For the ladies!

NicoleMensigg

So, I'm noticing two things...

1.) I have learned that I "think" it's acceptable to eat whatever I want for my time of the month...normally I don't crave sweet things or want anything that's not really salty or such but the past week (esp with in the the past couple of days) I've literally lost count of all the lil nibbles I've ate and such.

2.) I can't stay on track for the weekends!!! I've tried so hard this past weekend, and started out doing pretty good with Saturday-except I went nuts with a bag for curtons! Yum Yum!! I thought it was better than going back for seconds on a pasta or maybe I did go back for seconds on the pasta!?!?!

So, advice time...women-how to stay on track with those cravings during the cycle? How do I pinch those cravings and STILL not want to punch someone in the face for eating ice-cream in front of me while I eat my English muffin??? And what's the best way to stay on track during the weekend? I've come a long ways but it's taken me a great deal of time to get here (I've been trying since 2009 & to be honest, I don't feel like anyone that sees me these days actually realizes that I've lost the weight or at least they don't say anything to me about. One person said something to someone else and they told me but that doesn't really count to me, I'd like for people to actually be able to see a difference when they look at me! So, I want to pick this up and STOP with the excuses on weekend and cycle habits!)

Moofey

So, I'm noticing two things...

1.) I have learned that I "think" it's acceptable to eat whatever I want for my time of the month...normally I don't crave sweet things or want anything that's not really salty or such but the past week (esp with in the the past couple of days) I've literally lost count of all the lil nibbles I've ate and such.

2.) I can't stay on track for the weekends!!! I've tried so hard this past weekend, and started out doing pretty good with Saturday-except I went nuts with a bag for curtons! Yum Yum!! I thought it was better than going back for seconds on a pasta or maybe I did go back for seconds on the pasta!?!?!

So, advice time...women-how to stay on track with those cravings during the cycle? How do I pinch those cravings and STILL not want to punch someone in the face for eating ice-cream in front of me while I eat my English muffin??? And what's the best way to stay on track during the weekend? I've come a long ways but it's taken me a great deal of time to get here (I've been trying since 2009 & to be honest, I don't feel like anyone that sees me these days actually realizes that I've lost the weight or at least they don't say anything to me about. One person said something to someone else and they told me but that doesn't really count to me, I'd like for people to actually be able to see a difference when they look at me! So, I want to pick this up and STOP with the excuses on weekend and cycle habits!)

SAME EXACT problem!!

Waiting to hear back on this one...

boehle

I try so hard on my period and I can control it!
I need to have a little bit of chocolate!

geogal95

All I can say is that I keep snacks like that OUT of my house and on weekends I just stay busy busy busy! It helps me to not have those "I'm bored" snacks. Always keep a granola bar handy just in case... Good luck!

kater8er

With the cravings....I force myself to drink TONS of water. Like 12 glasses a day. That seems to help. And I also allow myself to eat some junk--but only in 200 cal portions.

Moofey

200 cal portions. Do you guys eat more on weekends than weekdays?

betfos

I wish I knew the answer!!! My cravings are outrageous a week before my period but as soon as I start I'm back to normal.

Jenspo

Try to stay busy on the weekends. More activity=less eating. It helps when you aren't surrounded by food.

ThePhoenixRose

i don't have the TOM thing anymore, so I can't help with that. I do have the weekend issue though. My husband tends to think i'm not eating enough, so almost to :prove: to him that i'm eating enough, i tend to overeat when he's here! This past weekend, i just made a point to make sure i was eating what i knew i needed, and nothing more. i'm rarely hungry with the amount of food i have to eat to get to my calories. if i do get hungry though, i drink a big glass of water, and wait about 10 minutes. if i'm still hungry, i find a little snack! something reasonably good for me though!!

Good luck, and congrats on your progress thus far! :-)

xochi71

Friday thru sunday are my worst days!!!!! Especially since I am the only female in the house my men go crazy for food. recently I found that if my hubby can cook for us on wednesdays and thrusdays I agree to cook on Fridays. For example, this past friday I made tacos. there was enough extra for meat omletes, tacos for lunch and burritos for dinner. then on Sunday I cooked again and we had leftovers for Monday.So now my hubby cooks tuesday, wednesday and thursday. It seems to help me keep my weekend calories under control. Good Luck!!!!!:flowerforyou:

kassandra81

I know that this won't work for everyone ... but my day is planned out before I even wake up of what I'm going to eat that day. I stick to it, no ifs ands or buts. My only vice is gum.. sugar free gum. I keep three different flavours and a few packs of each and whenever I want 'something' I have a piece of gum. You get the flavour, and the chewing sensation.
I also drink at least 16 cups of water a day.

