(women) do you think we really burn more calories on our periods?
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Wahbluffet
Posts: 93 Member
i heard this might be a myth and was "busted" a couple times by some credible sources. it is definitely not true that you burn an extra 500 calories a day...even pregnant women only need a couple hundred more. so i heard perhaps it is 500 per cycle, in which case hooray! but this is wishful thinking and i just wanted some opinions. i had a uh...rough week because of a strange binge day right before my period, i totally forgot i was getting it. i probably overate by 1000, but wanted to know if the 500 could be happily subtracted. its been a few days since then and my dieting is actually improving greatly, but i wanted to know because i am curious about the 500 cal thing.
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Replies
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Well, I'm not gonna lie, it doesn't sound like good science. I wouldn't change my caloric intake for it, that's for sure. The thing I keep coming back to thinking about this is that women's bodies change THROUGHOUT the month. The period gets all the attention, but every day your body is doing something related to the processes that make procreation possible. There's a release of hormones for ovulation, pheromones for attractiveness purposes, the building of the uterine lining all month.... and so on and more detailed. I think the take away would be that whatever amount of calories the fluctuations of a monthly cycle are, they are almost certainly not significant enough to base your caloric intake off of.0
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No. We burn sligtly more calories during ovulation.0
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I've never even heard the myth
I'm pretty sure that there are variants in our TDEE due to our hormones but I'm equally sure that they are not adequate to factor into the equation and that continuing with your average TDEE is the only way to go
This is a case of wishful thinking
And 1000 calories ...just log it and move on ...maybe it's set you back a couple of days but meh0 -
Extra calorie burn or not, I know that I am extra hungry 3 days or so out of the month, typically the days just before. I eat at a smaller deficit on those days. It's not cravings. I'm not eating chocolate and bonbons - just an extra 200-300 calories of whatever I would normally be eating. So, that week, my deficit is reduced by 600-900 calories. I haven't had any issues with the scale because of it.1
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Well, I did have my period for about 5 months straight because of birth control and did find it slightly easier to lose weight than I do now that I'm on a different birth control. But I think it has more to do with it being easier to lose the heavier you are, since you don't have to restrict as much to lose.0
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I have read that a woman's bmr increases by about 9% during the entire luteal phase leading up to their period. This commonly manifests as hunger only a few days right before menstruation actually commences. I don't see the harm in eating & logging a little more than usual if that's something you experience.0
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Eh, I don't believe it. I feel like a slug the whole time. I can't even exercise because it makes the cramps worse, I crave salt like crazy...yeah, my scale fluctuations at that time are REALLY fun...0
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i dont know but i just ate beef jerky and chocolate for 3 days
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If you have a weight loss goal just set to maintenance for a few days and work out how to manage the hunger / cravings
But you don't get to eat more cos of majoring in the minors and looking for scientific validation
It's marginal and averages out
Sorry0 -
I've heard it's a bit more, maybe 300 more calories. Let's say that it doesn't usually make up for how much hungrier I get.0
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People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
I've heard that waist trainers, green tea and juice detox work ..but have been able to completely discount them thanks to real information0 -
Based of my own personal experience I don't think so. What I have noticed is that I might eat a little more in the week before my period, but then usually one or two days during it I'm actually not very hungry at all, so it ends up balancing out and I stay on track.0
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People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
Lyle McDonald's review of the research available.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/impact-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-determinants-of-energy-intake-reseach-review.html/
There does look to be a bit of an increase in calorie burn, but it can easily be wiped by acting on the cravings that come along with it.0 -
People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
I've heard that waist trainers, green tea and juice detox work ..but have been able to completely discount them thanks to real information
This. Holy cow people. Read up. Don't just sit around wondering. I keep these in my profile. There's more than you asked about OP but it's good reading.
Menstrual cycle & fitness & other lady stuff
* http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/impact-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-determinants-of-energy-intake-reseach-review.html/
* http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/what-really-causes-irregular-menstrual-cycles-in-female-athletes
* http://www.optimumh.co.uk/influence-of-menstrual-cycle-on-strength-training-and-timing/
* https://www.t-nation.com/training/hormone-cycle-and-female-lifters
* http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/69538-the-pelvis-abs-and-hormones-walk-into-a-gym/
* http://www.strengtheory.com/gender-differences-in-training-and-diet/#axzz3kRAhKHG50 -
People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
I've heard that waist trainers, green tea and juice detox work ..but have been able to completely discount them thanks to real information
This. Holy cow people. Read up. Don't just sit around wondering. I keep these in my profile. There's more than you asked about OP but it's good reading.
Menstrual cycle & fitness & other lady stuff
* http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/impact-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-determinants-of-energy-intake-reseach-review.html/
* http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/what-really-causes-irregular-menstrual-cycles-in-female-athletes
* http://www.optimumh.co.uk/influence-of-menstrual-cycle-on-strength-training-and-timing/
* https://www.t-nation.com/training/hormone-cycle-and-female-lifters
* http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/69538-the-pelvis-abs-and-hormones-walk-into-a-gym/
* http://www.strengtheory.com/gender-differences-in-training-and-diet/#axzz3kRAhKHG5
This is useful. Thanks for sharing.0 -
People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
I've heard that waist trainers, green tea and juice detox work ..but have been able to completely discount them thanks to real information
This. Holy cow people. Read up. Don't just sit around wondering. I keep these in my profile. There's more than you asked about OP but it's good reading.
