Bloating and the Implication on Weight Loss

If you’re trying to lose weight, you may have heard that measuring inches lost instead of pounds lost is a more effective motivator. But for some women, significant bloating that occurs in conjunction with their menstrual period may make it seem as if the inches aren’t coming off either. How can you reduce bloating in order to lose inches?

• Control Your Carbs. Research has suggested that eating complex carbohydrates can contribute to bloating. To control bloating and reduce your waist size, avoid eating excessive amounts of complex carbohydrates when you’re dieting.
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can also increase bloating in women. If you’re trying to lose weight, you should avoid drinking your calories anyway, and staying away from the cocktails can also reduce bloating. Similarly, be aware that some prescription medications may cause you to retain water, which creates a bloating effect.
• Move more. Women who work in sedentary jobs are much more likely to experience poorly controlled bloating. If you work at a job that requires a lot of sitting, take short breaks every hour to move around. This will help improve your blood flow and circulation, improve digestion, and decrease the bloating affect.
• Load up on calcium. Experts recommend that most women consume at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. Calcium can be especially effective at reducing bloating that’s associated with the menstrual cycle or hormonal fluctuation. You can get calcium through dairy products or through a daily supplement.