Jiffer... I totally feel for you... and am right there with ya!

I'm 42 and peri-menopasual. Exhausted like first tri-mester prego, craving red meat, and the water weight loss is the WORST! It is nearly *impossible* to hydrate properly.

My OB/GYN happens to be a cyclist, and so is his wife the peds doc (killer household income, eh? lol). We discussed my bonking hard on some century training rides during this time. I weighed myself, and basically dumped my 5lbs of monthly gain within few days. Plus, what I sweated out. At that time, my body weight at 5'5" was 120lbs, so basically 4%+ total loss. Significant.

I dranks like crazy, got my electrolytes, salty foods, whole nine yards. The only thing he had to suggest was maybe taking a pill to prevent the weight gain. But, that makes you dehydrated to not gain the monthly bloat. Kinda defeats the purpose we decided.

Just sux *sigh*!