Menstrual cycle & fitness & other lady stuff
* http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/impact-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-determinants-of-energy-intake-reseach-review.html/
* http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/what-really-causes-irregular-menstrual-cycles-in-female-athletes
* http://www.optimumh.co.uk/influence-of-menstrual-cycle-on-strength-training-and-timing/
* https://www.t-nation.com/training/hormone-cycle-and-female-lifters
* http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/69538-the-pelvis-abs-and-hormones-walk-into-a-gym/
* http://www.strengtheory.com/gender-differences-in-training-and-diet/#axzz3kRAhKHG5
This is great. I get so sick of seeing this on here (my period makes me eat all the food because of 'hormones'). What hormones??? Because progesterone doesn't effect appetite (and I say that as someone who had to have progesterone shots in the *kitten* every day for a month). Leptin and some others do but men have those too. 'Hormones' is not a blanket excuse for stuffing your face.0 -
I've never even heard the myth
I'm pretty sure that there are variants in our TDEE due to our hormones but I'm equally sure that they are not adequate to factor into the equation and that continuing with your average TDEE is the only way to go
This is a case of wishful thinking
And 1000 calories ...just log it and move on ...maybe it's set you back a couple of days but meh
All of this0 -
Heartisalonelyhunter wrote: »People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
I've heard that waist trainers, green tea and juice detox work ..but have been able to completely discount them thanks to real information
This. Holy cow people. Read up. Don't just sit around wondering. I keep these in my profile. There's more than you asked about OP but it's good reading.
Menstrual cycle & fitness & other lady stuff
* http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/impact-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-determinants-of-energy-intake-reseach-review.html/
* http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/what-really-causes-irregular-menstrual-cycles-in-female-athletes
* http://www.optimumh.co.uk/influence-of-menstrual-cycle-on-strength-training-and-timing/
* https://www.t-nation.com/training/hormone-cycle-and-female-lifters
* http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/69538-the-pelvis-abs-and-hormones-walk-into-a-gym/
* http://www.strengtheory.com/gender-differences-in-training-and-diet/#axzz3kRAhKHG5
This is great. I get so sick of seeing this on here (my period makes me eat all the food because of 'hormones'). What hormones??? Because progesterone doesn't effect appetite (and I say that as someone who had to have progesterone shots in the *kitten* every day for a month). Leptin and some others do but men have those too. 'Hormones' is not a blanket excuse for stuffing your face.
So explain to me why I'm so hungry the week before my period. If hormones don't affect appetite, I'm very curious about why it happens.
Also I can find just as many articles on Google that explain that women can burn up to 15% more calories during PMS.
So yeah. Who knows. I just know I get hungrier, I don't know if I burn more calories or not.
I know that I've been told that it's psychological but it's hilarious that it just doesn't happen when my cycle is messed up and TOM is late (like this month - love it). So yeah... I blame hormones.1 -
Heartisalonelyhunter wrote: »People hearing all this stuff
Hit google scholar ..find the research ...post it so we can all get up to date and discuss
I've heard that waist trainers, green tea and juice detox work ..but have been able to completely discount them thanks to real information
This. Holy cow people. Read up. Don't just sit around wondering. I keep these in my profile. There's more than you asked about OP but it's good reading.
Menstrual cycle & fitness & other lady stuff
* http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/impact-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-determinants-of-energy-intake-reseach-review.html/
* http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/what-really-causes-irregular-menstrual-cycles-in-female-athletes
* http://www.optimumh.co.uk/influence-of-menstrual-cycle-on-strength-training-and-timing/
* https://www.t-nation.com/training/hormone-cycle-and-female-lifters
* http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/69538-the-pelvis-abs-and-hormones-walk-into-a-gym/
* http://www.strengtheory.com/gender-differences-in-training-and-diet/#axzz3kRAhKHG5
This is great. I get so sick of seeing this on here (my period makes me eat all the food because of 'hormones'). What hormones??? Because progesterone doesn't effect appetite (and I say that as someone who had to have progesterone shots in the *kitten* every day for a month). Leptin and some others do but men have those too. 'Hormones' is not a blanket excuse for stuffing your face.
So explain to me why I'm so hungry the week before my period. If hormones don't affect appetite, I'm very curious about why it happens.
Also I can find just as many articles on Google that explain that women can burn up to 15% more calories during PMS.
So yeah. Who knows. I just know I get hungrier, I don't know if I burn more calories or not.
YESS! You, me, and most of the rest of us. For me it was the two or three days before. Just as progesterone levels DROPPED.
That said: (AND TMI ALERT) I'm no longer ovulating. And therefore no longer having progesterone surges and drops, and these days, no hunger and cravings before any eventual flow (that happens randomly these days).
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