Cravings-Lady Time

moledew

I'm having the hardest time sticking to this right now!!! Its that time and I could eat myself out of house and home. I'm very proud to say that I was craving ice cream but after checking the calories I opted for non-fat yogurt instead and I was able to walk by the break room that was housing tons of cupcakes and cookies yesterday. This is a HUGE stride for me but I still went over calories yesterday. Not by a *kitten* ton, but I went over nonetheless. All I want is sugary junk food and an abundance of it! I feel like I'm starving and had thought about changing my goals to "maintaining" during this time so that I don't completely fall off the band wagon for a week..? I know a few bad days don't mean I have to give up (and I won't) but it does kind of hit my pride I guess that I'm not strong enough to just say no and put my old ways at bay right now. How do you ladies cope with this? I can't be the only one that could tear down a buffet during this pesky time.

macgurlnet

Many ladies do choose to eat at maintenance level around TOM - it's just easier to deal with.

I've found that being consistent with my exercise has helped calm the intense munchies I get. Try to make sure you have a stash of nutritious and yummy treats, maybe load up on veggies if you're feeling hungry and not just craving certain things. I sometimes try to have a bunch of veggies, see if the craving backs off, then go for 1 treat. I'll keep doing that throughout the day. At least then I'm being somewhat healthy, right?

Maybe sipping on diet soda or tea/iced tea would help?

I've found it's gotten much easier as I've changed my eating habits and upped the amount of exercise I do. Stick with it!

~Lyssa

mbaker566

I understand. I miss brownies and ice cream. usually I just eat a graham cracker, or whip cream (low calories and sweet), or drink some skim milk
and sometimes if my calories allow, i'll have ice cream or sundaes, but it's all about the planning and calories for me.

jemhh

My advice is to up your calories for the first 2 days that your appetite increases. Up them by 200-300 or even all the way to maintenance. Two days of letting yourself eat more, at a time when your body is burning more calories (source), is not going to ruin your weight loss efforts. A week of crashing and burning after trying to restrict your calories during the hardest time to do it likely will have a far worse effect.

donnajeanbrady

I find chewing gum helps with sweet cravings and keeps my mouth busy

Francl27

It's odd, I actually don't have that problem.

kshama2001

jemhh wrote: »

My advice is to up your calories for the first 2 days that your appetite increases. Up them by 200-300 or even all the way to maintenance. Two days of letting yourself eat more, at a time when your body is burning more calories (source), is not going to ruin your weight loss efforts. A week of crashing and burning after trying to restrict your calories during the hardest time to do it likely will have a far worse effect.

Thanks for the link! I liked this tip:

Finally, the paper notes that some of the drive for appetite may be mediated by changes in blood glucose homeostasis. Empirically, some women seem to be more prone to hypoglycemia during certain phases of the menstrual cycle and falling blood sugar can stimulate hunger. Ensuring that blood glucose levels stay stable might be extremely beneficial during those periods. For example, consuming moderate amounts of fruit during that part of the cycle (to ensure that there is always some liver glycogen to be released to maintain blood glucose) would be a useful strategy.

Altagracia220

Yep, this is a tough time for me as well. I cope by eating a little more.

_whatsherface

I always go over on calories around this time. Particularly 2 or so days before and then 2 days in.

yourradimradletshug

Chewing gum helps with craving sweets but I get the cravings for something salty so that's when I go to something like sunflower seeds or almonds with sea salt or some popcorn.

Lyndonbearsmommy

I am having the same issue. Someone brought really salty chips in and someone else brought in a bunch of cookies. They sit in the break room taunting me. I did eat a cookie though. I pre-log my food to see if I have room for that type of food. I have no real advise, but I certainly can sympathize.

JakeBrownVB

Guy here... just popping in to make sure everythings in check...

Yep. Seems to be. Good good.

I'll be on my way then.

kshama2001

Jasmunr

I find I eat less around TOM. I get migraines though so the thought if eating when my stomach is cramping like crazy and I'm nauseous is not appealing.

moledew

Thanks for the feedback ladies. I was able to stay under my calorie goals yesterday and just ate more fewer calorie foods instead of my normal meals and snacks, to trick my mind into thinking I was actually getting to just eat more. This is a force to be reckoned with for sure!

