TOM was always right on for me, but this month I was to get it on Sunday it didn't come until Tuesday with light spotting, today was to be my last day and its heavier now then it has been all week. I was a little scared about it being just spotting but wanted to know if dieting effects TOM?
That's an interesting question. It has never had any effect on mine, but I have read on here that some South Beach dieters and Atkins, who are eating low carb, have had their periods affected by what they were eating. Are you eating low carb? I don't know why that would affect it, but I have seen it mentioned in several threads.
- my cycle has shortened from ~34 to 30 days, and has become a lot more predictable
- flow has become noticeably lighter
- PMS symptoms have lessened considerably
- post-period fatigue has gotten worse
...I think that for me, eating less processed food, sugar and fat has something to do with it, as well as cutting out meat and milk almost entirely. The only annoying thing is the extreme fatigue, really - but working out, napping and upping my calories a bit usually helps with that. I'll also have to be better with taking my supplements again to get my B-Vitamins and iron and will bring it up at my doctor's visit next month...
I surely surely hope so. Mine usually lasts 6 days, the first three days being the worst.
Last month I had three days of extremely light barely there spotting.
This month I've had normal flow for three WEEKS, and two days so far!
But the good news is - normally, the first two days I'm living on the bathroom floor throwing up from such severe craps- and the last several months I've had no cramps at all (even before the weird periods).
Someone posted in the SBD weird periods thread that fat holds estrogen, so when you burn the fat, extra estrogen is released, and your body is balancing that out. I'm hoping this is the case. I'll give my body a little while longer to figure itself out - nothing seems to be wrong besides the prolonged period, but if it gets worse I'll go in.
It has affected it for me, certainly. The first time I spotted mid-cycle I freaked out, was crazy upset (thinking I was pregnant, my only son right now is good for me - no babies) and ran to the ob-gyn.
It's changed in that I now spot mid-cycle, my periods start off slower, and the cycle has gotten a wee bit longer. I was told that's all normal when losing a ton of weight.
I've always had a regular 28-day schedule, 5 days bleeding, etc. Dieting and weightloss haven't changed this in any way that I've noticed. My schedule has readjusted itself over time, though, depending on who I was spending them with, etc. I've noticed my cycle changing to "align" with the women I'm around frequently (which is very cool, imo).
I think I just notice my PMS/pre-TOM bloating more now than I did at my heaviest (bc then I was ALWAYS bloated and feeling gross, so I never noticed).
Location: Im in Spain but Im English, have lived in Spain for 15 years
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I also spot in between periods, usually 2 weeks after I have finished my period, not every month but it occasionaly happens. My periods have become less painful and they last less than before.
i hate to say it, but, mine have gotten bad...........for the longest time i quit having periods all together, (doctor said i stopped ovulating because of my weight) but they are baaaaackkkk with a vengeance, very painful and last 6 to 7 days, and i'm usually down for the first 2. sucks.
I think it definitely effects them. Not sure with mine because sometimes its very regular and then sometimes its up or down a few days. I have also had O bleeding for the first time in the last 2 months. VERY weird. But anyway, SBD especially is known for changing it, regulating it, or causing it to start early or late. One of the girls on SBF got her period to regulate after starting SBD and had her first baby last fall. Its definitely good for that!
Mine has changed in very positive ways, due to good nutrition. I am having easier PMS symptoms, much reduced cramping, acne that I used to get before my period is gone, etc. Most if this is directly related to the quality of the food I'm eating, and not just that I'm losing weight. (I haven't even lost that much already, but symptoms are extremely improved.)
Mine is what I would call a "normal" period now, after years of 7 or 8 days of heavy bleeding, extremely shorty cycles (about 15 to 17 days), cramps, psycotic mood swings and extreme bloating (common to gain 7-9 pounds over night). I was on The Pill to help regulate it, the only thing that did was make it more perdictable. In January my co pay went up and since my tubes are tied anyhow I went off the pill that is also when I started dieting. I didn't have a period until April, but now have had 3 days of flow 2 days of spotting, nearly no cramping, minimal bloating, level moods and ONE period Each Month since April. I HOPE it stays this way!!!
I have noticed that since I started this journey 3 months ago, mine start much more slowly-- like very very light for about 4 days and then the flow is normal until it ends- lasting a total of 9-10 DAYS! it was never like this before-- it usually lasted about 7 days and the second and third day were heavy...
I also seem to hold onto water weight before and after my period, ugh, for about a total of 2 weeks-- then, all of a sudden, my body drops it.
It's pretty odd.
Last edited by clibrarian; 06-20-2008 at 02:38 PM.
oh yes! I can attest to TOM problems while on atkins a few years ago and then on SBD recently! My normal 7 day flow went into 4 1/2 weeks!!!! So I had to stop the diet, and the weird thing was the moment I stopped the diet, within 24 hrs TOM was gone! So I'm wondering if it has more to do with that type of diet. I know SBD isn't low carb and atkins is so I can see why atkins messed me up so I'm in the dark on SBD and why I reacted the same to it, but it doesn't matter. I'm just trying something new now and trying to stay away from any diets that are too strict, etc
I have also noticed mid cycle spotting. I am a calorie counter and not on SB. I just thought age(44) was catching up with me...hopefully TOM wont be around for many more years. I have also notice I start off heavier now and then it just kinda stops...It has gotten much shorter. I was told by my med dr that loosing a large amount of weight in your 40s can even bring on early menapause. That would be fine with me!!!!! I have also noticed my water weight gain is less now than it use to be. Cramping is still bad on the heaviest day.
debi
Does dieting effect TOM?
