How menstrual cycles impact women's bodies and weight: Fitness coach explains

A fitness coach has explained how the menstrual cycle can cause temporary changes in women’s body weight, highlighting that fluctuations are a normal biological process rather than actual fat gain.

According to fitness coach Ralston D’Souza, hormonal changes during different phases of the menstrual cycle—including menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase—can lead to noticeable shifts in weight, bloating, and puffiness throughout the month.

In a recent video shared on social media, he demonstrated how a woman’s weight may vary across the cycle.

In the example, her weight changed from around 64 kg during menstruation to 62 kg in the follicular and ovulation phases, before increasing to 67 kg in the luteal phase.

The coach explained that these changes are primarily due to water retention and hormonal fluctuations rather than changes in body fat.

He emphasized that such variations are common and should not be misinterpreted as loss of progress in fitness or dieting.

“If the weight on the scale is going up or is all over the place despite you being consistent, it doesn’t mean you’re not making progress,” he said, advising patience and consistency.

D’Souza also noted that many women become frustrated when they see scale fluctuations despite maintaining regular exercise and healthy habits.

He encouraged them not to overthink these temporary changes, stressing that the body naturally responds to hormonal shifts across the month.

Experts generally agree that weight changes during the menstrual cycle are often linked to fluid retention, appetite changes, and hormonal activity, all of which can temporarily affect how the body looks and feels.

The coach concluded by reminding women to trust the process and avoid discouragement, as these fluctuations are typically short-term and part of normal physiology.