Hormones and Your Weight

You can't blame hormones for pounds you might pack on as a result of eating more and moving less, but you could retain one to five pounds of water during the two weeks before your period. Some unlucky women may gain 10 pounds of water weight, says Steven J. Ory, M.D., president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. "But it's temporary," he adds. "Normal fluctuations in the menstrual cycle aren't responsible for permanent pounds." To minimize water-weight gain, eat less salt and take 1,000 milligrams of calcium the week before your period, both of which reduce bloating, says Marcelle Cedars, M.D., an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco. For severe cases of bloat a doctor might prescribe a mild diuretic to flush it out.

Another hormone-weight connection: When estrogen and progesterone fall before your period, you may experience food cravings--and gain weight if you indulge. "If a woman consistently gives in and binges on high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar foods, she may in fact, gain actual fat pounds that won't go away once her period starts," says Dr. Ory. "Anything you can do to lower stress levels and boost mood during that time, whether that's yoga, marathon running or stock-car racing, can help cut cravings," he notes. ...Numerous studies have shown that we reach for less-healthy choices and eat more calories when we're sleep deprived.