Chubby, bloated, feeling fat... period!

DollGirl

Any ladies out there the same, I gain 3-5lbs when my period is about to arrive, i hate it!

I get very bloated, no matter what I eat.

Just back from the gym, and feel worse, heavy, sluggish....

Anyone got any suggestions how to relieve my big belly?



*Mods feel free to remove/lock if there are lots of these threads, just point me in there direction, couldn't find any...

Lollipops23

aw nooo i hate that!ive heard of women who go up a whole bra size during their period. i'd say some gentle excercise and drink plenty of fluids(water or juice!)

GirlInterrupted

DollGirl wrote: »

Any ladies out there the same, I gain 3-5lbs when my period is about to arrive, i hate it!

I get very bloated, no matter what I eat.

Just back from the gym, and feel worse, heavy, sluggish....

Anyone got any suggestions how to relieve my big belly?



*Mods feel free to remove/lock if there are lots of these threads, just point me in there direction, couldn't find any...

Try cutting back on salt and carbs for the week beforehand. Poor you.:(

Lollipops23 wrote: »

aw nooo i hate that!ive heard of women who go up a whole bra size during their period. i'd say some gentle excercise and drink plenty of fluids(water or juice!)

I go up a cup size, and even the weight of the duvet can hurt me at times.

Plug-me-in

Argh, I have mine now and I'm trying to study for an exam tomorrow and my head is all over the place!!!!


And I get irrationally annoyed at everyone around me, mypoor boyfriend! Today I got pissed off 'cos he wanted to leave and let me study! Damn period messing with my mind.

DollGirl

Thanks ladies... I hear ya, my boyfriend bears the brunt of my fierce humor during these times... And similar to you, I had to suffer during exams too, tis tough

I'm paranoid cuz this day next month we'll be on hol's and I don't wanna look like a beached whale

I'll try the no carbs and no salt, although I do eat very little of both (they kill me, period or no period)

Mmmm juice, I'll stick up.... I'll keep hitting the gym so, though I measured my body fat today and its gone up 2% in 2 weeks.....

I'm SOOO jealous of boys!

sweet-rasmus

Oh God I identify! Yesterday was my day of irrational complaints and feeling rotten and I somehow agreed to drive 3 hours to Sligo with my boyfriend. He was warned, and coped well

I have no solution to feeling bloated and crap. I just eat food I love and accept that this is just an accompanying joy attached to being able to bear children

Lollipops23

DollGirl wrote: »

I'm SOOO jealous of boys!

aw!at least we don't have spontaneous erections to contend with:o

honestly,im so grateful that i get such an ok time of it; im on Mercilon so i get a light 3day period with only mildish cramping for the 1st day. I remember going off my old pill(microlite) for a break about 3 years ago, my period was so heavy and painful I almost fainted in work AND on a night out:eek: twas a horrid time,i really feel for you right now:(

save_our_socks

Im allergic to my period (Doctor used some fancy medical terms but in laymans terms said allergic)..... my body cannot deal with the hormonal change in my body so approximately a week before my period I get severe flu like symptoms for about 5 days, streaming nose, puffy eyes, scratchy throat, sweats, high temp etc.....this added to my 5lbs bloat and moodswings is just great!

Jules

*me hugs save our socks*

I mean this in the nicest possible, ya poor fecker! You win the shitty period stakes! Your monthly supply of Ben&Jerrys will be in the post!

save_our_socks

The only good thing about it, as my b/f puts it, is that we'll always know without a pregnancy test if I'm preggers!

pookie82

save_our_socks wrote: »

The only good thing about it, as my b/f puts it, is that we'll always know without a pregnancy test if I'm preggers!

I was just about to mention that.

Wait until the day you're terrified you're pregnant and it finally arrives 3 days late in all its crampy, bloated, nauseating glory. You'll revel in the unadulterated misery of it all.

Having said that, it's slim consolation for the 6000 or so you'll have to live through unwillingly.

GirlInterrupted

save_our_socks wrote: »

Im allergic to my period (Doctor used some fancy medical terms but in laymans terms said allergic)..... my body cannot deal with the hormonal change in my body so approximately a week before my period I get severe flu like symptoms for about 5 days, streaming nose, puffy eyes, scratchy throat, sweats, high temp etc.....this added to my 5lbs bloat and moodswings is just great!

You poor, poor, thing.:(

pookie82 wrote: »

I was just about to mention that.

