Ladies: Do you cheat during your period?

Cocobutter_ · February 2017

I Just started the cycle today and my cheat day is on Saturday but I'm a bit skeptical on eating junk food due to the fact that I think I will gain weight. Helppp

What will you guys suggest ...?

cerise_noir · February 2017

I often eat at maintenance during my pms/period. As for cheating, nah....I work what ever foods I like into my way of eating and calories.

bbell1985 · February 2017

What is cheat? I'm and adult and I make decisions about food. I either eat in a deficit, maintenance, or a surplus. I make what I want work, or I eat what I want and go over calories, or I pick something that fits better...or I pick a lot of things I think fit better and still go over calories. Or not.

It's up to you. You want to eat a cupcake and stay in a deficit? Do it. You won't gain weight. You want to have a maintenance day? You will still lose weight for the week because you were in a deficit overall.

kgirlhart · February 2017

I don't cheat. I eat foods I like that fit my calorie goal. I make room for chocolate almost every day.

leejoyce31 · February 2017

I don't consider it a cheat but yes I go way over on my calories eating hormonally every 4-6 weeks. I eat at a slight deficit the rest of the time. So it balances. This month I didn't get cravings. Got cramps and insomnia instead which I never get. So I didn't overeat this time.

I have that one big splurge day and that's it. I'm fine until the next time.

Machka9 · February 2017

Ladies: Do you cheat during your period?

Nope. Just carry on as normal.

lemonychild · February 2017

Eat at maintenance

wheninroam · February 2017

If you're asking about chocolate... I definitely get that in! BUT I still manage the rest of my calories so I don't overload.

Francl27 · February 2017

I don't cheat because there are no 'cheat foods' for me. I do eat more the week before because I'm typically starving, but I eat less the rest of the time to compensate.

tinkerbellang83 · February 2017

I either factor a bit of junk food in to my calorie goal or eat at mainenance for a day or two. If by Cheat that's what you mean, then yes. If you mean do I eat everything in sight without regard for my long term weight loss plan and undo all my hard work - nope.

AMSmit88 · February 2017

Two days leading up to my period I get crazy starving. I now understand the pattern and just go with it, knowing that for those two days I will most likely be in a surplus but will feel much better for it. Like others, I don't believe in 'cheating', I just make decisions based on what works for my goals and the day; if that's a cheeseburger that's going to make my insatiable period hunger calm down a bit then that's what I'm going with. A day or two off plan is not going to be the end of the world, and actually does a lot for my sanity.

HappyGrape · February 2017

I crave more carbs, and I eat more carbs but I don't consider it cheat. I just plan meals as pasta or oats & with fruit on days like that so I feel satisfied

zyxst · February 2017

When I was losing, sometimes I'd eat at maintenance for 2 days. I generally don't get period cravings, but if I do I work them into my calories rather than overeat. Sometimes I eat 4 cookies instead of 2 which pushes other "healthy" foods out, but the extra cookies keep me from being stabby which is, imo, much "healthier" than hitting my protein goal.

laceyslabaugh · February 2017

I feel a bit hungrier a few days before, but the day I start I lose my appetite (I get bad cramps and back aches). If I want a cookie or a cupcake, I eat it and just account for it and work it into my calories. Most days I'm under calories, so if 1 day a week I go a bit over, I just own it and move on

tahxirez · February 2017

I just eat to my body's preference and sometimes I go over. The real challenge for me is not letting that become a pattern.

87sid · February 2017

I don't usually specifically cheat. If I cheat (go over my deficit calorie goal) at any point, it's because I made a bad choice. And it usually involves pepperoni pizza because I can't fit that into my cals, unless I starve half the day. And I do not move my cals to maintenence because I'll still gain back the progress I've made the week before. I would suggest fitting what you can into your calorie goal.

lightenup2016 · February 2017

I don't do cheat days or meals, but during PMS I do eat a lot more than usual. I decided a while back not to fight it and just let myself eat over my usual calories. I try to limit it to 300 calories over maintenance, but it doesn't always go that well--like yesterday (see the post about butter!).

Once my period starts, my appetite plummets, so it sort of balances out. For me this works--my life is too crazy and hectic to worry about reigning in the PMS appetite monster. And, since I have to deal with it every 26 days for a number of years more, I figured I needed to make peace with an easy plan and not beat myself up over it.

ETA: I have been losing about a pound per week this way. I'm sure I could lose more quickly if I kept to my deficit during PMS, but then I would have to try really really hard not to hurt someone

ashleywright_0 · February 2017

If I'm craving something during my period I will eat it and work it into my calories for the day. Or sometimes I feel like I am starving and can't eat enough so I will eat until I am full. It's never had much of an effect on my weight loss and it helps me to get it all over with in one day instead of dragging it out and eating like crap for a week.