How to stop comforting yourself during your period?

xveer22

I'm starting to be better at controlling myself with cravings. But during my period... Suddenly the whole world is mean that something like periods exist. And I want to comfort myself with chocolate and other high calorie stuff, because I pity myself for all the cramps I have. (Okay, this sounds as if I'm a really not-nice person, but that's only during my period). How do you women handel these cravings and meanness of what we have to suffer every month?

janejellyroll

I will fit some chocolate or whatever I'm craving into my plan, remind myself that having excess weight won't make my periods any easier, and find other ways to comfort/distract myself.

kgirlhart

I fit chocolate in too. I like the fiber one brownies and hot chocolate.

angelamichelle_xo

I eat bark thins during my period. You can find themore at target.

makaryan11

I change my goal from 2lb to 1.5lb a week, it gives me enough calories to eat, and will change it back once I feel better, this help me a lot, and I don't feel guilty or deprived , I hope this helps.

xveer22

angelamichelle_xo wrote: »

I eat bark thins during my period. You can find themore at target.

What are bark thins?

xveer22

makaryan11 wrote: »

I change my goal from 2lb to 1.5lb a week, it gives me enough calories to eat, and will change it back once I feel better, this help me a lot, and I don't feel guilty or deprived , I hope this helps.

That actually sounds as a great idea!

ilex70

Just eat the dang chocolate. Within reason, of course.

Other than that there is hot tea, trashy romance novels, and binge watching your favorite series.

QueenofHearts023

I try to comfort myself with other things and not food. I tend to do things for myself I don't normally do...like paint my nails, take a looong hot bath with bubbles, scented candles and relaxing music. But I would enjoy a chocolate if I'm really craving it like crazy.

MelodyandBarbells

I take a couple dozen doses of my little friends ibuprofen

Getting fat(ter) won't solve anything. And if it will, I'll eat the damn chocolate. Which usually ain't in the house, anyway. So maybe keep things out of the house if you tend to eat too much of them. Maybe even have them around the rest of the time, just not when it's easier to succumb to temptation

Stanley1903

I don't get terrible food related cravings, but my nurse practitioner said to take magnesium to lessen period symptoms (like cramps, digestive troubles, and cravings if you have them). I second the above suggestion to use something besides food. A hot bath is more helpful physically.

Francl27

Use Advil and/or Tylenol to get rid of the cramps (I alternate them). Drink some 'PMS' tea. Get magnesium supplements.

Honestly once I get the cramps taken care of (that's when buying Advil softgels is worth the extra $$), it's really not bad for me, but I don't get cravings with my period.

Larissa_NY

It's your period, not a death in the family. You shouldn't need "comforting." I get horrible cramps and mood swings, and I don't love them either, but that's life. It's not unfair, it's not "mean," it's not suffering, and unless you have one of a few specific and diagnosed medical conditions, it's nothing special. Women have been dealing with cramps as long as there have been women with uteruses.

In short: suck it up, buttercup. Stop with the self-pity, because all you're doing is giving yourself an excuse to eat high volumes of all the crap you want to eat during the rest of the month and manage not to. Take Tylenol for your cramps or live with them like half the rest of the human race does. Have some chocolate if you want chocolate. If you think your period is really that intolerable, see a gynecologist. But I've got to tell you, cramps that can be cured by chocolate are not very bad cramps.

xveer22

Stanley1903 wrote: »

I don't get terrible food related cravings, but my nurse practitioner said to take magnesium to lessen period symptoms (like cramps, digestive troubles, and cravings if you have them). I second the above suggestion to use something besides food. A hot bath is more helpful physically.

When should you start taking the magnesium? Already before your period or during?

xveer22

Stanley1903 wrote: »

I don't get terrible food related cravings, but my nurse practitioner said to take magnesium to lessen period symptoms (like cramps, digestive troubles, and cravings if you have them). I second the above suggestion to use something besides food. A hot bath is more helpful physically.

