Weight Gain During Menstrual Cycle

sarahfishy
sarahfishy Posts: 14
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all,

I'm new to My Fitness Pal, and wanted to share my back story.

All my life I've struggled with being overweight, but recently I decided to be more active and treat my body better. So I've cut out all my favorite full fat sodas, pizzas, pastas in favor for water, green tea, oven roasted chicken and veggie dinners.

So far in the past four weeks I've managed to lose 4 kgs (almost 9lbs) which I am happy about.

However last week my weight started to creep up even though I have been maintaining my diet and exercise regime. This past sunday I started my period and I my weight was up a full 2 kgs (4.4lbs) which has been discouraging as I have been drinking at least 2 liters of water everyday to prevent any water retention.

I'm now on day 4 of my period and my weight is still up 1.5 kgs (3.3lbs).

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Any comments would be appreciated!!!
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Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Weight loss is not linear. So take measurements & photos, too.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-Sexypants
  • crimsontech
    crimsontech Posts: 234 Member
    I gain 5 pounds during my period and lose it again in the last few days. Totally normal. Keep doing what you're doing!
  • yosassi
    yosassi Posts: 30 Member
    Oh girl.

    I'm going through this right now for the third month in a row. I also worried about it. Luckily, when my period was over, I not only dropped all the weight, but lost more as if the blip never happened. I think it just hits some of us harder. Hopefully, once you're done you'll be even lighter than when you started! It is just part of the cycle.

    Let me know! If not, then we'll have to brainstorm other solutions.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    if you eat lots of asparagus, it will act as a diuretic and help keep you from large water weight gains. it's low calorie and tasty, too.
  • amandagorder
    amandagorder Posts: 36 Member
    ^^ itsbasschick where have you been all my life?? I always gain like 8 lbs during mine.... then it falls off when ever I hit the "wall" its usually mother nature awarding me for living another month
  • Jkj95
    Jkj95 Posts: 64 Member
    I always gain a few pounds during my period, but it all goes away when it ends.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,985 Member
    I asked the same question yesterday, but did not get an answer to this. I only gained about 600g (and it wasn't further up today) but I was indeed wondering about this. Never noticed it before as I only recently bought a digital scale and I only take a break from the pill every 2-3 months. So lets just see what happens in a few days :)
  • JadeLover626
    JadeLover626 Posts: 1 Member
    It happens to me Every month too, 2-6 lb. difference, however mine does not seem to disappear when my period ends 3-4 days later. I usually hold on to at least 2 lbs. So frustrating!
  • jmlynar
    jmlynar Posts: 65 Member
    I gain about 5 lbs a week before I get my period. After I'm done, it goes away!
  • PurringMyrrh
    PurringMyrrh Posts: 5,276 Member
    I'm right there with you, chickie! I have been absolutely ace with my eating and being active, only to watch the scale go up. So miserable, but I am coming to realize I freak out every time and it really does go away afterward, and fast. Sometimes I gain upwards of 7-8lbs! And when I say "coming to realize" I mean after 24 years of going through periods (I'm 36) I just had that realization and acceptance as of day before yesterday. :laugh: Like, I have to do this for the next 10-15 years still so I may as well accept what my body is doing.

    If I could only now figure out a way to harness all the emotional power that comes with Aunt Flo and use it to my advantage...
  • Mitsuo8
    Mitsuo8 Posts: 27 Member
    Just something us women have to deal with. My only suggestion is to resist the urge to weigh yourself when you do have your period, since it is discouraging to you.
  • cincysweetheart
    cincysweetheart Posts: 892 Member
    Its absolutely normal. Don't stress it! Even when it NOT that TOM, your weight can fluctuate from day to day and even from hour to hour. I recommend only weighing yourself once a week. Otherwise, you'll drive yourself crazy with those fluctuations.
  • svincent1217
    svincent1217 Posts: 10 Member
    Just something us women have to deal with. My only suggestion is to resist the urge to weigh yourself when you do have your period, since it is discouraging to you.

    I try not to weigh myself about 3-4 days prior to my period and for a couple days after. Because it is discouraging and annoying to knwo you're doing the right things and simply because of mother nature, we're punished on the scale for it. Try not to concern yourself with it too much and try not to give into temptation during those times.
  • Boogage
    Boogage Posts: 739 Member
    It should go down again. Maybe in the future you could just avoid weighing in around that time of the month if you find it upsetting. I understand how frustrating it is when you're trying hard. My hormones have been out of whack lately and I've skipped a couple of periods so my weights stayed up a while and then I took some medication for a week which made me gain another 6lbs during that week but I stopped the meds and have dropped 4lbs over the last 2 days. Lots of things can mess with our bodies.
  • sarahfishy
    sarahfishy Posts: 14
    Thank you all so much for your pearls of wisdom and input.

