WOMEN! We actually need more calories during "certain times

christenwypy

Hello Ladies,

Last night I felt a bit crampy and was overcome with hunger. I decided to see if PMS was a valid excuse for eating and started searching online. It turns out we may need anywhere from 100-350 extra calories per day for the 7 days before our period starts. (Depends on what study you read just how many calories are needed.) Also, during this time our metabolism is boosted up by as much as 16% so it is an optimal time to lose weight. It might not show on the scale right away because of water retention, but eventually it will.

The best foods to eat to relieve symptoms are beans, pineapple, leafy greens, omega 3's, whole grains, and yogurt!

So, after I read that I stopped fighting my urge and had a quarter cup of greek yogurt and some blueberries!

Here are the articles-
http://www.livestrong.com/article/99082-foods-eat-period/
http://www.iibc.com/hungry-period/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/441187-do-i-need-more-calories-during-my-period/

Tenoreo90

Interesting. This information might help some of us not go crazy and binge, like I usually do, around 'that' time.


EDIT: Left out the 'not' on accident-a bit important! HAHA!

kirstengirl

Thanks!!! I had often thought this just has to be the case since my hunger insatiable during this time. I can't get enough to eat. Unfortunately, I often go for the wrong foods - sugar. That just makes it worse. I'll have to try the pinapple. I do like yogurt too.

karinaes

thanks for sharing! i've done research on this before & cravings are actually valid (not made up in our own little heads lol)

jlemoore

Thanks for posting this! I am heading into this time, and I really don't want to derail my efforts from the last couple of weeks! I'll plan on getting some yogurt in the cupboard.

k2quiere

I think we can find any articles on the internet to justify anything we are feeling at any given time. It's not like we are really needing to replace anything we're losing because the blood build up of our flow is already there waiting. Unless you have an extremely heavy or extremely long flux, you aren't needing to replace any water, nutrients, or blood cells. There are, however, times when women do need extra calories to replace what is being taken from them, like during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If I continue to consider overactive/unruly hormones an appropriate reason to ingest more calories, like I did when first diagnosed with PCOS, I will be bigger than my house. So thanks, but no thanks...I don't need any more excuses, and while TOM may be a *****, I will not let it control the choices I make.

Contrarian

This is from the Livestrong article you posted:

"Physiologically there is no need for extra calories during your period; however, the food choices you make may be able to reduce the severity of the symptoms associated with menstruation. For example, FamilyDoctor.org recommends increasing your consumption of whole grain carbohydrates, fiber and protein while cutting back on sugar and fat. Reducing your intake of caffeine can reduce your mood swings and even reduce breast soreness. Eating smaller more frequent meals can also help reduce your symptoms."

This is the important part - "Physiologically there is no need for extra calories during your period"

CaptainGordo

This is from the Livestrong article you posted:
...
This is the important part - "Physiologically there is no need for extra calories during your period"

CakeFit21

You gave in to your "urge" and had Greek yogurt and blueberries???

Whoa! You are living on the edge!

Rilke

You gave in to your "urge" and had Greek yogurt and blueberries???

Whoa! You are living on the edge!

Don't forget -- a whole quarter cup of yogurt.

Sorry OP . . . but this is the first thing I thought too. You ate, what, 80 calories? :P

christenwypy

Some articles say we need more calories, some say we don',t but they all say our metabolism increases. If our metabolism increases then we are allotted 100 or 200 (some even say as high as 350) extra calories that day. I am not saying to go eat junk food! And I was not trying to justify anyone going off their diet. I was looking for a real cause for my hunger and I found it. If we increase the calories a little with healthy choices we should be okay and not gain weight. If we don't increase then we should lose even more weight at this time. I think because our body is working at something it does not usually do, we do need a little more energy. (Just like we burn calories just my our organs working each day!) So, we burn a little more and therefore we can have a little more if we need to. Again it does not have to be junk but I think some extra yogurt, pineapple, or salad is not going to hurt during this time.

kennethmgreen

I think we can find any articles on the internet to justify anything we are feeling at any given time. It's not like we are really needing to replace anything we're losing because the blood build up of our flow is already there waiting. Unless you have an extremely heavy or extremely long flux, you aren't needing to replace any water, nutrients, or blood cells. There are, however, times when women do need extra calories to replace what is being taken from them, like during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If I continue to consider overactive/unruly hormones an appropriate reason to ingest more calories, like I did when first diagnosed with PCOS, I will be bigger than my house. So thanks, but no thanks...I don't need any more excuses, and while TOM may be a *****, I will not let it control the choices I make.

Your sound logic and reason make my brow furrow.

christenwypy

Well, it was 80 calories over what I had planned to eat that day. It was enough to alleviate the hunger and I did not feel guilty after reading that we burn a little more during this time.

Pretty sure I will not be posting anymore on here lol. I am really getting beaten up for sharing.

Qarol

This is the important part - "Physiologically there is no need for extra calories during your period"

physiologically is a big word

rbryntes

I think we can find any articles on the internet to justify anything we are feeling at any given time. It's not like we are really needing to replace anything we're losing because the blood build up of our flow is already there waiting. Unless you have an extremely heavy or extremely long flux, you aren't needing to replace any water, nutrients, or blood cells. There are, however, times when women do need extra calories to replace what is being taken from them, like during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If I continue to consider overactive/unruly hormones an appropriate reason to ingest more calories, like I did when first diagnosed with PCOS, I will be bigger than my house. So thanks, but no thanks...I don't need any more excuses, and while TOM may be a *****, I will not let it control the choices I make.

Your sound logic and reason make my brow furrow.

Maybe it's your TOM?

Rilke

Well, it was 80 calories over what I had planned to eat that day. It was enough to alleviate the hunger and I did not feel guilty after reading that we burn a little more during this time.

Pretty sure I will not be posting anymore on here lol. I am really getting beaten up for sharing.

You should never feel guilty for eating, especially not such a small amount . . . TOM or not.

You have to understand that people on these boards are very opinionated. People will disagree with you, especially if you post something that might be considered controversial.

Contrarian

Well, it was 80 calories over what I had planned to eat that day. It was enough to alleviate the hunger and I did not feel guilty after reading that we burn a little more during this time.

Pretty sure I will not be posting anymore on here lol. I am really getting beaten up for sharing.

No one is beating you up. Please continue to share, but you have to be prepared for people to discuss the things you post and not just accept everything posted as being accurate.

People are only teasing about the yogurt. No one means any harm. :flowerforyou:

servilia

note that the increase in metabolism doesn't occur DURING your period. It's only for the 1-2 weeks beforehand. I wouldn't be using this as an excuse to eat more than usual though. And we don't NEED the extra calories. It's a nice bonus if we can burn them off but nothing will happen if you don't eat them.

christenwypy

I said the 7 days before your period starts.

k2quiere

Well, it was 80 calories over what I had planned to eat that day. It was enough to alleviate the hunger and I did not feel guilty after reading that we burn a little more during this time.

Pretty sure I will not be posting anymore on here lol. I am really getting beaten up for sharing.

I'm sorry that disagreement makes you feel beat up. People are joking about the yogurt because that is not the go-to food of choice when given the opportunity to increase calories during certain times.

I will, however, stand by my word that says you can find studies on the internet to back up any belief you have about anything you choose to do. The accuracy of any study found is always in question by someone who doesn't believe it; It's the nature of the beast.

Rilke

People are only teasing about the yogurt. No one means any harm. :flowerforyou:

Indeed. I (and many women) eat MUCH more than 80 calories worth of food when we "give in" to TOM urges