judkinsjenny

I don't crave anything more when im on the rag. i just crave ALL the time and to me, thats the same thing. its just as hard when having my period. this is one problem i dont have ! lol wow!! yay. i didnt know it existed. but the weekend thing, yes. we go have dinner with my inlaws on sundays at their house and i swear, she puts out muffins and crap like that on purpose and then laughs when i eat 2, knowing i will gain weight and she will always be skinnier. B&^%(!! I DO alow myself a little flexibility though so the hubby and i can have dinner together or something like that. maybe an icecream treat together. the 1/2 the fat ice cream is really yummy. The thinkg to remember is that you have to have a calorie deficite of 3500?? i think to lose a lb in a week. so think about that before you eat a package of cream cheese with that bagel. thats what helps me. plus you can walk it off. that will give you some cals to use later. also, someit es if i need to, i skip breakfast, and eat lunch around 12 or 1. then have a snack around 3 or 4 and then dinner. that leaves me with a lot of cals to munch on if i need to.

rockstarginaa

I find substitutes that are less calories/healthier that satisfy the craving.

kater8er

Thinking about this more...SERIOUSLY drink lots of water! I think the reason it works is it makes your stomach *full* and you don't want to intake any more...

Idk if you crave chocolate, but I do and I get those Lindt truffles--each one is like 70 cals and only like 3 g of sugar....

When I crave salt I get the planters Cajun trail mix...So damn good. But I can reasonably portion it!

cppeace

If you take a few bites cause of hormones forgive yourself and go do some stairs lol Nothing can really be done. My hormones don't effect my cravings so I'm lucky. Weekends are harder but I simply keep super track and stay busy. Try and find healthy alternatives to bad snack bites when hormone cravings hit you. A handful of coco puffs instead of a candy bar.. Neither good for you but guarantess less your hands are huge get way less calories.. Buy healthier chips. Try and keep as much junk food away from you as possible but keep lots of healthier snacks about. If not hungry and just want food your bored.. Get a fufilling hobby... Maybe something new like video games or rpg or writing or shooting hoops or puzzles or volunteer work.. Use your imagination.. Only you know you. Best of luck

Brittanymetzner

Hey Ladies,

I hear what you're screaming...I scream that too! I have found that for the whole "my time of the month thing" that if I buy the chocolate, and measure it out into small (keyword is SMALL) portions in individual bags, I can keep control of what I'm putting in my mouth. I also allow myself to eat every single one of my calories (even the exercise ones) during that week. I will have a few bags of 5 hershey kisses or whatever, ready for those "eat the chocolate or kill a busload of nuns" moments. I have a rule, if I bite it, I write it. whether in my diary or here on MFP. If I have to look at and admit to what I really eat, it helps me not go postal at the chinese buffet... As for the weekends. I try to only eat out or socially once per weekend. If I'm eating at home, I will take the time during the weekend to prepare something I really like and stay within my boundaries. When I eat out, I go to the website ahead of time and decide what I will be ordering (although other people's Texas Cheese Fries are like CRACK...) It's hard, no matter how you look at it. Try to keep a sense of humor, I found that helpful. I laugh at the reality of this process, and all of the funny side effects ir produces...it's laugh or cry...now I need the chocolate...ugh.

Shanahan09

For me, I have to up my protein intake during that time. If I have anything processed, I will crave sugar. I noticed you said you would have an engish muffin when others are having ice-cream. For me, that carb itself would hit the bloodstream and I would get an insulin spike which in turn would send signals to my brain saying GIMME MORE SUGAR....vicious little cycle. It's all trial and error. Everyone is different for how their bodies react to food. So, in a nutshell, I up my protein, have lots of veggies cut up and ready to eat, keep up the workouts, drink lots of water. If I'm craving like a mad woman, I'll have a couple of squares of good dark chocolate with a nice cup of coffee. Fun being a woman during that time, isn't it? LOL....God help the world if we all got on the same cycle date...Hahahaha.

christy_frank

Well, for my PMS I got medicated. It has helped greatly w/ the cravings as it balances out my hormones. I also drink my water when I am craving something. The weekends are rough on me as well but all you can do is keep at it and TRY to make this coming weekend BETTER than the last. I also set daily goals and really try to plan out my food for the day and stick with it.

iuangina

I have one day a week where it doesn't matter what or how much I eat (Saturday or Sunday - depends which day I'm tailgating) but I will workout harder on those days to help make up for my "cheating". By having a "cheat day", I don't have issues with my cravings because I know that one day a week I will be able to have it. It also helps because when I eat like crap, I feel like crap, and it reminds me why I'm doing this in the first place.

