Can too much exercise stop your periods?

By Heather
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Another request by a regular Fat Creep reader; please keep your queries coming guys, I've been responding to requests for the last month straight and I love that.

The simple answer is yes BUT if your periods have stopped, it's very unlikely that the cause is too much exercise. It is very difficult to exercise 'too much' especially if you have a desk job. However, a highly restricted diet is much more likely to stop your periods.

Amenorrhea is the term given to a cessation of periods. It is common in people suffering from anorexia, models who aren't eating enough and athletes who aren't replenishing their bodies adequately.

Why exactly do periods stop if you're not eating enough?

Your body goes into starvation mode. 

This means it shuts down the activity of all unnecessary bodily functions and organs. This includes the reproductive system as well as nutrition to hair and nails. To stop your periods from occurring the hypothalamus stops releasing the hormones involved in the regulation of periods. This then causes a reduction in oestrogen and progesterone, the main female sex hormones.

What are the consequences of your periods stopping due to a poor diet?
In the long-run a lack of oestrogen and progesterone could result in:

• Infertility 
• Loss of bone mass
• Heart problems
• Breasts and vagina wasting away (atrophy)

What should you do if your periods have stopped?

• Don't stop exercising, look at what you are eating. Your minimum calorie intake should c.1,100 to 1,200 calories per day. Eating less than 900 calories will also lead to an decrease in hormones that suppress appetite as we discussed in this Fat Creep blog.
• Don't skip meals.
• Look at the nutritional content of your diet. This is the most important thing. The calories you are eating should mostly come from healthy foods.
• Last but not least, see your doctor as there may be an underlying medical problem which needs treating.

What should you be eating?

• Plenty of fruit and vegetables (oranges, papaya, pears, carrots and cucumbers are all great)
• Complex carbohydrates such as those in beans and lentils
• Foods that are high in calcium and/or rich in iron, for instance: 

1. Broccoli, 
2. Spinach, 
3. Leafy greens e.g. kale 
4. Yoghurt, 
5. Raisins, prunes, apricots, 
6. Meat (but not too much), 
7. Beans, 
8. Nuts (especially almonds and peanuts),
9. Maize/corn and
10. Non-white foods. White bread, white rice and most other white foods are highly processed. Going for their 'brown' equivalents will improve the nutritional content of your diet.

In summary, if your periods have stopped it's likely due to a poor diet and/or an underlying medical problem e.g. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS.

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​Although your personal finances and your business success are my primary interest, I believe you only operate at peak efficiency when you're fit and healthy. If you feel good, it filters through to your work. To help you with that, click for your free ebook: The Quick Guide to Sexy
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