Expert: Ryan Hale - 6/4/2011

Question
I am not technically an athlete, but I do exercise often.  Around 4 months ago, I lowered my caloric intake to 1,400 a day and I began exercising much more frequently. I went from doing cardio every once and a while to doing it every day for anywhere between 20 mins and 3 hours a day, though the 3 hr a day only occurred 2 or 3 times. Since I upped my exercise level, I lost my period and I have been without it for the last 4 months. I weigh 125 pounds, and I was wondering what I have to do to get it back. About a month ago I began eating anywhere between 1800 and 2200 calories a day and I walked on the treadmill for about 30 or 40 mins a day (burning between 360 & 510 calories). I also did about 10 mins of strenghting exercises. Is this still too much exercise? Should I stop exercise completely until I get it back? Or should I continue to work out, but do it fewer days a week? I would like to maintain my current weight, but I more importantly want to be healthy.

Thank you,
Nicole

Answer
Nicole- it does not sound like your exercise regimen is too strenuous, however, stress, both physical and emotional can have an effect on your cycle.  I've seen perfectly healthy women go through some stress at work or change their fitness program just a bit and have it effect their cycle.  At the same time, I've known very, very lean women who had such low body fat levels that it "should" have effected their cycle and it didn't.  Everyone is different.  I would go to my doctor or ob/gyn just to make sure this isn't something serious.  After getting a clean bill of health from your Dr. then it's a matter of finding the balance between calorie intake and exercise that your body prefers.  If you are trying to gain or maintain a certain "look" it may just not be possible while maintaining a healthy amount of body composition.  Also, don't just look at total calories.  You need to be sure you have enough fat, protein and carbs in your diet.  This may mean including more dietary fat than you currently are, or more protein.