Ladies: TOM questions while on keto
mcpostelle
Posts: 418 Member
For the ladies about TOM (Time Of the Month). This may be TMI so if uncomfortable please turn back.
This is the first time on strict keto that I've had my TOM start today and I am ravenous (understatement). I ate ~3,500 cal today. 0.0 Is this common? I've noticed that my flow is lighter and more steady. Also no pain/cramps (yea!). I do still have water retention. Has anybody else noticed any difference while on keto vs off?
This is the first time on strict keto that I've had my TOM start today and I am ravenous (understatement). I ate ~3,500 cal today. 0.0 Is this common? I've noticed that my flow is lighter and more steady. Also no pain/cramps (yea!). I do still have water retention. Has anybody else noticed any difference while on keto vs off?
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I haven't had any changes but I have heard it mentioned that high fat intake can have an effect on hormones.
I personally haven't noticed anything, so I haven't looked into the subject.
I'm sure someone will come give a good explanation.0 -
I have incredible hunger from ovulation until my period starts. I could eat 4 times my regular amount. Mine is due in 5 days and I am fighting the urge to eat eat eat.
I get a heavier flow now.0 -
Lots of people get dramatic changes, hunger is one of the common ones0
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My TOM is about two weeks overdue. I had some cramping and spotting a little over a month ago, when I was sick and probably went down to Keto level carbs too fast, so I wondered then if my cycle was getting messed up. It's normally very regular. My husband had a vasectomy, which he went back to have checked twice, but at this point I'm thinking I should pick up a pregnancy test tomorrow just in case.0
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Unfortunately, from all the TOM posts I've read... yep, it's normal.
Not everyone experiences it but many do. So it's not to worry about except that it's really annoying!!
If I didn't have to have that TOM I would be further ahead in my weight loss. I usually average 2lbs a week, except that week. The best I can hope for with iron will is to not gain weight. If I don't pay attention I gain 2lbs. And no, they don't just disappear and turn into a 4lb loss the next week, it stays at my regular 2lbs.
Yep, I could eat a horse, it almost drives me crazy as the hunger signal just doesn't shut off!!! The first time it happened I almost gave up on keto. I know now, whatever I do, do NOT eat any AS!! That just makes it worse and then the cravings will go on for two weeks instead of one. I try and drink more water and stay busy. I don't count anything or weigh anything and try and stick as close to zero carb as I can but during that week, I really have to pay attention.
Yea. Drives you nuts!
Every one has their own way of dealing with it. Some give in and gain. Some give in and don't gain. Others stick religiously to their calorie goal. Keep track over the months of what you try and what works. This question is sure to be asked again. Then you can give the next person some tips or ideas too! We're all always looking for info!
I hope things smooth out for you fairly quickly. I feel your pain!0 -
Whew, so happy I'm not the only one that wants to stuff my face while on my period. I too noticed during ovulation that I was more hungry, but put it down to adapting to keto. Makes me really want to find some science about this. I've lost 2lbs between today and yesterday though... weird.mlinton_mesapark wrote: »My TOM is about two weeks overdue. I had some cramping and spotting a little over a month ago, when I was sick and probably went down to Keto level carbs too fast, so I wondered then if my cycle was getting messed up. It's normally very regular. My husband had a vasectomy, which he went back to have checked twice, but at this point I'm thinking I should pick up a pregnancy test tomorrow just in case.
Wow, that'd be crazy. I have heard that keto/LCHF makes you more fertile. But then again, when I went LCHF back in October last year I missed my period for 2 months due to diet change, which I then went off keto since it freaked me out (also lost 20lbs in one month). I've read some research and they say it's normal during a diet/hormone change. Hopefully your thoughts can be alleviated soon!Unfortunately, from all the TOM posts I've read... yep, it's normal. Not everyone experiences it but many do. So it's not to worry about except that it's really annoying!!
If I didn't have to have that TOM I would be further ahead in my weight loss. I usually average 2lbs a week, except that week. The best I can hope for with iron will is to not gain weight. If I don't pay attention I gain 2lbs. And no, they don't just disappear and turn into a 4lb loss the next week, it stays at my regular 2lbs.
Yep, I could eat a horse, it almost drives me crazy as the hunger signal just doesn't shut off!!! The first time it happened I almost gave up on keto. I know now, whatever I do, do NOT eat any AS!! That just makes it worse and then the cravings will go on for two weeks instead of one. I try and drink more water and stay busy. I don't count anything or weigh anything and try and stick as close to zero carb as I can but during that week, I really have to pay attention.
Yea. Drives you nuts!
Every one has their own way of dealing with it. Some give in and gain. Some give in and don't gain. Others stick religiously to their calorie goal. Keep track over the months of what you try and what works. This question is sure to be asked again. Then you can give the next person some tips or ideas too! We're all always looking for info!
I hope things smooth out for you fairly quickly. I feel your pain!
Thanks for the reply, luckily I preplanned my day yesterday, but I wasn't craving carbs/sugars, I wanted fats/meat. Maybe try a multivit? I take the prenatal one since it has higher iron and folic acid. Might help. I was under 20g of carbs yesterday and had about 300 g of fat yesterday and I still managed to lose about 1.5lbs between yesterday and today. Interesting how everybody's different. Luckily, today I've been up for about an hour and I seem fine, not really hungry, but I'll remember not to freak out today.