    I think I will avoid weighing myself during my period as I think it will really derail my motivation.

    Obviously this is just my body doing its thing I have to let it happen and not stress me out, and continue to exercise and eat as normal.

    Thanks everyone again!! :flowerforyou:
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    I don't worry about anything when it's period time. Just surviving the week can be a tough enough challenge. HA!
  • adstott
    adstott Posts: 102 Member
    very normal and every period is different I've learned that!
  • Kelly_2013
    Kelly_2013 Posts: 117 Member
    Yes!!! The week leading up to... and then the week of I always have usually around a 5 lb gain!
  • kdhamner
    kdhamner Posts: 309 Member
    I have been on my weight loss journey for a year - I gain weight every month during that week - as soon as it is over, I lose that weight and often a little more. My body bloats regardless of what I try. If you find it too discouraging refrain from weighing during that week.
  • chrissistarr
    chrissistarr Posts: 9
    I am in the same boat. I usually gain 5-10 lbs of water weight and feel puffy all week then its hard to get the last of it off for the next week. I had my period TWICE this month so i can tell you I am drinking lots of tea and looking at more sauna time and cardio workouts...
  • nicoleyg
    nicoleyg Posts: 36 Member
    The same thing happened to me last month and I gained 6 pounds. I noticed I was very bloated around the middle also. Funny how I never noticed those things before, but with the little bit of weight I lost so far, I'm starting to notice a lot of things about my body. Thank goodness the weight came off after a few days and also a few extra pounds.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,985 Member
    Looks like I lost most of the water again. I wonder what is the connection between drinking a lot and water retention, or the lack of it?
  • LosingItInDenver
    LosingItInDenver Posts: 45
    This post has me feeling so much better. I weighed myself today and was up 2 lbs... and then I remembered that my visitor is expected any day now. I'm not so worried anymore. Thanks for all your comments here!
  • sarahfishy
    sarahfishy Posts: 14
    Typically when does the water weight drop off for everyone? Towards the end of the period or a few days after it has completely finished?

    I am nearing towards the end of mine now and I'm still carrying an extra 2 lbs which I really want to drop since I'm going on vacation next week to a beach thus having to be in a bathing suit!
  • sarahfishy
    sarahfishy Posts: 14
    Bump, anyone? :flowerforyou:
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Typically when does the water weight drop off for everyone? Towards the end of the period or a few days after it has completely finished?

    I am nearing towards the end of mine now and I'm still carrying an extra 2 lbs which I really want to drop since I'm going on vacation next week to a beach thus having to be in a bathing suit!
    Everybody's different. Weigh yourself weekly (at the same time, under the same conditions), and look for a downward trend.

    And take measurements & photos, too.
  • chaoticdreams
    chaoticdreams Posts: 447 Member
    I gain anywhere from 5-10 lbs of water weight the week before my period. At first it was very disheartening, but it is what it is. My body turns into a sponge and doesn't let anything go it seems. It doesn't completely go away until it's over or the last day or two, but I usually do see it decrease to 2-3 lbs at the start. Afterwards, I usually see a decent loss if I stuck to my calories the two weeks of. With this knowledge, I've just resigned myself to not recording losses but twice a month.

    Every girl is different. I personally don't think much of gains during this time anymore now that I realize it's all hormones and not actual fat. I kept some of my fatter pants just for that one week because of the bloat and to be more comfy at work. I'm trying to get pregnant, so frankly, I don't complain about mother nature anymore except fuss that she showed up when I'm wanting her to take a 9 month break LOL.
  • SRDB00
    SRDB00 Posts: 50 Member
    I gain anywhere from 6-10lbs (this also depends on my sodium intake when I start). I know it feels horrible to see the gain but eventually it will even itself out as long as you stick to your calorie budget and keep exercising. It will pass.
  • sarainiowa
    sarainiowa Posts: 287 Member
    I gain 4 - 5 lbs around that time. Drops off two or three days after. At first, I would use it as a bit of an excuse to eat. Now I use it as motivation to work harder.
  • Shalaurise
    Shalaurise Posts: 707 Member
    I would say this is completely normal. I ALWAYS weigh more around the same time of month. It always goes away.

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