While many people don't notice any bloating or weight gain at all, others might gain as much as 5 pounds. Usually, this gain happens during the premenstrual, or luteal phase, and the person loses the weight again once the next period begins.
It's normal to gain three to five pounds before your period, and this weight gain usually goes away a few days after your period starts. Understand your symptoms and get to know what's linked to PMS and your cycle in the PMS chatbot.
Most women notice the weight gain a few days before their period starts, but fear not; period weight gain caused by water retention usually improves or resolves about three to five days after your period starts, Dr. Langan says.
Weight gain is a common symptom of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), occurring in the week or two before menstruation. Up to a few pounds may be gained during this time, but this extra weight is shed as soon as menstrual bleeding begins. This symptom is experienced by most menstruating women, whether or not troubled by PMS.
Avoid Weighing Yourself a Week Before or During Your Period
This is due to hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which rapidly decrease a few days before your period starts. They usually regulate fluids, which tend to cause water retention and sugar cravings.
When you are done with your menses, bloating tends to reduce, mainly because of reduced hormonal fluctuation. Similarly, you also get to shed a few pounds because you have reduced cravings for fatty foods, resulting in added bloating.
Don't worry—assuming the weight gain is just temporary water retention, your weight should return to normal soon. “Water weight usually goes away about three to five days after your period starts,” says Dr. Landry.
On the plus side, when you're actively bleeding, your body is sloughing off the uterine lining and preparing for a fresh cycle. As the days go on, hunger and cravings dissipate, you lose the bloat (and any excess pounds). In fact, you're at the lowest weight of the month right after you stop bleeding.
Some women gain more than others. You can expect to gain 500 grams to 1.5 kilos of weight when you are bleeding. In case you think you are gaining a lot of weight, then speak to your doctor regarding this. It can be due to endocrine or kidney related issues.
Because of the hormonal fluctuations and water retention, one experiences a change in how they feel hungry and how much they want to eat. A change in the appetite occurs during the entire course of the menstruation because of which girls experience a weight loss.
Just before your period begins your oestrogen levels drop and this can make your body retain more water. As a result, bloating, followed by a slight weight gain in some cases, can become noticeable.
For one, you don't burn more calories on your period, contrary to some locker room chatter. If anything, Sims says you burn slightly more calories when your hormones are higher (known as the post-ovulation luteal phase) because your heart rate, respiratory rate, and core temperature increase.
The menstrual cycle does not directly impact weight loss or gain, but there may be some secondary connections. On the list of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms are changes in appetite and food cravings, and that can affect weight.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of symptoms that many women get about a week or two before their period. Most women, over 90%, say they get some premenstrual symptoms, such as bloating, headaches, and moodiness.
It's water retention. That's exactly why you see a sudden surge in your weight during that period. The good news is that it's temporary, and vanishes once you are through with your cycle.
But don't worry, it is completely normal for weight fluctuation during your period and it is usually not anything to worry about. It is also not permanent weight gain. You will usually gain weight in the couple of days before your period begins and then this will start to drop off over the first few days of bleeding.
The process of water retention often leads to swelling or puffiness in your breasts and stomach. So, the weight gain during the period is basically water and not fat. As soon as you are done with your 5 days, the level of hormones comes back to normal and you lose all the gained weight.
Periods can last anything between 4 and 8 days, but usually last for about 5 days. The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days – but everyone is different.
Being overweight or obese
The excess oestrogen can affect how often you have periods, and can also cause your periods to stop. Your GP may refer you to a dietitian if you have a BMI of 30 or more, and it's affecting your periods. The dietitian will be able to advise you about losing weight safely.
A recent study showed regular cycling may enhance overall fat loss and promote a healthy weight. To reduce overall belly girth, moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, such as cycling (either indoor or outdoor), are effective to lower belly fat.
If you weigh yourself during your menstrual period, there are chances that the result may be higher than your actual weight. It is often normal to gain around 3-5 lbs just before period. You will lose this weight in a week following the menses.
It turns out our bodies require 100 – 300 more calories during our luteal phase (the week before our period is due). This is because our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR – the number of daily calories needed to stay alive) during this time increases by 10-20%.
Coupled with pre-menstrual symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, exercise is likely to seem harder than usual, so it's not a time to be smashing your goals. At this time your metabolism peaks (an increase by 5-10% from the lowest point one week before ovulation), and so can your appetite.
A research study published in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society says that women have a slightly higher Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR or the rate at which your body burns energy when it is at total rest) in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.