A question for all the women of CC

I have heard (from a few people) that it is pointless to diet while having a period because you can't lose weight during this time. I was wondering of any of you know if this is true, it has been bothering me and i'd really like to know.

Thanks

I'm not sure if it's true or not but I feel if you are serious about calorie counting, you should count no matter what...period or not.  To get off track for an entire week can't be a good thing and I'm sure how we all know how hard it is to get back on track.

That really doesn't sound true.  I just had my period and the scale hasn't budged, and even though it's frustrating I know that it's just water weight and I'm gaining muscle from working out. 

Plus it's pretty depressing and self-defeatist to think of it as "I can't lose weight 25% of the time, so why bother..." you know?

First of all, many people on CC would say it is pointless to "diet" at all.  Permanent weight loss is maintained through a lifestyle change that is sustainable and driven by a desire to feel and look ones best.  "Dieting" is temporary and not sustainable, and is driven by a number on a scale.

So, given that assumption, why would someone not eat healthy and exercise during their period?  Why would it be wise to eat unhealthy foods and/or healthy foods in unhealthy amounts during TTOM?  In fact, eating junk and/or not exercising during or before ones period makes PMS worse!

People may have told you this because women often retain water during their periods and therefore weight loss does not register on the scale.  So it's "pointless?"  All I can say is, if I eat unhealthy foods, I'm gonna retain more water no matter WHAT time of the month it is! 

I believe it is pointless to limit my focus to the number I weigh.  And I am speaking as someone who is VERY motivated by watching that number go down.  However, I need to have a point to my choices beyond that number - physical health and mood stability are two. 

I have no scientific prove but to me that sounds like a big ol' myth.
Probably what they are thinking about is that during the period you tend to retain water, so it seems like you are gaining weight and so people maybe think that it is useless to diet then (trying to figure out their line of thinking here) it is though, like I said, just water retention, so it will disapear once your period is over. More than once I actually found I had lost another lb after my period, so for example I would be 180 pre-period, gained about 3 lbs during and BAM post-period the water was gone + some, ended up 179, so that proves kinda sorta that you CAN lose weight during your period.

It is never pointless to eat healthy and exercise.  But I don't weigh myself during my period.  I always feel a little bloated, and I know that the number on the scale may not truly reflect my efforts. 

My last period, my weight stayed the same.  The week after, I lost 3 lbs.  So I wouldn't say that it's pointless.  I averaged 1.5 lbs per week, for the week of and the week after, that's the way I looked at it.

I never lose weight during my period but within two days of it being over, the scale drops considerably very quickly (usually 2-4 lbs). During I'm not too happy but I look forward to the sudden drop immediately after. I know that if I "cheat" during I won't get the "reward" at the end. Besides, eating junk just seems to make me feel even grosser and more sluggish!

Not true IMO.  Surely hormonal changes during this time will impact different bodies in different ways.  However, if you are maintaining your healthy eating and exercise routine during this time, it WILL have an effect on your body as well.  It would be ludicrous to think that muscles can't become toned during this time.

But then again, I'm one of the lucky ones that forget that Aunt Flo has come to visit each month because I truly feel no effect from it (other than the inconvenience). 

that is the dumbest thing i've ever heard....PREmentrual you generally gain WATER weight but you shed it as soon as you get your period.....you still have the same BMR during your period.

Diet is totally important no matter what, especially during your period. a healthy diet and exercise can help you reduce bloat and drinking plenty of water can help you flush out that water weight. There is no vacation when your trying to develop a healthy lifestyle

not matter how hard you try you are going to gain the week leading up to your period, but as long as you watch your cals you'll lose it by the end of your period and more on top of that if ya lucky.  Although you may want to attack the chocolate, don't.  If you have to attack the chocolate, get someone to look after the chocolate bar for you so you can only have a little bit at a time.

Regardless of whether that is true or not I would continue to exercise because it has been shown that if you exercise during your period it is said to relieve the symptoms of your period, i.e. bloating, cramping, irritability. I have become addicted to counting calories and couldn't imagine not counting because I love knowing how I am doing.

If you quit counting, you will probably find that it will be easier to slip into your old ways and eat alot of bad things. My daily log makes me accountable which is why I love the CC website. So I would continue to count and be active despite whether this is a myth or not.

slightly off topic, but I've found that taking a magnesium supplement can help reduce the cravings for chocolate I get around that time.

slightly off topic, but I've found that taking a magnesium supplement can help reduce the cravings for chocolate I get around that time.

If you're all that concerned about not losing weight during that time, just don't weigh youself until it's over.  Might save you some grief.  As long as you are eating healthy then having TTOM it should not become another issue to deal with.  Silly myth!

^ that is my plan every time it comes around cause I blow up no matter what. I really need to look into magnesium supplements cause I've been having killer cravings.

Many of us are creatures of habit so why would you want to go off task?  I always gain 3 - 5 lbs during TTOM so I try to stay off the scale during this time because it's discouraging.  I know that once it's over I'll drop the weight again, I've found that if I go overboard with the cravings during this time it takes a coupld of extra days to get rid of the TTOM "weight". 

I don't have scientific proof of this but I've read you should try to stay away from excess salt during this time as well since it will only add the water weight.

Good luck!

It's HARD because of hormones and cravings... I messed up for almost an entire week in February. I could NOT seem to stop eating for something like 3 days... But I'm still SORT of proud of myself. I was able to keep around maintenance calories because I was running for celery and hummus instead of potato chips and onion dip, or whatever. So while I was still eating "too" much, I was at least eating healthy. (Well, healthier.) I really wouldn't recommend throwing in the towel for an entire week, but don't drive yourself crazy by starving, either. Maybe try to keep at maintenance levels for those couple of "really bad" days and then get back on track with whatever deficit you've set for yourself.  You're just going to have to find something that works for you. A day or two off your deficit number isn't going to set your goals (or your metabolism) off by too much, but taking a whole week "off" EVERY SINGLE MONTH is probably pushing it.

Good luck with this!!

that's total bull.  i just finished my period a few days ago and i lost weight during it (3 pounds actually).  living proof right there that it IS possible to lose weight during your time of the month.  it's just a little harder if/when you get cravings.  but you can fight through those and come out stronger than ever.  it's also hard to get yourself to the gym because, let's face it, if you're having a really bloaty heavy day, you just don't want to go to the gym.  but taking a day or two off from working out won't kill you.

good luck with your weight loss!!!

definitely not true cus I've already lost a couple pounds this week lol