Short luteal phase - vitex causing it?? Or losing too much weight?

[atomic sagebrush]

30 g is the absolute barest minimum of fat so yes yes I'd have you up that. You have up to 60 g fat and still remain in LE Diet range (with the reminder that needs to be majority vegetable fats and not, like, lard. 40 g is def. superior to 30!

[atomic sagebrush]

I meant 40g to try and get cycles in order whilst still swaying pink. I'd been sticking to 30g so maybe upping the fat to 40 could do the trick but not jeopardise my sway? I have had a couple of 'relaxed' days this weekend. Just felt like I was in need of more kcal and fat so I didn't count anything (still stayed veggie and no snacking)

That is FINE!! I'm very happy to hear it.

[maidentomother]

Lard is actually pretty pink friendly, especially for an animal fat. Way better than butter.

I have never found intense exercise (I'm talking 1.5-3hrs of running or walking and an hour of yoga daily) to affect my LP. Diet doesn't seem to matter either. I think it's just natural for me, and it seems that way for some other women too. I've found a SMALL correlation with my weight, but it's subtle and not consistent.

I really wish there were a cheap, easy and accurate way to measure body fat percentage bc that would be a much better gauge of whether someone is at risk of losing O. Someone like me with high body fat and low BMI can actually safely lose some weight without risking O. But there is no way to recommend that without knowing body composition.

[atomic sagebrush]

That was kind of a joke about the lard.

I have seen people get a short LP with JUST exercise (and more commonly, people correct diet and still have short LP till they cut back on exercise as well) so I stick with my thinking that it does make a difference and for fastest correction, increase cals, cut exercise, and people can always switch it up after things get better.

I'm not totally convinced it IS body fat %. I use that because it's handy but I actualy HAVE stopped my O once before from diet/exercise, mostly exercise, and I still had plenty o chunk on me. I knew a lady IRL from IG who also had 4 boys and she had like negative 3% body fat and ovulated normally. There seems to be some interaction between what your body is used to, some kind of genetics/natural build kind of thing, and I am built like a human version of a Jack Russel terrier LOL short and muscly and prone to pudginess if I'm not careful, but I have seen some very waiflike women who can O at really low BMI. I can't (or at least without a long transitionary period)

I wish we knew more about it!

[honeybee37]

With me, I'm pretty sure it's exercise. When I was trying to conceive my eldest, I worked out around 5x a week. My LP was about 10 days, which ended up being enough to get pregnant and stay pregnant. When I don't exercise at all, it goes up to 12-13 days. Now I'm doing loads, it's gone down to 8. I've been stick-thin and not don't cardio, normal LP. I'm going to give it one month on the slightly lower cardio regime (60 min 5x a week), and see if that helps. If it doesn't, I'm tempted to stick with the diet strictly but go couch potato. What do you think? Would sudden couch potato after a few months of daily cardio be ok for a girl sway?

[atomic sagebrush]

That's one of those crystal ball questions that I honestly don't have the data to really answer. The thing is, since we KNOW exercise is working, I hate to see anyone who CAN technicaly exercise, giving up on it. Even a 10 day LP should be enough. One month I feel like may not be giving it a fair shake either because you were not eating enough either.

Let's try 4 days a week and eating more and see where we are at next month, and at that point I may try to convince you to give it two if LP is 10 days (not shorter)

Also thanks for keeping us all updated about your experiences with exercise and your LP. This is how I end up knowing what I know and thinking the way I do is because you guys fill me in what has happened with you, not only swaying but just in general.

[honeybee37]

I don't want to quit the exercise either, not least because I really feel it's helping with my ongoing anxiety issues (which probably sway boy!) if my LP is up to 10 I won't worry cos I know I've conceived easily on this before. Hopefully it was just s blip and I've quit the vitex this month so we will see! I'm actually feeling tons more relaxed about this cycle, partly because it would be due at Christmas so in my head that reduces the pressure (I don't know why - maybe because it wouldn't be ideal so I know it's not the be all and end all this month?) and partly cos I'm expecting to have s messed up cycle.... So maybe those chilled out factors will help?! Who knows! Thanks atomic for your constant help! You are ace ��

[maidentomother]

I know you were joking about the lard but couldn't resist commenting for the record. I know you understand that urge!

I do definitely think diet and exercise can shorten LPs. Just saying it doesn't seem to matter for me. When I was very thin (16% body fat, 14 BMI) and doing hardcore intermittent fasting BUT high fat intake and normal overall cal intake, my cycles were more erratic than usual, in every aspect. Cycle length, O day, and LP length. This is true also while on the LE diet, but to a lesser extent.

I don't think body fat is everything, but I do think it's a better gauge in general than BMI. I also think that oftentimes when women stop Oing, due to a new exercise regime or diet, despite having enough BF, it's frequently a temporary effect. Whenever I stop or start the LE diet, it delays O for me. In fact, my longest cycle ever with latest ever O was last April after I took a break from the LE. I've seen so many other women respond similarly to a sudden change in diet, without any change in weight. But usually O is only affected for a month or two.

[honeybee37]

Ok that's good to know, maiden. I'll hang fire before making any drastic changes! I feel like I have worked out how to maintain weight and continue the LE diet / cardio. If it's just a temporary effect, that would be great. I'm still optimistic for this month tho

[honeybee37]

Maiden, what eas the fasting you were doing? I used to fast but have quit that now. I actually feel like it made me stressed.