TOM experiment & preliminary results

I must say, I am feeling much more satisfied eating at maintenance but will be going back to my 500 deficit in a few days, not sure I have lost anything, we'll see in a few

lol
bump

Very interesting little study you've done there... would be fascinating to see a controlled, scientific study of this (or links to already existing studies).

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&rlz=&=&q=menstrual cycle metabolism&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws

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
. 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

Round two starts tomorrow. Will keep y'all posted.

2nd cycle.. weight loss did NOT stop... it slowed down a little, but was nice and steady. Yay!

You are absolutely awesome (and patient) for figuring this out. I was having the same problems around ovulation time. Yay, more food!

I know exactly which phase I'm in at all times of the month. I've used Fertility Awareness (monitoring waking temperature and cervical fluid) as my birth control method for years. (it's nice not to have to worry about surprises)

When my temperature goes up, I know ovulation is complete. The temperature goes up because of the hormone progesterone, this hormone acts on the thyroid gland causing a slight elevation in temperature. For some of us, that probably brings a slight increase in metabolism, too. Therefore, increasing calories slightly might help you.

Sounds logical. Unfortunatly for me being perimenopausal I never know if it will be 2,3, 4 or more weeks between.... :ohwell: Guess I stick with the same all the time.

I feel your pain. I'm peri-menopausal too, and now get that dreaded visit every 3 weeks. What is up with that?????

This actually did work for me. Ate extra calories during my TOM and resumed my normal deficit when finished, dropping both the water weight after and an additional extra. I'm going to try this method again for my next TOM to see if this method continues to work. *fingers crossed*

Bump for later!

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TOM experimenting can be.... messy.

Ahhhh....this is so complicated. Are you saying you are eating more then during TOM and that is helping? I don't understand all of the scientific information. Can you spell it out for me? I am so glad you have figured this out!

You got it, actually. I'm eating at a regular 500 cal deficit before I ovulate and then up to maintenance (though I was nervous so I actually went with a 100 cal deficit) between ovulation and TOM (luteal phase).

Phases -
menstrual phase (menstruation) - obvious {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
proliferative phase (some sources include menstruation in this phase) - between menstruation and ovulation {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
ovulatory phase (ovulation, 2 - 3 day time frame) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}
luteal phase (between ovulation and menstruation) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}

Other sources include more phases, but these are the one's I'm using.

Thank you so much for the info!!

bump!

WOW!!! Very interesting!!! Way to go!!! :happy: :flowerforyou:

You got it, actually. I'm eating at a regular 500 cal deficit before I ovulate and then up to maintenance (though I was nervous so I actually went with a 100 cal deficit) between ovulation and TOM (luteal phase).

Phases -
menstrual phase (menstruation) - obvious {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
proliferative phase (some sources include menstruation in this phase) - between menstruation and ovulation {Ate at 500 cal deficit}
ovulatory phase (ovulation, 2 - 3 day time frame) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}
luteal phase (between ovulation and menstruation) {Ate at 100 cal deficit}

Other sources include more phases, but these are the one's I'm using.

Mind if I ask you to get slightly more specific? I'm getting confused between net goals, RMR and deficit.

Right now my goals are set to lose 1lb per week, like you. That means I have a 500 calorie deficit. My net calories consumed goal with this weight loss plan is 1450 per day.

If I were modeling my eating plan like yours, would this be how it works out?
menstrual phase (menstruation) - obvious {Ate at 500 cal deficit -- 1450 calories for me)
proliferative phase (some sources include menstruation in this phase) - between menstruation and ovulation {1450 calories for me)
ovulatory phase (ovulation, 2 - 3 day time frame) {1950 calories...or 1850 calories if still eating with 100 calorie deficit}
luteal phase (between ovulation and menstruation) {1950 calories...or 1850 calories if still eating with 100 calorie deficit}

How scary to go all the way up to 1850 or 1950! But I'm definitely going to try it and see what my results are!

I love how scientifically you approached the whole thing. Great job in figuring it out!