late period because of eating?

thewalrusisfree
thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
in Food and Nutrition
Hey all -
I've been at this for just over a month now - am staying within the guidelines MFP is giving me but am already two weeks late for my period. No chance what so ever of being pregnant and its usually really regular so i imagine its related to the eating change? and slightly more exercise.

Is anyone else experiencing this? it's really sending my emotions off the deep end (and probably messing with my weight gain/loss also) so if there's some way i can regulate this while still doing this that would be a great thing to know.

thanks

Julie
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Replies

  • thriftycupl
    thriftycupl Posts: 310 Member
    I've experienced much of the same thing. I read in a book this is fairly common based on altering what your body is used to. I'm on my second time of experiencing this and haven't figured out how to regulate it -- I just keep up with my weight loss program and hope that at some point, it returns to normal.
  • leahnoelle31
    leahnoelle31 Posts: 79 Member
    I'm in the same boat. I haven't had a period since I started losing weight (approx. 2.5 months ago). I am married so duh, I'm having sex but I also take pregnancy tests periodically just to check (no, we aren't trying!) The only reason I'm not totally freaked out is that the last time I was around this weight, I lost my period for about 10 months then it came back.

    So, not much help for you but it's good to know that there is someone else out there experiencing the same thing.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    I think you've got to give it a few months before you can assume you've changed a pattern. Our hormones are regulated by fat stores I think so it could just be that losing fat is changing your hormone levels and your body still needs to catch up with what's happening to it - unless you're very *underweight in which case periods can stop altogether as the body tries to hang on to everything it can to survive!

    *sorry, edited
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    Thanks guys. Only other time this happened for me was in highschool when i was basically starving myself - would only last a day or two then back again to normal. I went two years without it i think. And that all makes sense to me.

    But now I'm over that 1,200 mark where your body thinks you're starving so i don't get it.

    Wondering if i should talk to a doctor?

    Do you guys have increased irritability, etc. with the lack of bleeding? It's like PMS but just building up more and more and more.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Thanks guys. Only other time this happened for me was in highschool when i was basically starving myself - would only last a day or two then back again to normal. I went two years without it i think. And that all makes sense to me.

    But now I'm over that 1,200 mark where your body thinks you're starving so i don't get it.

    Wondering if i should talk to a doctor?

    Do you guys have increased irritability, etc. with the lack of bleeding? It's like PMS but just building up more and more and more.

    I would talk to a doctor. I can't say this with certainty so research it yourself, but I'd guess your dietary fat intake is way too low and it's effecting your hormone levels.
  • omanitshann
    omanitshann Posts: 179
    same thing happened to me. I used to be very regular, never missed, but i haven't had my period in 3 months! I'm getting sort of nervous!
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    Thanks guys. Only other time this happened for me was in highschool when i was basically starving myself - would only last a day or two then back again to normal. I went two years without it i think. And that all makes sense to me.

    But now I'm over that 1,200 mark where your body thinks you're starving so i don't get it.

    Wondering if i should talk to a doctor?

    Do you guys have increased irritability, etc. with the lack of bleeding? It's like PMS but just building up more and more and more.
    Do you eat your exercise calories back? If you don't that could be the reason bc you are technically not getting the 1200 cals a day.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    depends what you were eating
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    unless you're very overweight in which case periods can stop altogether as the body tries to hang on to everything it can to survive!

    Very overweight - meaning ~210 lbs? down ten lbs in the last 30 days.
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    [/quote]
    Do you eat your exercise calories back? If you don't that could be the reason bc you are technically not getting the 1200 cals a day.
    [/quote]

    I definitely don't. If anything i exercise to lose weight quicker since eating exactly 1,200 calories a day has me loosing 1lb a week - which just isn't enough for me. With exercise i can get it closer to 2-2.5.

    are you sure about the negative exercise calories counting against calorie intake? seems MFP would give you a warning with that too - like they do when you don't eat the 1,200.
  • thriftycupl
    thriftycupl Posts: 310 Member
    Thanks guys. Only other time this happened for me was in highschool when i was basically starving myself - would only last a day or two then back again to normal. I went two years without it i think. And that all makes sense to me.

    But now I'm over that 1,200 mark where your body thinks you're starving so i don't get it.

    Wondering if i should talk to a doctor?

    Do you guys have increased irritability, etc. with the lack of bleeding? It's like PMS but just building up more and more and more.

    I've not noticed any increase in irritability or any other effects. Remember to keep drinking a lot of water.
  • TheGsMama
    TheGsMama Posts: 80 Member
    I have experienced the period wackiness for the last three cycles. My hubby is "fixed" so it is the dieting. I have gone from 30% BF to 26% since January so I am chalking it up to that. I have started eating more as I was SURE it was intake vs. exercise and also take flax seeds (2T/day) to help regulate my hormones. I have had increased irritability, migraines, nausea and other weird symptoms with all of this. SO, yes you should see your doctor and yes, other people are having this happen to them as a result of their weight loss and fitness increases.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    unless you're very overweight in which case periods can stop altogether as the body tries to hang on to everything it can to survive!

