The Great Monthly Bloat Fest :o/

[Cynthia]

Hi gals...

Ok, I'm thinking if you can't help, at least, perhaps, you can commiserate....)

I exercise 6 days per week, eat a balanced, low-fat, moderate sodium diet (a light sprinkling here and there,) and drink a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day. And round about 8 days after the start of my cycle, I bloat up till it looks like I'm a good 4 months pregnant! (I "deflate" around day 3, so that gives me 5 days to enjoy bloatlessness.) It's sooo depressing to see my body slimming down and gaining definition (yay!!) and yet have only a few days out of the month when my tummy's flat (and, it's *accentuated* because my waist is slimmer.) For the past several months, with the exception of this month (and it ain't over..), my boobs have been bloating up a full cup size every month, too! (I am *not* kidding. /)

Do any of you know something I don't about what causes this if not diet (a hormonal thing?), and have any of you been successful in changing it?

Thanks ladies....

Cynthia

 

[Vivian]

PMS or Peri?

Cynthia:

You're describing my symptoms exactly--- and I've tried EVERY conceivable solution to alleviate the misery. A couple have worked; however, before I respond, may I ask how old you are? What worked for me at twenty no longer worked at forty--- undoubtedly because my PMS symptoms became complicated by perimenopausal symptoms---a whole different ballgame.
Regardless, the one solution I've found that seems--for some odd reason---to help w/bloating is calcium supplementation. (Of course, I use those new 500mg. chocolate ones. They're like chocolate caramels.) I really don't know why, but during the months I cut back on the calcium supplements, I become much more bloated.

Now, there are lots of herbal remedies out there that might help you, but some of them are PMS or Perimenopause specific.

 

[Cynthia]

I'm 34 and...

I've never heard of the calcium thing...I'll look into it. I have tried an herbal supplement given to me by my mom that's supposed to work wonders for these symptoms, but they didn't do a thing for me. / You'll notice that daily supplements were missing from my "healthy living" ) list... I'm terrible about taking them, mainly because the ones that have the effective doses (as opposed to "100% of the USRDA") are *huge*, and I *hate* taking them! I understand that B6 is supposed to help PMS, too, but don't know if it affects the water retention. I have some in the cupboard...maybe I ought to actually *take* them and see, you think? )

Thanks so much for your help, Vivian!

Cynthia

 

[Vivian]

Vitamin C

Yes, you're right. B6 is the "magic" PMS vitamin. But a diuretic-type vitamin that might actually help minimize the bloating is vitamin C. You might start out taking 250mg. every few hours, and see if that helps. Also, ask your mom when she started feeling perimenopausal symptoms: they can begin ten to fifteen years prior to menopause. (Depressing!!!!)

I know how you feel, though. The bloating almost seems to "contradict" my efforts. Try the C, and hang in there.

 

[Cynthia]

Thank you again Vivian...

I appreciate your advice, and it really *is* nice to hear from someone who can relate!

Cynthia

 

[srmohler]

Do you drink coffee/tea/cola?

I have always bloated up every month, but after I had some trouble with heart palpitations, I decided to give up coffee in December. I usually drank a 20 oz 7-11 coffee every day, so it didn't seem like too much. I would get a headache if I didn't drink it, so I never missed.

Well after two hellish days of withdrawal headaches, I haven't had any coffee or any bloating since! I sort of miss the full cup increase in bust size, but my stomach is much flatter, so it's worth it. I think I still retain a little bit of water each month, but nothing like it was.

Good luck, Sandi

 

[udderlymyra]

I just started taking Evening Primrose Oil...

about 1 week before my last cycle. Wow~~it seemed to have done something for me. I wasn't as bloated during my cycle and it seemed to even perk me up emotionally. I take a capsule form instead of pure oil. Do some research on this product and give it a try. I do know that what works for one doesn't work for another so happy experimenting!