Taking a running/exercise break? GIRLS! (PERIOD PROBS)

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francesca123456789
francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
For about a year I have run every other day and I average about 15-20 miles per week. I know it's not that intense but lately I feel like I just need a break. I get so stressed even the thought of running but I still push myself. I am currently trying to gain weight. I'm not underweight at all (112lbs ; 5ft4 ; BMI: 19.7) but I haven't had a period in a long time and my doctor said it could be down to my weight/body fat percentage also I don't think my natural weight should be this low. I'm going to see a specialist in 6-8 weeks. Do you think taking a break from running for a while might help? I know stress has a huge impact on hormones and feeling obliged to workout is pretty stressful sometimes. I was thinking about taking a week off and cycling a bit instead with maybe some kettlebells.
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  • spicegeek
    spicegeek Posts: 325 Member
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    if you feel like you need a break - you do ! - do something else instead - or even do a week of rest and stretch / massage
  • francesca123456789
    francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
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    Thanks for the reply! It's hard not to feel guilty though! I'm thinking of just taking the week off and cycling if I feel like it because I love cycling :-)
  • freddi11e
    freddi11e Posts: 317 Member
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    man, i lost my period when i got to 113. i'm 5'5... i lost it for 2 years. i wasnt even exercising. i was just eating a lot of fruit and vegetables. i was convinced it was something other than my diet because i was eating healthy and plentiful.... and i wasnt even exercising.... but then i gained 12 pounds as an "experiment" and got it back..... now i'm just trying to SLOOOWWWWLLYYY get back to 113... hopefully it will work this time without the period stop.
  • SephiraRose
    SephiraRose Posts: 775 Member
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    You should take care of your self first.
  • francesca123456789
    francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
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    man, i lost my period when i got to 113. i'm 5'5... i lost it for 2 years. i wasnt even exercising. i was just eating a lot of fruit and vegetables. i was convinced it was something other than my diet because i was eating healthy and plentiful.... and i wasnt even exercising.... but then i gained 12 pounds as an "experiment" and got it back..... now i'm just trying to SLOOOWWWWLLYYY get back to 113... hopefully it will work this time without the period stop.

    I haven't had one in two years either! Well I had two but they were nothing! I actually wanted to stop losing at 120lbs but then I lost more! I'm at a point now where I am just like 'do I want to be healthy or thin?'. It kind of puts it into perspective I guess!
  • francesca123456789
    francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
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    You should take care of your self first.

    Yeah you are right! Routines are hard to break though! But I just need to get over myself! Hahah
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
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    Just curious, but in a five day period, how many calories are you eating and netting after exercise?
  • abickford82
    abickford82 Posts: 207
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    It's happend to me, and body fat wasn't even an issue. I didn't eat enough and exercised too much (running mostly). It's not worth it. Take a break, and find a balance. I don't believe everyone should eat their exercise calories, but it seems like you may benefiting from it since it sounds like you aren't getting enough. I'd stop for a while.
  • timmemin
    timmemin Posts: 72 Member
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    Thanks for the reply! It's hard not to feel guilty though! I'm thinking of just taking the week off and cycling if I feel like it because I love cycling :-)
    This. If you love cycling, why not do it? Cross training is important for any runner. While exercise is important, it shouldn't be heightening your stress level. I feel like it's my de-stressor.

    Not to be weird, but are you in college? Both my sister and myself had the same no period issue our freshman year and it disappeared as we found our "school families." I would imagine that this has a lot to do with stress so take care of yourself.
  • francesca123456789
    francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
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    Just curious, but in a five day period, how many calories are you eating and netting after exercise?

    I don't count calories any more but I reckon I average about 2000 a day! I never really think of eating back the cals because I find it hard to eat a lot of food as I get full so quickly! So after calculating my net cals per day would probably be between 1700-1950! So that's probably not enough to gain! I've never thought about it this way haha
  • francesca123456789
    francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
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    Thanks for the reply! It's hard not to feel guilty though! I'm thinking of just taking the week off and cycling if I feel like it because I love cycling :-)
    This. If you love cycling, why not do it? Cross training is important for any runner. While exercise is important, it shouldn't be heightening your stress level. I feel like it's my de-stressor.

    Not to be weird, but are you in college? Both my sister and myself had the same no period issue our freshman year and it disappeared as we found our "school families." I would imagine that this has a lot to do with stress so take care of yourself.

    Yeah I know! Haha it seems so obvious like why not just cycle! I'm not competing in a marathon so why stress about running ll the time! Duh!

