Warning TMI, haven't gotten my period since I started counting calories

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So definitely not pregnant here, no birth control, no breast feeding. Since I started eating 1200 (60 days) calories a day I haven't gotten my period. Am I missing something in the nutrition department that is preventing this from happening. Don't get me wrong here, not a fan of the monthly visits but I'm having to constantly check if I'm pregnant out of paranoia. I cannot take birth control so just condoms over here.
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Replies

  • LaraArmstrong16
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    How much do you currently weigh? Sometimes that stops them.
  • taymam
    taymam Posts: 55 Member
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    How much do you currently weigh? Sometimes that stops them.

    As of this morning 178.8. I've been dropping roughly 1.5 to 2 pounds a week
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
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    Too steep a deficit would be my first guess.
  • alabella
    alabella Posts: 36 Member
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    You don't want to be asking internet strangers this, see a doctor.
  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
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    We have this word in the English language that, sadly, many folks don't understand.

    The word is: "coincidence".

    I've even heard of folks blaming toenail fungus on diet. <boggle>

    Sometimes random events just happen at the same time.

    No causal relationship.

    Not even correlation.

    Just random ... coincidence.

    Now go head on down to your Doc's office and pay an arm and a leg to get a professional diagnosis. Odds are, it's the same.
  • taymam
    taymam Posts: 55 Member
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    alabella wrote: »
    You don't want to be asking internet strangers this, see a doctor.

    I'm perfectly comfortable with the fact I have a period, it's a natural thing that I had hoped some other women on this site may have experienced. If I'm not mistaken this forum is for motivation, support and advice. If you don't have any productive input, why bother?
  • taymam
    taymam Posts: 55 Member
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    We have this word in the English language that, sadly, many folks don't understand.

    The word is: "coincidence".

    I've even heard of folks blaming toenail fungus on diet. <boggle>

    Sometimes random events just happen at the same time.

    No causal relationship.

    Not even correlation.

    Just random ... coincidence.

    Now go head on down to your Doc's office and pay an arm and a leg to get a professional diagnosis. Odds are, it's the same.

    Thanks! If you do your research The second most common reason for missed period is extreme weight loss. Although I wouldn't rate mine as extreme I wouldn't call it a coincidence. Someone who has a period every 28 days of her life religiously doesn't not just randomly skip 2 months without there being something that caused it. (The most common is pregnancy) And coming from someone who has never experienced a period your comment comes across as condescending. You know you could just skip the questions that don't pertain to your field of expertise. And not only is my doctor free to see, but there is no magical test to figure this out. It's a whole lot of guessing at this point hence the reaching out to people who have been where I am and possibly experienced the same things that I am going through.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
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    Since you've ruled out pregnancy...

    1 - Are you sure that 1200 is a healthy calorie level for your height? Sometimes not eating enough can cause problems.
    This calculator from the Baylor College of Medicine will tell you not only your BMI, but how many servings of various foods to eat to maintain that weight, based on activity level. Play with the weight to get the BMI in a healthy range (18-24.9). To be the most conservative, set it at "inactive" and don't eat exercise calories.
    https://www.bcm.edu/cnrc-apps/healthyeatingcalculator/eatingCal.html

    2 - Has anything else changed recently? (You don't have to answer us, just think it to yourself.) Stress can cause interruptions.

    3 - Check with your doctor, or if you can't afford that go to your local city/county health clinic or Planned Parenthood (which has a sliding fee scale).

    4 - When you were starting off, with 75 lb to lose, dropping 2 lb a week could be reasonable. As you get closer to goal, that will slow. (Yes, it's frustrating.)
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
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    taymam wrote: »
    alabella wrote: »
    You don't want to be asking internet strangers this, see a doctor.

    I'm perfectly comfortable with the fact I have a period, it's a natural thing that I had hoped some other women on this site may have experienced. If I'm not mistaken this forum is for motivation, support and advice. If you don't have any productive input, why bother?

    Seriously doubt she responded that way because she is uncomfortable dealing with a question about menstruation. More likely because undiagnosed medical issues really should be addressed by a doctor and not people you don't know.

    It's one thing to ask for opinions while you're waiting for your scheduled appointment. It's another to self-diagnose something like this. At a minimum you're going to want a blood test to more accurately determine that you're not pregnant (yes, over-the-counter kits make more errors than the doctors' test) and at the same time use some of that blood to take a look at whether you're deficient in a number of nutrients.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
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    When I first started cutting calories, my cycle went all wonky. I think it was something like 63 days at one point. I asked my OB about it and he said that he would have been more surprised if it hadn't changed some, considering the lifestyle changes I was making. It all settled down in the end and was no big deal for me. If you are concerned, definitely check with your doctor. But do know that it is a somewhat common happening when you cut your calories by quite a bit.
  • taymam
    taymam Posts: 55 Member
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    MKEgal wrote: »
    Since you've ruled out pregnancy...

