LADIES ONLY PLEASE!!!!

shrinkINme88
shrinkINme88 Posts: 19
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey Ladies!!

I have noticed this past week that I did not lose as much weight a I anticipated. Due to this really being my first time dieting I was a little curious. Can our menstrual cycle stop the weight loss process just for the time that you are on? I felt like I worked a little bit harder this week but was a little let down for my weigh in this morning.
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Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Don't panic. We tend to retain water during our time of the month. Some women can show a 5+ pound increase! But it should all disappear a few days after your period ends. Best thing is to track it and see how your body reacts so that you can anticipate it.
  • Divagettinfitin2011
    Divagettinfitin2011 Posts: 500 Member
    Yes! I gain like 7lbs each month:grumble:
  • jen10st
    jen10st Posts: 325 Member
    yes definitely, i usually feel huge and put on a couple of pounds that go away again a day or two afterwards. i know everyones different but i try to avoid carbs especially pasta during time of month and that helps x
  • runzalot81
    runzalot81 Posts: 782 Member
    I often gain up to 5 lbs! Boo Hiss
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
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  • RunMyOregonBunsOff
    RunMyOregonBunsOff Posts: 862 Member
    Same kind of issue for me plus the added bonus of feeling a little tired too. :grumble:
  • roxie0920
    roxie0920 Posts: 41
    It happens to a lot of us. Exercise really helps. If I don't exercise, I gain about 4 lbs overnight and it goes down slowly over 4-5 days. If I do exercise, then it's only 1 or 2 lbs and it is gone in 3 days max.
  • Smithslivingclean
    Smithslivingclean Posts: 9 Member
    Hey ladies! I need some help...I am 5'2 and 143 pounds. I seem to fluctuate from 140 to 143 and cannot get below 140. By goal weight is 135 or 130. I eat really healthy like vegetables, fruit and all that good stuff...and then of course the ocassional sweets (esp around my period) but I usually do well staying under my calorie goal and/or maintain 1800. I exercise including yoga and am a pretty active gal. Please help me and give me some solid suggestions on what I should do. Thanks!
  • Becky0582
    Becky0582 Posts: 23
    Yes, I've been known to gain as much as 7 lbs during TOM!!! But I have found that exercise will help with cramps and drinking lots of water will help you feel less bloated! This last TOM I actually lost 1.2 lbs! Don't get discouraged, you will probably show a huge loss next week! :)
  • Lovestoscrapbook
    Lovestoscrapbook Posts: 295 Member
    Yup! It took me a couple weigh ins to realize this. I retained 5 pounds which thankfully went away a week later with my next weigh in.
  • ahmommy
    ahmommy Posts: 316 Member
    Yes, it's very normal. I tend to be pleased if I can simply maintain during that time of the month. You retain lots of water, which is why you can feel so bloated.
  • CherishQuick
    CherishQuick Posts: 145
    Thanks for this input. It's made me feel a little better.
  • shrinkINme88
    shrinkINme88 Posts: 19
    I worked out hard this week!! I didn't gain anything I actually loss 1.2 lbs but I was expecting a lil more b/c last week I was down 5.6 lbs!! I usually never feel bloated, but now I know to skip the scale that week!! :noway: I also noticed that I wasn't cramping as badly as I usually do, maybe that due to switching my diet and upping my water intake by 10?? :huh:
  • mirandamayhem
    mirandamayhem Posts: 772
    I worked out hard this week!! I didn't gain anything I actually loss 1.2 lbs but I was expecting a lil more b/c last week I was down 5.6 lbs!! I usually never feel bloated, but now I know to skip the scale that week!! :noway: I also noticed that I wasn't cramping as badly as I usually do, maybe that due to switching my diet and upping my water intake by 10?? :huh:

    I've not been pre menstrual at all this month! Bonus, proves again and again diet helps!
  • Aimeebird1
    Aimeebird1 Posts: 133 Member
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    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAA
  • briabner
    briabner Posts: 427 Member
    TOM (time of month) has a lot to do with your lack of weight loss even though you were trying. Water retention is huge during TOM. What I do to help this out is drink tons of water...like I am talking like 80 oz of water a day when TOM is here. That way you are peeing more which helps me offset some of the water weight that I have packed on because of TOM
  • phoenix8633
    phoenix8633 Posts: 137 Member
    Yea I gain about 5lbs when its TOM, I never weigh myself on the week that I'm on because I know the scale will jump up!
  • DixiedoesMFP
    DixiedoesMFP Posts: 935 Member
    Breathe. TOM, water retention from sodium intake, water retention from muscle repair, etc. all can affect that number.
  • LadyAshes
    LadyAshes Posts: 19 Member
    Ya just weighed myself this morning and am up about 4 lbs. :S
  • lleabrooks
    lleabrooks Posts: 87 Member
    yep... I gain anywhere from 4-7 pounds in the week leading up to my time of month and I eat like a hog! As soon as I start - the weight falls off and my appetite goes back to normal... almost immediately. Interesting to hear other ladies have those issues "during" Flo's visit. I don't record my weight at all during this time.
  • HotDeann
    HotDeann Posts: 3
    That is funny!
  • sheila569
    sheila569 Posts: 269 Member
    Don't panic. We tend to retain water during our time of the month. Some women can show a 5+ pound increase! But it should all disappear a few days after your period ends. Best thing is to track it and see how your body reacts so that you can anticipate it.

