Athletic Moms

Been there, done this! :)
While you don't have to give up running all together, you do need to cut down. Especially intensity! I also took up walking which pissed me off to be honest, but I got used to it and it got me out of the house. I felt walking was just not worth my time, but was shocked to find out it still was good for me and kept my body moving....

Also (and this is KEY) you have to gain weight. Not much, but you do have to gain. Also it is about % of body fat. Yours must be too low! You don't have to mac out on ice cream and bad fats, but you should increase good fats... nuts, good oils, dairy ect...
At first I found this all very hard, but it totally works!!! And to be honest I think in the end it made me a healthier person. Talking to a dietitian really helps to know what foods can help you out.

Once I got prego I didn't run much at all... I couldn't keep my heart rate down, so I kept up the walking. Did lots of 5k's where it is ok to be with others walking and loved it. I even did 3 the 3 weekends before I had my daughter and my labor and delivery was a breeze. Everyone I know says it was due to the walking.

Anyhow good luck and just use common sense... you will figure it all out.

I had a stillborn with my first pregnancy and went koo-koo after. I felt as though I had no control over what happened so i found something i could control and focused (too much) on it -- my food! I cut way back and lost a lot of weight. I am 5'6" and got down to 101 lbs during this difficult time and my periods stopped.

We did want to get pregnant again so after working with my OB/GYN for a year and then a specialist for over three years and after every kind of test my doctor told me to gain weight, plain and simple. I was teaching Spin classes at the time and he understood my need to be active. He suggested if i burn 500 calories, i should eat those 500 calories plus 200 more. He advised small steps and to let myself enjoy the process.

I am a pretty healthy eater so i let myself indulge in ice cream and french fries a little more often. I didn't go over board though as i also ate the good fats too. I also had to take progesterone to jump start my period and chlomid to make me ovulate for a few months (until my body regulated itself) and a couple of months after that we became pregnant.

I continued to exercise throughout my entire pregnancy and was actually thinner a few months after the birth of my son than before i conceived.

Don't focus too much on the scale. Start focusing on your body and how to make it healthy for you and your needs. Stay active, just ask yourself what is more important to you right now. Being toned and slim or healthy and pregnant?

Lastly, and this was the biggest for me, don't compare yourself to anyone else. Our bodies are so different and you will go crazy if you try to make sense of it since so many "thin" or "active" women do conceive easily.

When we decided we wanted another child, and i wasn't menstruating, I knew what i needed to do and so once again i increased my caloric intake and got pregnant about four months later.

I always say little prayers for women everywhere who struggle with becoming pregnant. My heart goes out to you and I wish you the best.

You might appreciate the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." I think that's the exact title--it might be "Take." But if you searced on Amazon or Powells.com for a minute, you'd find it. It talks about how to read your fertility signals, and gives details about how most women can ovulate (and therefore get pregnant) without menstruating. This happens all the time with moms who are breastfeeding an older baby and have not had a period, but become pregnant again.
I know several athletic moms (I only pretend to be one ;) and they have had amenorrhea off and on and have still been able to become pregnant. I think my marathoning friend did have to watch her ovulation signals, but that baby turned one last fall, so clearly it worked.
Best wishes!

While I was not a marthoner, I was in a similar situation 2yrs ago. I was in amazing shape, and while I was thrilled to be down to 17% body fat, it just wasn't conducive to getting pregnant. My dr suggested gaining some weight, which surprised me b/c I wasn't ridiculously low or anything (5'4", 122). I ended up going on a vacation a short time later, gained 5lbs, and wouldn't you know-immediately became pregnant!

I wouldn't suggest that you stop running, but like others mentioned, maybe tone it down just a little, and increase not only your food intake, but your fat intake. Have yourself plenty of ice cream. : ) Good Luck!

I'm also a marathoner and have gone through similar things. For me, what worked was two-fold. I didn't stop running altogether, I just shortened my distances. I ran 3-4 times a week for only 2-5 miles at a time. On off days I would do yoga, strengthening exercises, or rest. I also got on the pill for a couple of months because that kind of helped "jump-start" my cycle again. I went off the pill and had no trouble getting pregnant at that point. Good luck! I know the need you feel to run...it's a total addiction.

Hi A.,
Excessive exercise, low weight can cause periods to cease or become irregular. Avoiding EXCESSIVE exercise, gaining weight are both great ways to return your cycle back to "normal" (please remember normal is different for everyone).

Also a natural hormone balancing cream will help. I recommend Prolief. It will help regulate your body in a natural way. I can see running is very important to you, but that I am assuming you want to have another baby. Your choices in a holistic approach are the way to go. There are certain homeopathic remedies that will help as long as your body is ready for them to help. Remember it's all a balance of your body. The whole body.

I hope the best for you! Take care, G.

Taking the pill for a month or so should help a ton...

Also try meditation, relaxing, some great yoga classes...

Hang in there, you may already be pregnant (you could have skipped your first period.
R.

I know it's not as good as running but it'll still get you out of the house... Try walking!... It's not as vigorus and so it'll still allow for some weight gain like you want. I'm sorry your having such trouble and wish you luck!

5'3 and 115 is a good weight, I am almost 5'3 and even at my thinnest, 108 I still had a cycle. ( I guess I still had my "butt" even then!). My sister runs marathons and she also has a normal cycle( and she is TINY, like 5'3 105, maybe). I hate to say it but maybe just eat more! Don't stop running, especially if you get so much satisfaction from it! MAybe just cut back a little, are you going every day? I agree with the others about the walking, it will get you out and you will be able to continue in to pregnancy and after. Good luck!

Hi A.!
I've been training & racing triathlons, I understand your concern.
I agree with all your resources so far. Eat more good fats!
Sounds really weird I know, and I bet it'll take some getting used to, but if I remember correctly body fat must be no lower than 18%ish for regular cycles.
There are other options for excercise, too, just back off running some, or try another activity---spiritless mommies are no mommy at all!
Good job mommin' & racin'!
A.

I have been running since I was 13 years old (I am now 42). Once I started to run my periods stopped. On average I got my period only 4 times a year and one time it stopped for 13 months. I got pregnant with both of my kids without getting my period. A nurse told me that you can still ovulate even though you do not menstrate. The funny thing is I run longer distance now and ever since the birth of my kids I have a regular cycle. I would not stop running!

I have been in a similar situation. i wasn't eating enough calories, and I think not enough fats. I was also under a lot of stress. Don't give up running. Just maybe tone it down, make sure your body fat% is no less than 18%. And make sure you can eliminate any undue stress. You could also try cross training. Good luck though.