It’s almost a year since we’ve had a new release in the widely popular Candy Crush series, and since then the makers of the game have kept us waiting with tantalizing teasers and hints about the future of the popular franchise. So, given that this is Women’s Day, and that the period-related word “period” keeps appearing in these teasers and hints, it seems like the perfect time to revisit this matter and try to get to the bottom of whether or not your menstrual cycle has something to do with your weight. The answer is, sort of…
The Link Between Your Menstrual Cycles And The Weight You Gain
It is well-established that pregnancy and childbirth are associated with weight gain. During these times, the body processes change as the hormones fluctuate, and it is not uncommon for women to put on some extra kilos as a result. However, despite this extra weight, it is not necessarily the case that women will experience a visible effect from the increased levels of circulating hormones – especially during the postpartum period, when the body is attempting to restore normalcy and balance after giving birth. This is when you’ll notice that even though you’ve put on a lot of weight due to the pregnancy, it doesn’t seem to be keeping you in any way accountable for your actions.
While it is true that your menstrual cycle can have an effect on the weight you gain, this is more often than not temporary. More often than not, women will put on weight during their menstrual cycles due to increased appetite and reduced energy levels, and this weight will then be quickly shed once the cycle is over. In fact, in some cases, women can end up losing weight during their periods, only to put it on again once the bleeding stops. This is presumably because when the bleeding stops, the body’s core temperature begins to rise, and the energy levels start to return to normal. While this might not be something you want to experience, it does indicate that your menstrual cycle is tied to your weight in an oblique way.
Does A Periodic Eating Pattern Make You Fat?
Eating patterns are often tied to our body’s internal clocks, and it is well-established that some people are more prone to eating certain foods at certain times of the day, simply because that is when their bodies are in the mood for it. This is known as an “eating pattern”, and it can have a lot of influence over the way you look and feel. If you are among the millions of people who suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, this could explain the reason behind your inappropriate binge-eating or food-related rituals – it might simply be that your body does not feel it has enough energy to function properly, and so starts storing foods as a source of fuel, leading you to binge on sweets and other easy-to-digest foods. It’s also worth noting that when your body’s core temperature rises, your hormones become more fluctuant, which can affect the way you feel and behave – especially if you have a history of emotional or psychological trauma. This makes it more difficult to establish and maintain healthy eating habits, as well as disrupts the delicate balance between food and fuel, which in turn makes you gain weight more easily than usual. Your body’s natural rhythms regulate many aspects of your life, including the way you gain and lose weight – so be sure to pay attention to them, and make the most of what your body is capable of.
How Does Your Menstrual Cycle Influence The Way You Engage With Exercise?
It is also well-established that some people are more physically active during their menstrual cycles, while others are less active. This is partly due to the fluctuating hormones and partly due to the effect that the menstrual cycle has on the body’s natural rhythms, which can make it harder to get motivated to exercise. If you are among the millions of people who experience low motivation and intermittent bursts of energy during their periods, this could explain why you are unable to establish and maintain a regular exercise routine – especially if you are also experiencing some of the symptoms described above, as well as if you feel that your body does not respond well to physical activity. In such cases, it might be easier to find the energy to exercise when the hormones are at their lowest, which is immediately after your period has stopped, and during the days that follow. This coincides with the time when temperatures are at their lowest as well, so if you live in a cold climate, it could explain why you want to exercise more during the winter.
So, Does Your Menstrual Cycle Affect Your Weight?
Given that we have established a connection between your menstrual cycle and the way you gain weight, it is natural to assume that it also has something to do with your weight. After all, it is well-established that pregnancy and childbirth are linked to weight gain, and that some people are more active during their menstrual cycles and vice versa. The reason why this is not necessarily the case is because there are two very important factors that affect your weight: how much you eat and how active you are. The first factor is linked to your menstrual cycle and the second has more to do with your daily routine. If you are among the millions of people who try to restrict the way they eat, keeping track of your calorie intake and trying to increase the amount of activity you get throughout the day, it might be difficult to tell whether or not your menstrual cycle is having an effect on your weight – especially if you are not using the wrong kind of diet, and especially if you are not experiencing any of the symptoms described above. So, while your menstrual cycle can have an effect on your weight in an oblique way, it is not necessarily the case that it is the single most important factor influencing your weight gain. This is why it is important to keep an eye on the other factors that make you fat – namely, how much you eat and how active you are, as these are the things that will ultimately make the difference in your waistline.