Ladies - how do you deal with 'that time'?

thefullmontysmom

Okay so this will be a bit of a rant... Cause I am emotional and irritable and am eating anything that isn't nailed down!

So my question is this, how do you deal with the cravings and the over eating that week before Aunt Flow visits?

I am not necessarily hungry, but I just can't stop eating! I can't help but think of how good I was last year, how motivated I was to loose, I used to have issues getting to 1200 calories! Today I was over by 350! YOWSA!

I have a wedding coming up in 7 weeks, you think that would motivate me for that last 5-7 lbs but it's not even! I get a wave of motivation and just as fast as it came, it goes! I lost 57 lbs, I know how it's done, I just can't get the motivation! I used to go to Hot yoga at least 5 times a week.... now I am lucky if I go once a month! I am afraid I am spiralling again!

HELP

NYgirl1990

Okay so this will be a bit of a rant... Cause I am emotional and irritable and am eating anything that isn't nailed down!

So my question is this, how do you deal with the cravings and the over eating that week before Aunt Flow visits?

I am not necessarily hungry, but I just can't stop eating! I can't help but think of how good I was last year, how motivated I was to loose, I used to have issues getting to 1200 calories! Today I was over by 350! YOWSA!

I have a wedding coming up in 7 weeks, you think that would motivate me for that last 5-7 lbs but it's not even! I get a wave of motivation and just as fast as it came, it goes! I lost 57 lbs, I know how it's done, I just can't get the motivation! I used to go to Hot yoga at least 5 times a week.... now I am lucky if I go once a month! I am afraid I am spiralling again!

HELP

I just drink more water than I do when I'm not on it. Also, I allow a chocolate bar sometime during that week (maybe even more than 1 bar).

alikonda

I'm right there with you, right now. I'm drink drink drinking water like it's my job (it'll help keep the bloat down, too!) even though I want nothing more than to consume copious amounts of salt and chocolate. I convince myself that I need to drink 2 or 3 of my water bottles before I can snack on something again...and when I *do* get to snack, I'm eating a mix of berries (blueberries/strawberries - yum!) or sugar snap peas. Sugar snap peas are great because you really get that sense of munching.

Yesterday I gave in to the saltier cravings, but limited myself to 1 stick of string cheese and 1 100-cal bag of "kettle corn" popcorn.

I will push myself to work out because I know that my PMS symptoms are WAY worse if I skip them (even when my body feels sooooo lethargic) and if you really push through, when Aunt Flow actually visits, you see "magic" on the scale as you finally stop retaining all the extra water!

Hang in there, sister!!

Inshape13

I was just biatching about this on my newsfeed that I am carb crazy today.....well the last 3 days. Getting in a good workout seems to help alot and at times I just give in and then burn it off with exercise. Either way it is the same thing every single month. Best of luck to you and you will be great for your wedding because you CAN do this!

PunkinSpice79

I have a hard time dealing with this too! I can't contribute anything helpful, just wanted to say that I understand and it totally sucks. :sad:

MommaChocoLatte

I was just looking at my diary and noticing how carby i get during Shark Week. I guess I just kind of just roll with it... i manage to stay under my calorie goal and eat what I want. If I did happen to go over, I probably wouldn't care too much anyway cuz I'm already cranky lol. But I do take in extra water also to try to avoid it if I can.

Apicius

try and make your cravings part of your meals- if you want toast or something then have it for lunch instead of an extra. It might make everything bit unbalanced but it works to avoid a binge. Well, most of the time.

bronnyd

Honestly, I just go with it and let it happen. I'm not really a binge eater, but on the few days before my period it feels like I am never quite satisfied and I am steadily eating throughout the day. It's only a few days and most of my choices are still healthy...I just eat more.

Hasn't really hurt my progress thus far and I've been at this for 7 months.

micqs

I have a hard time dealing with this too! I can't contribute anything helpful, just wanted to say that I understand and it totally sucks. :sad:

^This

43932452

try and make your cravings part of your meals- if you want toast or something then have it for lunch instead of an extra. It might make everything bit unbalanced but it works to avoid a binge. Well, most of the time.

I do this ^^^ because if I don't plan it in there, it will wreck all my diligence.

jess6742

I am always ravenous the week before as well. I always eat a lot more that week than what I normally do but I focus on it being healthy foods. I figure if my body is really sending those signals I better listen and feed it.

S0nsh1ne

LOL - salty foods. I had a problem last month but bounced back. It's only a few days. I say if you are craving something, have a little of it.

I have a hard time dealing with this too! I can't contribute anything helpful, just wanted to say that I understand and it totally sucks. :sad:

cmeade20

I allow myself to indulge a little to satisfy cravings and do the best I can. I'm only in really rough shape one or two days. One or two days isn't going to undo it all.

jazzygurl81

LOL, I swore I was the only one with this problem. I become a raging carb-aholic during that week. And I'm afraid to have just *one* of the thing I'm craving at the time, because I just want more.

Kaylee_law_123

Not well!!! That's all I've got :-(

bellesouth18

This is how I dealt with it: H.Y.S.T.E.R.E.C.T.O.M.Y.

