I know not everyone wants to talk about periods, but being very on top of my cycle has made a huge difference in my weight loss efforts and I wanted to share with other people on loseit who experience periods to help them too.
Maybe you're like me - normally I have a rough idea of when to expect my period, but other than that I never really pay my cycle any attention. But then I started noticing trends with my plateaus, and mood, not just at period time but throughout my cycle, and knowing this has made all the difference.
Previously:
- Week 1 (starting immediately after my period starts)
- Weight on the scale takes a dip down, I think "hmm this is a good time to start eating healthier"
- I eat at a deficit and see the scale tick down a little bit each day. I think "nice, this is working!"
- Week 2
- Still eating at a deficit but the scale does not budge at all. I think "what the eff, this was working last week, why is it not working now???"
- by the end of the week I'm like "ARGH why is this not working!" and then usually "screw it, it doesn't matter anyways, I'm eating what I want"
- eat a big meal, scale goes up, anger and frustration ensues
- Week 3 - post ovulation (I know this because I'm part of the 20% of people who experience ovulation pain)
- Scale dips a tiny amount. I think "hmm ok even with that big meal I still had a drop, let's get back on the wagon"
- Eat at a deficit all week, scale ticks down a bit each day, all is right with the world
- Week 4 - dreaded PMS week
- Scale does not budge, might even increase a few lbs. Thoughts are "WTF! I am doing the same thing I did all last week, why does this not work? why do i hate everyone and my job and I want to eat all the things!"
- Eat all the things, feel angry, scale goes up
- Period starts, scale dips slightly.. go back to week 1 and repeat
- Net result: about 1-4lbs lost
Current cycle, using a calendar to keep track of things:
- Week 1
- Same as before, weight drops down, eating at a deficit shows immediate results
- Week 2
- Still eating at a deficit but the scale does not budge at all. But now I think "ok brain, week 2 plateau is starting, stay calm.. we know what to expect here"
- still by the end of the week I am thinking "what if this isn't the week 2 plateau? what if I'm doing things wrong? what if I'm not really at a deficit, what if I never lose weight?!?"
- but I also think: just wait till post ovulation and see if the scale dips, if it doesn't, then we will reevaluate
- Week 3
- Big whoosh, usually 2-3 lbs, happy dance!
- Eat at a deficit all week, scale ticks down a bit each day, all is right with the world
- Week 4 - dreaded PMS week
- Scale does not budge, might even increase a few lbs. Thoughts are "argh, ok here we go, the week 4 plateau. We got this, brain!"
- Feel angry, feel frustrated but tell myself that we just have to wait till the period starts, then if the plateau doesn't break we will eat all the things in anger and watch the world burn
- also force myself to go for walks to try to calm my grumpy self down
- if still feeling angry and frustrated, tell myself it's ok to eat at maintenance calories for a day or two
- Period starts, HUGE whoosh!! Everything is great! The world rejoices! All goals are within reach!
- go back to week 1 and repeat
- Net result: about 4-8lbs lost
Obviously the difference in the net result is that I don't have like 4-6 days a month where I eat a bajillion calories, or worse, fall entirely off the wagon. But understanding the week 2 and week 4 plateaus are just a thing that happens and I am still losing weight that doesn't show up on the scale is a total game changer for me. Also finding out that I get angry, eat all the things feelings before ovulation was an eye opener too. Staying on top of this mentally is making a huge difference and I hope that by sharing this someone else who is struggling with these types of cycle frustrations will also benefit!
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