Want to Gain Weight..Periods Have Stopped

Hey everyone....I'm new to these forums and this is my first post. I am glad I found this board...everyone on here seems very smart and helpful :)

Here is my situation:

Last year was stressful for me. I was going through a lot emotionally (school stress and a close family member passed away) and since I run, I started running a lot more to relieve stress. I got a bit addicted. Well I ended up losing about 10 pounds that I didn't need to and my periods stopped. The last time I got my period was October '08. I used a cheap scale that my boyfriend has at his house that said I weighed 104 pounds the first time and then I got on it again and it said I weighed 106! So I'd say I am roughly 5 pounds underweight for my height at 5'4 and 25 years old.  I don't know my body fat percentage but I'd imagine it's probably a little too low. A year and half ago, at my last doctor's visit, I weighed about 114 pounds and I felt great. My ideal weight would be to get up to 120 pounds. I am considering making a doctor's appointment soon to get a checkup and discuss this with her but am wondering if I should wait and see if I can get my period to come back on my own through laying off the exercise and eating more, which I have starting doing the past two weeks. I take a good multi-vitamin and some extra calcium supplements. I am considering taking an iron supplement, as well. I just really don't want the doctor to put me on hormones to get my period back. I was pretty regular before. I'm pretty sure it was all the excessive exercise that caused them to stop. I have no other symptoms right now other than period-loss. It's enough to freak me out, though, and realize I need to put some weight on.

I also currently don't have insurance so I have to shell out about 200 dollars just for the check-up and pap smear every year. I am afraid the doctor might want me to get expensive blood tests. I am starting up at a new university this fall and am going to apply for their insurance plan, so if I do need to get tests I'd like to wait until then. I might be able to get some free counseling through my Dad's work. I am not sure what kind of counseling or if they could help with my specific problem. I don't know if talking to someone about all this would help ease some of the anxiety of doing it.

I'd be very grateful if anyone who has ever dealt with this could give me some advice. I never thought I'd want my period to come back but it's really bugging me not getting it naturally, mainly because I know how unhealthy it is (infertility, osteoporosis , increase risk for ovarian cancer, etc.) How long does it usually take for a period to come back with weight gain?

This past week I've cut my exercise time back 10 minutes at a time and I am walking more than I am jogging. I know I should stop completely, but this would be too hard for me to do. I love how relaxed I feel after a workout.  I have been keeping with cutting back, though. That was a big step for me. I've incorporated some light yoga on some days to help me deal with cutting down the running. I'd like to work up to taking a couple of rest days each week. I am eating a lot more than I was. I am pesco-vegetarian ( I still eat fish) so it's hard for me to get a lot of fat in, which I know I need to up. I did eat two big salmon steaks this past week and will try to go buy some more. I could literally feel myself getting healthier after eating them! I got some Ensures today and am thinking about adding those to a couple of my meals each day. It's just so hard to eat a lot in one sitting, especially when I'm stressed. My stomach gets upset and I just generally don't feel like eating, which is what led to this weight loss. Any advice would be helpful. I've been browsing these forums and have already learned a lot.

Thanks for reading my post :)

-Erin

120 pound seems like a very sensible goal, you clearly see you have a problem and want to fix it - you don't have any emotional problems with food or weight?

Being emotionally healthy is just as important as physically so if your still stressed you should see someone about it, have you considered it could be an ulcer, from stress?

excercise is good don't get me wrong, and it's good to make you feel happy, but remember only do it if you can maintain it alongside your diet and that your diet is suficient enough for your activity levels, for the time it doesn't seem like it is.

cut it down to something you know you can maintain and try to look for something else to control your stress with.

eating calorie dense food (like nuts) is small in food quantity but contains alot of calories, these may be of some use to you, there are threads in the weight gain forums with more information about weight gainer's diets.

Supplements are good, but it's even better if you can get it from a balanced diet.

Your period will take it's time, once your body is satisfied with it's stores and health (they suggest a body fat % over 20%). It's all to do with hormone levels and how severely they are unbalanced, but the first focus needs to be weight gain. You may need the support of birth control pills to regulate a cycle.

ultimately speak to your doctor before doing anything or taking any advice seriously, he knows whats best for you and can give you access to anything extra you may need

good luck xoxo

Get rid of the Ensure unless you plan on drinking them on top of a meal plan that equates 2500 calories sedentary or higher. And stop the walks. Cardio exercise whilst gaining only slows down this process and can stress an underweight body uneccessarily. But seriously - Ensure is meant for the malnourished, those with overly high intake needs or for use on top of a meal plan of 2500 calories or higher worth of food.