I don't have too much trouble with what I eat at that time of the month. I will allow myself 1 piece of chocolate if needed when I'm having a really bad day. I don't keep snacky stuff in the house. I never have (except this week because we were supposed to have a tailgate/picnic that got cancelled).

rbryntes

I don't feel like anyone that sees me these days actually realizes that I've lost the weight or at least they don't say anything to me about. One person said something to someone else and they told me but that doesn't really count to me, I'd like for people to actually be able to see a difference when they look at me!

According to your ticker, you've lost 68 pounds? I promise you, people have noticed your weight loss. PROMISE. I have almost 150 pounds to lose and I've lost 15 so far and it's weirdly (barely but is) noticeable. Perhaps people don't want to say anything for fear you'll think they thought you were fat before or something.

jplucheck

The best thing to do I have found for me is 1) stay busy 2) drink plenty of water, (if I have a craving I drink a glass of water if I am still craving I try eating a salad, but if its sweets I want I go for a fruit smoothie and if that still doesn't work try half a cookie) I don't like to deprive myself of little indulgences because that will lead to binging one day!

svanhoecke

Dark chocolate is the best. I used to hate it, but now I love it. I have 1 Ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate square almost every day lol. One of them is 50 calories. 1 is enough usually since it's so rich.

Also, hershey kisses are good for portion control, too. Just grab 4 or 5 and you can still stay under 100 calories.

Drink sweet drinks with 0 cals like Vitamin Water Zero and Sobe.

Chocolate protein shake mixed with ice and if you reallllly want something yummy add a fiber one brownie to the blender when no one is looking. Brownie milkshake, healthy style.

Betty Crocker Warm Delights- 150 Calorie portions. The caramel ones are ridiculously delicious.

Skinny Cow ANYTHING. The chocolate truffle bars, ice cream sandwiches, and ice creams cups. Soooooo good.

FRUIT!!!

For salty I like Pop Chips, Special K Chip Crackers with sea salt, or pretzels with hummus.

niknak0508

I feel your pain on this! I have a hard time during my TOM and on the weekends. I do great all week long though. I always give myself ONE day out of the week to go crazy. It seems to give my body a punch and shocks it. However, the last three weekends, I have litterally made myself sick due to all the CRAP I ate............ I try my best to replace candy/chocolate w/ healthy snacks such as: rice cakes w/ honey, apples and peanut butter, veggies w/ ranch or veggie dip, peanuts, cashews, almonds (emerald has some good dark choclate covered ones). I don' t normally deprive myself of anything, if I want a cookie or something I will have just ONE to satisfy that craving. Mainly because for me personally, if I don't satisfy it, it will linger and eventually I will give in and have more than ONE or TWO....

What it boils down to is having willpower, which we all have otherwise we wouldn't have gotten as far as we have. I too have taken a long time to lose 90 pounds, I started my journey with weight watchers in 2008. Sometimes, sadly we may lose our willpower and it may take time to find it again! I KNOW you can overcome this hun. Find your MOJO! :-)

Nicole

OSC_ESD

Ok Ladies .... First of all, that time of the month needs to be addressed ... since we are already slightly annoyed at everything, we don't want to deprive ourselves of comfort foods. Question ... what is the nutrition on a bag of curtons ? ( Mind you I have no idea what those even are ! lol ! ) ... You have to allow for your daily goal to have these in it ... don't look to lose weight for 1 to 3 days .. maybe more for others ... our bodies all react differently. Forget about ALL the right foods and try to have a nice combination of things you love and things that love our bodies ! ie ... I love carrots and peanut butter, edamame and chocolate ! Yes ... that is a splurge for me ! Sooooo .... I get out 5 dark chocolate Hershey Kisses in the morning and put them on the cupboard ... thru out the day I take one to satisfy my craving. I also like to walk / ride everyday ... so exercise helps big time ! More calories burned = More food allowance. Just don't go over your calories allowed / burned for the day.

Weekends ... it's all psychological, a mind game. Weekends = Freedom to most people. So don't stress it ... enjoy your weekends out and about ... eat less of a splurge and add more veggies ... exercise, exercise, exercise ... I can't say it enough ! You can basically splurge on anything within reason and be able to burn it off !

