Help please!A ? for the women,hormones?

[Zara26]

Hello, I have been lurking for a while but really need help! I just completed my fourth week of Atkins and am on extended induction since I have 108lbs to loose. I lost 9lbs the first week, 4lbs the second week, 3lbs the third week and 2lbs this past week. I expected the slow down, no problem, I'm just happy that it's working. Here's the issue.....

I had my period for the first 3 weeks I was on Atkins! It wasn't due for 2 weeks when I started induction, but by the 3rd day I was spotting. So it's lasted until last Tues. and I had felt fantastic that whole time. Then Aunt Flo vanished and I have felt like crap since then Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? I am thinking about calling my doc on Mon, but I don't understand it at all, I don't even know which doc I would call....Not sure if it's related to the diet - but that is what I'm assuming as nothing else has changed and I'm always pretty regular Anyone have any insight or heard of something like this? I am sooooooo tired and just feel wiped out! Don't want to exercise and when I do I feel like I'm dragging myself. Somethings gotta give, I almost feel depressed - but I felt so great up until last Wed. when it stopped, and really, I can't think of anything else that changed! I increased my water intake from 64oz to about 80ish, I take a multi vitamin..... Thanks in advance for any help!

[Desertthorn]

Re: Help please!A ? for the women,hormones?

Don't ask me to explain it because I don't know why, but when you burn fat, you burn estrogen causing all sorts of problems. Try a couple more days and see how you feel

[EverLosing]

Re: Help please!A ? for the women,hormones?

I'm sorry there are no hard and fast answers on this. I actually stopped doing Atkins once after I don't know how many weeks of the same issue. I do not encourage that! I'd be at goal now if I hadn't stopped. It was years ago! I would encourage you, however, to keep doing what you're doing. Estrogen goes crazy in the beginning with this WOE. I can tell you many women who have low carbed have experienced the same thing. Google it. The good news is it does get better with time. It may even completely turn around for you and you may find your aunt flo has moved across the country. There has been no 28 cycle for me since I started, if I remember correctly. I just have to pay attention to my body now and PMS symptoms.

One tip I can swear by is, with a weight loss goal of over 100 pounds, you need to be drinking waaaaaay more water. I found the best way for me to train myself to do it was removing any other alternatives in the house. I've been a little bad in that department lately but I know it's held me back. Are you drinking anything else besides water? Maybe you can shoot for getting in at least 64 ounces by noon. That makes it easier to get the next 64 in by evening. I drop weight much faster when I get in over 100 ounces per day. It's just one of the magic requirements of Atkins. It works!

I don't know if I'd call the doctor. I didn't because I researched it on the internet and I knew it was my new way of eating that did it. I knew it from my previous experience. I don't want to discourage you if you should need to check in with a doc, I would just hate for them to discourage a low carb diet. Don't let this issue allow you to stop doing what's best for you in the long run. I know it's discouraging to deal with the energy loss and the other problem, but remember, this is very likely a temporary thing! Hang in there and keep posting! Great job on the losses so far! Many more await you!!

[msanjelpie]

Re: Help please!A ? for the women,hormones?

Megan... What ever became of you? Are you still on the diet? Did you ever see a doctor? Did the problem go away on its own?