100 lb. Club - Ladies, a question for you...

Has anyone had any oddities with their cycles since getting *back* into exercising?

I ask because, usually, when I start back working out, my TOM becomes regular. Before, I was extremely irregular. Exercise on a steady basis has always regulated me. Anyone one else have something like this happening? A friend told me that sometimes, when she works out, she becomes irregular... I'm just the opposite. Is it just me?

When I started exercising, my cycle pretty much stopped! Might be because I was going through menopause ... :kickcan:

Extreme exercise and dieting will cause TOM to become irregular or cease.

Normal, regular exercise helps with all my PMS stuff, especially cramps. I have always had horrible, bed-ridden for 2 days cramps and heavy bleeding, but regular exercise really helped. Just don't suddenly decide to start a boot camp regime the day before TOM, or you'll doubly hurt.

I don't know where you are in your overall weight loss, but my TOM became more regular as I lost weight. My husband & I thought could not have children, then we started Atkins and lost 50 pounds each and boom- along came baby.

I've always been quite regular - working out or not. Right now I'm on BCP's, so it's like clockwork. BUT, yesterday I started having breakthrough. That doesn't happen to me unless I miss a pill. I haven't and I have no idea why now?

My cycle used to be incredibly erratic. I could go months without a period. After two months of exercise, I'm very regular, normal cycle, sometimes it sneaks up on me as I am just not used to it. I am 33 and this is the first time in my life my periods have been normal. My cramps and PMS are 100% better. Yay exercising!

I used to be extremely irregular, then when I started losing weight it clicked back onto something more like a regular schedule. Just recently they seem to have stopped again, it's been 6 or 7 weeks since I had any sign of anything, and the last one came after a biggish gap too. So both happened for me :dizzy:

I was regular before, even at the morbidly obese stage, which I hear is rare. I've been regular during too. I've never had one instance of irregularity in 9 years. I guess I'm lucky. Exercising does make me feel better though during it, expect I skip any ab work, ouchie.

When I started exercising I became a little irregular. I was a week late about the second month. Boy did I think it was something else! But I've noticed that it's gotten a lot more regular since that time :D

I've been regular as clockwork for 28 years, and can predict the arrival of TOM within a 3 hour timeframe. Very handy! :)

Exercise or not, I get wicked cramps and irritability every third cycle which is not so great.

My cycle used to be incredibly erratic. I could go months without a period. After two months of exercise, I'm very regular, normal cycle, sometimes it sneaks up on me as I am just not used to it. My cramps and PMS are 100% better. Yay exercising!

That's exactly what I have going on. I restarted weight loss on 1/1/06 at an all time high of 286, I've lost 16 pounds so far. I worked out 5 days a week initially and have since upped it to 6. Nothing extreme, just what I should have been doing for years! It is interesting to hear the variations of effects exercise has on people.

Another question, is anyone on birth control? I'm getting married in June and want to get on some form of bc as I don't want to get pregnant right away (trying to lose the weight first). Maybe that's a question for another thread but I'm curious. I was on bc pills as a teen to regulate my periods and I gained sooo much weight. Is there any better method (patch, shot, whatever) other than a condom(lol)?

When I was 100 pounds heavier and all my life before now, my periods were so irregular. I could do like 6 months and not see one and then when I would have one, it would last close to 2 weeks and would be very heavy.

Since losing weight I get one each month (although it keeps pushing back later and later in the month for some reason) and it lasts 3 days and is gone..

I have never been that regular before! I know that being overweight can interfere with your cycles

I'm on BCP's and have not gained weight because of them - or had trouble losing while on them. I've been off and on the pill for about 12 years now. Mostly on. (Off just in the past 3 years when I wanted to get pg.) I think significant weight gain maybe that was a more common problem years ago - at least regarding BCP's?

I've heard bad things about Depo though. 2 of my friends gained 30+ pounds in the first year of starting it and have a hard time getting the weight off. It is "normal" for a high percentage of women to gain 5 pounds according to the manufacturers studies...

GL finding something that works for you.

I am on a very low dose of BCP, more for regularity than birth control for about 22 years. I have never had an issue losing weight or noticed anything unusual.

I'm on BCP so I've always been very regular and like DishyFishy, I can narrow it down to within a couple of hours.

I have noticed that since I started losing weight/exercising more that I've been having a little mid month spotting, but it's only happened a couple of times.

~Dee

Since exercsing my seem to be coming a week earlier!

Aha! We have an arrival (6 weeks this time). I'm not on BCP or anything like that, it just comes and goes as it sees fit. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed this won't be a long one because I have a half marathon to run on Sunday and I'd rather be TOM free!

Hmm. That's interesting. I'll have to ask my doctor about a low dose bcp. Have fun Sunday, Helen!

Another question, is anyone on birth control? I'm getting married in June and want to get on some form of bc as I don't want to get pregnant right away (trying to lose the weight first). Maybe that's a question for another thread but I'm curious. I was on bc pills as a teen to regulate my periods and I gained sooo much weight. Is there any better method (patch, shot, whatever) other than a condom(lol)?

I would avoid Depo provera if I were you. I wish I had known when I started the shot 5 years ago - unfortunately I was too irresponsible to remember to take a pill everyday. I have found it much more difficult to lose weight during the last 5 years than before I went on depo. I don't know how it contributes to the weight problem, but that is my personal experience with it. I am actually going to switch to Seasonale..... I haven't heard anything bad about that related to weight gain or loss.

Thanks for the warning, Buckett. I have heard bad things about depo. I have an appt. with my gyno in March, so I'll get the chance to discuss my options over with him.