Comments on: Working out and reproductive health http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:51:48 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mistress Krista http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-3157 Mistress Krista Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:37:04 +0000 #comment-3157 Chris, a drop-off with age is common, but not necessarily that rapidly. Given your sport choice, age, and body fat levels, I'd suggest a hormonal profile and doctor checkup. Sometimes, a dramatic drop in performance -- particularly with the lack of stamina you describe -- can signify an underlying medical issue. Chris, a drop-off with age is common, but not necessarily that rapidly. Given your sport choice, age, and body fat levels, I’d suggest a hormonal profile and doctor checkup. Sometimes, a dramatic drop in performance — particularly with the lack of stamina you describe — can signify an underlying medical issue.

]]> By: Chris http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-3154 Chris Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:10:20 +0000 #comment-3154 I am a 53 yr old, post menopausal---haven't had a period in over a year. I have seen an alarming drop in my stamina and running/biking times. I was consistently running 8:30 miles and am now crawling through 10:30 miles, breathless most of the way. Would this be considered normal? I have always done strength training, am 5'4", 120 lbs, body fat 13-15%. I am a 53 yr old, post menopausal—haven’t had a period in over a year. I have seen an alarming drop in my stamina and running/biking times. I was consistently running 8:30 miles and am now crawling through 10:30 miles, breathless most of the way. Would this be considered normal? I have always done strength training, am 5′4″, 120 lbs, body fat 13-15%.

]]> By: Mistress Krista http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-2484 Mistress Krista Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:03:18 +0000 #comment-2484 Andrea: Good stuff. I've been looking also at work on cognitive dietary restraint and what role that also plays. Andrea: Good stuff. I’ve been looking also at work on cognitive dietary restraint and what role that also plays.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-2483 Andrea Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:59:01 +0000 #comment-2483 Evie, Good for you! I'm in a similar boat but not recovered. Its been about 6 years of undereating just enough to not lose weight overall but to lose periods, estrogen, and bone. I'm really working on it, but have to get inspiration from lots of places to keep moving forward. Krista, there's a newish study out that looks at the role that leptin has in bone balance - you might want to check it out if you're going to revise this article. Also, much of the body of work done on energy balance and hormonal dysfunction is thanks to Anne Loucks - check out her articles, as well. :-) Evie,
Good for you! I’m in a similar boat but not recovered. Its been about 6 years of undereating just enough to not lose weight overall but to lose periods, estrogen, and bone.

I’m really working on it, but have to get inspiration from lots of places to keep moving forward.

Krista, there’s a newish study out that looks at the role that leptin has in bone balance – you might want to check it out if you’re going to revise this article.

Also, much of the body of work done on energy balance and hormonal dysfunction is thanks to Anne Loucks – check out her articles, as well. :-)

]]> By: Evie http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-1169 Evie Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:19:31 +0000 #comment-1169 I suffered from anorexia-type ED-NOS for over ten years, drastically limiting my calories at all times and dancing 20+ hours per week. I was never clinically underweight and had body fat in the normal range, but during that time I might have a period only once per year, if that. After I took up weight lifting, conquered the ED, and started eating enough calories for my activity level, my body fat remained the same but my periods started! I'm now cycling monthly just as a normal person - for the first time. It's very reassuring to see my experience reflected in the research. (However, I have definitely noticed that the first 2 days of my period I just hurt all over and will avoid the gym at all costs.) I suffered from anorexia-type ED-NOS for over ten years, drastically limiting my calories at all times and dancing 20+ hours per week. I was never clinically underweight and had body fat in the normal range, but during that time I might have a period only once per year, if that. After I took up weight lifting, conquered the ED, and started eating enough calories for my activity level, my body fat remained the same but my periods started! I’m now cycling monthly just as a normal person – for the first time. It’s very reassuring to see my experience reflected in the research.

(However, I have definitely noticed that the first 2 days of my period I just hurt all over and will avoid the gym at all costs.)

]]> By: Mistress Krista http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-802 Mistress Krista Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:46:39 +0000 #comment-802 The mechanism behind bone density and its correlation with energy balance/hormonal status is still not fully understood. One interesting line of research that is emerging concerns acid/base balance: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/acid-base The process of bone production has two parts: bone breakdown and bone re-formation. These continually occur -- the body is always breaking things down and building them up. Energy balance affects hormones as well as nutrient availability. These both affect the signals telling the body to break down/build up. For example if there is insufficient calcium in the diet (because calories are too low) then that will affect things. On the other hand if there is plenty of calcium but no hormonal signals saying "make bone" then it won't happen either. We know that so-called sex hormones such as estradiol and testosterone are important, and these are affected by energy balance and nutritional quality as well as other things like stress. Then you have the training stimulus to consider -- the process of loading the bones. Resistance training produces a superior stimulus to endurance training. Activities involving impact (e.g. jumping, punching) are better than no-impact (e.g. swimming, cycling). In other words, we do know that energy balance (calories in vs calories out) AND nutrient quality AND hormone levels AND activity are all relevant -- we're just not 100% sure exactly how it all works. And it can vary from woman to woman as well. However, the period itself doesn't do anything per se; it's just a symptom of hormone status and energy balance. The mechanism behind bone density and its correlation with energy balance/hormonal status is still not fully understood. One interesting line of research that is emerging concerns acid/base balance:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/acid-base
The process of bone production has two parts: bone breakdown and bone re-formation. These continually occur — the body is always breaking things down and building them up. Energy balance affects hormones as well as nutrient availability. These both affect the signals telling the body to break down/build up. For example if there is insufficient calcium in the diet (because calories are too low) then that will affect things. On the other hand if there is plenty of calcium but no hormonal signals saying “make bone” then it won’t happen either. We know that so-called sex hormones such as estradiol and testosterone are important, and these are affected by energy balance and nutritional quality as well as other things like stress.