    Very overweight - meaning ~210 lbs? down ten lbs in the last 30 days.

    Sorry, just edited that which was meant to read underweight!
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    I've been taking flaxseed also - although not as regularly as I should be.

    I guess I'll just keep on that, try to have that excess overage of 1,200 calories (with exercise)

    and drink more water

    and take it from there

    thanks for all the good advice guys. (and so quickly lol)
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    Do you eat your exercise calories back? If you don't that could be the reason bc you are technically not getting the 1200 cals a day.
    [/quote]

    I definitely don't. If anything i exercise to lose weight quicker since eating exactly 1,200 calories a day has me loosing 1lb a week - which just isn't enough for me. With exercise i can get it closer to 2-2.5.

    are you sure about the negative exercise calories counting against calorie intake? seems MFP would give you a warning with that too - like they do when you don't eat the 1,200.
    [/quote]

    Your body needs 1200 cals a day TO LIVE. If you are exercising and not eating enough to support that exercise you are starving your body. Eating back your exercise cals is not going to make you fat, it is giving you the fuel your body needs to burn the fat.
  • rachmaree
    rachmaree Posts: 782 Member
    My cycles have become longer since I started exercising more intensely. If you are concerned about it, it wouldn't hurt to visit a doctor.
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    Do you eat your exercise calories back? If you don't that could be the reason bc you are technically not getting the 1200 cals a day.

    I definitely don't. If anything i exercise to lose weight quicker since eating exactly 1,200 calories a day has me loosing 1lb a week - which just isn't enough for me. With exercise i can get it closer to 2-2.5.

    are you sure about the negative exercise calories counting against calorie intake? seems MFP would give you a warning with that too - like they do when you don't eat the 1,200.
    [/quote]

    Your body needs 1200 cals a day TO LIVE. If you are exercising and not eating enough to support that exercise you are starving your body. Eating back your exercise cals is not going to make you fat, it is giving you the fuel your body needs to burn the fat.
    [/quote]
    I eat back all or most of my exercise calories and I lose 2 lbs a week . You have to eat enough to keep your body functioning correctly, when you eat 1200 cals and then exercise and don't eat anymore you are now using the cals your body needed to run your organs and your body will stop functioning correctly.
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    Your body needs 1200 cals a day TO LIVE. If you are exercising and not eating enough to support that exercise you are starving your body. Eating back your exercise cals is not going to make you fat, it is giving you the fuel your body needs to burn the fat.

    Ok that makes perfect sense.

    guess i'll just have to be more patient, not so good at that :-P

    so really then there's no way of me losing more than 1.8 lbs a week (that's what i lose when i eat exactly 1200 with no exercise)?
  • gdparks1978
    gdparks1978 Posts: 2 Member
    I'm a guy so the period stuff is better answered by someone else. However, MFP does account for the lose of exercise calories, but you have to enter your exercise and calories burned under tools for it to do that. It will recalculate how many calories you need to eat daily. This might give you your cause if you are exercising and only taking in 1200 calories as others have stated.

    Remember, MFP is still a computer and will give you the calories to intake to lose only 2 lbs a week. If you exercise regularly you need to be sure you are on the proper nutrition plan that fits your goals and activities.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Big changes in diet/exercise really can change your cycle.

    But STRESS is an even more powerful element here.

    If you are netting fewer than 1200 calories a day (eating exactly 1200 calories and then burning calories from exercise), then yes, your menstrual cycle is likely to shut off because your body knows it probably couldn't support a pregnancy.
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    Your body needs 1200 cals a day TO LIVE. If you are exercising and not eating enough to support that exercise you are starving your body. Eating back your exercise cals is not going to make you fat, it is giving you the fuel your body needs to burn the fat.

    Ok that makes perfect sense.

    guess i'll just have to be more patient, not so good at that :-P

    so really then there's no way of me losing more than 1.8 lbs a week (that's what i lose when i eat exactly 1200 with no exercise)?
    I'm sure you could lose more if you are eating things that are unhealthy and then switch to healthier foods. Cutting back on carbs helps a lot too but I wouldn't suggest cutting them out completely as you can get your carbs from veggies . Lean meats and protein will help a lot as well and always make sure you are getting in your water, check your salt intake too, a lot of times if you are eating too much salt you can store a lot of water.
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    yes, your menstrual cycle is likely to shut off because your body knows it probably couldn't support a pregnancy.

    that makes sense - never realized that was why, but makes total sense

    you guys are so smart :)
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    Your body needs 1200 cals a day TO LIVE. If you are exercising and not eating enough to support that exercise you are starving your body. Eating back your exercise cals is not going to make you fat, it is giving you the fuel your body needs to burn the fat.

    Ok that makes perfect sense.

    guess i'll just have to be more patient, not so good at that :-P

    so really then there's no way of me losing more than 1.8 lbs a week (that's what i lose when i eat exactly 1200 with no exercise)?
    I'm sure you could lose more if you are eating things that are unhealthy and then switch to healthier foods. Cutting back on carbs helps a lot too but I wouldn't suggest cutting them out completely as you can get your carbs from veggies . Lean meats and protein will help a lot as well and always make sure you are getting in your water, check your salt intake too, a lot of times if you are eating too much salt you can store a lot of water.

