonged bouncing around. I almost prefer it that way, since I'm in the clear that much sooner. Like another poster said, get lots of iron and protein and as much rest as you feel you need.

jzammetti

I aim for about 1500 calories a day and generally eat back my calories.

Just had the yearly everything was fine with bloodwork

I don't tend to be anemic, that has never been detected I should say.

I'm glad you know the answers to the medical questions - glad they are good answers.

So, that leaves us with the amount of food you are eating...

Do you know your BMR/TDEE?

ldibarra

When my daughter has really heavy periods, she can feel like she is
sick ( like if you had the flu). I asked her doctor and
She said to try Aleve instead of Tylenol or Advil. It helps with the prostaglandins or
Some other hormones that make you feel yucky during your period.
So we tried it and it really helped her feel better. Maybe you could try
It once to see.

mrdexter1

Not that i have much experience in this field as a bloke .. but my partner has a contraceptive injection every 3 months and just gets mild stomach ache every month without any other sign of a period.

surely you all have this choice ?

rayvynn5374

I'm glad you know the answers to the medical questions - glad they are good answers.

So, that leaves us with the amount of food you are eating...

Do you know your BMR/TDEE?
[/quote]

BMR 1240
TDEE 1915

Now is where I lose in the information department. I know (or think I know) that I need to eat at least 1240 calories to maintain the weight I am at if I am happy with that weight. TDEE...yeah clueless.

lisamarie1780

Hey, I have similar problems. I don't run on my heaviest day though, I rest and eat.... bananas, wholegrain pasta and rice with lots of veggies and lean meat and fish. Nettle tea is really good for reducing blood flow and getting rid of excess water also. Drink a cup a day and next month should be a bit better

msrootitooti

I would just say move your workouts around that week and take off the day that you know will be the heaviest. I don't think your diet needs to change too much on that day as long as you remain healthy and probably keep up the iron. I think rest would be the most beneficial...

sjhatcu

I am going through the same thing right now....it is horrible this month. I was wondering if anyone thought there was any correlation between increased exercise and a heavier flow. I have been hitting the exercise hard lately - treadmill, weights, boot camp, etc. and my flow this month is really heavy - to the point where I am "changing" every hour or so. Could this be because of all the exercise? I always thought increased exercise would lighten your period, but hormones are hard to figure out.

lessofheather

Unfortunately not all women get that same result from the injection. For some it's the complete opposite, and you don't know how you're going to react until you try it. And then you're stuck with the side effects (good or bad) for 3 months.

Edit: Sorry! That was meant to be a response to MrDexter's question, but I must have screwed up the reply option.

jzammetti

I'm glad you know the answers to the medical questions - glad they are good answers.

So, that leaves us with the amount of food you are eating...

Do you know your BMR/TDEE?

BMR 1240
TDEE 1915

Now is where I lose in the information department. I know (or think I know) that I need to eat at least 1240 calories to maintain the weight I am at if I am happy with that weight. TDEE...yeah clueless.
[/quote]

So, I am guessing you eat around your BMR number? If so, you are not eating enough and this can cause the irregular periods.

Your BMR is the MINUMUM number of calories you need to support healthy organ function (as if you were in a coma). TDEE is what you should eat to maintain your current weight (so long as you used the current weight as your "goal weight" entry in the calculation - if you used your real goal weight, then it is the number you would eat to maintain your goal weight).

If you calculated TDEE based on your current weight as the "gaol weoght", you would eat at a 20% deficit from that number to lose weight. So, 1915 - 20% (383) = 1532 per day to lose weight.

If you used your real goal weight in that calculation, then you can eat a couple hunred less than the 1915 (so, 1715) and still lose weight, a little faster than if you just ate at 1915 (you would still lose at the 1915, but slower).

Does that make any sense?

mrswine

My first month I had a very light flow. But the second was so heavy and atrocious I stayed home from work. I felt like I had the flu and woke up in the middle of the night to find myself heavily bleeding. Must have something to do with the workout because its never happened before. I had extra protein and carbs. My next month was fine!

sunnyhlw77

I want to follow this also. Although I don't have problems with heavy flow, I am curious about the answers. I really don't have a lot to offer by way of advice. I know if I take advil, aleve or midol, mine become pretty much non-existant. My are also weirdly based on my emotions, if I'm really stressed or upset, it'll disappear entirely.

CLFrancois

I had a friend that was a 48 hour girl, it was so heavy. Ugh.

I know there is a slow release iron supplement out there somewhere.,...
Good ol Google
http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Fe-Release-Tablets-90-Count/dp/B000052YTI

"Consume Iron-Rich Foods

Try lean beef (3 mg per three-ounce serving), oysters (6 mg per six-piece serving), spinach (6 mg per cup), beans (4 to 8 mg per cup) and fortified cereal (Cheerios has 10 mg per cup)."

also

"Boost Absorption

The heme iron in meat is more absorbable than the nonheme iron in produce. Combining the two at one meal helps, as does consuming iron along with foods high in vitamin C, like citrus. Also, separate iron-rich foods from those high in calcium, like milk and cheese; the two minerals compete for absorption."

Amcolecchi

Are you on Birth control? I was put on it when I was younger because I had heavy periods and really bad cramping....it seem to work!

rayvynn5374

I'm glad you know the answers to the medical questions - glad they are good answers.