Wait until the day you're terrified you're pregnant and it finally arrives 3 days late in all its crampy, bloated, nauseating glory. You'll revel in the unadulterated misery of it all.

Having said that, it's slim consolation for the 6000 or so you'll have to live through unwillingly.

Every cloud has a silver lining.:)

I really wish you didn't mention that figure though, its like facing Everest and having to reach the summit when you're dealing with something that sounds as insurmountable as 6000 periods!:)

pookie82

GirlInterrupted wrote: »

You poor, poor, thing.:(



Every cloud has a silver lining.:)

I really wish you didn't mention that figure though, its like facing Everest and having to reach the summit when you're dealing with something that sounds as insurmountable as 6000 periods!:)

I didn't research that, it was a guess.

I'm sure it's much closer to 8,000:D

pookie82

Wait, I just checked it out. It's loosely, on average, 500 per lifetime. Woo hoo!!

rainbow kirby

pookie82 wrote: »

Wait, I just checked it out. It's loosely, on average, 500 per lifetime. Woo hoo!!

500 too many tbh :mad:

To be perfectly honest, if I could do something now which would mean I'd never have another period I'd be very tempted to do it - especially because I have no intention of having children. I tend to get very depressed for the first 2-3 days, and usually on the first day my cramps are very nasty. My periods have gotten a whole lot worse over the last year. :eek::mad:

GirlInterrupted

pookie82 wrote: »

Wait, I just checked it out. It's loosely, on average, 500 per lifetime. Woo hoo!!

Gosh, I never thought I'd see the day when 500 periods sounded like good news!!!!!

8000? Scaremonger!:D
It only feels like 8000

pookie82

pookie82 wrote: »

I didn't research that, it was a guess.

I'm sure it's much closer to 8,000:D

rainbow kirby wrote: »

500 too many tbh :mad:

To be perfectly honest, if I could do something now which would mean I'd never have another period I'd be very tempted to do it - especially because I have no intention of having children. I tend to get very depressed for the first 2-3 days, and usually on the first day my cramps are very nasty. My periods have gotten a whole lot worse over the last year. :eek::mad:

Mine are unfortunately unbearable if left untreated (by that I mean if I'm not on the pill). Anytime I take a break from it i revisit the horror that is my "natural period". Cue 8 days plus of not being able to leave the house due to risk of complete haemorhage everywhere. I once had to stay after an exam until everyone else had left the room cos it had leaked everywhere :eek: Gross. They are such a curse. And to cap it all off the first time I plucked uo the courage to ask a male doctor about sorting them out he flicked through his medical book and told me that 7-8 days was "not unusual" according to the textbooks and I'd grow into them!!!!:rolleyes:

Plus I got mine at 10 years of age and I read somewhere recently that the younger you get them, the older you are when they go.:mad:

GirlInterrupted

pookie82 wrote: »

Mine are unfortunately unbearable if left untreated (by that I mean if I'm not on the pill). Anytime I take a break from it i revisit the horror that is my "natural period". Cue 8 days plus of not being able to leave the house due to risk of complete haemorhage everywhere. I once had to stay after an exam until everyone else had left the room cos it had leaked everywhere :eek: Gross. They are such a curse. And to cap it all off the first time I plucked uo the courage to ask a male doctor about sorting them out he flicked through his medical book and told me that 7-8 days was "not unusual" according to the textbooks and I'd grow into them!!!!:rolleyes:

Plus I got mine at 10 years of age and I read somewhere recently that the younger you get them, the older you are when they go.:mad:

Thats an absolute horror story.:eek: You poor thing.

I'm lucky in that I get a bit sore, tired and withdrawn, but no real trauma.
The last bit about the age thing is really bad news though.:(

pikachucheeks

Yikes, some people here have a nightmare of a time!

I just get very moody and emotional before it!

As for the weight gain, I hear that!
Horrible stuff.

My only suggestion is Bridget Jones pants! They hide many sins

mumof3angels

Never really was bothered by mine when I was younger ..........Then I had kids .......I am in so much pain for the 1st two days I can hardly(cant move) move. I live on a cocktail of painkillers ( dont want to say names dont know if I can ) So for all you young ladies out there things could get better.Cause if you are in pain now before kids it could get better after. Many of my friends that had maor pain before after they had kids it was not so bad. Just my luck that mine were good before ....
Hang in there all...

MadgeBadge

I think the only silver lining to having a period is it's kind of cute when you sync with close friends. I'm synchronised with my sister to lives abroad, and who I miss terribly. Oh, an fertility.

