Strange weight loss pattern?

[Anonymous]

It’s the most bizarre thing.

Since I started serious back at the beginning of the year, I’ve been losing 2lb a month like clockwork, but only after my period.

So it goes like this: The week my period is over I feel thin and the scale drops to 155. I work out hard and eat consistently, and then it’s the week before my period. The scale is 156. I have my period. Then it’s the week after my period and I feel thin and the scale drops to 153. So on and so forth.

What happens that I maintain the weight the entire month only to lose it precisely after my period? I’m not complaining, it’s just weird.

[Anonymous]

I have this exact same pattern.

I've been working out and tracking calories for a year. I lose exactly 2lbs, 3-5 days after each period. It's like my body agreed that we didn't need the water weight it was carrying that month. I know the actual burn of calories happened every day, slow and steady.

[Anonymous]

You are both losing fat slowly all month and progressively carrying water weight leading up to your period and then dropping the water weight after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are both losing fat slowly all month and progressively carrying water weight leading up to your period and then dropping the water weight after.

This makes sense. But after half a year, why am I still holding on to water weight? I don’t eat a lot of salt and stay properly hydrated. Is it just hormones causing this and it’s completely out of my control?

[Anonymous]

Hormones are everything when it comes to weight and appetite.

[Anonymous]

This happens to me too - only I lose the weight a few days after I ovulate!

[Anonymous]

Progesterone causes many women to retain water. You know how your breasts get sore in the second half of your cycle? That's progesterone-related water retention. Progesterone builds right after ovulation and falls precipitously right before your period. What's happening is you are adding water then dropping it at your period.

If you track your resting heart rate, you will notice your RHR increases with progesterone then falls on or near day 1 of your cycle. Perimenopause seems to exacerbate all this.

Good for you for losing weight consistently. That's what matters!

[Anonymous]

Y'all. When can we finally admit that weight is so much more than food and exercise? It's absolutely hormonal. Why do you think menopausal women struggle so much more with their weight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y'all. When can we finally admit that weight is so much more than food and exercise? It's absolutely hormonal. Why do you think menopausal women struggle so much more with their weight?

We need more education on women’s hormones in this country. It’s crazy how little women know about their own bodies.