Why You Feel Bigger on Your Period (Even When You’re Not)
- Brooks
- May 15
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever stared in the mirror mid-period suddenly feeling like all of your progress vanished overnight...
You're not crazy. You're also not alone.
In this episode of The SweatSimple Podcast, we’re diving into the subtle—but powerful—ways your menstrual cycle can mess with your body image. And why those “ugh, I hate how I look today” thoughts aren’t always rooted in reality.
Because here's the truth: Your body measurements probably haven’t changed. But how you see your body might have.
Why You Feel Bigger On Your Period
I’ve had so many clients tell me they’re feeling discouraged with their progress—only to realize they’re on Day 1 of their cycle.
Their workouts didn’t suddenly stop working. Their eating habits didn’t fall off track. They’re just in the part of their cycle where bloating, low energy, and low self-esteem hit all at once.
And if you don’t know that? It’s easy to think something’s wrong with you—or your plan.
Why Body Image Feels Worse During Your Period
In this episode, I break down:
What one study found about body dissatisfaction across different menstrual phases
Why you feel bigger during your period (even when your body hasn’t changed)
What to do when these feelings pop up each month
The mindset shift that helps you stop spiraling and stay consistent
Because when you can predict the confidence dip, it gets a lot easier to ride it out.
Feeling Isn’t Fact—And It’s Definitely Not Failure
Your period isn’t the problem. The problem is assuming every body image dip means something is wrong.
When you start to track these patterns and give yourself grace during lower-confidence weeks, you can keep showing up—without second-guessing yourself every time your jeans feel tighter.
If you’re tired of feeling like you’re making progress one week and totally failing the next…
If you want to build a routine that works with your body, not against it…
If you’re ready to stop letting the scale—or your reflection—run the show…
Want more on the menstrual cycle? Listen to my episode about Cycle Syncing here.
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