Apart from that they're crap.

jellie

MadgeBadge wrote: »

I think the only silver lining to having a period is it's kind of cute when you sync with close friends. I'm synchronised with my sister to lives abroad, and who I miss terribly. Oh, an fertility.

Apart from that they're crap.

cute? or a nightmare when you have 5 women in the same house all feeling crappy & moody? heh.

i found the pill helped my period pains but after i came off it i noticed how much less insane i was without it. (i usually got a bit emotional around the time but on the pill i think i may have actually been crazy).

i do feckin put on weight though ive been on a diet for ages, one month i put up 4.5lbs the week of my period! i was horrified.. it came off the next week but it was actually really upsetting to look at the scales & go WTF :eek: especially when you think you should be down weight!

CathyMoran

I only put on about 2lb but I have one of these pms reminders for my hubby. Otherwise apart from crying at the opening of a stamp and being a bit more firey I am fine. I get hives when I am ovulating...it took me years to work that out.

Maybe the OP could see what makes her feel the best before hand (and I do not mean the wonderful chocoolate).

winking weber

I dont mind periods at all (especially since I started using a mooncup. fab.).

Its the hormones I have all the time that drive me crazy! I'm 30 and my skin is still oily. De hormones rule us!

Mrs JackDaniels

Am I one of the few women that periods or hormones don't affect at all?
Even when I was pregnant I never felt hormonal!!

Am i a freak? or just lucky I cant decide

Lollipops23

MadgeBadge wrote: »

I think the only silver lining to having a period is it's kind of cute when you sync with close friends.

it was really weird but half the girls in my class would have theirs together and the other half would get it as soon as the first ones finished!!the poor boys couldn't do anything right:D

pretty annoyed about the whole "younger you are the longer you'll have them" thing...i got mine when I was 11:(

Puddleduck

Mrs JackDaniels wrote: »

Am I one of the few women that periods or hormones don't affect at all?
Even when I was pregnant I never felt hormonal!!

Am i a freak? or just lucky I cant decide

Youre just lucky. I dont suffer too badly from pain. Mine just burn my stomach. I do tend to freak out occasionally. When I cry the other half dosent react, then that makes it worse.

Sinall

I can easily go up a cup size before and for the first few days of my period. And none of my clothes fit!

I have found in recent months that taking Agnus Castus relieves the PMT symptoms, stops the bloating and prevents the temporary weight gain! I have to take it throughout the whole month though but I really find it excellent.

winking weber

I take agnus castus too. Its good stuff actually.

Khannie

I have a suggestion.

I've noticed that comfort eating and periods go hand in hand. If you normally eat healthily, then switch to eating sugary crap around your period then you're going to get bloated. I've experienced bloating because of this type of diet change a few times because I tend to eat crap for a few days after a fight (I'll have been dieting / anally watching what I eat to make fighting weight usually for a few weeks, so it's nice to splash out a bit after). Anyway, the bloat is shocking from this kind of change. To combat it, add a bit more fibre to your diet. On a recommendation from a lad in the fitness forum I use psyllium husks. One teaspoon mixed with a pint of water before breakfast would do the trick. You can get them in any health food store.

Not sure if it'll help, but it certainly can't do any harm.

DollGirl

Thanks ladies! Some great suggestions, I'll def be taking them on board, especially before my hol's!!

I used to pass out a lot, in school, the teachers would often find me passed out in the cubicle. I was asked to stay at home on the first day of my period, I guess for there own insurance reasons.

Its just as I've gotten older, I'm just getting bigger during it, very rarely pass out now, thank god!

I'm glad (No offence ladies) that others gain weight too, I'm not alone! I began to wonder was it just me actually gaining weight, but it'll go away next week (fingers crossed everytime tho.... Just in case!

DollGirl

Sinall wrote: »

I have found in recent months that taking Agnus Castus relieves the PMT symptoms, stops the bloating and prevents the temporary weight gain! I have to take it throughout the whole month though but I really find it excellent.

Can't take if on the pill :mad:

Sinall

Didn't know that, sorry! Have been off the pill for 2 years now.

g'em

Khannie wrote: »

I have a suggestion.

It's a great suggestion...

... but the best intentions in the world tend to go by the wayside when you're two days out from a uterine massacre.

