For women: please help !!! (TOM)

[latingirl]

I'm sure this topic has been discussed hundreds of times before, so please forgive me, but I need urgent answers. I've been patiently waiting for my period to come for the last 9 days. I could go on and on forever with details, but I'm sure most of the women who have been on this woe for a while know a lot about this problem. I've been lc since May 5th. Will I have to go through this every month or is it just at the beginning? Are there any suggestions or tips on how to help with the bloating besides drinking tons of water? (I am drinking like there's no tomorrow)
Thanks for all your help!

[tofi]

No it is just the first month that you are likely to skip a period completely when you start LCing. Next month, things will be back to your regular - whatever that is. Most women either skip one or get it early.

You have changed your body's output of insulin. Insulin is a "master hormone" which affects all other hormones, so that's the principle reason your cycle is affected. Also, fat cells give out estrogen when you lose weight so that also has an effect.

Yes, there are dozens, probably hundreds of threads where this question is asked and discussed at length.

By the way, LCing is part of the prescribed regimen for women suffering with PCOS. After starting LC, many PCOS women have their first regular period in years and many later are finally able to become pregnant. Use the Search icon above to find PCOS on this board.

As for the bloating, watch your sodium intake - deli meats, bacon, prepared dressings, cheese. All of those have high sodium content.

:wave:

[latingirl]

Barb,
Thank you for your info. I will look into the PCOS threads. I suspect this may be why I had such a hard time getting pregnant.
Thanks!

[hippygal]

I never knew that.

[siobhan]

I did Stillmans diet for 3 days when I started to feel bloated and I immedately felt the bloating go and I was in a much better mood.

[gretchend]

Does anyone know how many days before TOM starts that the little bit of weight gain or no loss can occur?

[latingirl]

Siobhan,
What is the stillman's diet?

[slp2000]

good question gret, I was wondering that myself

[nicksmom]

Mine usually comes faster! UGH!

[LadyBelle]

When I was looking for homeopathic treatments for endometriosis I found only one reference. It stated that for 2 weeks you eat absolutly no carbs, not even a banana. Suposedly this was suposed to shrink the renegade cells. At the time the bc pills helped my case, but if they hadn't I was going to try the diet before surgery.

[nicksmom]

Interesting......

Also, lately, I have not stalled during TOM the past 2 cycles. I was pleased to see that! :roll:

[latingirl]

Will eating no carbs also shrink cells from a fybroid tumor?

[dancermom]

So losing weight releases the estrogen in your fat cells? I hadn't heard that. I do know that I have been having a terrible time the last year with my periods, winding up anemic. My holistic doctor blames this on excess estrogen. I've been avoiding soy, for one thing. But I've also lost and regained the same 15 pounds about 3-4 times in the last year. So maybe I need to just lose it all this time, and see if that helps! Diana

[siobhan]

The below is the Stillman diet

This is a severe form of ketogenic diet. It is not easily
sustainable for the longterm. It may be useful in breaking
plateaus and in those too impatient to allow their bodies
to take the fat off gradually at its own pace.

NOTHING ELSE IS PERMITTED ON THIS DIET--NOTHING! IF IT'S NOT
MENTIONED IN THE FOLLOWING LIST, DON'T EAT OR DRINK IT.

Eat all you wish of the following foods to satisfy hunger.
If you eat until you've satisfied your hunger but haven't stuffed
yourself, and then feel hungry before the next meal, you can eat
again, but only from the foods listed here. In fact, you're better
off eating smaller meals 6 times a day than 3 bigger meals as is
the general custom. But you limit yourself to this extensive list
of high protein foods.

1. LEAN MEATS,with all possible fat trimmed off. Includes beef,
lamb, veal. Eat it broiled, boiled, baked or smoked. No butter,
margarine, oil or other fats or grease are to be used either in
the cooking or the eating.

2. CHICKEN AND TURKEY with all skin removed. Broiled, boiled
or roasted, with no butter, margarine, oil or other fats or greases.
Young fowl is preferable but not necessary.

3. ALL LEAN FISH such as flounder, haddock, cod and perch;
SEAFOOD: shrimps, scallops, lobsters, oysters, clams, crabs.
No butter, margarine, oil or other fats or greases permitted in
preparation or serving. You may have cocktail sauce, horseradish,
ketchup-in moderation.

4. EGGS. Hard boiled preferably. Also soft or medium boiled eggs,
poached, or any type of fried eggs made in non-fat, non-stick pans
without butter, margarine, oil or other fats or greases.

5. COTTAGE CHEESE, FARMER CHEESE, POT CHEESE made
with skim milk and no whole milk.

6. AT LEAST 8 GLASSES OF WATER PER DAY, absolutely essential
(10 ounce glasses). As much as you want of coffee and tea without
cream, milk or sugar. You may sweeten with non-caloric sweeteners
to taste. Enjoy all the club soda, vichy and non-caloric carbonated
beverages you wish, as often as desired.

The eight <10 ounce> glasses of water daily are in addition to
whatever coffee, tea and non-caloric carbonated beverages you
drink. This is an integral part of the specific internal process put
into motion by the Quick Weight Loss Diet. Much more of your
body fat is burned up than with most other diets. This leaves in
its wake the waste products or ashes of burnt fat. [ketone bodies]
They must all be washed out of your system by water which also
serves to relieve any unpleasant dryness and taste in the mouth.

Note: ketone bodies are not ashes, they are the by-product
of incomplete burning of fats. Ketones are to fat as charcoal is to
wood. Ketones can be burned for fuel by your body. Most people
have feedback loops to protect against ketosis-acidosis.

You may use common seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic,
cloves, thyme, other herbs and spices, cocktail sauce, tabasco
sauce, horseradish, ketchup. Don't use any creamy or oily sauces
or dressings. No mayonaise, no salad dressings, no oils, no fats.

It is desirable to take vitamins daily with the diet, such as a
once-daily vitamin and mineral tablet.

NOTHING ELSE IS PERMITTED ON THIS DIET--NOTHING! IF IT'S NOT
MENTIONED IN THE PRECEDING LIST, DON'T EAT OR DRINK IT.

If you disregard the instructions and eat regular carbohydrates
or sugar or alcohol, you will stop burning up stored fat as
efficiently. Even one indiscretion, one mouthful of ice cream, for
example, will set you back a day or two.

You will lose the most weight on The Quick Loss Diet, most quickly,
if you eat only to satisfy your humger pangs rather than to gratify
a desire to eat just for the pleasure of eating.

This diet has practically no residue (fiber). Therefore it is likely
that you may not have a bowel movement for a few days, although
not necessarily so. In any case don't be alarmed by any such lack.
[note: extra vitamin C or milk of magnesia is helpful in some cases]

[latingirl]

Siobhan,
Thank you for your reply!

[gretchend]

For the past three months I have started TOM exactly 30 days from the onset of the previous TOM. Now, I was supposed to start yesterday and didn't. My sister is getting married on Saturday and I am wearing a form fitting dress and I just know that I will be bloated because TOM won't show UP!!!! Someone is out to get me, I know it!!!!! I am so irritated, I could scream!!!!

[siobhan]

Trying doing the stillman diet for two days and you shouldn't feel bloated or in a bad mood.