Weight Loss and the menstral cycle- question.

_Kitten_Kate
_Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Here is the deal... I have been losing wt slowly. As many of you may know because I have posted about it before.
The past few months I have been paying close attention to the ups and downs.
So the last 2 months I noticed....
During the month I fluctuate up and down1-3lbs.
At the end of my period...the last few days I show a loss of 1-2lbs.
Then the cycle starts over... I fluctuate up and down(but never going below the lowest) and then after my period I am down to a low point.

Maybe to make it clearer...
From April 9-May 1 I went from 242-240 in between those wts. May 1 I start my period... and at the end I am 239.
May 6 -June 1 I go from 241-239 ...June 3 I start my period... Yesterday I weighed 237.
Within the month before my period I dont drop below the lowest right after my period. Then after my period I am down a lb or 2.

and that's it.... I am losing approx 2 lbs a month.

Any insight?
I have been at this since January and have changed how I eat what I eat... multi changes within the 6 months. to try to spur a larger loss.

Is this just how my body does it?
Could it be a medical thing?
I had a blood test in March... no hormone, or insulin or thyroid issues. All was normal...except a cholesterol was 206.
My diary is open if you want to take a look...
I have done low carb and primal.
I cut out PB for a month.
Nothing has made much difference.
All remains the same.

Replies

  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    I did read a study which described a cycle of weight gain and loss similar to the one you describe. It was done with young women who had not given birth and fed them an isocaloric diet (no weight loss or gain) for at least one whole cycle.

    journals.cambridge.org/article_S0007114565000235
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Wow... thanks.
    Not young... but have not had a child.
    Thanks for the info. I will definitely read this!

    Edit after skimming article....

    Yeah.. I know that wt fluctuates during the month. That is a given pretty much... with water wt and hormones and such.

    My inquiry lies with...
    I don't lose wt until after my period.
    I am not showing a 1/2 lb a week or whatever..
    I go up and down 2 lbs above my lowest but never below the lowest. Then at the end of my period I show a loss... below the previous months lowest #. Usually 1-2 lbs.
  • Coyla
    Coyla Posts: 444 Member
    I notice this, too. I am usually at my lowest weight a couple days after TOM. I'm at my highest a couple days before and during.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    I notice this, too. I am usually at my lowest weight a couple days after TOM. I'm at my highest a couple days before and during.

    Are you losing any within the month?

    I am not showing any loss until the last couple of days of my period.
    And that's it for the month.
  • Beewallows
    Beewallows Posts: 110 Member
    I have a similar thing, only I gain about 5 pounds a few weeks before my period, and lose it (plus a little) right after. As for your diary, I find I lose more when I eat plenty of fruits and veggies, but it could be a personal thing too.

    Just a question though, do you workout before/after having the protein supplements (drinks and bars)? I'm not quite sure how they're supposed to work, but maybe you're storing those calories as fat instead of building strength?
  • zgdsmith
    zgdsmith Posts: 114 Member
    wow...I'm EXACTLY the same way!! I lose about 2 lbs a few days after my period then it fluctuates within 1 or 2 pounds of that number until a couple days before my next period. Then it goes up by 5 or 6 pounds. Then after my period i'm down about 2 lbs from the previous month. So, i've lost about 6 pounds in a little over 3 months. But i've lost 12.5 inches!! So, make sure you are taking your measurements bc if it wasn't for me doing them I would be really discouraged.

    I know my body fat % has gone down alot so i'm assuming i'm building muscle and losing fat is why my body weight doesn't change alot.

    I know it's frusterating....
  • ladyluch99
    ladyluch99 Posts: 264 Member
    I fluctuate a lot during the month very similar to what you described. However, when I do lose the weight after TOM, it's usually permanent. I figured for me it was because I'm going through menopause and my hormones are crazy. The fluctuations were so frustrating that I have recently decided to weigh in only once a month and that will be after my period. It's been almost 3 weeks since I was last on the scale and after my cycle this month I'll weigh in. I hope this will give me a more accurate picture of what I'm losing per month. Try not to let it discourage you and keep working toward your weight loss goals. You will eventually get there.
  • falamoyacrava
    falamoyacrava Posts: 63 Member
    My weight loss is pretty much exactly the same as this! I'm interested to read that journal, have it saved to my favourites.

    It's annoying, isn't it? Seems no matter how hard you try, it doesn't really pay off.

    I have PCOS and am on the arm implant birth control, have been wondering if either/both of those could be contributing.. Will be asking a specialist about it all next week,
  • pamfm
    pamfm Posts: 93 Member
    This happens to me, too. I think it's normal. I'm not trying to lose quickly, so I only expect about 1 lb. per month.
    The way to think about it is not that you are not losing weight for weeks and then losing all at once. It's that you are losing small amounts of fat weight each week that don't show on the scale because you are retaining at least as much water as the month progresses, at about the same rate. As long as there is a long-term downward trend, and you feel well, no worries!

