pre menstrual cravings

nicfattypants

Does anyone else suffer from this I can keep to my calories 3 weeks out of 4 but my pre menstrual week I cant stop eating?

Khovde07

Oh my God, I'm in the middle of craving salt like you would not believe! No matter how hard I try, I just have to have it. I swear I'm one step away from buying a salt lick for my desk. It's like this every month.

diannethegeek

I have no science behind any of this, but these are some of the things I'll do to get through the PMS.

1. I raise my carbs a little during that TOM. I have absolutely no idea why this helps me, but it seems to sort out my binges a little bit.

2. Chocolate. Those little fudge pops are like 45 calories each. Jell-o pudding packs are about 60 calories. They make chocolate yogurt (both Greek and regular). Dark chocolate bars are full of iron, if you're looking for a good reason to eat it.

3. Iron. As above, dark chocolate. Spinach and leafy greens. Black beans. Lots of foods that have iron in them seem to help keep my energy levels up.

4. Comfort foods! For me that's single serve mac & cheese cups. Bacon and eggs (not so bad on the calorie count, actually). Grilled cheese sandwiches (I actually like them made with the sandwich thins, now). Noosa yogurt. Whatever it is that you love to eat, see if you can fit in your calories for the week. (I'll fit them into my day during other times of the month, too, but PMS becomes a week of nothing but comfort foods for me)

5. If it gets really bad I'll raise my calories to maintenance for a couple of days. I'd rather eat at maintenance and not lose for a little while then go overboard and risk losing control.

6. Don't weigh yourself if the fluctuations will bug you. A lot of women hold onto water during or just before their period, which looks like a gain on the scale. If that's going to demotivate you then stay off the scale for a week!

jalosingit1

I agree with Dianne - carbs help but I limit it to whole wheat bread or a sweet roll. Bananas help - I've eaten them with caramel sauce. Nature Valley sweet & salty peanut bars help. Just try to limit the damage by keeping high calorie foods out of your home or buying single serve items.

nel806

Oh I am going through this right now, my first month on MFP and I've been doing so well, until now! Craving sweet things, cake and chocolate mostly, and I'm just generally hungrier. My self control and motivation to exercise seemed to just disappear too, that little voice in my head telling me another piece of cake isn't a problem! Eurghh.

dawnconcordia

Check your health food store for a product made by Krisda. I have found chocolate chips sweetened with stevia!!!! The bonus is 1 tbsp. Has 5 grams of fiber!! Great for those sweet cravings

fishshark

my PMS cravings are THE WORST. I am never a HUGE sweets person but if i am PMSing i literally will kill anyone for a donut.. and then 3 days later i will have the most intense salt and burger cravings.. assuming the cravings for the burger is because the impending blood /iron loss. doesn't matter how bad I want to eat right the hormones take control. I honestly give into my cravings because my sanity is important and i will make sure to be active regardless of how bad i feel.