Then you have the training stimulus to consider — the process of loading the bones. Resistance training produces a superior stimulus to endurance training. Activities involving impact (e.g. jumping, punching) are better than no-impact (e.g. swimming, cycling).

In other words, we do know that energy balance (calories in vs calories out) AND nutrient quality AND hormone levels AND activity are all relevant — we’re just not 100% sure exactly how it all works. And it can vary from woman to woman as well. However, the period itself doesn’t do anything per se; it’s just a symptom of hormone status and energy balance.

]]> By: Helen http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-799 Helen Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:03:27 +0000 #comment-799 "One of the main concerns around amenorrhea is the concomitant loss of bone density. In other words, skeletal bone mineral loss has been observed to be related to lack of menstruation." The bone mineral loss with amenorrhea is not because of lack of menstruation, though correlates with it, right? My understanding is the bone loss is because the body is in negative energy balance and there's nothing to feed the bones with. After a ton of research, I started taking continuous-use low dose birth control pills a couple years ago because I had miserable periods. They weren't particularly long but nonetheless sucky, and I was anemic. Really truly changed my life for the super way better. I never took bc pills for birth control, only started them to stop my period. I am fit and active, 38, 167cm, 60kg, bf under 20%. I've been curious to go off for a while and see what happens, especially since taking hormones is not appealing to me in theory, nor for its contribution to adding to estrogen in the water supply... but anyway - though various questions about bc pills certainly abound - just wanted to clarify the bone density / period thing . * “One of the main concerns around amenorrhea is the concomitant loss of bone density. In other words, skeletal bone mineral loss has been observed to be related to lack of menstruation.”

The bone mineral loss with amenorrhea is not because of lack of menstruation, though correlates with it, right? My understanding is the bone loss is because the body is in negative energy balance and there’s nothing to feed the bones with.

After a ton of research, I started taking continuous-use low dose birth control pills a couple years ago because I had miserable periods. They weren’t particularly long but nonetheless sucky, and I was anemic. Really truly changed my life for the super way better. I never took bc pills for birth control, only started them to stop my period. I am fit and active, 38, 167cm, 60kg, bf under 20%. I’ve been curious to go off for a while and see what happens, especially since taking hormones is not appealing to me in theory, nor for its contribution to adding to estrogen in the water supply… but anyway – though various questions about bc pills certainly abound – just wanted to clarify the bone density / period thing . *

]]> By: Sarah http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-644 Sarah Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:27:22 +0000 #comment-644 Over the years, there have been rare moments when I've put in a good cardio and lifting day and then immediately after or even during the workout I begin to feel dizzy, nauseous and shaky. (There was even one moment when the gym had to call an ambulance because my whole body had seized up and all my muscles froze in the dressing room. Rather embarrassing, lying on the floor immobilized with a group of men sitting around me asking questions about my cycle!) Looking back, the common denominator of all these incidents is that they always occurred on the first day of my period. Any other day I can work out hard and feel fine. I'm not sure why this happens, but I've learned my lesson and take a rest day or do yoga instead. I wish that I was more like the previous commenter. Strength gains, indeed! Over the years, there have been rare moments when I’ve put in a good cardio and lifting day and then immediately after or even during the workout I begin to feel dizzy, nauseous and shaky. (There was even one moment when the gym had to call an ambulance because my whole body had seized up and all my muscles froze in the dressing room. Rather embarrassing, lying on the floor immobilized with a group of men sitting around me asking questions about my cycle!) Looking back, the common denominator of all these incidents is that they always occurred on the first day of my period. Any other day I can work out hard and feel fine. I’m not sure why this happens, but I’ve learned my lesson and take a rest day or do yoga instead. I wish that I was more like the previous commenter. Strength gains, indeed!

]]> By: Nic http://www.stumptuous.com/working-out-and-reproductive-health/comment-page-1#comment-125 Nic Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:14:08 +0000 #comment-125 I would agree to a certain extent about the effect of menstruation on exercise and performance, however, in some months I find I actually perform better during my period than at other times of the month. I have regularly been able to increase weight lifted during this time and maintain it during the following month. I don't know if this is coincidence with my muscle building program, or if there is a correlation between the hormones and my strength, but it would be interesting to find out. I would agree to a certain extent about the effect of menstruation on exercise and performance, however, in some months I find I actually perform better during my period than at other times of the month. I have regularly been able to increase weight lifted during this time and maintain it during the following month. I don’t know if this is coincidence with my muscle building program, or if there is a correlation between the hormones and my strength, but it would be interesting to find out.

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