I know that it's not unusual for women who are trying to lose wieght to have a change in their cycle. I usually end up skipping one or two all together and then they start coming every 6 weeks instead of every 4. Now this wouldn't be a problem if it didn't screw with the numbers on the scale but unfortunately, it does. It really hinders my weight loss because I'm stuck in PMS mode for much longer than normal. It's like that week before usually lasts for several weeks and in some cases, more than a month.

I heard that eating some fat helps but when I do that, it doesn't help me unless I eat a whopper or something really high and fat but I don't want to do that because not only do I not want all of those extra calories, it doesn't always work.

Is there anything else that you can do to help stabilze your cycle when dieting? Are their any suppliments you can take or anything else? I really hate this, I get pretty discouraged when this happens because it seems like all my hard work is in vain.

OK, sure your body is adjusting BUT it is not in the normal range to lose your period altogether. That is something that happens to anorexia and bulimia patients and it is due to the fact that the body does not think it could sustain a pregnancy.
If you are losing at a good pace (1-2 pounds per week), without starving yourself, your period should not go missing.
Go to the gynaecologist and have them measure your hormones, you may have a cyst or some hormonal disarrangement or even anemia (I know because I am specialising in OB/GYN at the moment).
And supplements are not needed if you have a healthy normal diet. In fact they can even be harmful if you take them for too long. Only the elderly, the dietary restricted (vegans, lactose intolerant, etc...), the sick and pregnant ladies should really use supplements.
Hope this helped, Camy

When was your last OB-Gyn exam?

I'm going to the doc on Monday Mal.

Right now I'm at about 1400 cals a day. I've gone the 1600 a day route before and it didn't work for me but I am by no means bulimic or anorexic. This happened to me last time I went on a weight loss program as well, it also happens to my sister when she does it so I think it runs in the family.

When I eat "normally" (normally being eating like a pig) my periods are just fine and right on track, this only happens when I diet (which incidentally my nutrition is better when I diet) and I was told by my last doctor that I saw in May that it wasn't all that unusual for this to happen to some women. Also, I always take supliments, weather I'm dieting or not and they never effected my cycle either way. At any rate, I think I'm low on estrogen so I'm wondering if incorporating more soy in my diet will help.

Also, I'm 41 so that may have something to do with it as well.

There's a lot of conflicting information i've read on Soy and estrogen... Definitely ask your doctor about it - you might even want to google some and give the articles to your doctor (While I have a lot of respect for the medical community, they just don't have time to read everything out there.. and new stuff comes up every day)

I agree Mal, thanks. I actually just started taking a calcium-soy suppliment this morning, I sure hope it helps.

Apparently, I'm not the only one (all though I'm not on the South Beach diet).

Can south beach diet effect menstrual cycles?

I also found this article. Unfortunately, it doesn't mention anything about how to correct it but it definitely hit home for me. Seems to me my cycle got really out of whack when I started on Citrucel.

"Regulating Your Cycle

Research has shown that a diet high in fiber and low in fat can cause an irregular menstrual cycle. In one study 210 women, between the ages of 17 and 22 years old, were asked to complete a questionnaire about their eating habits and their menstrual histories. The women who reported having irregular periods also had higher intakes of fiber (both crude and dietary), while the women who ate more saturated fat reported more regular cycles.

Research has suggested that the more fat you consume, the higher your body’s estrogen production will be. Also, fiber helps the body to flush out excess estrogen. The liver pulls estrogen from the bloodstream, through the bile duct and into the intestinal tract, where fiber soaks it up and carries it out of the body with the rest of your waste."

You are 41, I'm almost 41. Since I was 39 my periods have been 5 to 6 weeks in between, but I wasn't dieting then so I didn't care about weight gain. Lately though, I've only gained 2 lbs during my PMS, and I eat little fat. So I don't think that it is your answer. How much water do you drink? How is your sodium intake?

I drink a ton of water, even when I'm not trying to lose weight. You will rarely see me with out a bottle of it in my hand. Sodium I don't watch as well as I should so I think I should start.

I haven't gained any weight since I started back on my weight loss program, it's just that I only lost 1/2 a pound this week when according my caloric intake, I should have lost more like 2. Now one week at only half a pound is not a big deal, it happens sometimes to the best of us but my concern is not getting my period, therefore, my body doesn't want to release anything. If I could still lose weight normally while having screwy cycles, it wouldn't be as much an issue to me. I just want to get this poundage off of me.

Morning,

I've been lucky - during my weight loss journey of 14 months, my menstrual cycle has stayed relatively normal. Regarding soy, I did find

How Good Is Soy?

Effects of Soy on Health Outcomes: Summary of Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 126

PCOS...What do you know about it, and/or do you suffer from it? - VeggieBoards - Vegetarian Forum

but that might not address your specific concerns.

Fitness, Nutrition, and Menstruation - Menstrual Cycle and Lifestyle Choices

might be useful, however.

Best wishes,

Barbara

Thanks for the articles iamfire.

Since this only happens when I try to lose weight, I don't think I have any type of disorder. Also, I only excersie 30 minutes (areobics) 4 to 5 days a week so that's not the problem. I really think it has to do with lower estrogen levels from reducing my fat intake and taking fiber. I think if I can find a way to balance this out, I'll be okay. Also, I never eat soy or soy products so I know I'm not getting too much of that. The suppliment only contains the amount of soy as three ounces of tofu so I won't be over doing it there either. I just wish I would still lose like I normally would, it's kind of frustrating.

"Frustrating" doesn't seem to begin to describe it. Hope you find the answer soon!

Best wishes,

Barbara

For me, it's never been an issue of irregular cycle, is the hunger I feel that whole week. I'm CONSTANTLY hungry and I crave natural peanut butter. I usually eat about two tablespoons of pb a day the week before my period. This really didn't start happening until after I lost my last twenty pounds. I really try to sustain myself by eating less calorie foods more then six times a day like I do usually. Along with peanut butter, this usually works. I'm also a HUGE water drinker and it helps me feel full.