Bloating is a common early symptom of menstruation that many women experience.

Bloating and other hormonal changes associated with your period may create the dreaded “plateau” or weight stall. It may feel like you’ve gained weight or that your abdomen or other body parts are tight or swollen. 

Bloating occurs about a week or two before your period starts and will go away once you’ve been menstruating for a few days. It’s a very common symptom of PMS. 

You may bloat every month, once in a while, or not at all. 

Relief from bloating may occur immediately after starting your period or a few days into it.

Unfortunately, most women can tell you that bloating isn’t the only symptom associated with their period.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state that up to 85 percent of women report physical symptoms like cramping, food cravings, moodiness, acne, and fatigue.

Like bloating, these symptoms can vary from month to month. The symptoms you have can also change from month to month or as you get older.

What Causes Bloating? 

The short answer is hormones. PMS occurs during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. That’s when the hormones estrogen and progesterone can fluctuate. 

These hormones cause the lining of your uterus to get thicker so the fertilized egg can attach at the beginning of pregnancy. If you’re not pregnant, the thickened lining leaves your body as your period.

It’s challenging to prevent bloating completely, but there are lifestyle approaches that can lower the severity and impact of bloating. 

The Betr protocol incorporates most of these lifestyle changes, including:

• following a low-sodium meal plan which includes fruits, vegetables, and lean protein
• drinking lots of water
• skipping excessive caffeine and eliminating alcohol
• avoiding all processed foods
• exercising regularly

For many female Betr members, the intense symptoms of PMS noticeably diminish and become more manageable as they adopt the Betr lifestyle.

Don’t panic if the scale is not moving during your monthly cycle! O

Once your bloating subsides, you will see the scale move once again. 

Often women are surprised at how much the scale drops after a PMS plateau, so keep up with those Betr eating choices. They can help minimize the discomfort associated with your “time of the month!”

– Sources: Recommendations/data from the Center for Disease Control, American Heart Association and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.