Late period

Hello! I have a question about missed periods - maybe somebody has gone through the same thing and has some advice or opinions.

I'm a 24 year old vegan female, trying to lose weight. I eat about 1300-1700 per day (60% carbs, 20% fat, 20%protein) and I ride my bike for 2 hours three or four times per week. I started living like this in February and I have lost 4 pounds ever since.

I have been on the pill for two years, stopped taking it in Dec. Since then, I had regular periods. My last period was on the 1st of March....nothing since then. I have taken several pregnancy tests and they are all negative.

Does anybody know what could be wrong with me? Did anybody go through this?

Thank you in advance!

Arici

Original Post by arici:

Hello! I have a question about missed periods - maybe somebody has gone through the same thing and has some advice or opinions.

I'm a 24 year old vegan female, trying to lose weight. I eat about 1300-1700 per day (60% carbs, 20% fat, 20%protein) and I ride my bike for 2 hours three or four times per week. I started living like this in February and I have lost 4 pounds ever since.

I have been on the pill for two years, stopped taking it in Dec. Since then, I had regular periods. My last period was on the 1st of March....nothing since then. I have taken several pregnancy tests and they are all negative.

Does anybody know what could be wrong with me? Did anybody go through this?

Thank you in advance!

Arici

The same thing has happened to me too. I haven't had a proper period in months. If all the pregnancy tests are negative then I highly doubt you are pregnant. I think our problem is that we don't have enough body fat...

Missing one period is relatively common.  If you skip three in a row then that's worth talking to your doctor about...  Some of the more common reasons for prolongued loss of periods..

• Being underweight (BMI under 19)
• Body-fat % too low
• Inadequate diet... especially one that lacks calories, fats, iron
• Overexercising
• Stress
• Illness

If you're happy that none of the above apply you'll have to see what happens next month.

Hi Arici,

I'm a 25-year-old quasi-vegan and I had a similar experience last year (lost my period for a total of six months). I was strictly vegan during that time and spinning 3-5 times a week; I think my body fat just got a bit too low. I was careful to get enough protein from plant sources but maybe sometimes that just doesn't cut it? Anyway, I went on the pill for a variety of reasons (skin problems, regulate period, etc.) and the period came back right away.  I started eating yogurt, too, which seems to have helped, and I've gained about five pounds back (5'6 and 130 now).

Good luck to you! At least you have those negative pregnancy tests to ease your mind :)

Thank you so much for your replies! They are of great help!

I'm not underweight - but at healthy weight. The truth is some days is do get little fat and I usually find it difficult to reach my goal of 20% fat in my food. Maybe I should add some nuts and olive oil in my salad. And I am quite stressed at school, by my senior thesis.

I'll wait one more month, and if my period is still missing, I'll see a doctor. Maybe the pill was an easier option.

Thanks a lot!

Original Post by arici:

The truth is some days is do get little fat and I usually find it difficult to reach my goal of 20% fat in my food. Maybe I should add some nuts and olive oil in my salad.

 Yes, it might be good just to be safe. 20-30% of fats is recommended. Avocadoes are really nice and like you said there's nuts, which have lots of protein too!

I hate to ask, but are you getting enough complete proteins? taking a multivitamin?  I don't know a whole lot about veganism, but I know it can be more difficult to make sure you get all your amino acids, and not just some of them.

Good luck : ) maybe it's just a fluke.

Wrong!!!!!!!!! the biggest missconception about vegatairianism is the one about not getting enough protien. Do you now how little protien you need in a day? not much. It is so hard to become protien deficiant, almost next to impossible.  

Wrong yourself.  I said COMPLETE protein, not just 'protein'.

I get enough protein by eating soy beans, lentils, peas, beans. I have no problems getting enough proteins. The fat is my problem. I just cannot manage to mix eating healthy fat and losing weight.

What do you think complete protien is?