Women's problems. Dreadful food cravings and bloating

HappilyLifts

I know I can't be alone in this problem and am hoping someone will have some advice.

I'm 43 and the last year or so my periods have changed from heavy to heavier (with clotting), increased bloating (5 inches around my tummy more than usual today, the jeans I wore before I started to lose a few pounds are so uncomfortable that I have to go out in scruffy old combat trousers today because they are the only bottoms that aren't cutting me in half!), a dull back ache that makes me feel nauseous and, the worst thing, in terms of fat loss, dreadful food cravings just before my period and for the first couple of days. Mostly for chocolate and crisps, but if those aren't in the house I'll eat anything and everything I can lay my hands, on more or less.

Let's take today for example, day 2 of my period. I have eaten a whole 165g bag of chocolate in two hours.....800+ calories. Why?! I wasn't hungry, but I was craving. In hindsight I should've just been strict with myself and taken a controlled portion but it's as if I lose all rational thought, hit self-destruct and just dive in. :embarassed:

If I were to do this every four weeks that'd be one pound further away from my goal each month, that's almost a stone in a year that I could've lost but didn't. I really have to get it sorted otherwise all my lifestyle changes like regular exercise and working out TDEE, BMR and a calorie allowance that will get me to a healthy weight will be wasted.

There must be a reason, (perhaps chemical?) for the cravings and I would really like to know what I can do about them. I already take evening primrose oil and chromium picolinate supplements.

I felt horrible yesterday, could feel some cramping but hit the gym and it did seem to ease the cramping, or at least take my mind off it (I noticed the cramping again when I left the gym). Today, now that I've eaten all that rubbish, I am focusing on sensible meals and will increase my water intake to at least 2 litres (I normally manage 1000ml on non-exercise days, and 1500-2250ml on exercise days).

So what to do about these cravings? Anyone??

42kgirl

Exercise helps a lot. The problem is I have zero desire to run when Aunt Flo visits. If I make myself get up and do something, I'm too busy to eat and I usually feel better and make better choices. Sometimes I just say screw it and get a pizza though! One day will not ruin everything. If it did, I'd weigh 500 pounds.

seekingstrengthX2

Willpower. You just need to ignore the cravings. Also, INCREASE your exercise. 1) It seems to reduce cramping and 2) allows you to eat more, so if you do screw up it will have less of an effect.

HappilyLifts

Exercise helps a lot. The problem is I have zero desire to run when Aunt Flo visits. If I make myself get up and do something, I'm too busy to eat and I usually feel better and make better choices. Sometimes I just say screw it and get a pizza though! One day will not ruin everything. If it did, I'd weigh 500 pounds.

yes, I agree abotu the exercise, if for no other reason that it will kep me away from the kitchen cupboards! One thing's for sure, I'm not going to say "well, I've blown it now, I might as well have that cake/biscuit/whatever too". Just wish I knew why it happens!

HappilyLifts

Willpower. You just need to ignore the cravings. Also, INCREASE your exercise. 1) It seems to reduce cramping and 2) allows you to eat more, so if you do screw up it will have less of an effect.

Today just wasn't the right day. I had plans to meet a friend at noon and had to wait in for a delivery. Hang on, that's a poor excuse, I could have done some exercise indoors while I waited. I wish I had had the willpower. It just never crossed my mind. At that very moment when I reached for, and while I was eating, the chocolate I never once thought "I have a choice". I just ate. I didn't think. Scary really.
I will get on the treadmill this evening and do a home-made strength circuit with little breaks to make it have a cardio element. As you say, that moment of weakness will have less of an effect if I exercise. Thanks, why didn't I think of that! I guess I was too disturbed by what I'd done to think of how I could minimilise the damage done. I thought I had overeating licked too!

If anyone has any idea why we get cravings I'd love to hear.

