Fat sources = period return?

I need some clarification from some ladies here...

I've been reading around on the different forums about period loss, which unfortunatly is happening to me because of how much running I was doing in the fall/winter during cross country. I haven't gotten my period in many months and would seriously throw a party if I had some cramps, THATS HOW BAD I ACTUALLY MISS TOM lol. Anyways, I know putting on weight will bring it back, but would eating foods with higher fat contents bring it back easier? Like, say I add a few spoon fulls of PB to my diet everyday, and have an avacodo for a snack, and then a handful of nuts with breakfast, for example. Would this really help me get TOM back sooner? I am doing about 2500+ calories a day, but I'm not sure if I add enough fat sources. Will the fat sources make a drastic change and help get TOM back faster!?

Thx!

im not sure how much of a change it makes but eating plenty of fat is good and helps some way!

im not sure of the ins + outs but i know TTOM is missing because hormones are low....hormones are regulated by fat, both body fat and dietary fat so in order to get it back you should eat more fats (~30%) and increase body fat (which youre doing by gaining weight :) )

im sorry im not really knowledgable but i would go for the PB + avocade etc. because they will help you :)

I have the same problem, except I don't really miss mine...haha. It's been gone for over a year, and if I were to have it I don't think I'd know what to do, lol. =P jk. My doctor told me not to worry about it and nothing off came up in my blood tests, but I still think I should do something. She didn't even suggest gaining any weight, but I figure that's what I have to do to gain it back. Good luck to you!

Fats certainly help, but time at a healthy weight without restricting/over-exercising is most important.

That said, definitely up the fats/decrease the fiber.  Healthy fat sources:  fish oil supplements (everyone should take them), full fat dairy, nuts, nut butters (try almond or cashew for a change), whole eggs, salmon and other fattier fish, red meat, avocado, seeds, etc.  Use oils in your cooking.

As for the doc who said your blood tests were 'fine'...this is why doctors shouldn't give advice on this.  If you are not getting your periods, your blood tests are NOT fine.  Your hormones cycle each month, and a one-time blood test isn't going to show your problem:  that your hormones are NOT cycling.  And if she said not to gain weight, it again proves that she doesn't know anything about this problem.  But most docs do not...you need to see an endocrinologist for advice on this sort of problem.

To get your period back:

Eat a balanced intake with lots of fats.  Don't 'load up' on high fiber foods...you'd be surprised how many girls with this problem eat a ton of fruit/veggies with practically no fats.  

Make sure your aren't over-exercising and you are resting appropriately.  Endurance exercise is the worst thing you could do, so if you're a runner you should cut down.  Take up yoga.

Try to keep your stress level down

Work on any ED thoughts:  those actually do contribute

Make sure you're sleeping enough

Your body is vulnerable to weight change, so try to keep at a healthy weight, and it will take time for your body to kick back into gear

Luckygirl: your doctor sounds like a fool. Not getting your period means your body is no longer producing enough estrogen, and that you do not have enough body fat. This also means that every day you are losing more of your bone mass. Not having your period for a year IS something to worry about. If you don't remedy it, you could end up with osteoperosis, or its precursor osteopenia. Neither are fun.

Kuhristen: Eating more dietary fats should help in the restoration of your period. by giving your body adequate fats in your diet (plus some extra), your body will be able to stop feeding off of its own fat sources for energy and even begin to rebuild its stores.

Also - fats pack a lot of calories into little packages. My best friends really ^.^ Makes refeeding much easier. You've got a good list there, but you are rebuilding your body from the inside out. Recovering from an ED also means you need to get a good amount of saturated fats as well, they are a major part of organ and brain tissue. Nuts, avocadoes and olive oils are great, but don't forget about things like full-fat (or even part-skim is a step up from non-fat) dairy products, flaked coconut (great on cereals and yogurt) or even coconut milk (great for smoothies/ cooking hot cereals) and fatty fishes like salmon.

Original Post by rebelchick1017:

Luckygirl: your doctor sounds like a fool. Not getting your period means your body is no longer producing enough estrogen, and that you do not have enough body fat. This also means that every day you are losing more of your bone mass. Not having your period for a year IS something to worry about. If you don't remedy it, you could end up with osteoperosis, or its precursor osteopenia. Neither are fun.

Kuhristen: Eating more dietary fats should help in the restoration of your period. by giving your body adequate fats in your diet (plus some extra), your body will be able to stop feeding off of its own fat sources for energy and even begin to rebuild its stores.

Also - fats pack a lot of calories into little packages. My best friends really ^.^ Makes refeeding much easier. You've got a good list there, but you are rebuilding your body from the inside out. Recovering from an ED also means you need to get a good amount of saturated fats as well, they are a major part of organ and brain tissue. Nuts, avocadoes and olive oils are great, but don't forget about things like full-fat (or even part-skim is a step up from non-fat) dairy products, flaked coconut (great on cereals and yogurt) or even coconut milk (great for smoothies/ cooking hot cereals) and fatty fishes like salmon.

 Just an FYI, estrogen is not the only cause of lack of period. I have perfect estrogen levels... it's my progesterone that is bye-bye. It can be a vairance of hormones. Estrogen is not always the prob... especially in runners. Estrogen dominance happens mainly in weight lifters (i.e. myself) but bc I run so much and do mostly endurance training on my cardio days I have low progesterone and slightly low (but normal) estrogen levels.

My advice is the same as for_zev. Relax, gain a little, slow your roll a little on the long distance running especially. It will return. It's just being stubborn ;).

G'luck!

Thanks for the help littlemalynda, rebelchick, and for_zev. =) I was pretty upset when I went to see the doctor, actually, because I was expecting answers and she just basically told me to not worry about it until I had kids and it was probably genetic because my mom's period is irregular. Yeah, okay, it is, but she never went more than a few months without it. 15 months is NOT normal, and I don't want to lose my bone density or my ability to have children. I get plenty of calcium, luckily, or else my bones would probably be in pretty bad shape...

I've never had an ED but I've increased my calorie and fat intake a lot. And since I've just recently started to run, I guess I'm going to need a lot more. I really want to make the cross country team next year, but if running is really so bad for me I guess I should put it off for a while?

if you are really serious about regaining your period, I would hold off on the running for awhile.  your body needs some time to recover and get healthy.  Running certainly won't help that, even with eating more....running creates a lot of hormonal changes that eating more isn't going to affect.

I never knew that, thanks. I guess I'll just stick with the stretching, yoga, weight lifting for a while =]