Periods and calories

[Sneezygumbo]

I've been dieting for years. I noticed that when I have prolonged periods of eating low calories (was 1400, now 1200) my periods stop. Usually this is the long weight loss stretch after Christmas so maybe Feb-May. This year it's continued and I've only had a couple all year.

I've just been on holiday, one where I couldn't count calories (a hotel) and I've not actually weighed yet. Which is amazing for me as usually I'm straight on the scales. I know I've put on a wedge though. However, obviously my body is trying to tell me something, so I was going to try eating more. However I feel a bit stupid as I'm not underweight, can my low calories be causing this even though I'm a healthy weight? I know the simple thing would be to go to the doctors but I'm just really embarrassed and scared.

How much do you weigh?
Do you have a history of eating disorders?
Do you have any other medical history, pcos, thyroid disorders etc.

A normal healthy adult female can undergo a few months of limited calorie intake and still menstruate as normal because the sex hormones are stored in fat cells. More fat cells, the more reserves.

For someone with very low body fat, a few weeks of calorie restricting can and will stop menstruation.

I usually weigh between 8.5 and 9 stone. I'm 5 foot 7.

No history of ED as a teenager or anything but I can be a bit obssessive now as an adult but I'm working on that. No to other conditions. I did start my periods late though (almost 16) and they've always been quite horrible, especially as a teenager.

I wouldn't have thought I have a particularly low level of body fat - certainly not on my thighs!!

Why are you restricting your calories so aggressively when you are a healthy weight?

Because I gain weight on holiday or special occasions and then have to restrict loads to get back. I know it's a terrible cycle but I'm stuck as I gain weight so easily. Some people carry weight differently so I have to stay towards the lower end as otherwise I look very plump, very quickly!

You're eating way too low for your height and weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 8st and eat 1700 cals.

If your periods are stopping your body is calling out to you to nourish it more. Stick to 1500 or so perhaps, and if needed then up your activity levels instead.

You could calculate your TDEE etc to accurately figure out the calories you need. But this would your body trying to tell you something, please listen 😊

If your periods stop when you drop calories your body is telling you something.

It's worth getting checked out to see if anything else is going on, and perhaps for support with your relationship with food- talk of restricting around big events does sound a bit disordered.

My dd has an ED abs her periods stopped when she was around 8st 7lb, she's around the same height as you.

It's definitely a sign you're not eating enough and your weight has gone too low.

As women we are meant to have a some fat around our stomach- this is normal.

If I were you I'd ditch the scales and aim to feel body confident, restricting calories to this extent is obsessive and unhealthy.

Thank you for the advice everyone and a bit if a wake-up call.

I usually gain between half and a full stone per holiday (week) or at Christmas so I spend so much time trying to get rid of it. I probably spend 45 weeks a year on a strict diet so I can splurge. I do make sure that my calories are nutritious ones though.

Most of that is probably water weight that would settle out over time. You would likely still lose that weight, maybe a little slower, with less drastic measures.

Could you maybe not be more levelled out in general rather than what sounds a bit like some form of binge & restricting? Remember how many additional calories it takes to gain one pound of fat, unless you are going absolutely ham at the buffet, I doubt what you're gaining is purely fat.

I know it can be hard though, I too have struggled with disordered eating habits.

I'm glad it's made you think, restricting food to this extreme is not healthy or necessary.

Even if you gain a stone you're still going to be at a healthy weight, I'm 5ft 7 and my healthy weight is around 9.5-10 stone.