When should you start taking the magnesium? Already before your period or during?

CollieFit

Larissa_NY wrote: »

It's your period, not a death in the family. You shouldn't need "comforting." I get horrible cramps and mood swings, and I don't love them either, but that's life. It's not unfair, it's not "mean," it's not suffering, and unless you have one of a few specific and diagnosed medical conditions, it's nothing special. Women have been dealing with cramps as long as there have been women with uteruses.

In short: suck it up, buttercup.

LOL... Love it.

yesimpson

Larissa_NY wrote: »

It's your period, not a death in the family. You shouldn't need "comforting." I get horrible cramps and mood swings, and I don't love them either, but that's life. It's not unfair, it's not "mean," it's not suffering, and unless you have one of a few specific and diagnosed medical conditions, it's nothing special. Women have been dealing with cramps as long as there have been women with uteruses.

In short: suck it up, buttercup. Stop with the self-pity, because all you're doing is giving yourself an excuse to eat high volumes of all the crap you want to eat during the rest of the month and manage not to. Take Tylenol for your cramps or live with them like half the rest of the human race does. Have some chocolate if you want chocolate. If you think your period is really that intolerable, see a gynecologist. But I've got to tell you, cramps that can be cured by chocolate are not very bad cramps.

This is the approach I take with myself, because I know I turn into a disproportionately whiny little wimp when I'm on. I can eat the chocolate, but not as much as I want, and I go to the gym first. At the end of the day if it's only a couple of days it's not terrible - a few extra hundred calories can easily be evened out in the grand scheme of things.

niniundlapin

Francl27 wrote: »

Use Advil and/or Tylenol to get rid of the cramps (I alternate them). Drink some 'PMS' tea. Get magnesium supplements.

Honestly once I get the cramps taken care of (that's when buying Advil softgels is worth the extra $$), it's really not bad for me, but I don't get cravings with my period.

That's how I deal with it too. I pretty much go back to my routines once the cramps are gone with the help from Advil. I still eat chocolate and chips like crazily, but I fit them into my daily calorie goal. I also dilute my hot cocoa... like one teaspoon of powder in full cup of water. I like it that way & it takes away the guilt

akamran1

Really curious about the magnesium - details please!

Francl27

akamran1 wrote: »

Really curious about the magnesium - details please!

I started the pills after reading about how it can help with cravings (I guess I never really crave sweets because of hormones though so it did nothing for me, but I know it helps some people). Just buy magnesium pills, you can take 1-3 a day. I usually just take 3 a day when my PMS symptoms start.

benzieboxx

If your cramps are that bad buy yourself a heating pad. Getting myself one has helped so much with my menstrual cramps and the lower back pain that comes along with them. No need to comfort myself with food if the problem is solved by just applying some heat to it.

DKG28

i know the feeling...but i find giving in to it makes it worse. I've found though, that so far, my weight loss has eased my cramps and period symptoms. Not completely gone, but a dose of Midol actually works now! Food cravings...well I'll double up on coffee and tea and the caffeine kick helps. I also have to ask myself to pinpoint the issue...often it's not the nuisance of the period or the cramps that is really the issue, but the fatigue. Fatigue drives me to the fridge, but a binge doesn't cure that when it's hormone-related. I don't actually think I crave chocolate - i think that idea has been planted in female minds by our culture. Cravings in general - totally, but chocolate specifically? Not sure about that...

ElizabethOakes2

I started to write a rant here about the people with the "take an advil and get over it" attitudes, but I decided it wasn't helpful.

Part of why you're here, on MyFitnessPal is to learn how to be kind to your body- how to keep it healthy, provide it with good nutrition and exercise, to love ourselves not just for who we are, but to strive to be better people, right?
Part of being kind to your body is recognizing that sometimes it hurts, sometimes it goes through hormonal trauma that can feel like it's tearing you up. And part of being healthy about that is recognizing it, not 'take an advil and suck it up'. You're working hard to get in touch with your body, to sense when it's hungry, when it needs to stretch and when it needs to run, right? To notice when you're not drinking enough water, or when you're fatigued and need to up your protein.

