Premenstrual Phase & Weight Loss

It's your first day of periods, and you don't have the energy to do anything. You feel tired and exhausted. All you want to do is lay down on that sofa and munch on your favorite snack all day.

Well, you are not alone; it is normal to feel that way during your menstruation.

Even most women feel that way during their periods. We surveyed different women to learn about their menstrual cycle and its impact on their health and weight loss journey. And you won't believe what most of the women had to say.

More than half of women feel hungrier during their periods, and they report weight fluctuation. The other half reported that they experience more fatigue and irritability during this time of the month.

So, if you are also experiencing such symptoms, we are here to help you. So, let's get into why these symptoms occur and what you can do about these.

What is the Premenstrual Phase?

Remember the two key phases of menstrual cycle? The premenstrual phase is a six-day timeframe starting 3 days before your period and ending three day after your period starts.

This phase has a big impact on your physical health and weight loss. That's why it is important to focus on this time frame and get some practical recommendations.

Symptoms

The best way to understand your cycle and get to know its impact on your weight loss journey is by keeping track of your symptoms. But The first thing that you need to know is that everyone's symptoms are unique- the timing and symptoms are different for each woman and some women even don't experience any symptoms at all.

Here are some of the common symptoms that you may experience during your cycle:

Physical symptoms

When your body is in your menstrual cycle, hormonal changes can affect its metabolism, water retention, energy and many more. Which result in various physical symptoms like indigestion, bloating, cramps, change in appetite, weight fluctuation, headaches, and low energy.

Psychological changes

Impact on weight loss:

Instead of all of those physical and psychological symptoms, these hormonal changes can also result in some weight gain by increasing water retention. That is because of the sudden decrease of estrogen and progesterone levels at the start of the premenstrual phase. The fluctuation of these hormones causes your body tissues to accumulate more water to compensate for the blood loss which results in water retention.

Studies have shown that water retention is a common Premenstrual symptom that affects 92% of menstruating women.

Other symptoms like cravings, change of appetite, overeating, bloating, and digestive issues can also contribute to weight gain during your periods.

However, it is possible to reduce water retention and bloating with certain lifestyle changes and adopting healthy habits. By practicing some healthy habits throughout the month, you can even prevent all of the physical and psychological symptoms you have been experiencing.

Final Words

The premenstrual phase of your menstrual cycle can be challenging sometimes, as it can result in various physical and psychological symptoms, including weight gain. These symptoms can be due to hormonal changes your body is going through.

But don't worry—you are not alone. Every other woman experiences such symptoms. And there are a lot of things you can do to reduce those symptoms.

We will share certain habits and lifestyle changes in other lessons, which will not only help you have a healthy cycle but also help to lose weight and stay healthy.