Ladies: PMS weight gain

2

Replies

  • jilliebk
    jilliebk Posts: 252 Member
    Hi!

    Does anyone gain weight right before their period? I've been losing weight, and within the last two days I have gained almost 1.5 lbs back. It is so frustrating! Does anyone else have this problem or know how to avoid pre-period weight gain?

    yep same thing over here like 7 pounds, week after is the best time for me to weigh in
  • kburgess247
    kburgess247 Posts: 43 Member
    The internet claims that during PMS your body actually burns anywhere from 100 to 300 more calories than usual -- think about it: our TOM is work and so metabolism gets a temporary boost. The best way to fight cravings is probably to go on the offensive and eat more high quality foods that burn more slowly (foods high in fiber and the so-called "good" carbs).

    Also: it is definitely water weight gain. The main thing to do is to wait out the weight and skip the scale. (I made the mistake of weighing in this week. WHY?!) You might also consider lowering your sodium intake during this time to reduce retention but honestly, if you're doing everything else right, just wait it out.
  • avasano
    avasano Posts: 487 Member
    Yes around 3-5lbs every month, but at the end of the cycle it is gone. I just started a new diet and I only gained 1lb at the start this month! Yay! This means when my cycle is over I should have lost weight... fingers crossed...
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Yep. It goes away afterwards. Don't worry about it - it's not real fat and not real weight.
  • Dovekat
    Dovekat Posts: 263 Member
    Yup I gain between 3 and 6lbs of water weight for about a week to ten days along with cramps, cravings, bouts of listlessness, sickness, headaches and a constant but mild fever. Sometimes it's a joy to be female lol
  • gtjessi
    gtjessi Posts: 1 Member
    Hello! I feel you pain. .I work out cardio/ weight/zumba/body pump and eat a balanced diet. . I ALWAYS gain 6-8 lbs at that time. . most months it will take me a few days after my cycle ends to get back to normal. . it's a PAIN to deal with. . Hang in there. . you'll get back to normal
  • RayRay1500
    RayRay1500 Posts: 158 Member
    Well I must be a freak of nature because my weigh day fell within this period, and I still lost my weekly amount?????? :noway:
  • mckellipgirl
    mckellipgirl Posts: 63 Member
    I gain every time, except this time. I'm the same.

    I'm really hoping to see a loss at the end of this cycle. :D
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
    I always gain abt three lbs and drop it again right afterwards. I just try to push myself really hard when its that time of the month. otherwise i get mad at my scale. :)
  • mondesa
    mondesa Posts: 61 Member
    Minimum of 5 to 7 pounds... Frustrating but it goes away within a few days. First couple months of dieting scared me now i try to stay away from the scale
  • mommanurse33
    mommanurse33 Posts: 189 Member
    Um, yeah. I swelled up like a balloon this month. And it seems to get worse the older I get. In fact, I have been cramping so bad that I haven't been able to work out for a good part of the week, so when I got on the scale this morning, I was pleasantly surprised the water weight has fallen back off.
  • kaliso
    kaliso Posts: 42 Member
    During that time for me, I have to be really careful not to give into eating everything in sight...
  • hellokehtty
    hellokehtty Posts: 94
    Yep....4-5 pounds of water weight, and hungry as a monster, too.

    The week after, I shed it all and have a very decreased appetite, so it balances out. I've learned to go with the flow (no pun intended).
  • FatStoatLondon
    FatStoatLondon Posts: 197 Member
    I concur weighing yourself during this time is a total waste of time. Just check when its over and you'll be pleased with the results.

    Totally totally agree!
  • parisiantwyst
    parisiantwyst Posts: 41
    I think I just hit this problem as well- I usually retain a lot more water when I'm on my period, and have a difficult time ESPECIALLY when its humid out exercising during that time. Don't worry about it too much- those extra pounds will disappear again before you know it!
  • AngieWood611
    AngieWood611 Posts: 38 Member
    I have always fluctuated about 2 pounds around that time of the month. So as long as i have stayed within that i am happy. Anything more i worry and anything less i celebrate a lose! :D
  • aliann30
    aliann30 Posts: 291 Member
    I gain 5-7 lbs. Of water weight. It's gone plus some last day of my period
    Ok I'm glad I'm not the only one with this high of an amount.
    Folks were scaring me with 2-3 pounds!