    I started last month at 144. Saw my weight each Monday fluctuate between 144-146, and then 3 days after the end of my period (I guess I hold the water a little longer), I weighed in at 143. Now I'm fluctuating between 143-145, and I expect the scale to say 142 in a couple of weeks.
  • Nycie30
    Nycie30 Posts: 23
    Well, with me personally, I had the same issue with losing very little weight even though I was doing everything right. So I went to my doctor and had a physical and labs done. Turns out I had an under active thyroid along with other health issues that were interfering with my weight loss.

    But as far as the menstrual issue, I didn't have THAT specific problem. My menstrual problems was that I wouldn't have periods for extended periods of time, then when I would have them it would last for a month or longer. One time it lasted for 4 months straight!!! But I did notice that my weight fluctuated a lot before and after my periods when I DID have them.

    But maybe its time to have a talk with your doctor, just to make sure you body is functioning properly. You don't seem to have as severe issues as I did, but no doubt it is still frustrating.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    My weight loss is pretty much exactly the same as this! I'm interested to read that journal, have it saved to my favourites.

    It's annoying, isn't it? Seems no matter how hard you try, it doesn't really pay off.

    I have PCOS and am on the arm implant birth control, have been wondering if either/both of those could be contributing.. Will be asking a specialist about it all next week,

    OOOH... FR me.. I would love to know what you find out.
    I don't have the symptoms for PCOS but have never been tested. And I am not on BC. And don't think I am going thru menapause... but who knows.!!
    The article really did not give any info other than wt fluctuates during the month for women 18-22. LOL DUH!!
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    I have a similar thing, only I gain about 5 pounds a few weeks before my period, and lose it (plus a little) right after. As for your diary, I find I lose more when I eat plenty of fruits and veggies, but it could be a personal thing too.

    Just a question though, do you workout before/after having the protein supplements (drinks and bars)? I'm not quite sure how they're supposed to work, but maybe you're storing those calories as fat instead of building strength?

    I use the shakes more as meal replacement for breakfast on days I have to be up at 5am and don't want to cook.
    The bars are more of something I use after a hike... and sometime as a quick snack when I don't have access to anything else that would be somewhat hearthy.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Well, with me personally, I had the same issue with losing very little weight even though I was doing everything right. So I went to my doctor and had a physical and labs done. Turns out I had an under active thyroid along with other health issues that were interfering with my weight loss.

    But as far as the menstrual issue, I didn't have THAT specific problem. My menstrual problems was that I wouldn't have periods for extended periods of time, then when I would have them it would last for a month or longer. One time it lasted for 4 months straight!!! But I did notice that my weight fluctuated a lot before and after my periods when I DID have them.

    But maybe its time to have a talk with your doctor, just to make sure you body is functioning properly. You don't seem to have as severe issues as I did, but no doubt it is still frustrating.

    Did go to Dr in March... all is well as I stated in the original post.
  • cspong
    cspong Posts: 260 Member
    I've only been on MFP for a month, so I dont have a huge frame of reference, but I barely lost during the first few weeks, had my TOM and my weight loss seriously jumped, now its slowing a bit again. Not sure if they have anything to wuth eachother, but there was no other change so it makes sense
  • megleo818
    megleo818 Posts: 595 Member
    YES! Same here, though like some of the other women who have replied, I can go up 5 pounds or so during TOM. Then down to a pound or so below pre-period weight when it's over.

    Someone should put us in a study! :laugh:
  • ZombieSlayer
    ZombieSlayer Posts: 369 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/246100-tom-experiment-preliminary-results
  • myfitnessval
    myfitnessval Posts: 687 Member
    it definitely makes sense. our bodies retain a lot of water right before (which is why every girly magazine ever has always said to go easy on the salt when pmsing). this sounds like just normal body weight flux. i wouldn't worry unless you arent losing weight at all over the span of a couple months and doing all the right things lol.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Yes it totally makes sense to go up and down over the course of a month with water wt and such.
    What does not make sense to me is that that loss rt and the end of my period is the only loss for the month.
    And yes it is a permant loss ...other than the normal flux up and down before the next period.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Found this information when googling....

    Menstrual cycle and BMR

    BMR varied significantly with the menstrual
    cycle in five of the six subjects tested.
    The change in BMR with menstrual cycle
    was the same in all five subjects; there was a
    decrease in BMR during menstruation falling
    to a low point approximately 1 wk before
    ovulation which was followed, by a rise before
    the next menstrual period (see Fig 1 A and
    B). Subject 5506 did not show evidence of a
    cycle in BMR.
    There are no statistically significant effect
    of diet (ie, protein intake) on BMR. Therefore,
    all metabolic periods were used to explore
    effects of menstrual cycle.

    http://www.ajcn.org/content/36/4/611.full.pdf+html
  • quill16
    quill16 Posts: 373 Member
    Well, with me personally, I had the same issue with losing very little weight even though I was doing everything right. So I went to my doctor and had a physical and labs done. Turns out I had an under active thyroid along with other health issues that were interfering with my weight loss.

