low libido..HELP!

[dianna]

I am in the most incredible relationship, with a wonderful, supportive, very attractive and extremely patient man. We have been discussing this to death and he is willing to do anything to help.
I have been working very hard over the past two years to build muscle, lose fat and basically be WonderWoman!
I do about 1-2 hours of cardio every day (broken up into a couple times a day) and I weight train for one hour 3 days a week.
I have now achieved the perfectly chiseled physique I have always wanted, and a perfectly clean diet that I love sticking to, but I havn't had my period in 7 months - Doctor says my bodyfat is too low - No periods aren't really a problem for me, but now I have absolutely no sex drive. At all. I feel like I have turned myself into a machine and I have completely lost my sensual side. I used to want sex all the time and now the idea of sex, with my partner, with myself, with anyone is a complete turn-off.
Has anyone else here experienced this? Any suggestions on how to get it back?

[Hibiscus09]

You need to raise your bodyfat -- plain & simple. It is a problem not to have your period -- you're setting yourself up for osteoporosis later in life. How low is your bodyfat? For most women, 15% is the minimum (unless you're preparing for a bodybuilding contest & even then, keeping it low enough to lose your period is only a temporary state). It is unhealthy to maintain a bodyfat that is so low you lose your period. Your libido problems will more than likely be solved (although it could be other things) when you raise your bodyfat.

[MsFit]

Exactly. By droping your bodyfat to below ideal levels for women, you're screwing up your hormones. I've competed in many shows and dropped my bodyfat to dangerous levels for a woman, and yes, an absense of menstruation and sex drive go completely. :(

It sounds like you have a great guy that loves you for who you are. Is having a perfectly chisled body worth the risk of health and a true love?

Back off a little on the training, allow for more rest and get your body back in balance. It may take a few months to regain your normal cycle, but I think you will be happier. :)
MsFit

[dianna]

I just found out I'm at 12% bodyfat.
I had been bulemic for many years and wanted to change that, so I started weights and cardio and began eating a healthy balanced diet. I had been enjoying the training and watching my body morph into a machine, but I didn't realize this could be causing trouble as well.
I'm certainly not training for any competitions, I perhaps am just getting carried away in how I can control my body in a different way.
Does the libido come back with bodyfat, has anyone actually experienced this, or are you just using logic?
I am aiming to go up to 15%

[MsFit]

Are you still suffering from an eating disorder? That could be a factor as well. Yes, your cycle and sex drive will resume once you have your body back in balance.

Just a suggestion, cut back the cardio to 4-5 days a week, get more rest and be sure that you are eating 5-6 good quality meals a day, each consisting of protein and carbohydrates. Supplementing with an EFA will help restore balance as well.

In the mean time, you can try supplementing with Wild Yam Root to increase sexual energy. ;)
MsFit

[dianna]

Thanks for all of this advice!
I do feel as though I have exchanged one eating disorder for anothertype of disorder, it's true.
I do eat aboutt 2200 calories a day, mostly fresh fruit, tons ov vegetables, lean protein, like chicken, fish, turkey. I use protein powder 2x day and a protein bar. I don't eat a lot of starchy carbs, I just don't like the texture and I don't like the oily feeling of most fats too. I eat about 6 small meals a day and I snack on things like grapes and dried apples all day long. My food intake cetainly isn't lacking. I have tried this week to add yams and heavy rye bread to my diet.

What is an EFA?

[Hibiscus09]

Essential Fatty Acids. :) I know there are Omega-3s & Omega-6s. The omega-3s come from salmon, olive oil, etc. I'm not real sure about the omega-6s, although I recently started supplementing with CLA & noticed it was a source of these. Both of these are essential to human health.

Well, I'm not sure if that's enough. I know that salmon, olive oil, etc. are sources of Omega 3s. Basically, the EFAs are sources of healthy fats as opposed to unhealthy saturated fats.

Maybe Ms. Fit can add more. . .

[tracyb555]

Dianna,

Apologies if I'm reading too much into your posts, but it seems less a physical issue to me than an emotional one. If you've had past problems with bulimia and now feel you are substituting one addiction with another (excessive exercise), perhaps you have some control issues that are preventing you from enjoying a healthy sex life. It's worth looking into, since you seem very fond of your partner and want to have a fulfilling relationship in all senses of the word.

If you think it's merely an issue of not having enough physical energy, consider lowering your level of workouts to see if that helps. If the thought of that throws you into a panic, please re-read my first paragraph.

Best wishes!

[dianna]

Obviously, I'm substituting one disorder for another! That's the problem! I ended up losing so much bodyfat that I have stopped getting my periods and I have no sex drive.
I havn't dealt with the core issue of myu bulemia properly and wether it was bodybuilding or birdwatching, I would have ended up going overboard.
That was precisely what I had discovered this week which landed me here.
Hence, asking people who may have been in the same position for their help and experiences.
Thanks for the insight though

[rippedteenchick]

I suffered from anorexia, and brought my bodyfat below 10 percent. After I recovered, I started serious weight lifting, and brough my bf% closer to 10. I missed a few periods, but after that it got better. My doctor tells me I should try to get my bf% farther above 10 though.

[Mrs.Fitness]

I had this happen to me around this time last year and when I wsent to see my doctor he told me that I was "Over Exercising" and this can cause a holt in your period. I was doing cardio 1-2 hours a day and that was WAY too much.

Once I resumed my 30 minutes 3-4 times a week I was back to normal.

[dianna]

How long did it take for you to get "back to normal??" I have made some changes over the past two weeks and I have gained a pound or two and cut the cardio quite a bit. I am SO dying to feel like a woman again!