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I've noticed a change in my cycle too. I'm 53 and just want it to end. I get extra hungry, no cramps, want salt and chocolate, and constipation. I've been getting it earlier, light flow that lasts for at least a week. Mom stopped at 45, sister at 51. How did I get so lucky.0
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I will have one or two days right around the time I start that I will pretty much eat anything in front of my face, it's like I have a black hole in my stomach.0
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Increased hunger hasn't been an issue (yet) but every other symptom that is normally mild is increased. Terrible cramps and very heavy period. The joys of womanhood.0
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Phew! Pregnancy test is negative. Now let's see if I can get my heart rate to go down...0
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I started my TOM a few days after we started Induction..... It was the longest period I've ever had. Wasn't heavier than normal really, it just would not stop. Lasted about 8 days. I didn't really attribute it to the diet since I had just started that too, but now I'm kinda fearing what next month brings
And no matter what diet I eat, I bloat up like a whale the week before and during. I could drink a gallon of water a day, but it wouldn't matter. I just avoid the scale or at least don't let it bring me down. In the past, I never got that hungry on low carb before or during, but so far this time around is completely different than the last so who knows.
Grats on not being pregnant mlinton_mes LOL
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Am I the only one who gets ovulation hunger? My period itself has no impact on anything. Usually the hunger is gone by then.0
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I get ovulation hunger. I get period hunger, too. I am now on a 21 day cycle instead of my typical 28-30 days that I have been my entire life. I forget every single time and then I can't figure out why I'm emotional and hungry. This month I assumed it was IF. Nope. Thankfully I'm not emotional this month, just a little snarky.
[PSA] Yes the change in diet can have an impact on your TOM. But I do want to strongly encourage women with abnormal periods to get checked. It most likely is the diet and change in hormones but it can also be the only indication of something more serious. I'm not saying this to scare anyone. I just think it's important to stay on top of annual exams. [\PSA]0 -
Unfortunately I get both. :-/ LOL0
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hunger isn't affected now that I'm keto but the experience is a hell of a lot lighter, which I am very thankful for!0
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My period has been early a few times and once it was a week late which caused me to freak out and do 2 pregnancy tests. My pre period hunger has been better since keto/LC although it was tough the first couple of months for sure. Hang in there. It gets better.0
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So I wonder if it is the estrogen that does this to us, because I messed up my cycle (thanks double impact med issues), and I'm taking meds not to have them, so the other day I was an utter raving lunatic, and lots of folks mentioned estrogen dominance making me crazy (I've suffered it prior, but not since leveling out), and we know that estrogen release is a fairly normal biproduct of losing weight (@Dragonwolf did a good explanation, I think yesterday or the day before?)...
So does it stand to reason that extra estrogen throwing EVERYTHING off balance could be a culprit? If so, does anyone have any specifics suggestions (aside from Inositol, which i can personally attest INTERFERES with the INTENTIONAL effects of hormonal birth control methods) to leveling off that estrogen or burning it out quicker?
Anything that would help me be less psychotic/crazy/landscape ravaging/starving lunatic would be SO appreciated...0 -
@KnitOrMiss Honestly, I have no idea, but bumping this in hopes of a reply for you. I would think that having extra estrogen would be the culprit, but in my uneducated opinion of this, keto should be smoothing it out. You should start a new discussion to get answers for your questions. Honestly I just give my body what it wants, in limits of keto, but with already having a hormonal/biochemical imbalance. I don't know if that would be the right way to go.
To everyone else. I've never had period/ovulation hunger before. Before keto, I actually had a disintrest in eating while on my period. I take back what I say about lighter period, day two made up for day one.
Day three is light which is typical of my cycle. 0 -
I've noticed many changes, but I also just had my fourth and final baby, got Essure implants (permanent sterilization through coils placed in the fallopian tubes to cause scar tissue to form that blocks release of eggs), and quit breastfeeding around the time I started this WOE, so I can't be sure WHY I've had these changes. Things that happened to me that differ from my previous "normal" (which was never normal):
1) For my first 2-3 months on this WOE I had TOM every 2 weeks like clockwork (it happened to be every 2 weekENDS, which really put a cramp in my love life, LOL, poor hubby!).
2) I bleed heavier and longer than I used to.
3) I have extreme fatigue, the kind I've only had previously when I was pregnant!
4) I have more cramping than I used to, but it's not as constant as before. It's almost like Braxton Hicks contractions, only I'm very very not pregnant!
5) I lose a couple pounds in the days preceding TOM and then gain them back in water weight.
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I get very hungry week before shark week. Bottomless pit. Eating window does help curb it a bit, since it's harder to physically stuff myself. Thank god I'm not eating all day! I can still easily manage to eat 3-4k/day if I went for it. Usually I'm able to stop myself somewhere between 2,5-3k. However, I haven't really gained any real weight from this so far on this journey. A couple of days after finish, the weight slowly trickles down to where it likes to be.
So, I accept the hunger change and forgive myself. I reckon that trying to go against my body during this phase of the cycle will take all my willpower, that is best spent on other things in life. It costs too much!
Edit: Forgot to say that lowcarb has helped stabilize cycle more. It now comes almost every month. Before it could be up to 6 months in between. So my experience with pre TOM hunger is a bit limited, and not something I paid any attention to before.0
I ate one thing then I was twice as hungry. Today seems better. 
This discussion has been closed.