I had sent this email to Dr. Peat and would like to know if anyone on the forum has some advice as well.
Hi Dr. Peat,
I have been following your advice on certain diet and exercise theories for about the past seven months. I had heard about you from a few trainers at the gym I go to. The reason I started "Peating" was because I have not been able to have a menstrual cycle for about two years.
My history: In High School my cycles were not always regular. Sometimes I would skip a month and they didn't always last the same length of time. At one time my acne was very bad and I got put on Accutane along with a birth control pill. This did help to clear up my acne but I know that Accutane can be very hard on your body and give you very dry skin. The birth control pill did help to regulate my periods but once I got off of it, my periods became sporadic and eventually I stopped having them.
When I was in collage, I had lost a lot of weight from dieting and exercise but I was never big to begin with. I always held my weight around 135 and I am 5'6". In collage had dropped to about 117lbs. That was a nine month phase and then I began to prepare for bodybuilding competitions in the "bikini" category. When doing this, I first went through a "bulking" phase of eating more around 3200cal , doing less cardio, and more weight lifting. My weight had gone up to about 145. Then I took a few months to trim down for my competition. I did more cardio that involed HIIT or Tabata styles and still mainly did weight lifting. I slowly decreased my calories to 1700-1600.
I have done one other competition where I was able to keep my calories a bit higher and do less cardio than I used to since I have gained more muscle and my metabolism has increased. My dieting calories were around 1600 and on "reefed days" 2000 calories. What surprises me is that even through my bulking phases, I still don't have a menstrual cycle. I would think that my body should be able to have a cycle since I am under less stress. For about the last seven months I was eating 2745 calories (140g protein, 400g carbs, 65g fats.) Still doing weightlifting six times a week and cardio once a week (things like hitt or tabata circuits that only took about 16min.) I am starting to lean out again but nothing vigorous. calories currently at 2075. weight at 134 lbs. 5'6" age 21.
I was starting to think that I had a hormone imbalance and went into a family doctor. I had some blood levels done and we also discussed birth control. I'll leave a link of my results for you to look at below.
(was not able to add the link)
If you aren't able to open the link summarized it says:
glucose is normal. LDL is slightly elevated at 133 normal being below 100. Thyroid, FSH levels and prolactin are normal. Estrogen is low.
I would like to get your advice if you do think something is off with my levels. I had told them that if I were to suppliment something, I would prefer it to be natural. I know to get more natural substances or hormones, I would most likely need to go to a homeopath or naturopath. If you have anything you would recommend me taking or where I could get it, that would be of great help! When we had discussed birth control I expressed how It could help me get my period back but once I go off of it my concern is they could once again stop. Leaving my body to be reliant on it.
I am getting married in the next few months making birth control more necessary. I had told them I would prefer one lower in estrogen because of the research I have read from you. They had suggested the "mini pill" which mothers take who are breastfeeding. It has mostly progesterone and low estrogen. Although it isn't very strong which could lead to pregnancy. we also discussed different forms of IUD's. The only thing about IUD's is that they can make women's periods lighter or all together stop which is probably not what I need.
Wow Sorry this is so long haha. Like I said any advice or suggestions you may have, I would greatly appreciate!
Sincerely,
Lauren R.
Hi Dr. Peat,
I have been following your advice on certain diet and exercise theories for about the past seven months. I had heard about you from a few trainers at the gym I go to. The reason I started "Peating" was because I have not been able to have a menstrual cycle for about two years.
My history: In High School my cycles were not always regular. Sometimes I would skip a month and they didn't always last the same length of time. At one time my acne was very bad and I got put on Accutane along with a birth control pill. This did help to clear up my acne but I know that Accutane can be very hard on your body and give you very dry skin. The birth control pill did help to regulate my periods but once I got off of it, my periods became sporadic and eventually I stopped having them.
When I was in collage, I had lost a lot of weight from dieting and exercise but I was never big to begin with. I always held my weight around 135 and I am 5'6". In collage had dropped to about 117lbs. That was a nine month phase and then I began to prepare for bodybuilding competitions in the "bikini" category. When doing this, I first went through a "bulking" phase of eating more around 3200cal , doing less cardio, and more weight lifting. My weight had gone up to about 145. Then I took a few months to trim down for my competition. I did more cardio that involed HIIT or Tabata styles and still mainly did weight lifting. I slowly decreased my calories to 1700-1600.
I have done one other competition where I was able to keep my calories a bit higher and do less cardio than I used to since I have gained more muscle and my metabolism has increased. My dieting calories were around 1600 and on "reefed days" 2000 calories. What surprises me is that even through my bulking phases, I still don't have a menstrual cycle. I would think that my body should be able to have a cycle since I am under less stress. For about the last seven months I was eating 2745 calories (140g protein, 400g carbs, 65g fats.) Still doing weightlifting six times a week and cardio once a week (things like hitt or tabata circuits that only took about 16min.) I am starting to lean out again but nothing vigorous. calories currently at 2075. weight at 134 lbs. 5'6" age 21.
I was starting to think that I had a hormone imbalance and went into a family doctor. I had some blood levels done and we also discussed birth control. I'll leave a link of my results for you to look at below.
(was not able to add the link)
If you aren't able to open the link summarized it says:
glucose is normal. LDL is slightly elevated at 133 normal being below 100. Thyroid, FSH levels and prolactin are normal. Estrogen is low.
I would like to get your advice if you do think something is off with my levels. I had told them that if I were to suppliment something, I would prefer it to be natural. I know to get more natural substances or hormones, I would most likely need to go to a homeopath or naturopath. If you have anything you would recommend me taking or where I could get it, that would be of great help! When we had discussed birth control I expressed how It could help me get my period back but once I go off of it my concern is they could once again stop. Leaving my body to be reliant on it.
I am getting married in the next few months making birth control more necessary. I had told them I would prefer one lower in estrogen because of the research I have read from you. They had suggested the "mini pill" which mothers take who are breastfeeding. It has mostly progesterone and low estrogen. Although it isn't very strong which could lead to pregnancy. we also discussed different forms of IUD's. The only thing about IUD's is that they can make women's periods lighter or all together stop which is probably not what I need.
Wow Sorry this is so long haha. Like I said any advice or suggestions you may have, I would greatly appreciate!
Sincerely,
Lauren R.