How do you deal with the fake hungry feelings?

kag1526

This is probably more of a question for the girls here but I find during my period that my cramps feel very similar to how I feel when I'm hungry. Which tends to make me be constantly reaching for food. I know I'm not hungry (because I ate the same breakfast I eat every other day and I'm not hungry then).

I just joined 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and this has been my first hard week, between Christmas and this it has been hard to not overeat every day. Especially with so much chocolate around which of course I'm craving right now.

EddieG77

Not a girl but I have been trying to get into the habit of drinking lots of water when I feel that way.....give it a try!!

Enjoy your holidays!
Ed

Lozze

You might need a little bit more food on your period. (lady here but mine are so irregular I have no idea what they do)

Try a glass of water. If that doesn't work have something filling but low cal like almonds, carrots, celery and so on. You might find you need that little bit extra when TOM hits.

KC4800

Not a girl either, but agree with the water. If it sounds unappealing, just add a little lemon juice. Put it on ice, and drink it through a straw. Best way I know of to consume water, and I was ordered to drink more from my doctor because of two bouts of kidney stones. Trust me, I know how to drink water when I don't want to. ;-)

lessac

This is probably more of a question for the girls here but I find during my period that my cramps feel very similar to how I feel when I'm hungry. Which tends to make me be constantly reaching for food. I know I'm not hungry (because I ate the same breakfast I eat every other day and I'm not hungry then).

I just joined 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and this has been my first hard week, between Christmas and this it has been hard to not overeat every day. Especially with so much chocolate around which of course I'm craving right now.

Based on my experience of 16 years, I never had a problem with indulging in chocolate for the first day of my period but on that day I don't have much appetite for anything else so I think that evens out.

Water never ever worked for me so I prefer brushing my teeth for a good 5 minutes, drinking mineral water (sparkling water) and eating hot food when I feel like having strong sugar cravings.

Helloitsdan

If you are eating the right amount of calories and protein you shouldnt be hungry.
In the beginning its a good idea to have 5-6 meals a day with the last one before bed.
Get in that protein and complex carbs and you should be fine.
If your MFP set your calorie goal as 1200 you may want to change it since most 1200s fail due to hunger issues!
Its best to create a good caloric deficit through hard training like weights and aerobic activity.

If you are eating 1600 calories a day then run for 20mins high speed thats appx 200 calories burned then you lift weights later for 30 mins for an additional 100-150calories burned...

You get my point?

Chenoachem

I simply chew gum.

Deedee0075

i can't control it at all. on day 1, i find myself wanting to eat right after i've finished eating. i don't fight it anymore - it's just one day out of the month and there is NOTHING that i can do to stop it.

zenchild

I take Excedrin to help with the cramps (and the headache, and the fatigue, and the general ickiness). Some have better luck with Midol. I also love tea with cocoa nibs. When the weather is cold I drink Tazo Focus every afternoon. The warmth also helps with the cramps. It's been disgustingly warm in Georgia so I've had coconut La Croix instead (fizzy water with coconut flavor, all natural, no sweetener). Both will help with the sweet cravings. I work in an office and our break room is filled with sweets from our vendors. I'm still human so I will allow myself a taste every afternoon. A small piece of chocolate won't derail your whole effort. Trying to deny yourself will.

And guys, this is an entirely different kind of crampy/hungry feeling. Trust me. I've had both. This whole week is marked by a deep, consuming NEED for chocolate, meat and salt. And a desire to destroy anyone who ventures too close. We try not to be nasty (at least I do). But it's hard when our hormones are going nuts and telling us to KILL.

Elizabeth_C34

As the army says, "Take some motrin. Drink some water."

jacksonpt

Um, by not eating???

If you know you're not actually hungry, then why would you eat? Isn't that (at least in part) what got you to join a site like this in the first place?

As for the hard week and the holidays... we all have rough patches, and we all have temptation. Do the best you can, then do better next week. Most people don't wake up one morning living a totally different lifestyle. It takes work and patience and more work. Buck up, be honest with yourself and don't make excuses.