Marigenous

When it comes to PMS cravings, I will get to the point that I'm an absolute misery if I don't have chocolate. If it's the sugar/fat part of it that you crave, I would suggest just trying to eat healthier sweet things like fruits or low-cal baked goods. Personally though, I think it's more the iron and such that I'm craving so I find the any of the following will often help curb my craving without being too many calories:
- 1 or 2 squares of 85% cocoa chocolate (each square is only around 50 calories and they're so rich that most people are satisfied after only a couple)
- 1/2 cup fat free vanilla frozen yogourt with a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder (around 130 calories)
- a big spinach and arugula salad with a couple tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of olive oil on top (around 130 calories)
- a chopped banana with cocoa powder on top (around 130 calories)

I'm not sure what to suggest instead of crisps though. What is it that you like about them? I'm the sweet tooth of my family so savouries weren't really my thing. My sister will things like eat olive oil on grilled baguette to get the crunch/ oil part of the craving. It's not the most calorie-conscious choice but it's at least more nutritious. I've also known people that eat things like rice crisps or salted popcorn instead.

lizard053

Drink lots of water. That helps with the cravings and the bloating!

Portion out your chocolate, then put it someplace super annoying to get at. When you are craving it bad enough to go pull it out, only allow yourself to pull one portion. This is literally my strategy for handling chocolate cravings! I'll dip up to 3 times into my supply on a bad day, but it's a lot more controlled.

Eating sugar makes you crave sugar. Try to cut everything processed and sugary the last few days before your PMS is due to hit. This will actually help cut your cravings down. I haven't managed to do this well yet, but it does help! But my cycle is so wonky, I never know when the PMS will strike.

If you are truly craving something, it's usually something your body needs. Perhaps the chocolate cravings are a need for fat or caffeine. I don't know for sure, but it sure seems reasonable. So try giving your body something healthier, but still satisfies those needs.

HappilyLifts

When it comes to PMS cravings, I will get to the point that I'm an absolute misery if I don't have chocolate. If it's the sugar/fat part of it that you crave, I would suggest just trying to eat healthier sweet things like fruits or low-cal baked goods. Personally though, I think it's more the iron and such that I'm craving so I find the any of the following will often help curb my craving without being too many calories:
- 1 or 2 squares of 85% cocoa chocolate (each square is only around 50 calories and they're so rich that most people are satisfied after only a couple)
- 1/2 cup fat free vanilla frozen yogourt with a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder (around 130 calories)
- a big spinach and arugula salad with a couple tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of olive oil on top (around 130 calories)
- a chopped banana with cocoa powder on top (around 130 calories)

I'm not sure what to suggest instead of crisps though. What is it that you like about them? I'm the sweet tooth of my family so savouries weren't really my thing. My sister will things like eat olive oil on grilled baguette to get the crunch/ oil part of the craving. It's not the most calorie-conscious choice but it's at least more nutritious. I've also known people that eat things like rice crisps or salted popcorn instead.

thanks, I like your alternative suggestions, although I have no idea what arugula is I have tried the 85% cocoa chocolate but wasn't keen. I really love Dairy Milk, so it must be the sugar and fat content that I crave!

I'm not sure what it is about the crisps that I like. The texture and the saltiness I guess.

HappilyLifts

Drink lots of water. That helps with the cravings and the bloating!

Portion out your chocolate, then put it someplace super annoying to get at. When you are craving it bad enough to go pull it out, only allow yourself to pull one portion. This is literally my strategy for handling chocolate cravings! I'll dip up to 3 times into my supply on a bad day, but it's a lot more controlled.

Eating sugar makes you crave sugar. Try to cut everything processed and sugary the last few days before your PMS is due to hit. This will actually help cut your cravings down. I haven't managed to do this well yet, but it does help! But my cycle is so wonky, I never know when the PMS will strike.

If you are truly craving something, it's usually something your body needs. Perhaps the chocolate cravings are a need for fat or caffeine. I don't know for sure, but it sure seems reasonable. So try giving your body something healthier, but still satisfies those needs.

I'm really going for it with the water today :drinker:
I really shouldn't have bough the large bag of chocolate. Sometimes I let my husband buy it and we share it over a few evenings, which is a nice treat. I have some more bags as they were on offer. I am going to give them to him to hide away and bring out to share in smaller portions. You wouldn't believe how excited I got when a few months ago he told me he had a reserve of chocolate hidden away in the garage! He never used to be bothered with chocolate but he enjoys it now too.

I completely empathise about the wonky cycle, mine swings from 26 days to 36 days!

What you said about something your body needs...that made me think when you said caffeine. I haven't had alot of sleep this week, maybe between 6 and 7 hours a night, and that's disturbed as my husband gets up at 4.30am to go to work, I'm a light sleeper. Maybe I am just really tired. It has been a busy week.

Thanks for replying everyone. I now have a few strategies to pop in my diary for next month.