Why do we experience weight fluctuations? Our bodies are constantly changing – just like the seasons. Our skin replaces itself every month and our skeletal system replaces itself every three months. Not to mention our hormones fluctuate every day and throughout the month.
Because our bodies are constantly remodeling, it’s natural that we might experience weight fluctuations and our clothes may not fit the way we like all the time. That’s still hard to sit with.
At a young age, I realized during my menstrual cycle that I would gain a few pounds and experience water retention which was devasting when trying to fit into my clothes.
I’d console my pouty self by throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt – even though was too warm and sunny in Southern California to wear sweats.
In fact, premenstrual weight gain and weight fluctuations are super common. One study indicated that 92% of women experience water retention as a common premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptom.
Weight gain can also happen during other hormonal changes, like menopause. Some studies indicate women in the late stages of perimenopause may get the drive to eat more calories and store fat when they have low estrogen levels.
Through various stages in our lives, our weight fluctuations can be triggered for a variety of reasons, including when we’re transitioning into an intuitive eating lifestyle.
Remember, reclaiming your intuition with food and movement is a practice, unique to you. Weight changes may or may not happen during the process. Integrating healthy lifestyle behaviors offers many health benefits and supports a healthy relationship with food.
That’s all fine, but knowing that doesn’t change the fact that there are days when getting dressed is THE MOST emotionally painful part of your day.
If you’re looking for other comfortable clothing options for those difficult body image days, and you don’t want to settle for sweats, here are some options:
- Esby Apparel. These flowy neutral and cozy pieces make me want to curl up with a book and a cup of tea. They have expanded their size line and offer more style and size varieties. These classic yet fashionable pieces are made in a factory powered by solar energy. How cool is that?!
- DAY/WON Activewear. This clothing brand emphasizes size-inclusive activewear and actually has the following tag line “100-Percent Size-Inclusive”. Not only do they have real women test out all the sizes, but all the pieces are also available in sizes 0 through 32. As a bonus, they use recycled materials. Another win for Mother Nature!
- Ace and Dig. These stunning prints and colorful patterns will brighten your day. The company focuses on creating timeless pieces up to 4x in size and is always creating something new for each season.
What you put on your body can truly make or break how you feel about your body and in your body. That’s why one of the first steps of learning how to savor food and your body is ditching any clothes that don’t fit your current body and finding new ones that do. You may need to have a variety of sizes, styles, and fabrics in your wardrobe to account for all the ways your body changes and shifts over time.
If you’re an active woman, in the prime of life, and you find yourself wondering if this is your midlife crisis, join the private SavorFood&Body Facebook Group. You’ll receive a ton of practical, action-packed tools, resources, and access to an amazing community of women who are all about cheering each other on through the Savor Food & Body journey.
References:
Karvonen-Gutierrez, C., & Kim, C. (2016). Association of mid-life changes in body size, body composition, and obesity status with the menopausal transition. Healthcare, 4(3), 42. doi:10.3390/healthcare4030042
Pascale, M. T., de Oliveira Ribeiro, D., Barros Guimarães, B. E., Perez Machado, A. F., & Tacani, R. E. (2015). Characterization of symptoms and edema distribution in premenstrual syndrome. International Journal of Women’s Health, 7, 297-303. doi:0.2147/IJWH.S74251
Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2012). Intuitive Eating. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin. ISBN-10: 1250004047