If your calories aren't at 2750 (as you are walking) then get them there. Don't weigh in for two weeks whilst you do this as you'll see water fluctuations. Pick high calorie, low density foods as Passion has said like avocado, eggs, oily fish, nuts, seeds, nut butter, seed pastes, dense breads, coconut, bananas, dried fruit, and cooking oils like olive oil. All of these will help your fats to a point as well. If you eat dairy then pick whole fat. To tackle eating a lot in one sitting, as well as these sorts of foods have three main meals and three snacks a day.

Supplements should only be used, like Ensure, on top of an already well rounded diet.

On your period, I'd read here: AMENORRHOEA: When You Lose Your Period

And for further help with weight gain, here: The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason

But as Passion has stressed you need to talk to a doctor about your stress and anxiety levels. It's not healthy when they reach such a point you don't want to eat or cannot stomach your food.

Passionsflower and lalabanana, thank you so much for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.

Passions, I have been tested for an ulcer once before. It was a few years ago. The results came back negative for any ulcers. It's not so much my stomach gets upset (although I sometimes do get nauseous), it's just I don't feel like eating or get so busy that I have a hard time fitting in enough calories that I probably need along with how much I exercise. Thanks for all the food suggestions. Today I did buy some really good olive oil with sundried tomatoes in it that looks delicious. I plan on adding to anything I can flavor it with :)

Lala, I was planning on adding the Ensure's along with my breakfast and either with dinner or lunch.  I will defintely be eating good solid food along with them. I just thought thye might help get some extra calories in without having to over stuff myself in the middle of the day. At dinner, I have no problem with the extra portions because I'm at home and can just sit and relax after eating but when I'm out and during class breaks I find it hard to function with an overstuffed stomach. I know my body will get used to it eventually but I'm just starting and experimenting with what works. Thank you for the links :) 

I am actually starting to feel better stress and anxiety wise. I will be taking the summer off from classes and starting up again in the fall. I think knowing I have a break coming up is helping.I would love to stop walking completely but that thought kinda scares me. I would like to eventually be able to take a day or two off a week but I can't make myself do it. When I want to, I get scared that it will lead into pattern. If I take one day off, then I'll take the next day off, etc. and then never exercise again. Or if I take a day off, what if something happens the next day that prevents me from getting my run in? Then that will be two days in a row not running. I guess I have an addiction, huh?

I'll make a doctors appointment as soon as I can. I know she is going to want to do blood tests, though. I honestly wouldn't mind getting them done either. I probably need to. Anyone know how much they might be without insurance? I'd imagine expensive but you never know.

I look forward to posting more on this forum. I am really glad I found it. I think it will help me a lot. Thank you again for the replies :)

lol, well, I don't want to be giving advice on gaining weight... I have done that plenty for myself, and not for the right reasons.  They way I did it... I became obsessed with cooking... and there was a period when homemade chocolate truffles became a passion... yikes, that was a quick 5 pounds.

But, it brings me to why I am responding.  Using obsessive behaviors to clear your mind.  I see that the responses are suggesting you stear clear of the exercise over dose because it will be deflating to your purpose of gaining weight.  So how do you fulfill your purpose of dealing with the stress?  A few suggestions:

1. Find a hobby that requires being more sedentary.  Even if it is something like knitting or learning to sew (so you can make your fav summer tops or next years winter quilt) -- you will still get similar satisfaction of running: setting and reaching goals you can accomplish while keeping your mind busy.

2. Volunteer.  Organizations like American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Club are always looking for bright, energetic faces to help out.   This is another way to keep busy physically while doing something worthy with your time.... without the super burn of running or vigorous exercise.

3. Find a good author and read all their books!  Another reason I gained a good 5 or 10 pounds in about 6 months:  James Patterson's The Women's Murder Club series is the basis to ABC's t.v. show and the books are FABULOUS.  Okay, so I get that sitting on the couch in the dark is not a fun time... so, grab your book, a blanket, a dog (or sweetie) and hit the park for the afternoon.... or head to the local coffee shop for a calorie filled choco-latte and just veg out with the local scene for a bit.

4. Most importantly -- vary the "boring" lifestyle.  It's only boring if you do the same thing over and over and over again.  If you start up a long term knitting projects and break it up with short term goals like reading Book One and volunteering for 6 hours a week at ______ then you'll find that every day will bring something different to your To Do list, and you be too busy to think about anything else.

GOOD LUCK.  Losing a close loved one is tough.  But remember, your loved one would only want what is best for you - and if that means getting healthy by putting on a few pounds, then do it for them.  They would want you to.