TOM hunger?

Hanswifey

Does anyone else experience crazy hunger whilst bleeding? What do you do to curb it?
For me, I've done really well sticking to my daily calorie allowance but now that it's that time of month, I feel extra hungry...

TavistockToad

eat at maintenance for a few days?

LBgetsfit

Yup. I have to eat at maintenance a couple days leading up to my period and on my first day or I'll go into a binge if I over-restrict. I also allow myself a little extra chocolate and carbs (those are what I crave) so as to keep me from going insane. I've recently started trying to be more active on these days, too, and I have found it really helps with the cramps. The same occurs around ovulation. I've just learned to up my cals to maintenance so I don't go crazy.

tinkerbellang83

Same here, I eat a little higher carb than usual and just try to stay under maintenance for those couple of days. Doesn't have any major impact in the long haul and for me it's better than trying to battle through it and ending up eating everything in sight.

Meghanebk

I often eat at maintenence for the first day of each cycle. It's not worth the obnoxious focus on food I get if I don't. I usually work in more fats/carbs than usual for my macros that day too, because I crave more of those.

Famof72015

Same here. I just eat what my body is telling me that's a few days leading up to my period and around ovulation too. If I don't cave in I'm even more bitchier so for the sake of myself, husband and kids I just do it. I try not to go extreme but if it happens it happens.

ottermotorcycle

I think you burn a tiny bit more during TOM, but I don't have studies to back it up. Eating at maintenance is fine, eating volume helps. Tea helps with bloat!

threec

I find the week before is when I find I'm starving and eating like I have an upcoming sumo match

YalithKBK

Munchies is part of my PMS (along with general grumpiness) and I usually eat at maintenance for 1-2 days.

Hanswifey

Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I think I will just up my calories a bit during these ravenging days and then drop them back down once the crazy hunger goes away. Thanks!

absentmindedhousewife

I take some magnesium at night. Around 250mg. The chocolate and sweets cravings, my body it telling me I need some magnesium!

Famof72015

Hard part for me is that it always takes a few days of eating at maintenance or higher