Remember how I was working out like a mad woman... and how I was loving (just about) every minute of it? Well, all good things must come to an end. First, I got an upper respiratory infection in the beginning of February that I just couldn't kick. I'd start to feel a bit better only to feel like hell only a day or two later. Then Valentine's Day came but my period didn't. I kept working out and wound up going what I can only describe as bat shit crazy. I became a bottomless pit of food- all food. After making veal cordon bleu for Valentine's day, I proceeded to eat it like a sandwich for the next few days (as in, I cut a veal cutlet in half and chomped into it until it was gone). I also ate cookies, brownies, the raw filling for key lime pie- minus the yolk- and on and on. For about two weeks I just couldn't control myself. My body was out of control. I was also exhausted! My weight was a mess, and I gained 4-5 lbs in days. For the record, I was not pregnant.
I spoke with some of my gym girlfriends prior to my trip home, and they all implored me to go to the doctor. I wound up going to my gyno last Tuesday and explained my situation: that I hadn't had my period since January but wasn't pregnant and that I increased my workouts significantly in January and February. She felt that I probably stressed my body too much this year. Because ovulation is not a necessary bodily function, your body (or my body in this situation) can decide not to ovulate if it senses more stress than it likes. In my case, my weight loss and excess exercise could have caused this stress. She ran some blood work, and all of the tests came back fine. Now for the fun part. I have to take 10 days of pills to try to jump start my period. After I take the pills, it is anyone's guess when my period might come. So now it is like being 14 years old all over again.
I guess the moral of the story is that moderation is key to just about everything. I will continue to work out 6 days a week (except for when I am traveling) but will limit my workouts to no more than 2ish hours a day. Most days I will stop at the 90 minute mark. I will also vary my routine so that I am not always working out at such a high level. I love the workouts, but I have actually stalled my weight loss by doing too much. My body knew something was up and did everything it could to get me back on track. Now I just need to rely on modern medicine to do the last little bit. Fun times!
6 comments:
Wow! First of all, I have to say that I'm impressed that you were working out at a level that this even became an issue...that is an NSV (a strange one, but an NSV nonetheless). Secondly, I have had to have periods medically induced before...the medications do work but since it has been a couple of months you need to expect worse than normal cramps and a heavier flow (which I'm sure your doctor told you about). I think you have a good plan going forward and now that you know that your body can react this way you will be more "on top" of it.
"I will continue to work out 6 days a week (except for when I am traveling) but will limit my workouts to no more than 2ish hours a day."
That is moderation? Wowsers. I hope you get better soon.
Moderation is definitely key.
Hope you get back your balance. Hormones are funny things and when we lose weight (as well as exercise) all the estrogen that has been sitting happily in our fat cells is released. Screws up the best of us, even me who is well into menopause. Eventually your body will adjust.
When I was working out at my best, my period did the opposite - came on for 3 weeks without a break. It's been wonky ever since. Good luck getting back on a healthy track. :)
Hope you get everything sorted soon. xoxo
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