OLFATUG

When I'm hungry and it's not time for a scheduled meal (yeah... I schedule, OCD -=shrug=-) I drink water or black coffee. Coffee has almost no calories and I always opt for decaf. It has a strange side effect of making my stomach feel smaller.

LauraRose03

i can't control it at all. on day 1, i find myself wanting to eat right after i've finished eating. i don't fight it anymore - it's just one day out of the month and there is NOTHING that i can do to stop it.

I agree and I do the same thing. Listen to your body and be gentle with yourself. It's already an emotional time of the month, so it's ok to indulge for one or two days. During my TOM, I pamper myself, in any way, guilt-free. You'll work it off later!

meli_medina

i can't control it at all. on day 1, i find myself wanting to eat right after i've finished eating. i don't fight it anymore - it's just one day out of the month and there is NOTHING that i can do to stop it.

I agree and I do the same thing. Listen to your body and be gentle with yourself. It's already an emotional time of the month, so it's ok to indulge for one or two days. During my TOM, I pamper myself, in any way, guilt-free. You'll work it off later!

I'm the same. And another reason I don't worry too much is because I usually seem to indulge exactly a portion of calories over (around 700-900) and then I'm done. The reason I don't fret it is because a) our bodies naturally use more calories during this time, so of course it is going to be hungrier than normal (due to increased blood flow and hormone changes, your body burns up to 200-300 more calories per day, that number especially true on CD1), b) our bodies require a higher iron intake at that time as well, especially if your iron is normally low, and c) one day out of the month of eating isn't going to completely reverse 29 other days of good eating. This doesn't mean that you should go cart blanche and down 5 or 6 king size Snicker bars, but your body generally doesn't get "fake hungry." If you're finding that you're having a hard time with your willpower, it's because you probably really ARE hungry and, if you are craving something in particular, I recommend obtaining a single serving of that item (for me, it's usually Magnum Caramel bars, so I go to Walgreens and buy a single rather than a whole box so I have to stop at one), otherwise you may find it will lead you to a binge.

Of course, I'm referring to what works for me. If your willpower is that strong, more power to you, but there is nothing wrong with having a handful of Hershey's kisses or whatever if you are craving chocolate. Just don't eat the whole bag.

CaptainGordo

Have you tried fake eating?

Remember that scene in "Hook", with the Lost Boys?

duchess_natas

Have you tried fake eating?

Remember that scene in "Hook", with the Lost Boys?

I love that movie. With one happy thought you can fly!!!! And a fake food fight. Let's all have a fake food fight while we are fake eating. Just like the Lost Boys.

lessac

I love the know-it-all comments by males about this problem. It's either a) they're too ignorant for their own sake or b) male PMS is a very common medical condition so they can relate.

CaptainGordo

I love the know-it-all comments by males about this problem. It's either a) they're too ignorant for their own sake or b) male PMS is a very common medical condition so they can relate.

Yeah, men cannot grasp the topic. This is why there are no male gynecologists. You can't learn about a topic unless you have lived it yourself. This is also why only cavemen make good anthropologists.

ElizabethRoad

Um, by not eating???

If you know you're not actually hungry, then why would you eat? Isn't that (at least in part) what got you to join a site like this in the first place?

As for the hard week and the holidays... we all have rough patches, and we all have temptation. Do the best you can, then do better next week. Most people don't wake up one morning living a totally different lifestyle. It takes work and patience and more work. Buck up, be honest with yourself and don't make excuses.

Must be nice to be a robot.

lessac

Yeah, men cannot grasp the topic. This is why there are no male gynecologists. You can't learn about a topic unless you have lived it yourself. This is also why only cavemen make good anthropologists.

It makes so much sense to compare a medical branch such as gynecology to a feeling caused by hormones. How does learning about female reproductive system which is a solid scientific fact, for which you do not need to grow a pair of ovaries, compare to commenting on a cravin, a completely subjective and individual feeling which is not experienced by males, moreover telling the woman to suck it up? I'm thrilled by the similarities.