    ^^^ This
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    I worked out hard this week!! I didn't gain anything I actually loss 1.2 lbs but I was expecting a lil more b/c last week I was down 5.6 lbs!! I usually never feel bloated, but now I know to skip the scale that week!! :noway: I also noticed that I wasn't cramping as badly as I usually do, maybe that due to switching my diet and upping my water intake by 10?? :huh:

    Well, you DO realize that you will not normally EVER lose over 5 pounds in a week, right? I'm guessing maybe you are just starting, and the first 5.6 pounds was mostly water weight to begin with. 1.2 pounds is a VERY respectable, sustainable weight loss, you should be proud of yourself! It's possible maybe you really did lose a little more than that, and are retaining some water, but just breathe and try again once TOM is gone. :):flowerforyou:
  • Hayleighs_mom
    Hayleighs_mom Posts: 48
    Hey! Don't stress over it too much. I don't know about everyone else, but I typically bloat a lot prior to my cycle which doesn't do me a bit of good on the scale. Also, keep a lookout on your sodium intake. I realized that last week that my sodium levels were usually too high and my scale wouldn't budge. But keep in mind that every week will not be a dramatic loss. If you are just starting out (depending on how many calories you cut from what your body is use to) your body may go into shock and will retain extra water (thats what my body does). Just take it a day at a time and weigh-in one week at a time. Unfortunately it is a slow process that can be upsetting at times, but just remember that we are changing our lives for the better.
  • Eafears
    Eafears Posts: 135 Member
    You definitely start to retain water but that is not anything to worry about, your body needs to do this. So don't let it get you down. But just incase you didn't know a few days before you period you metabolism speeds up in preperation for your cycle. On average a woman will burn up to 300 extra calories a day the few days before her cycle starts. This is where the extra hunger/cravings come from, your body wants to make up for it. Still it's possible to give in a bit too much to the chocolate cravings (at least I know I do).
  • healthtenderfoot
    healthtenderfoot Posts: 42
    For me I feel like I have one week a month to recoperate between periods. The week before I am constantly irritated, short on temper, and over sleep. The week of I'm bloated, cranky, sore all over, tired, and feel disgusting since my gut always sticks out more that week. The week after is when the chocolate and peanut butter cravings hit, bloating slowly goes down, and I still don't feel quiet myself. I like having my period back on a 'normal' cycle, but the three weeks of PMS are extremly draining, and it really messes with my digestive system.

    By the time I feel myself again, finally, the week before hits again. :grumble:
  • mishimouse101
    mishimouse101 Posts: 47 Member
    The weight loss process is not stopped due to menstruation. Extreme hormone fluctuations can change your metabolism rate but do not prohibit weight loss. Men and women both can have their weight fluctuate several pounds in just a day with changes in hydration/water retention/salt intake.

    Daily attention to hydration helps your body shed calories its most efficiently as well as keeping everything lubricated on the inside-think of it like the oil in your car.

    Regular exercise is the single most effective way to reduce cramping, especially at any signs of cramping-it helps your muscles to relax post exercise.

    Proper nutrition ongoing minimizes cramps-consumption of evening primrose oil is widespread as a female specific supplement to provide essential fatty acids and prevent cramping. I take it daily.

    The heavier you are, the more calories burned while exercising. As you lose, you slowly burn less doing the same workout. Do not expect to lose at the same rate with the same calories and same workout.

    Scale results are not equal to workout effort always. Keeping up the intensity in your workouts is great, so is interval training. try not to be too disappointed with the scale results. If I am on target with food goals and exercising I see progress on the scale. The higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. Loss is a target, think of the weigh in results as a reward not completely in your control. You get a reward, why be the spoiled brat who is unhappy with the prize? Next time it could be better or the same, but you are getting rewards (results) for your work. Agree?
  • amclaws25
    amclaws25 Posts: 128 Member
    I gain about 5 from water retention. Don't let it get you down. It will go away and show your true weight loss. :)
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    The scale literally goes up 5-8lbs during the 'time of the month' for me. I never weigh a few days before, during, or after. Water retention is horrible, so I also try to really reduce my sodium and chug water! I wouldn't stress it :)
  • seestephyrun
    seestephyrun Posts: 3
    I usually ignore anything the scale tells me during "that time of the month" - whether it's the weight or body fat %
    I generally just feel like a big lump of awful around then, so ignoring it is the best thing for me!

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