[yoyoma]

I believe that the foods you choose to eat will affect TOM timing and heaviness (esp soy products) as well as your exercise and your body fat percentage (due to hormone levels). Also, some food choices (such as salt levels) will directly affect the symptoms (such as bloating). In my personal experience, recently my periods have been less difficult (crampiness reduced).

Another factor to consider, though, is that women reaching peri-menopause have a tendency to start gaining more weight in the midsection. That gain may trigger them to diet as well as affect TOM on its own. So there could be a perception of diet having more of an effect on TOM than it actually does.

[DMNewman]

Thanks for all of the responses. TOM was a bit of spotting then like a regular period but with BRIGHT red bleeding, this has never happened to me before so I googled and I guess it can be normal?

[yoyoma]

Just a guess, but did you start taking any supplements containing iron when you went on a diet (not at all a bad idea to take supplements IMO). If that is the case, you might have had an iron deficiency that you corrected. That could have led to a brighter color.

[DMNewman]

I haven't taken any vitamins or anything different. I eat a lot better of course lol I NEVER liked fruits but these days I am choking them down and I think I might start liking them lol I've been having veggies more and trying to stay away from breads etc.

[didjaever]

With my weight lose has come 3 days of barely there TOM... very light spotting...

[Horo]

Before dieting, my period lasted only three days, and on the first I always had horrible horrible, oh-damn-I'm going to die cramps and extreme nausea.
Now, I've noticed that my periods are longer (about 6 days) however the cramps/nausea aren't nearly as bad as they used to be.

Whatever reason, I'll gladly take the trade off of longer periods for lessened cramps.

~Rina

[grneyedmustang]

I noticed that since I've been dieting it was LONGER. I was wondering when it was going to go away!!! It's usually 3 days, tops. This month it was 6.