CaptainGordo

Yeah, men cannot grasp the topic. This is why there are no male gynecologists. You can't learn about a topic unless you have lived it yourself. This is also why only cavemen make good anthropologists.

It makes so much sense to compare a medical branch such as gynecology to a feeling caused by hormones. How does learning about female reproductive system which is a solid scientific fact, for which you do not need to grow a pair of ovaries, compare to commenting on a cravin, a completely subjective and individual feeling which is not experienced by males, moreover telling the woman to suck it up? I'm thrilled by the similarities.

OK, so only someone that has experienced the cravings and/or feelings involved could possibly understand or offer any sort of help? Got it. That is why only addicts can help recovering addicts, for example. :indifferent:

Who told her to "suck it up"?

anyonebutmehaha

I love the know-it-all comments by males about this problem. It's either a) they're too ignorant for their own sake or b) male PMS is a very common medical condition so they can relate.

rofl. i was just thinking sorta same thing.
in my world it is better to have a bit of chocolate than go on a mass murder spree when it is that TOM.

lessac

OK, so only someone that has experienced the cravings and/or feelings involved could possibly understand or offer any sort of help? Got it. That is why only addicts can help recovering addicts, for example. :indifferent:

Who told her to "suck it up"?

Addictions, even psychological ones, have a lot to do with the addict's brain chemistry which are again found as a result of scientific studies as undiscovered as they may still be in some ways. Psychology is very much involved in brain chemistry so therapists have knowledge about the cause behind those addictions. So unless you are a psychologist (or had an interest in the subject and did your homework) or someone who went through similar experiences, the help you offer won't go far.

Will we keep on comparing apples and oranges?

No one told her to suck it up literally, I meant the comments which tell her 'not to eat' based on their own hunger experiences. No offense to the posters with such comments of course, I was nagging in general.

CaptainGordo

No offense to the posters with such comments of course, I was nagging in general.

I understand. Oh, wait. Can I? I'm a male. :laugh:

lessac

I understand. Oh, wait. Can I? I'm a male. :laugh:

Too grumpy for the past two days to take things lightly so I apologize if I sounded like I had any doubts about male intelligence, of which I don't for the record or at least not any more than human intelligence in general.

mhankosk

Man... I wish my craps just felt like I was hungry! Mine are like knives being stabbed into my stomach! LOL.

I usually just drink water. If I have had a glass or two and am still hungry, then I'll have something small. Portion it out on a plate or in a bowl. Don't bring the whole box of cheezits to the couch with you, put some in a bowl. I have the problem when I mindlessly eat out of the box and then suddenly realize that the box is half empty!

Good luck!

tkn11

Not a girl but I have been trying to get into the habit of drinking lots of water when I feel that way.....give it a try!!

Enjoy your holidays!
Ed

WATER

seehawkmomma

Green Tea. Helps curb the feeling of hunger and is super good.

darkheart

The water thing helps a lot, but another thing that really helps me is if I boil or steam a cup of broccoli and eat it. I usually put spray butter on it, but a drizzle of balsamic vinegar can be good!

The broccoli also helps if I know I'll be eating a really calorie rich meal. I'll eat it before hand as an "appetizer" and I'm so full, I can only eat about a quarter or less of my actual meal! Hope that helps!

twilight_princess

I get up and do something. If that don't work I'll either eat some fruit or something small.

jacksonpt

Um, by not eating???

If you know you're not actually hungry, then why would you eat? Isn't that (at least in part) what got you to join a site like this in the first place?

As for the hard week and the holidays... we all have rough patches, and we all have temptation. Do the best you can, then do better next week. Most people don't wake up one morning living a totally different lifestyle. It takes work and patience and more work. Buck up, be honest with yourself and don't make excuses.

Must be nice to be a robot.

No... but it is nice to not make excuses. Just because I don't PMS doesn't mean I don't have other issues/challenges to deal with. But if I give in, it's on me.