    But as far as the menstrual issue, I didn't have THAT specific problem. My menstrual problems was that I wouldn't have periods for extended periods of time, then when I would have them it would last for a month or longer. One time it lasted for 4 months straight!!! But I did notice that my weight fluctuated a lot before and after my periods when I DID have them.

    But maybe its time to have a talk with your doctor, just to make sure you body is functioning properly. You don't seem to have as severe issues as I did, but no doubt it is still frustrating.
  • LoveleeB
    LoveleeB Posts: 560 Member
    Here we go for the 1,234,754,568,128,164,127,994,307 time.
  • quill16
    quill16 Posts: 373 Member
    I notice 3-5 lb gain up to 2 weeks before and then a big drop after. Water weight I'm guessing. I weigh everyday and I just attribute it to that or eating something salty etc. and it doesn't bother me so I keep weighing everyday. I have been diagnosed with PCOS and endrimetrosis and super irregular. No period for a year then one lasting months, then another 2 weeks later. I'm still waiting for menopause(I'm 55). It was a miracle that I had a child at all. I was on fertility drugs for 5 years to conceive, which I think could have been part of the cause for weight gain in the 1st place. Since the basic trend is losing you are on track. It will take time
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Found this information when googling....

    Menstrual cycle and BMR

    BMR varied significantly with the menstrual
    cycle in five of the six subjects tested.
    The change in BMR with menstrual cycle
    was the same in all five subjects; there was a
    decrease in BMR during menstruation falling
    to a low point approximately 1 wk before
    ovulation which was followed, by a rise before
    the next menstrual period (see Fig 1 A and
    B). Subject 5506 did not show evidence of a
    cycle in BMR.
    There are no statistically significant effect
    of diet (ie, protein intake) on BMR. Therefore,
    all metabolic periods were used to explore
    effects of menstrual cycle.

    http://www.ajcn.org/content/36/4/611.full.pdf+html

    Interesting, so if the BMR calls, your TDEE falls naturally too.
    So what may be a deficit for part of the month is not at all during part of the month, or surplus depending on how fine a line your deficit to TDEE is.

    So I wish they had given avg stats for all of them, but appears to be range of .85 c/kg to .95 c/kg. If one assumed the .9 would have been the estimated BMR (and I didn't notice comments regarding how close to estimated they were), you can come up with some avg.

    So then you could take your goal based on BMR or TDEE (which is still based on BMR) x 1.06% for high BMR days, and x 94% for the low BMR days.
    Then decide where that must fall, decide if you wanted to actually change it weekly or every 10 days, and what.

    This would allow you to try to keep the deficit the same.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Found this information when googling....

    Menstrual cycle and BMR

    BMR varied significantly with the menstrual
    cycle in five of the six subjects tested.
    The change in BMR with menstrual cycle
    was the same in all five subjects; there was a
    decrease in BMR during menstruation falling
    to a low point approximately 1 wk before
    ovulation which was followed, by a rise before
    the next menstrual period (see Fig 1 A and
    B). Subject 5506 did not show evidence of a
    cycle in BMR.
    There are no statistically significant effect
    of diet (ie, protein intake) on BMR. Therefore,
    all metabolic periods were used to explore
    effects of menstrual cycle.

    http://www.ajcn.org/content/36/4/611.full.pdf+html

    Interesting, so if the BMR calls, your TDEE falls naturally too.
    So what may be a deficit for part of the month is not at all during part of the month, or surplus depending on how fine a line your deficit to TDEE is.

    So I wish they had given avg stats for all of them, but appears to be range of .85 c/kg to .95 c/kg. If one assumed the .9 would have been the estimated BMR (and I didn't notice comments regarding how close to estimated they were), you can come up with some avg.

    So then you could take your goal based on BMR or TDEE (which is still based on BMR) x 1.06% for high BMR days, and x 94% for the low BMR days.
    Then decide where that must fall, decide if you wanted to actually change it weekly or every 10 days, and what.

    This would allow you to try to keep the deficit the same.

    Thanks heybales.
  • wingednotes
    wingednotes Posts: 274 Member
    My guess (just a guess, i'm new at this too) is that maybe your body is bloating throughout the month? Perhaps you are burning fat but don't see it on the scale because of the water gain.
  • Daydreams406
    Daydreams406 Posts: 249 Member
    I have been the same way.
    I didn't lose pounds for the first two months. Then it just dropped.
    I was taking measurements, so I did notice a loss in inches which helped a little.
    I am losing at a very slow pace.
    But I have hypothyroid, and have for 18 years.
    Just changed up my meds, and it has seemed to help just a little.
    Still slow losing though.
    I just discovered that I have an extremely low vitamin D level and have to take supplements for that, so I am hoping that will help some as well.
    I lose pounds after my TOM. I have lost a pound here and there within the month. It isn't consistent though.
    I can gain up to 5 pounds before TOM which is so scary to see on the scale lol. But it always goes back to normal afterwards.

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