Ladies: Do you cheat during your period?

Cocobutter_

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

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

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

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

leejoyce31

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

Ladies: Do you cheat during your period?

Nope. Just carry on as normal.

lemonychild

Eat at maintenance

wheninroam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Heartisalonelyhunter

I just eat what I want

Lizakabibbis

I don't really "cheat". I eat what I want and count the calories and move on.

Sabine_Stroehm

No. But I tended to eat more before, and less during. Perhaps a bit more chocolate and salt. Once my period came I never had an appetite. I didn't force myself to eat. It evened out.

Kristi26

When I was still losing, I just ate at maintenance for a few days. Now I just make what I eat work within my calories for the week. I don't do the whole "cheat" thing. It implies there are bad foods and sets me up for guilt and bad feelings. For the record, I've eaten dairy free ice cream with a handful of df chocolate chips (Im lactose intolerant) every single night, even through my days of losing. Its delicious. I love it. So I make space for it.

allieL2016

I try to fit foods I like into my calorie count. A favorite "time of the month" comfort food for me is buffalo chicken mac and cheese. I use whole grain pasta, and I make my own cheese sauce so I can dictate the ingredients. One serving is only 484 calories! Making small ingredient changes to an otherwise unhealthy food is how I "cheat"!

JoRocka

why is this even a question.

snickerscharlie

I don't cheat on my husband ever.

cerise_noir

"Junk food" does not cause weight gain, too many calories does.

Incorporate treats into your daily goal and stop "cheating". Cheating implies something bad.

ARGriffy

I maintain so I don't "cheat" ever... I just eat. Yes I may eat more chocolate when aunt flow is hanging out but ladies, quit guilting over "cheating"! Xx

Carlos_421

If you eat more than you burn, you will gain weight, regardless of what time of the month it is.

SarahBelle43

In the past, PMS has really de-railed my daily habits, food and exercise especially! I now take an oral birth control that stretches MTOTM from every month to every other month. there are some that can stretch it to twice a year. This has been a great help to me being more consistent, and might be worth talking to your doctor about it your period really interrupts your life.

salembambi

I usually eat a lot more during pms

It only lasts a day or two and then I move on

I eat at a slight deficit all the time anyway so it works fine

lymphoidorgan

I always cheat during my period, even though I know I shouldn't.
It seems to be what is currently holding me back, doesn't help that I retain a bunch of the water weight which makes the scale go up even if I'm good. So I get discouraged.