Exercise and Period

Sorry, this is basically the same question I was asking before but I guess I wanted a few more responses from more people in similar situations or who have overcome them.

I've had amenorrhea for about a year and 3/4 now, due to low hormones, but in June I got my period (and it was really a 7 day period, the last few days a little lighter, with cramping and stuff) after 2-3 weeks of not really working out because I was in England.

The trouble is...I only run for a half an hour 3 times per week! That's all! Other than that, I just do some weight stuff. So in lieu of getting my period, this month I lightened up even more on the exercise and instead did 30 minutes just on the elliptical and not on the treadmill, and was a little more free with eating.

SO am I supposed to NOT work out? I don't understand how this little amount can affect it. This month I definitely got ovulation signs, but its getting to be almost 35 days and no period!!

I don't know if this is something that's come up on your other posts about amenorrhea, but the two questions that pop to mind are:

- Are you eating enough?

- Is there a chance you are pregnant?

I would think I eat enough because I gained about 10 pounds when I started making changes about 5 months ago. But I still do eat really healthy. I am not having like ice cream every day or something. But I have a lot of olive oil, avocadoes, beans/legumes, some yogurt and milk, bread carbs once in a while, a lot of lean protein, nuts, eggs, and fruits and vegetables.

As for the second question, I checked that yesterday and it was negative.

I did take chinese herbs though for a few days that I bought in England from a registered herbal clinic near my hotel..they got me sick (like a bad cold), but I did get my period about a week later. Is there a correlation? That's the only other thing I can think of besides not working out especially after days I may have eaten dessert or something.

I doubt it's your exercise.  Or rather, if it is, it's because you need to eat more, not exercise less.  If you give your height, weight, and frame size, that might help us assess that possibility, but my first guess is that you are still burning as much/more than you're consuming, and your weight and fat % are still insufficient.  Your diet quality sounds fine, it's not just about eating enough fat, but the amount of body fat you have.  If you don't have enough body fat for your body to sustain healthy pregnancy, then your body eliminates the possibility. 

I am 5'1, around 122-126 pounds (up from 113-115ish), medium frame. So I think my BMI is around 23? When I checked my body fat with that little machine that you put your hands on it said I had 22% (that was when I weighed 115).

And this food I eat, I mean, I eat a lot of vegetables and salads and fruits and protein, but always on my salads I have olive oil, and usually some kind of bean or avocado etc. I eat 6 times per day or more, but I guess it is pretty low carb choices besides the beans, peas, corn, and fruits that I eat. I don't often eat bread.

My thing is, I've never been underweight, but I did get into a habit of eating a low amount of calories when I went on the pill about 2 years ago because I gained weight from everything I ate. So when I went off, I never really changed my habits, and so when I started working out, I lost my period. But I've made changes in my diet ever since last summer to have more protein and beans daily, and now I've upped my variety even more, plus I have a cheat day once per week where I just have whatever I'm craving all day. I really do eat a lot.

Theres the idea that the mix of coming off of the birth control pill (I never had issues with my period before and I was on and off of it for only about 5 months) and losing a lot of weight really quickly may have stopped it? I just don't see why that little amount of exercise makes the difference between getting it or not. How do I manage that?