    1 - Are you sure that 1200 is a healthy calorie level for your height? Sometimes not eating enough can cause problems.
    This calculator from the Baylor College of Medicine will tell you not only your BMI, but how many servings of various foods to eat to maintain that weight, based on activity level. Play with the weight to get the BMI in a healthy range (18-24.9). To be the most conservative, set it at "inactive" and don't eat exercise calories.
    https://www.bcm.edu/cnrc-apps/healthyeatingcalculator/eatingCal.html

    2 - Has anything else changed recently? (You don't have to answer us, just think it to yourself.) Stress can cause interruptions.

    3 - Check with your doctor, or if you can't afford that go to your local city/county health clinic or Planned Parenthood (which has a sliding fee scale).

    4 - When you were starting off, with 75 lb to lose, dropping 2 lb a week could be reasonable. As you get closer to goal, that will slow. (Yes, it's frustrating.)

    1- I'm not sure, I have an appointment with a nutritionist but it takes 2 months to get in to see her.
    2- no if anything I'm less stressed, finally sleeping
    3- I did, he gave me like 10 different scenarios

    Thank you for your comment it was very helpful
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,196 Member
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    taymam wrote: »
    alabella wrote: »
    You don't want to be asking internet strangers this, see a doctor.

    I'm perfectly comfortable with the fact I have a period, it's a natural thing that I had hoped some other women on this site may have experienced. If I'm not mistaken this forum is for motivation, support and advice. If you don't have any productive input, why bother?

    Running this by your doctor really is the best bet.

    My guess is that neither your weight nor calorie intake are low enough to cause this. There are lots of other explanations. Stress and trauma can certainly cause amenorrhea--I didn't have a period for an entire year after I had brain surgery. Sometimes just worrying that you might be pregnant can be enough stress to make your period late.

    As much as I hate to agree with SargentSausage, it really could just be a coincidence. It could also be something which requires proper diagnosis and treatment, like PCOS. The best course of action is to mention this to your GYN just in case.

    Keep track of this on a calendar and take that with you the next time you have an appointment--being able to see the specifics can really help to get a diagnosis.
  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
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    taymam wrote: »
    We have this word in the English language that, sadly, many folks don't understand.

    The word is: "coincidence".

    I've even heard of folks blaming toenail fungus on diet. <boggle>

    Sometimes random events just happen at the same time.

    No causal relationship.

    Not even correlation.

    Just random ... coincidence.

    Now go head on down to your Doc's office and pay an arm and a leg to get a professional diagnosis. Odds are, it's the same.

    Thanks! If you do your research The second most common reason for missed period is extreme weight loss. Although I wouldn't rate mine as extreme I wouldn't call it a coincidence. Someone who has a period every 28 days of her life religiously doesn't not just randomly skip 2 months without there being something that caused it. (The most common is pregnancy) And coming from someone who has never experienced a period your comment comes across as condescending. You know you could just skip the questions that don't pertain to your field of expertise. And not only is my doctor free to see, but there is no magical test to figure this out. It's a whole lot of guessing at this point hence the reaching out to people who have been where I am and possibly experienced the same things that I am going through.

    So ... "extreme" weight loss then, it is, right?

    Why are you asking us, then, if you've already decided for yourself what's causing it and want to reject responses?

    Request: Be sure to come back after you find out it wasn't related and let us all know, mmm-kay? We wouldn't want to be left hanging here without a proper resolution.

    PS - I don't care how "condescending" it sounds, odds are *still* in favor of coincidence.
  • 50452
    50452 Posts: 170 Member
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    When I was your age, I would be irregular when I was under stress. I've been heavier than you and have lost weight at the same rate and it did not change my cycle. When I brought it up to my doctor (I wasn't dieting at that time), he said that he could give me something to get me going again, but it really wasn't necessary. He said that they, the doctors, didn't worry about it when you don't have a period; they worried about it when bled too much. < Do not take this as medical advice.

    Are you due for your pap? If not, you could just call your doctor's office and leave a message for the doctor or his/her nurse. Often they can answer a question of this nature or be able to tell you whether or not you need to be seen.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
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    Lots of people in my extreme weight loss group had this problem. Stress and too few calories and the body goes in to protection mode.

