Ladies, did your weight loss help reduce your PMS symptoms?

I had a healthy bmi when I was young and excruciating cramps, so..... No. Something that did help my cycle was my IUD. I no longer have bouts with crazy emotions, extreme cramps and week and a half long periods like I use to. The pill and I don't get on well. It's *suppose* to help with symptoms, but it just made me an emotional wreck. Exercise helps alleviate cramps. Hot baths. Sex. I have a 2-5# weight gain right before my period but it goes away after my period starts. This is too much info, isn't it? Sorry!

It definitely did help them a little. The biggest help was changing my birth control, though (pill to Nuvaring). I've just started strength training regularly over the past month, and so far the symptoms are a little less from that than just from pure cardio. It's only been a month and might be a fluke, but I'm hoping it's promising!

Yes, I've lost 24lbs, still got at least 20 to go, I started mid Jan 17. Until this last month I've had 21 day cycles for 3 years, bleeding on ovulation too! Also suffered with migraines, very tender breasts and irritability/tearfulness 5 days before period was due. But this month my cycle was 28 days, no breast tenderness, no irritability and no bleed on ovulation...hooray!

Yes, at least as far as Day One cramps are concerned. Irritability and bloating are the same, but I've had only very slight cramping these past couple of cycles; before, the cramps on Day One would wake me up in the middle of the night or leave me curled on the couch all day. Fingers crossed it stays this way.

Cutting sugar out makes my mood more predictable and even all month long.

I'm not at goal yet, but while my PMS hasn't lessened, my cycle is more regular, and my symptoms are more recognizable, as I'm more attuned to my body now. Also, my flow has decreased pretty significantly and the duration is consistent month to month.

ddveedub wrote: »

I had a healthy bmi when I was young and excruciating cramps, so..... No. Something that did help my cycle was my IUD. I no longer have bouts with crazy emotions, extreme cramps and week and a half long periods like I use to. The pill and I don't get on well. It's *suppose* to help with symptoms, but it just made me an emotional wreck. Exercise helps alleviate cramps. Hot baths. Sex. I have a 2-5# weight gain right before my period but it goes away after my period starts. This is too much info, isn't it? Sorry!

I don't think TMI should apply to period talk - its refreshing to find someone so frank. Half of the world goes through it at some point, it's nice to be able to talk openly.

Thanks for the tip on the IUD. I'm on the fence about it and it's really helpful to hear personal experiences!

I have endometriosis, and have lost 70 pounds. I've been at maintenance for a couple of years now, and here's what I've found (please keep in mind that this is my personal experience - your mileage may vary):

1. Initially, losing the weight helped immensely with irritation and serious debilitating pain during select parts of my cycle.
2. Once I started exercising, that too helped immensely with irritation and pain during my cycle.
3. Once I hit my goal weight and was a little more lax in what I was fueling my body with, some of my pain and crankiness returned (not all - I still hurt significantly less than I used to).
4. If I tighten up my diet to be more wholesome (less chips/icecream/beer), the PMS symptoms lessen.
5. If I exercise consistently, the PMS symptoms lessen.
6. WHen I start to eat crap and lay off the exercise, the PMS symptoms return and the men-folk I live with hide for a week each month.

So - yes, weight-loss may help, but so do a balanced diet and exercise. At least for me, it helped. I think I remember beginning to notice a difference after the first 15 lbs lost (but it's been a while).

mine was so much better 70 lbs down first time my entire life I'm regular (pcos) but I noticed a difference a month in and I cut sugar and wheat at doctors request. I think that made the difference rather than the weight.

Nope weight doesn't seem to have any impact at all. Pregnancy changed my emotional pms symptoms for the better. Using a diva cup instead of tampons or pads wiped out 90-95% of my cramps. They used to make me incapable of functioning for about 36 hours, now just occasionally experience a twinge or two an hour during that timeframe.