I'm expecting mine tomorrow. I ate most of a tub of Ben and Jerry's last night, polished off the end of a box of Butler's chocolates, and today I'm sitting here typing this with a super-ginormous-mega-sized full-fat chai latte and the crumbs of a family sized chocolate chip cookie on my desk. All of the above are in no way shape or form good for me, but a) as much of a cop-out as it sounds, hormones really can do weird things to my sanity for two days a month and b) I'm in the gym tonight and tend to use my frustration and malaise to fuel hyper-aggressive workouts.

You're right though, proper diet control can go a long way towards controlling bloating and discomfort. Meh, I'll have no problem trying psyllium husk... as long as it's covered in chocolate chips and fudge sauce

jellie

g'em wrote: »

I'm expecting mine tomorrow. I ate most of a tub of Ben and Jerry's last night, polished off the end of a box of Butler's chocolates, and today I'm sitting here typing this with a super-ginormous-mega-sized full-fat chai latte and the crumbs of a family sized chocolate chip cookie on my desk. All of the above are in no way shape or form good for me, but a) as much of a cop-out as it sounds, hormones really can do weird things to my sanity for two days a month and b) I'm in the gym tonight and tend to use my frustration and malaise to fuel hyper-aggressive workouts.

You're right though, proper diet control can go a long way towards controlling bloating and discomfort. Meh, I'll have no problem trying psyllium husk... as long as it's covered in chocolate chips and fudge sauce

me too.. & now im craving chocolate, icecream, and cookies.. DAMN YOU G'EM!

Sinall

g'em wrote: »

It's a great suggestion...

I ate most of a tub of Ben and Jerry's last night, polished off the end of a box of Butler's chocolates, and today I'm sitting here typing this with a super-ginormous-mega-sized full-fat chai latte and the crumbs of a family sized chocolate chip cookie on my desk.

I'm so jealous! Just found myself wondering where is nearest place to my office that I can find Ben & Jerrys!

g'em

sar84 wrote: »

me too.. & now im craving chocolate, icecream, and cookies.. DAMN YOU G'EM!

Sinall wrote: »

I'm so jealous! Just found myself wondering where is nearest place to my office that I can find Ben & Jerrys!

lol The gas thing is, we KNOW it won't make us feel better, in fact it'll almost certainly make you feel like toss. But I guess it's a release to give in to the cravings (low progesterone and high oestrogen levels lead to low blood sugar and increase carbohydrate cravings), and (for me anyway) it's one time of the month that I allow myself to take it a little easy and let the discipline slack a bit. For the other 28-odd days I carb-count, watch my fats, get regular protein, cut back on alcohol yadda yadda yadda but my temporary insanity and culinary indulgence helps maintain regular sanity for my period-free days.

I feel rather rotund and wobbly today as a result of my ice-cream feasting, but I suppose I have the ol' totm excuse to convince myself it's just excess fluids causing my roundness

Wibbs

g'em wrote: »

Meh, I'll have no problem trying psyllium husk... as long as it's covered in chocolate chips and fudge sauce

Dead right too. Choccy is good for you. That's my take and I'm sticking to it. Well the dark stuff really is IIRC it has one of the love chemicals in it. Can't hurt.

Genuine question BTW does the weight lifting help? In the physical sense I mean. All the extra growth hormone and test that comes with it? I've known exes who were more into the cardio exercise and it didn't so much. In one case not at all.

g'em

Wibbs wrote: »

Choccy is good for you. That's my take and I'm sticking to it. Well the dark stuff really is IIRC it has one of the love chemicals in it. Can't hurt.

Dark chocolate does have high quantities of antioxidants in it (way more than strawberries apparently) and it stimulates serotonin release. You have to eat the 70% or more cocoa stuff and in significantly less quantities than I gorge on to see these benefits not being outweighed by the negatives though

Wibbs wrote:

Genuine question BTW does the weight lifting help? In the physical sense I mean. All the extra growth hormone and test that comes with it? I've known exes who were more into the cardio exercise and it didn't so much. In one case not at all.

I can't say there's any huge benefits tbh. The ol' brick ballet does give me an outlet to vent the PMS rage alright, but I couldn't honestly say that my hormones are any better/ worse off as a result of it around my period.

Malari

Good grief! :eek:

I had no idea people suffered this much from periods. I mean my friends have said to me that they are not feeling great, period trouble, etc probably thinking I knew what they were talking about, but don't really go into detail. I didn't know it could be that bad.

