117. Do You Have to Gain Weight to Get Your Period Back?

In this episode, Jenna and Reilly address a highly requested topic: weight gain during period recovery. Many athletes question whether it is necessary. The answer? It depends. So many individuals working on period recovery are held back by the fear of gaining weight, and in this episode, we answer your questions about changes in body weight during the period recovery journey. The Eat More Carbs Podcast is the go-to podcast for the GIRLIES who want to fuel their body properly with easy, fun and simple nutrition! Hosted by Reilly Beatty and Jenna Fisher, two registered dietitians that bring you weekly episodes to help you meet your goals while breaking free of diet culture.Make sure you subscribe to The Eat More Carbs Podcast and never miss an episode. You can follow Reilly, Jenna, and Lilly on [email protected]@[email protected] apply to the SSPN Period Recovery Program, click here Period Recovery ProgramKey Takeaways: Getting your period back may involve changes in body weight, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in adipose tissue.Food itself has weight.Increased carbohydrate intake = more glycogen in the body, which holds water.Digestion may be slower when we first increase fuelingUnderfueling forces the body into survival mode, not performance mode. When fuel is low, the body downregulates certain body systems to conserve energy. Adequate fueling leads to increased energy, improved training quality, and optimized functioning overall. Starvation is a mode we can survive in, but it is not one we can thrive in. Build trust with your body. Take small, sustainable steps to ease into the recovery process. Increasing fuel can feel uncomfortable at first because the body has adapted to less. We can teach our bodies to accept more fuel. Change is not always bad, and it is not always permanent! Change is a sign that you are making progress toward recovery.