    Nope, not the only one at all...I can hold some big time water weight on me, same about 5-7 lbs!
  • turbogirl4christ
    turbogirl4christ Posts: 177
    I usually go up 5 to 7 pounds but it always goes back down afterwards..
  • bailyc
    bailyc Posts: 57 Member
    I gain 7-9 that week. I know it's just water weight but it is still discouraging to see it on the scale. I put my scale away during my TOM now.
  • aspen_matthews
    aspen_matthews Posts: 94
    Yep, don't weight yourself during this time. You'll just make yourself crazy for no reason.
  • Brandi0418
    Brandi0418 Posts: 63
    I'm pretty much the same as everyone else ~ I get pretty frustrated as my weight gain tends to take two weeks to lose! UGH:sad:
  • jamm2000
    jamm2000 Posts: 79
    me too, usually 2 lbs. i gain it 1 week prior to TOM and then a few days later it's off. I also find for some strange reason that the day i get my period is my lightest day of the month? it's the exact same each month. so i try not to log that gain or loss and weigh myself a day or two later..

    I thought it was so strange!! I am also at my lightest the day before. I think my bloat is right in the middle of my cycle.
  • teenamai
    teenamai Posts: 48 Member
    Finally someone is brave enough to address these issues...I was too shy but I wanted to write about my chocolate cravings....Grrrr....I didnt even complete my food diary yesterday because I didnt want to see how many calories I had eaten....I had my husband pick up some chocolate chip cookies and I binged....Thankful that it hasnt seemed to effect my weight but I dont want to do it too frequently. So...what do you all do about your cravings???

    I have the same question, what to do about the cravings?! I have a bottomless pit when my cycle comes around. Sugar, salt, anything. I've been strong and stayed with my regular calorie intake, just seem to be always hungry. Any advice?
  • mckellipgirl
    mckellipgirl Posts: 63 Member
    Finally someone is brave enough to address these issues...I was too shy but I wanted to write about my chocolate cravings....Grrrr....I didnt even complete my food diary yesterday because I didnt want to see how many calories I had eaten....I had my husband pick up some chocolate chip cookies and I binged....Thankful that it hasnt seemed to effect my weight but I dont want to do it too frequently. So...what do you all do about your cravings???

    I have the same question, what to do about the cravings?! I have a bottomless pit when my cycle comes around. Sugar, salt, anything. I've been strong and stayed with my regular calorie intake, just seem to be always hungry. Any advice?

    The only way I can stop my bottomless pit days is to give into what I'm craving. (But only a small portion) If I'm craving chocolate, I can eat healthy food all day and go way over board but if I have a small square of chocolate, my monster sleeps until the next day (or next cycle!)
  • arw4
    arw4 Posts: 51 Member
    I'm glad to know I'm not alone in this! I try not to weigh myself but I can't help it. It's part of my morning routine and even if I make sure I have a calorie deficit I'm always afraid I'm going gain weight.

    As for cravings, I normally give in, but I try to make them healthier. For example, if I'm craving salt I'll have nachos with lettuce and tomatos instead of something less healthy like chocolate covered pretzels.
  • remarkyllek
    remarkyllek Posts: 5
    THANK YOU!!! I have abnormal cycles and started MFP around the time my cycle started. I was craving sweets like a madman the other day and didn't give in. I hope I see some loss when it's over.
  • spongebex
    spongebex Posts: 194 Member
    I was craving sweets like a madman the other day and didn't give in. I hope I see some loss when it's over.

    Well done for not giving in! I am going to think of you when my impending cravings hit xx
  • painauxraisin
    painauxraisin Posts: 299 Member
    one kilo . It's gone within a week.
  • dinkydudette
    dinkydudette Posts: 71
    I go up anything between 7-14lbs.
  • HannahsReturnToFitness
    HannahsReturnToFitness Posts: 86 Member
    I gain gain about 3kg. I start gaining about a week before I'm due and it disappears the week after. Only have two weeks of losing weight per cycle!
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