Losing weight on your period?

I don't believe my menstruation burns any extra cals, nor any less. Keeping this belief takes a lot of complications out of the picture, why worry every month if you need to be eating less or eating more? I just try stay consistent.

I recall reading something similar - that our BMR goes up a bit during menstruation and/or ovulation.

Is it enough to justify eating more? Nah. But I do go back up to maintenance around that time if I'm in a deficit and extra hungry.

~Lyssa

Don't quote me on this (and I will try to dig up the source in a peer-reviewed article if I remember when I get home) but I think that on average, it's only about a 4% increase of your BMR during your luteal cycle. A 4% Increase for me works out to be an extra 55 cals or so a day. So I guess it could be 300 cals or so TOTAL, depending on your cycle. But I don't think it's something to take into account really. I have maintenance days when I feel that I need them.

Could make sense. I could see how all the stuff our bodies do for those few days could burn calories sure. But it's probably off set for most people by cravings and water weight.

arijacks80 wrote: »

Every time my period comes, I feel AWFUL if I don't eat a bit more than normal. Horrible chocolate cravings, stomach feels a bit crampy if I don't eat more often during the day, etc. Worst time of the month for me. I try to be REALLY good calorie wise those other 3 weeks to offset if I have a half of a Hershey bar! LOL

In addition to what you're already doing, consider taking a magnesium supplement. The chocolate craving could be a sign of a magnesium deficiency.

I started taking a magnesium supplement several months ago and my chocolate cravings have all but disappeared. I still keep treats here and tend to have a little more than usual during my period, but I don't feel like devouring a whole bag of M&Ms anymore.

~Lyssa

I recently found out that our metabolism increases during our periods. this is the cause for our increased hunger. if you do not give in to the cravings (or satisfy them with healthy foods within your calorie limit) you can lose weight on your period. I have done so.

300 calories over a 7 day span is pretty much nothing anyways. I find the scale to jump up a couple pounds at the begining thanks to bloating. I wouldn't calculate that figure in anywhere. I heard that farting expends 67 calories each time... now that could be a good loss for some!