SailorKnightWing

I usually don't crave, except about four times a year I NEED McDonald's french fries. Luckily a small will do me.

I have more trouble with cramps so bad I was prescribed pain killers just to function. No exercise those days...

cmeade20

This is how I dealt with it: H.Y.S.T.E.R.E.C.T.O.M.Y.

Not a bad idea!

Librarymind

I recognize that the gain is water gain and then I do what I can to keep the number down. When it's over, I get a nice drop at the end to a point below where I started. I feel like this is the best weight loss week of the month for that reason. I also take maitake mushrooms in capsule form during that week. They are good for female parts and they also help with weight loss. You can also get it in tea bags.

To deal with cravings I usually tell myself that those foods will always be around and available, and that I don't have to eat them right now, and that I can eat them later. This usually helps me think out a healthier choice. I've been eating lots of fruit like crazy. Also steamed vegetables, and fresh salad I make myself. And just lately I'm into blended fruit drinks with lots of nutritional powders in them. I don't force them down. I tell myself that I don't have to have them if I don't want them, and I'm just seeing where they take me.

I don't want my monthly time to end. I want it to go as long as possible, as an indication of how long I might live altogether. Also I really do think they help me lose weight. They also help us detox (through the blood), so thinking of it that way helps me to remember to cooperate and not add to the toxins.

ShaunaLaNee

I have always bowed down to the beast, and had something salty and sweet. I have been trying to plan ahead and have something healthier to cheat with...Like PB2 mixed with yogurt with apples....

amandabrooke17

I don't deal with it well Had 2 consecutive "cheat days"...and consumed 1# worth of food in that short time! I'm about to get back on B.C. too so anticipate I may gain some weight from it but hopefully that will even out some of the "time of the month" issues including the constant food cravings.

whitecapwendy

This is how I dealt with it: H.Y.S.T.E.R.E.C.T.O.M.Y.

ditto. I am so thankful I don't have that issue anymore.

thefullmontysmom

All very helpful tips... even the hysterectomy lol! I have been slacking on my water in take, that may help! And I'll just force myself to get to yoga at least 2 times this week, maybe 3! Gotta get my grove back!!

kathleenjoyful

I have Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (except I feel even worse when my period actually starts), so this is a difficult time for me with exercise and food. I get bad cravings, I have a tendency to binge eat, my moods go up and down, I feel like I'm getting the flu, I'm overcome with exhaustion, and I bleed heavily. I had my period last week and tried to be conscious of not binge eating, doing less exercise, nurturing my body (and mind), and trying to rest.

I usually eat my Basal Metabolic Rate instead, which is around 1700. Some days I eat a little over this, if I've done a lot of exercise. This is working for me, I'm losing about 1kg (2.2lbs) a week. So when my period started, I dramatically increased the calories I ate some days to around 2000+ calories. I even had a blow out - on one day of socialising and extreme hunger I ate around 2,600 calories. I only fit in three workouts in this week, but they were big ones, 45 minutes of HIIT, an hour of weights, and half an hour of core/strength work each time. The other days, I went straight home after work, ate dinner and snacks, crawled into bed and watched TV, and rested. I did do some extra walking in this week too, to make up for not going to the gym.

If I craved something I didn't deny myself, but I made healthier choices about it. Most days (not just during my cycle) I'll eat (raw) chocolate and a low calorie ice cream, so I continued to. I ate more carbs in the week of my period, more red meat and green veges and more chocolate.

When I weighed myself at the end of the week when I was no longer retaining so much water, I'd lost 2.1kgs (4.6lbs). This is probably my best week so far, and I was shocked. Everyone has a different metabolism and we all do different amounts and levels of exercise, so this won't work for everyone of course. I'll be curious to see if I lose weight next period, if I follow a similar week of eating and exercise.

My biggest advice would be to nurture your body and mind in this time. Rest if you feel you need to. Don't beat yourself up if you eat something you're craving. Listen to your body.

Happyme2009

Maybe dark chocolate... loads.... hard candy...... ( takes a long time to keep your mouth busy )..... tictacs.....
Not that I follow my own advice.... but I am always ravenous and eat way more than normal people.... but then I exercise more than normal people too.....
generally speaking I go with the "listen to your body" idea.... if your body asks for it , it needs it.... and carbs are important.... view those days as carb loading days.... it'll get better after antie goes.....

kathleenjoyful

This is how I dealt with it: H.Y.S.T.E.R.E.C.T.O.M.Y.

Not a bad idea!

If I didn't want children first I would be having a hysterectomy right now!

cmeade20

This is how I dealt with it: H.Y.S.T.E.R.E.C.T.O.M.Y.

Not a bad idea!

If I didn't want children first I would be having a hysterectomy right now!

Yeah not sure I want them, but just incase I'm keeping all my parts for now.


Oh and OP also I sometimes take a nap if I can. If I'm sleeping I'm not eating LOL

Librarymind

It is important to not even joke about hysterectomies. Please see this short film about how women need to stay intact and whole and why. It took me awhile to dig this film up, but it's very important.

http://hersfoundation.com/anatomy/