So, that leaves us with the amount of food you are eating...

Do you know your BMR/TDEE?

BMR 1240
TDEE 1915

Now is where I lose in the information department. I know (or think I know) that I need to eat at least 1240 calories to maintain the weight I am at if I am happy with that weight. TDEE...yeah clueless.

So, I am guessing you eat around your BMR number? If so, you are not eating enough and this can cause the irregular periods.

Your BMR is the MINUMUM number of calories you need to support healthy organ function (as if you were in a coma). TDEE is what you should eat to maintain your current weight (so long as you used the current weight as your "goal weight" entry in the calculation - if you used your real goal weight, then it is the number you would eat to maintain your goal weight).

If you calculated TDEE based on your current weight as the "gaol weoght", you would eat at a 20% deficit from that number to lose weight. So, 1915 - 20% (383) = 1532 per day to lose weight.

If you used your real goal weight in that calculation, then you can eat a couple hunred less than the 1915 (so, 1715) and still lose weight, a little faster than if you just ate at 1915 (you would still lose at the 1915, but slower).

Does that make any sense?
[/quote]
Yes this makes sense. I used my current weight to calculate TDEE. I am not looking to loose or gain honestly. I just want to be healthy. I think 110 lbs for a 5 ft 1 female is decent.

jzammetti

I'm glad you know the answers to the medical questions - glad they are good answers.

So, that leaves us with the amount of food you are eating...

Do you know your BMR/TDEE?

BMR 1240
TDEE 1915

Now is where I lose in the information department. I know (or think I know) that I need to eat at least 1240 calories to maintain the weight I am at if I am happy with that weight. TDEE...yeah clueless.

So, I am guessing you eat around your BMR number? If so, you are not eating enough and this can cause the irregular periods.

Your BMR is the MINUMUM number of calories you need to support healthy organ function (as if you were in a coma). TDEE is what you should eat to maintain your current weight (so long as you used the current weight as your "goal weight" entry in the calculation - if you used your real goal weight, then it is the number you would eat to maintain your goal weight).

If you calculated TDEE based on your current weight as the "gaol weoght", you would eat at a 20% deficit from that number to lose weight. So, 1915 - 20% (383) = 1532 per day to lose weight.

If you used your real goal weight in that calculation, then you can eat a couple hunred less than the 1915 (so, 1715) and still lose weight, a little faster than if you just ate at 1915 (you would still lose at the 1915, but slower).

Does that make any sense?

Yes this makes sense. I used my current weight to calculate TDEE. I am not looking to loose or gain honestly. I just want to be healthy. I think 110 lbs for a 5 ft 1 female is decent.
[/quote]

i agree - I think you should eat at your TDEE (1915) for 4 weeks and see if that helps your issue next month. Underfeeding our bodies can cause all sorts of issues.

Laurelthequeen

Probably not all that helpful now, but I'm not sure if you've looked into Mirena. It's certainly not for everyone, I've read some horror stories, but I (27 year old, no children) got one last year and LOVE it. I have always had lightish periods and no cramping, but within 3 months, periods stopped completely and I just get occasional cramping for maybe 30 minutes every 4 weeks or so. It is supposed to decrease or stop your period, and it sounds like you may benefit a great deal from something like this.

Costwise, it lasts 5 years, and after my insurance paid their portion, my OTD was around $400. But, I was using Nuvaring before and that ran $50/month even with insurance, so it paid itself off in the first year, and I don't have to remember to take/buy/insert anything for the next 5 years! I couldn't be happier.

patrnbabe

heavy periods can be a sign of fibroids or other issues. Talk to your doctor. Birth control can help reduce the heavy periods for a while, but for some it's not a permanent solution.

I used to run & marathon train, and did not experience anything "extra" due to the running. Rather it was due to the increased size of the fibroids. Tissue builds up on them, and is "flushed" along with the rest of the uterine lining. Sometimes it takes a while for the buildup around the fibroids to develop, which is why the monthlies can sometimes be heavier than others, and seem "irregular". Welcome to my life.

For the slight anemic issue: eat more beans, dark green leafy veggies, anything high in iron. Go an English pub and order steak & kidney pie, or go to a really good deli and eat up a dish of liver & onions. Iron is hard to absorb from vegetable sources, so meat's really the way to go. Calcium inhibits iron absorbtion, citric acids help with iron absorbtion. So take your calcium or milk several hours apart from eating your iron source. And squeeze a lemon on that steak, sister!

rayvynn5374

I have been doing a little research and am now pretty sure I have figured out the "issue". I am a female....Apparently the female body doesn't like exercise during the luteal phase of our cycles. Progesterone makes breathing and sweating "harder" as well as changes what is used for energy. My head is spinning from all this info. I have to sit down with it again tonight and try to sort it out. As it appears in my spinning head right now I will be running the half marathon during luteal...hum not cool

emcdonie

I have occasional iron/anemia issues and so do many ladies I know. Thus, I supplement it.

Food wise, my first thought if it is just during your monthly....this isn't probably going to be popular...... liver.

It packs a major punch of several important things, and it has a large iron content. I don't really like it either, but I decided myself I am going to start including more in my diet. I would rather my iron come from food than pills when possible.