I get vague stomach cramps maybe twice a year with periods. No other physical or emotional side-effects, ever. I didn't know I was this lucky. Maybe more sympathy for my friends' suffering is required in future!

shellyboo

Malari wrote: »

Good grief! :eek:

I had no idea people suffered this much from periods. I mean my friends have said to me that they are not feeling great, period trouble, etc probably thinking I knew what they were talking about, but don't really go into detail. I didn't know it could be that bad.

I get vague stomach cramps maybe twice a year with periods. No other physical or emotional side-effects, ever. I didn't know I was this lucky. Maybe more sympathy for my friends' suffering is required in future!

I used to be like that too! I didn't suffer at all with periods and used to think my mates were just being moany cows

But in recent years, I've been having more and more trouble with them, almost to the point where they're quite debilitating. I've to go around strapped to a hot water bottle for the best part of a week! It's the back pain and stiffness that gets to me the most, and the really bad, breath-taking cramps. Not nice!

Lollipops23

as i said before i've always been very lucky, in that i suffer minimally(bit of cramps,tired and cry at the drop of a hat!) but it really hit home how bad some people have it when one of my best mates used to vomit for her whole period!!the poor chicken had a really awful time, but her mum wouldn't let her go on the pill(we were 17). eventually I convinced her to do it behind her back and my mate has never looked back since!

Malari

shellyboo wrote: »

I used to be like that too! I didn't suffer at all with periods and used to think my mates were just being moany cows

So did I.

shellyboo wrote: »

But in recent years, I've been having more and more trouble with them, almost to the point where they're quite debilitating. I've to go around strapped to a hot water bottle for the best part of a week! It's the back pain and stiffness that gets to me the most, and the really bad, breath-taking cramps. Not nice!

Uh-oh.

heavymetalrock

i know how u feel pet, i going thought the same thing at the moment, i have pains all over and all i want to do is stay in my pj and eat chocolate i cant sleep as well, hate having my period, i go thought 2 packs of pain killers when i have mind. lads have it so easy don't they.

maidie

Great to hear others experiences, I also put on a good 4Lbs and look like the michelin woman, i get weeepy and crave sugary type carbohydrates, i could win a competition with all I can eat the week before and during my period. I cry looking at the TV, even if there is nothing sad on, It could be a happy programme, that usually makes me worse, but the Clumsiness has to be the worst, dropping the same thing 4 times, walking into doors and tripping over my own feet...The list is endless. I also burst out of my bras and i get spots along my jawline(this is relatively new) The big problem is I have these symptoms from a good week before until every last sign of period is gone and that usually lasts 7 days...But at least i know I'm not pregnant.:)

gra26

I think a trip to the shops in the morning to stock up on chocolate for tomorrow evening for myself is called for. Just so I don't kill anyone though. So really it's for everyone elses health and protection that I need to eat my weight in chocolate.

midlandsmissus

God I HATE periods.

They were always painful for me, but last year they reched a peak, where I was in work one morning, had a really important meeting, got my period, and had to leave cuz of the pain.

I was in the office toilet rolling round the floor in agony, honest to god the pain was so bad, I had excruciating pains in my stomach and all down my thighs. Im cringing now thinking of it. I said thats the final straw went back to the doc, had a different one before who fobbed me off and said I had to put up with it. Managed to get sorted out now and its such a blessing to be painfree!

I've just had the bad luck of the draw. I have pain every time at the start of sex aswell as I have vestibulodynia, where the nerves are too prominent - causing pain.

Still Im keeping the head up!

Ash_M

Mine totally suck.
The days beforehand consist of eating enough to feed a small family, and snapping at anyone who breathes wrong.
Then the main event rolls around, and apart from cramps, the boobs hurt something wicked. Hurts thinking about it
Not to mention the depression from the scales...

I love not being on it. Best 3 out of 4 weeks ever!

zoey

I used to have bad cramps and feel faint and would get REALLY emotional before I started using the nuva ring. Since then they have got lighter, very little change in my moods these days and less cramps- usually only have them on the first day! Fingers crossed it stays like this!

sam34

looks like im one of the lucky ones- mine can be heavy but i never get pain, and never get moody/emotional.

allabouteve

I become a psychopath.

I break stuff, accidentally and on purpose, I've kicked alarm clocks across the room, kicked the phone up and down the hall, then drop-kicked it out the window. I've been epically rude to hapless Jehovah's Witnesses who called at the very moment I'd reached critical mass.

Actually, I'm so acutely aware of these leanings that I'll isolate myself if I think my control is shaky, and (other than the JW's, lets face it, they deserve it!) I've never taken it out on another person.