Having a bad period? Be kind to yourself! Recognize that your body is hurting and needs attention. Grab a bite or two of dark chocolate, go for a walk, take a hot bath and a Midol and just be kind to yourself. Treat your body with kindness and support, generosity and love. Isn't that why we're here? To learn our bodies needs and create healthier stronger relationships with ourselves?

(DKG28- As to chocolate cravings not being 'cravings', there's been a lot of research that suggests that chocolate contains endorphins that help with things like hormonal shifts. I don't think it's something that's been 'planted in female minds by our culture'.)

BrideSept2017

I load up on ibuprofen and use a heating pad for my cramps, and buy low calorie chocolate treats that I can fit into my day so it feels like I'm indulging. I usually get really tired during my period, so I cut back on my exercise if I need to. I basically take it easy for a couple days (while still sticking close to my calorie goals) and know that I will make it up when I'm feeling better.

Stanley1903

It seemed the idea to take magnesium daily. But if you don't want to take it every day I'd start 5-7 days before your period and take it through the first 2-3 days of a period. (I also don't like taking pills every single day if I don't need to. But nutrients need to have a steady supply to keep up stores. I would imagine magnesium is similar.)

tomteboda

benzieboxx wrote: »

If your cramps are that bad buy yourself a heating pad. Getting myself one has helped so much with my menstrual cramps and the lower back pain that comes along with them. No need to comfort myself with food if the problem is solved by just applying some heat to it.

Best advice ever. The heat helps relax the cramping muscles. I use the pad before I go to work out, and after my shower. While I'm not against self-indulgent eating, I've never noticed eating made the cramps less, they just softened my misery factor for the day. However, the pad & exercise work wonders. I'm not saying that they make it pain-free, just a lot more endurable.

jdhcm2006

Heating pads are the best. I know they have some that you can wear inside your underwear so that you can keep going about your day. For me, I get hungrier during my cycle. Some months are easier to control than others. The advice about lowering your weekly loss rate for that time was really good advice. I will probably start to do that myself. For me, I generally eat chocolate daily, so it's already worked into my lifestyle. Just let yourself have it within reason. Have a few pieces, not the entire bag of chocolate.

LKArgh

xveer22 wrote: »

I'm starting to be better at controlling myself with cravings. But during my period... Suddenly the whole world is mean that something like periods exist. And I want to comfort myself with chocolate and other high calorie stuff, because I pity myself for all the cramps I have. (Okay, this sounds as if I'm a really not-nice person, but that's only during my period). How do you women handel these cravings and meanness of what we have to suffer every month?

Eat less calories in your other meals, so you can fit your cravings. And take pain killers for the cramps. Experiment a bit, not everythign is effective for everyone.

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx

I'm in the "suck it up, buttercup" camp here. I just deal with it, without needing to "comfort" myself... blah. Occasionally I'll tune out and watch a movie or something, but usually after I've kicked butt as usual during my workout. I used to be much sookier about it, but then I also used to be 329lbs. Things can change if you want them to, and attitude is a big part of that.

I do often crave sweet things in the week before, but since I've always made sure that I have a sustainable calorie deficit, I just work in chocolate or whatever I want. I find life and weight loss much easier when I'm not starving.

sunnybeaches105

I like to comfort myself when my wife is on her period

amusedmonkey

I have endo, so I'm too high on meds during my period to feel sorry for myself. But then again, I don't get cravings during my periods, in fact my appetite diminishes greatly and I barely make 1200 calories, if that, on the first couple of days. Now right before my period, that's a different story. Hormonal hunger that causes me to shovel food, any food, down my throat and never feel full. On these days I just eat to maintenance.