Just remember .... 3500 Calories burned = 1 Pound lost. It really is that simple !

OSC_ESD

I don't crave anything more when im on the rag. i just crave ALL the time and to me, thats the same thing. its just as hard when having my period. this is one problem i dont have ! lol wow!! yay. i didnt know it existed. but the weekend thing, yes. we go have dinner with my inlaws on sundays at their house and i swear, she puts out muffins and crap like that on purpose and then laughs when i eat 2, knowing i will gain weight and she will always be skinnier. B&^%(!! I DO alow myself a little flexibility though so the hubby and i can have dinner together or something like that. maybe an icecream treat together. the 1/2 the fat ice cream is really yummy. The thinkg to remember is that you have to have a calorie deficite of 3500?? i think to lose a lb in a week. so think about that before you eat a package of cream cheese with that bagel. thats what helps me. plus you can walk it off. that will give you some cals to use later. also, someit es if i need to, i skip breakfast, and eat lunch around 12 or 1. then have a snack around 3 or 4 and then dinner. that leaves me with a lot of cals to munch on if i need to.

NEVER skip breakfast ! That's the most important meal of the day ! Most of your calories should be consumed between breakfast and mid afternoon ... I am not saying this because it is my opinion ... I am simply stating the facts about having a " Healthy " lifestyle. For one brief moment ... forget about losing the weight ... Eating a healthy breakfast not only stimulates your brain, jump starts your metabolism ... it also determines how you will feel through out the day. I feel very strongly about this ... sorry if I offend anybody. We all need to do what works for us ... just don't deprive your body of essential needs to function appropriately.

melianne125

I have the mobile app to help me on the weekends - it's really great to be able to pop my phone out of my pocket and log it in right then. As far as staying on track during that time of the month - just limit yourself. If you want ice cream, have it. But instead of a whole bowl have 2 scoops.

Meggy247

I love this post. That is all. Thanks for all the great tips ladies!

WifeNMama

Try whole grain baked chips or crackers, portioned out, for salty snacks. Try the following recipe for an ice cream like treat.

Slice up a couple of really ripe bananas, lay them in a tray lined with parchment paper and freeze them for a good couple of hours. Once they are frozen hard, put them in a blender or food processor, pulse them a few times, then let them whip until the bananas become completely smooth, the consistency of hard ice cream. Add two -four tablespoons of cocoa or peanut butter, or both! Add a little honey if you need more sweetness. If the bananas are really ripe they should have enough natural sugar.
So good, and healthy to boot!

I tried burning calories before I snack on craving foods, really had to think if the calories were worth the extra work.
Also, don't match bite to note with men. They burn up to a thousand calories more and don't get the extra layer of fat at puberty that girls do. It ain't fair, but that's the way it is. You can eat the same foods, just smaller portions, and if you're like me, don't gorge on bread and mashed potatoes and pasta. I like me some carbs.

Fockertots

I just make it a point to keep the weekends as regulated as I do my weekdays. I still try and eat around the same time of day, eat the same type of meals (especially left over meals from the previous week) and if I want to eat something extra, some sort of indulgence, then I just accomodate for it by doing something active.

Ex: This weekend was my a family baptism and I was forced to eat delicious mexican food and take celebratory tequila shots (forced, I know, ha ha) so I took the initiative to start a dance off with the kids in the backyard.

As far as lady bizz time goes... I don't have cravings as much as I see myself eating more to harness my emotional craziness. So for those days, rather than pack a meal for lunch, I'll allow myself several healthy snack foods since I know that I'll just end up snacking all day anyway. Like instead of bring a meal and then going to the gas station to get junk food also, I'll just bring little 100 calorie cookie bags, apples, bananas, baked lays, a LOT of Crystal Light, etc.

I don't know if that'll help anyone or not...

ajr050969

Get even by NOT eating all the crap your mother in law puts out. Get even by being healthier. When you want to eat the muffin or whatever, chew gum, drink water, offer to help prepare something so that you stay distracted. Don't let her win, you are stronger! :happy:

ImaSongbird

I find that exercise helps me big time! Exercise is a mood elevator and it also reduces my cramps and cravings. Also, it gets me out of the house where the fridge can't get me.

On weekends, I try to stay away from the house as much as possible, and stay away from places where food is being served. I use the mobile app to record every single thing I put in my mouth, because little nibbles add up quickly. I keep already-cut-up salad fixings in the fridge so if I really wanna indulge, I can make myself a huge salad in seconds, and enjoy guilt-free noshing.

Hope some of this helps!