    Well the 1.8 lbs is a formula for calories taken in and burned i believe?

    We're vegetarian so that helps a lot, although we probably need to buy some iron pills asap. I'm sure that isn't helping the whole equation. My partner is on birth control (for hormonal balance not pregnancy obviously lol) so that might be why she's been staying more regular - especially the iron pills at the end of the package.
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    Your body needs 1200 cals a day TO LIVE. If you are exercising and not eating enough to support that exercise you are starving your body. Eating back your exercise cals is not going to make you fat, it is giving you the fuel your body needs to burn the fat.

    Ok that makes perfect sense.

    guess i'll just have to be more patient, not so good at that :-P

    so really then there's no way of me losing more than 1.8 lbs a week (that's what i lose when i eat exactly 1200 with no exercise)?
    I'm sure you could lose more if you are eating things that are unhealthy and then switch to healthier foods. Cutting back on carbs helps a lot too but I wouldn't suggest cutting them out completely as you can get your carbs from veggies . Lean meats and protein will help a lot as well and always make sure you are getting in your water, check your salt intake too, a lot of times if you are eating too much salt you can store a lot of water.

    Well the 1.8 lbs is a formula for calories taken in and burned i believe?

    We're vegetarian so that helps a lot, although we probably need to buy some iron pills asap. I'm sure that isn't helping the whole equation. My partner is on birth control (for hormonal balance not pregnancy obviously lol) so that might be why she's been staying more regular - especially the iron pills at the end of the package.
    Well I'm not a vegetarian obviously so I have no clue on how to help you there lol I've thought about being one but when I tried to research it , meh I'm just too lazy to figure all the nutrition out lol
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    We're vegetarian so that helps a lot, although we probably need to buy some iron pills asap. I'm sure that isn't helping the whole equation. My partner is on birth control (for hormonal balance not pregnancy obviously lol) so that might be why she's been staying more regular - especially the iron pills at the end of the package.

    Iron would be a very important supplement to take, as a woman and as a vegetarian. Oatmeal is one of the best sources of iron you can fidn. Also, when you're menstruating, you're more likely to show signs of iron deficiency.
  • teagin2002
    teagin2002 Posts: 1,900 Member
    mine changes regularly every six month. I usually have a 25 day cycle, but once every six months it will go up to 30 days then settle back to 25.
  • thewalrusisfree
    thewalrusisfree Posts: 55
    yeah i was a malnutritioned omnivore (donuts, frenchfries, etc) and figured i'd just be a malnutritioned vegetarian too (donuts and french fries are still vegetarian lol) :-P I didn't realize how differently it affects you. I need to do some research myself, obviously
  • chapparra27
    chapparra27 Posts: 115 Member
    Hey all -
    I've been at this for just over a month now - am staying within the guidelines MFP is giving me but am already two weeks late for my period. No chance what so ever of being pregnant and its usually really regular so i imagine its related to the eating change? and slightly more exercise.

    Is anyone else experiencing this? it's really sending my emotions off the deep end (and probably messing with my weight gain/loss also) so if there's some way i can regulate this while still doing this that would be a great thing to know.

    thanks

    Julie
    Mine has been off every month since January! It was off my about 5 days in JAn then about 7 in Feb and it just keeps getting further and further off....currently its off by about 2 weeks! I think it is the exercise and eating diffrent. I definitley do not mind it other than around that time of the month your weight is never right!
  • katejenkins1
    katejenkins1 Posts: 210 Member
    I have the same issue when I start a new workout routine; of course a good sneeze will throw me off a week. if it disappears for a couple of months, I would contact you Doctor.
  • meli_medina
    meli_medina Posts: 594 Member
    Eat your exercise calories. You didn't get overweight over night, you shouldn't expect to lose that weight over night either. Slow and steady wins the race, while those who jump out of the gate and sprint usually plateau and have more difficulty later on.

    I can understand being impatient and all that, but the faster you lose the weight, the less time your body (and skin) has to adjust to the changes you're making. Hence the lack of menstruation. You will also notice that you have loose skin whereas if you lose at a slower rate, your skin is able to better adjust as your inches decrease.

    But most of all, EAT YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES. If you are eating 1200 calories per day, and working out and burning 400-600 calories, you are giving your body 800 calories to run your heart, your lungs, your digestive system, your BRAIN, and every other organ, as well. Calculate your BMR (your base metabolic rate - it's what your body requires if you just stayed in bed all day and did nothing else) and make sure you eat at least that + whatever exercise you might do for the day.

    The way you are doing, you are literally starving your body, which is great because it taps into your fat stores, but also not great because it depletes your body of the nutrients it needs to function, and also causes it to tap into your lean body mass (aka muscle) and use that for fuel because fat doesn't convert to energy as quickly. Do you want to be your target weight and a mass of goop, or your target weight and strong?

    Just wanted you to think about that. :) Good luck!

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