    I am actually! I'm from the UK so I am first year in university! I think stress is probably playing a role and I think it could be a combination of a lot of stressors!
  • francesca123456789
    francesca123456789 Posts: 17 Member
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    It's happend to me, and body fat wasn't even an issue. I didn't eat enough and exercised too much (running mostly). It's not worth it. Take a break, and find a balance. I don't believe everyone should eat their exercise calories, but it seems like you may benefiting from it since it sounds like you aren't getting enough. I'd stop for a while.

    You're def right! Sometime you just need to hear it from someone else! Thanks!!
  • flikster76
    flikster76 Posts: 33 Member
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    Geez, I'd be thrilled if I killed my period off!
  • needtogetfit932
    needtogetfit932 Posts: 49
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    Take a break from running if you want to. Find another form of exercise you might like, such as swimming, yoga, lifting weights, etc. The thought of exercise shouldn't stress you out - find something you love.
  • misskris78
    misskris78 Posts: 136 Member
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    Some types of oral contraceptives will cause light or no periods. Those that are progesterone only, such as Depo Provera, and some IUDs will do this as well.

    I assume your Dr. asked about medications, but it's worth mentioning.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,089 Member
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    I've taken breaks, and it really helped me out. Its nice to just relax for a little while and reevaluate things. It really did me a world of good, I think a break might be a good idea for you as well :-)
  • marinashakeel
    marinashakeel Posts: 263 Member
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    i think considering your bmi and taking in to account that you run... you might be over stressing your body.. yes... how many calories do you eat each day? make sure to eat back all your exercise calories as you have no weight to lose.. i wouldnt suggest taking break from your running but just increase your caloric intake.. like perhaps if you are eating 15,00 calorie and not eating back exercise calories then you should eat may be 2000-2500 calories.. actually during the menstrual cycle female body is preparing itself for possible pregnancy, however with a very low body fat percentage menstrual cycle comes to a halt because female body thinks it is not ready for pregnancy ( now fat must be providing some sort of support system, i dunno for sure) but increase you r weight.. you will get your periods.. if you still arent getting it then your doctor will prescribe you a contraceptive that will make you bleed after you stop taking it. (prolly for 5-7 days)
    p.s: i am a medical student, not a doc .. but this is what i have learned so far in medical field.. i hope it helps :)
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    http://skepchick.org/2014/02/the-female-athlete-triad-not-as-fun-as-it-sounds/



    As to the eating back exercise calories, some people do not understand how MFP works differently from other sites.
    Especially when it comes to keeping a reasonable deficit so you can actually have just fat loss and really benefit from the exercise as much as possible, which is harder when you are dieting.

    Other sites:
    You set up profile with how much exercise you are going to do and your daily life level of activity and a TDEE is calculated, say 2200.
    Your desired weight loss is subtracted, say 1 lb weekly or 500 calories.
    2200 - 500 = 1700 eaten daily.
    If you miss your planned workout you better eat less to keep your deficit. If you workout more you should eat more.

    MFP method:
    You set up profile with your NON-exercise daily level of activity and a non-exercise maintenance (or TDEE) is calculated, say 2000.
    Your desired weight loss is subtracted, say 500 cal.
    2000 - 500 = 1500 eaten on non-exercise days.

    You run and burn 800 calories, your maintenance or TDEE for that day literally just went up.
    2000 + 800 = 2800 burned total.
    Same deficit taken off.
    2800 - 500 = 2300 eaten on that exercise day.

    Same deficit is taken whether you exercise or not.

    And yes, MFP setup is confusing, because they deal with exercise goals right next to diet goals, but there is no math between the two.

    For those that think you shouldn't eat it back, why don't you accomplish your weight loss faster by not eating at all, if you think a bigger deficit is better?
    Because you don't know the human body, and what you are doing to it, by taking an extreme deficit, or in that case, creating one more often than not.

    http://www.t-nation.com/diet-fat-loss/truth-about-metabolic-damage
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
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    I would take that as a blessing. Nothing fun about periods
  • BerttiBott
    BerttiBott Posts: 22 Member
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    I am nearly the same height and weight as you are and I'm in the same situation. I started uni 6 months ago and put my body through hell with extreme chronic stress, no sleep, too much caffeine, too much running and not enough food. As a result my periods are MIA, my hair is coming out in chunks and I feel so awful. I joined MFP recently to get my health back! I cut my running back to 3 days per week with light cycling, walking or strength training on the other days and dialed back the stress by taking less classes. I've also increased the percentage of my total calories that come from fats because you need fats to build hormones. This seems to be working for me. It's been quite a roller coaster ride but it will come to end eventually. Message me if you'd like to chat!

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