The FastDay Forum

Hi all,

I have only recently started 5:2 but am already seeing great effects on hunger, weight and much more. I do have one concern/question though. In my 2nd fast, I was on my period, and it just stopped dead - I thought I'd perhaps just had a short period, but the next day when I had a normal meal, it started again, just as heavily. It was as if it was just 'paused' on the 500 calories fast day. On that day, I ate steamed chicken and spinach/cucumber for lunch, and steamed chicken and steamed green veg for dinner to total 500 calories. I drank a stack more water and black tea. Everything else was as normal - sleep, stress etc. This has never happened to me before, but I've done some reading that fasting can impact hormones, so I'm wondering if this is a 'bad thing', ie perhaps this type of fasting isn't for me? I have been doing 16:8 for a couple of years and had no impact on periods.

I'd love your help/opinions.

[Tracieknits]

Hi @Itssunnytoday and welcome!

I don't know your age, and that could be a factor. I'm 50 and perimenopausal and it seems the least little thing disrupts my cycle. I had even gone six months without a period when the election of last year upset me so much that my period suddenly restarted. If you are perimenopausal too, then it's possible this could have an effect.

I have an endocrine disorder (I had Graves disease, then my thyroid ablated, now I"m hypothyroid). What my endocrinologists have all said is that they don't have a complete understanding of our hormones and what affects them. However they have also encouraged fasting. My current endocrinologist is a huge fan of intermittent fasting, whether it's 16:8 or 5:2 or 24 hour to 36 hour fasts. He feels they are very healthy and he's very happy that I use 16:8 and 5:2.

So I wouldn't worry too much, personally. But if you are super worried, you could ask your gyn.

Thanks very much Tracieknits. I am 38 and have been regular since the day I started my periods over 20 years ago! I've never had children. Hence why it's so odd for me to be having a normal period, it completely stop for a day, then come back. I don't have a gyn dr as I've never needed one, but I'll ask my gp next time I'm there. Thanks for the reply.

Hello, @itssunnytoday. I think the advice to ask your GP is good but if it has only happened once and you had no other side effects then I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just monitor the situation and if you have any further incidents speak to your GP on your next visit. I don't think that you are doing your body irreparable harm by your period stopping for a day but only you really know if you are going to be upset by it.

Well done with your choice of IF for weight loss, however you decide to continue! Come back and let us know how you are getting on.