Sabine_Stroehm

kshama2001 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

My advice is to up your calories for the first 2 days that your appetite increases. Up them by 200-300 or even all the way to maintenance. Two days of letting yourself eat more, at a time when your body is burning more calories (source), is not going to ruin your weight loss efforts. A week of crashing and burning after trying to restrict your calories during the hardest time to do it likely will have a far worse effect.

Thanks for the link! I liked this tip:

Finally, the paper notes that some of the drive for appetite may be mediated by changes in blood glucose homeostasis. Empirically, some women seem to be more prone to hypoglycemia during certain phases of the menstrual cycle and falling blood sugar can stimulate hunger. Ensuring that blood glucose levels stay stable might be extremely beneficial during those periods. For example, consuming moderate amounts of fruit during that part of the cycle (to ensure that there is always some liver glycogen to be released to maintain blood glucose) would be a useful strategy.

That makes a lot of sense (hypoglycemia and menstruation). I'd stress that it should be fruit, not juice, soda, cookies etc. And would add that I've been more prone (much more) to hypoglycemia since entering (peri)menopause.

suke28

I'm in the same boat. My problem is if I want it nothing will stand in my way or can be substituted. I'm still a work in progress.

jenniejoy07

Jasmunr wrote: »

I find I eat less around TOM. I get migraines though so the thought if eating when my stomach is cramping like crazy and I'm nauseous is not appealing.

me too! I get a migraine the day before or the day I start and sometimes another one 1-2 days later. It really sucks. I find eating fruit a frozen fruit bar helps my cravings

sadiqajamilla

Lol I just experienced this whole PMS craving business for the first time yesterday and let me tell you, I ate everything in sight! Yesterday was a mess. I still logged everything though. Moving on to today, not a single craving in sight but Aunt Flo showed up. Diary is open for anyone who wants to see yesterday's madness.

benzieboxx

I'm on my period right now and am battling my cravings like crazy. If I go over my calories I don't beat myself up over it. MFP doesn't exactly take into account your hormonal fluctuations every month. You aren't weak because you're "giving in" to your cravings. You're choosing to have the food. The food and cravings are not controlling you. You're allowed to have these days. You just have to accept it and move on. Beating yourself up isn't productive or conducive to a positive attitude.

moledew

suke28 wrote: »

I'm in the same boat. My problem is if I want it nothing will stand in my way or can be substituted. I'm still a work in progress.

YESSSS!! I feel like sometimes I should've just eaten my craving in the first place because after substituting healthier options like yogurt or salted nuts along with fruits and veggies, I went over what my craving would have been.

sealensfit

Just look at the macros on some frozen yogurts down the ice cream isle and try to find one that appeals to you. I've found one that I really like that is pretty low-cal, tastes good, and is chocolate flavoured! It's a Canadian only brand though (president's choice) so I don't think you'd be able to find the same one, but really any one is good. I usually crush up some frozen raspberries on top - makes a great dessert and is sweet enough to help with cravings. Also, if you want something salty - make some popcorn and add some coconut oil and a bit of salt And if you're a weight-lifter, or just need more protein you can try Quest bars (warmed up!) or pro-max protein bars.

dawniemate

I just try to busy lol....

Toadstool_

I know how you feel, I'm driving myself mad right now. It seems at that certain time of the month, your stomach turns into a never ending pit. Constantly hungry! I did let myself have an extra snack after dinner yesterday, mind you that didn't help, still would have happily eaten the entire contents of the fridge. I'm being very strict with myself today - eating only what I know I would usually be full on, and sticking to drinking water rather than snacking, and listening to music, I find it distracts me from thinking about food - after a while I forget I'm "hungry".

londontart

Was just reading another post similar to this! I always end up starving in the few days before and all healthy habits could easily - or sometimes do - fly out the window. I try to get my cardio in on these days because the first few days it actually starts I'm as good as useless - cramps, nausea and a whole host of other nasties that leave me stuck in bed. I did find a really interesting article recently about depending on what you're craving it means you're lacking in a certain vitamin and gave healthy alternatives. It's worth looking in to as it made sense what the article was saying. Although lets be honest, during TOM if you're after a bar of chocolate and you're advised to eat spinach...I think I know who's going to win...

Francl27

Yeah I get ravenous before too. But I don't crave sweets... I'm just hungry. Once it starts, nope.