    Maybe lighten up on your weight loss target and eat a little more. Track to see if you continue to lose weight.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,196 Member
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    taymam wrote: »
    We have this word in the English language that, sadly, many folks don't understand.

    The word is: "coincidence".

    I've even heard of folks blaming toenail fungus on diet. <boggle>

    Sometimes random events just happen at the same time.

    No causal relationship.

    Not even correlation.

    Just random ... coincidence.

    Now go head on down to your Doc's office and pay an arm and a leg to get a professional diagnosis. Odds are, it's the same.

    Thanks! If you do your research The second most common reason for missed period is extreme weight loss. Although I wouldn't rate mine as extreme I wouldn't call it a coincidence. Someone who has a period every 28 days of her life religiously doesn't not just randomly skip 2 months without there being something that caused it. (The most common is pregnancy) And coming from someone who has never experienced a period your comment comes across as condescending. You know you could just skip the questions that don't pertain to your field of expertise. And not only is my doctor free to see, but there is no magical test to figure this out. It's a whole lot of guessing at this point hence the reaching out to people who have been where I am and possibly experienced the same things that I am going through.

    At a glance, the OPs weight loss doesn't look extreme and she is a long way from her goal weight.

    This is the kind of thing that you can call and ask about on the phone with an established GYN. I've certainly been able to ask questions like this with a doctor who knows me. Unless they think it is serious enough to have you come in, it isn't the kind of thing that you are going to be charged for. Not sure how different this might be in Canada...but reproductive health is important--it's worth getting a professional medical opinion.
  • ditsyblond17
    ditsyblond17 Posts: 155 Member
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    taymam wrote: »
    We have this word in the English language that, sadly, many folks don't understand.

    The word is: "coincidence".

    I've even heard of folks blaming toenail fungus on diet. <boggle>

    Sometimes random events just happen at the same time.

    No causal relationship.

    Not even correlation.

    Just random ... coincidence.

    Now go head on down to your Doc's office and pay an arm and a leg to get a professional diagnosis. Odds are, it's the same.

    Thanks! If you do your research The second most common reason for missed period is extreme weight loss. Although I wouldn't rate mine as extreme I wouldn't call it a coincidence. Someone who has a period every 28 days of her life religiously doesn't not just randomly skip 2 months without there being something that caused it. (The most common is pregnancy) And coming from someone who has never experienced a period your comment comes across as condescending. You know you could just skip the questions that don't pertain to your field of expertise. And not only is my doctor free to see, but there is no magical test to figure this out. It's a whole lot of guessing at this point hence the reaching out to people who have been where I am and possibly experienced the same things that I am going through.

    Well said! Don't you hate it when people who OBVIOUSLY have no freaking clue what you're talking about interject with their 2 cents on here? They make this a hostile environment.

    As for me, I lost about 28 pounds once And actually start spotting. But I have PCOS and NEVER get periods. See, estrogen is secreted from the shrinking fat cells when you lose weight. The estrogen causes spotting. Its odd that you haven't had a period since starting. I wouldn't say coincidence. Its why super fit athletes don't get them either. If you look at It as famine/drought, the body "thinks" there's a limited supply of food (calorie counting) AND greater distance between the next kill (running or more activity with less of a food reward to make up for it ) so technically, the body is adapting to harder times. Becoming infertile during this Time because nature is kicking in "survival of the fittest." and losing weight is telling your primal instinctive body that there's not enough food and sustenance to support life. Hence no ovulation = no period.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
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    It's common, and a lot of women experience it when they're losing weight (even if they aren't underweight) but it's not necessarily healthy, so it is something you should check with your doctor about like everyone else is saying.

    The general guideline my doctor gave me is that once or twice isn't a big deal but more than three or four months without one warrants testing.
  • Dragn77
    Dragn77 Posts: 810 Member
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    It could also be stress maybe? Ive twice in my life gone 3+ months without a period, all due to stress. Add to it that I was terrified I was pregnant, which only added to the stress.

    The second time, I had lost a lot of weight about 30lbs in 4 months...but I didnt think of that at the time as a cause since Id had already experienced my period stopping due to stress before and I was pretty much at a stage of my life where I was completely falling apart. I was with someone both times though, so the deep down fear I was pregnant was still there. But no...it was just stress.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,196 Member
    edited March 2015
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    Well said! Don't you hate it when people who OBVIOUSLY have no freaking clue what you're talking about interject with their 2 cents on here? They make this a hostile environment.


    Goodness yes!