Do You Burn More Calories During Your Period?
There are two types of women. There are those who have periods and there are those who don’t. Women with no periods usually don’t know what they’re missing out on since they aren’t menstruating at all! A woman’s body does not produce estrogen when she isn’t ovulating, so it would seem like they wouldn’t need to worry about burning any extra calories during their menstrual cycle either. However, some women do experience weight gain while they’re on their period.
The reason why this happens is because during the time between ovulation and menstruation, the levels of hormones in a woman’s system drop significantly. This means that a woman will actually lose water weight due to her body losing fluid. This loss of water causes the amount of fat stored in a woman’s body to increase. Since most women store fat around their hips, thighs, upper arms and stomach area, these areas tend to become much larger than normal during this time.
If you’re one of these women, then you may want to think twice before eating too much during your period. There’s a saying that goes “beer bellies are made in heaven,” since it is true that most men gain weight around their stomachs while they’re asleep. For women, however, it is common to store extra fat around the hips and thighs when they aren’t active during their periods.
On the flip side of the coin, some women actually notice a loss in weight during menstruation. The amount of weight lost during this time can range from as little as .25 pounds up to 4 or 5 pounds. This is because the body is still losing about as much fluid as it would during your normal period, even if it isn’t blood.
As a result, some women find that they are hungrier than usual and eat more or feel the need to snack more often.
The best way to combat any weight gain that may occur during your period is to continue with your normal diet and exercise routine. Since you may feel hungrier than usual, it is a good idea to have healthy snacks on hand. Fruits and vegetables make great diet foods since they contain the nutrients your body needs without adding too many calories. Dairy products, like low-fat cottage cheese and skim milk, are also good since they provide lots of protein and take a long time for the body to digest.
This keeps you feeling full for longer periods of time.
If you find yourself working out more than usual, that’s great! Try to keep up the good work since it will pay off in the long run. It is very possible for a woman to lose more weight during her period than any other time during the month. Every little bit helps, and all those trips to the bathroom will add up too!
Hopefully after reading this article you understand how your period can help with your weight loss goals. Remember, diet and exercise are the most important factors when it comes to losing weight. If you focus on these and keep up a good attitude, then you’ll be beach ready in no time!
Brianna is a professional writer from Maine who has been writing online for several years. She enjoys writing articles on many different topics and is excited to help share her knowledge and experiences with anyone who needs it. Outside of writing, when she isn’t working, she likes to spend time hiking with her dogs or just relaxing at home with friends and family.
Sources & references used in this article:
Fat Burn in the AM by T Venuto – cathe.com
Burn Body Fat With Morning Aerobic Exercise by T Venuto – howtobefit.com
AM Fat Burn: The Truth About Fast… by T Venuto – burnthefatinnercircle.com
High Intensity Interval Training Burns More Calories, in Half the Time, than Traditional Cardio Exercise by MW Fitness – michaelwoodfitness.com
How Many Calories? by JM Chewning – 2017 – waterinmotion.com
Interesting article… when to work out, HIIT, fat burn, etc. by T Venuto – cathe.com
The Seventeen guide to sex and your body by S Solin, SS Weill, P Elbirt-Bender – 1996 – books.google.com
