Any suggestions on what to do around that time of the month?

MENichols5

I am a bloated mess the week before and the week of my period I look 6 months pregnant! I don't weigh myself the week of my period and usually wait about 2 days after to weigh again because I know it will only discourage me if I see an extra 5 lbs that are just water weight from my period.

Just take a break from the scale that week if it will discourage you like it does me! Try to avoid really salty foods and eat lots of fresh fruits and water with lemon Cardio also helps...jogging and even just a light walk around the neighborhood for awhile.

shel1103

Those Special K pretzel bars are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sweet and salty in one!!!!

Yes, this!! And they are pretty low in calories, so you sort of feel like you're cheating, but you're not.

Also - Fiber Plus Caramel Chocolate Coconut bars taste like a Caramel Delight Girl Scout Cookie. : ) 130 cals and it keeps you regular. lol

cornfritter22

I can handle the craving, what I can not handle is the weight gain during this time. How long before your period do you ladies can some pounds? I am about a week away and gained a few and don't know if it is bc my period is coming or I am just gaining. HELP!

I start to see my weight increase a whole week before and it usually starts dropping about day 2 or sometimes 3. I've seen the scale go up as much as 5 pounds for that lovely time. So discouraging!

Dethea

I have a chocolate mint protein mix that I love. It tastes like Thin Mints! I will drink those, or make smoothies. Luckily for me, I don't like milk chocolate, so I keep dark chocolate around. I get the Ghiradhelli (sp?) packs, with the chocolates single wrapped. I eat one, put the rest away, and try to eat my one piece as slowly as possible.
I make chocolate popsicles out of sugar free pudding.

Just a few ideas, it's okay to eat sweets sometimes, as long as you aren't overindulging regularly.

Dipmom

I just mostly feel sorry for myself.

MinnieInMaine

I just eat what I want and don't worry about it

This! It's ok to give in to cravings, just don't let yourself go overboard! If you want ice cream, go to the McD's drive through - their cone is only 150 calories. Or even better, get some sugar free fudgecicles. If you want chocolate, treat yourself with a bar of the best chocolate you can find (I love the Lindt dark chocolate) and just have 2-4 squares a day (whatever your calories allotment allows). If you want salty, buy a bag of pretzels or chips and portion them out into those cute little snack bags so you're not mindlessly eating the whole bag.

greeksenorita

This might sound crazy, but Prozaac just during PMS (usually take for 2 weeks) has helped my mood swings and my cravings for these bad foods! I had talked to my Obgyn about it and this is what she recommended, and it reallly works for me anyway

Piskie26

I was told the best thing to satisfy sweet cravings around that time of the month is green grapes, it does work but sometimes I need to feel I've had something naughty so I have a chuppa chups lolly, they're low in calories but last for ages so should fix that craving

Kebby83

Oh my goodness. Once a month, a week before my period I would sell my leg to eat a huge bar of chocolate and those chips and that hamburger and COOKIES. Sometimes I do.

I have started knowing that once a month I might have something very bad for me. It's once a month. And I've lost 58 pounds. So I'ma eat that chocolate bar once a friggin' month and love it.

Don't stand on the scale. OR DO - because last week I lost 1.2lbs on my period and this week, period finished, I lost 3lbs! So if you stand on during your monthly just know you will have a good week afterwards! lol.

littlemiss5foot1

No scales,
You can get these supps from heath food shops that stop sugar cravings,unsure what they are calledm
you can always try eating things like low fat yohgut with watermelon? i know i feel bloated and horrible, i also have the implanon which hasnt helped as i get it more frequent than not.. so ive learnt a few tricks.. sometimes i brush my teeth when im craving sugar bad, drink lots of water, i drink coke zero instead of other fizzy drinks, u still get the bubbles on ur tounge which trick u! u could also try chewing gum, but make sure u are eating coz chewing gum makes ur body think u r eating and ur stomache acids strt ding its think which can cause stomache ulcerations in later years...

I am the biggest junk food feen out.. my biggest fall through is sugar... so when the painters r in town im like a female willy wonka..


Found this Article so hopefully it helps - Michelle

carb cravings before your period - that also is totally normal. When you are about to have your period your estrogen levels drop and with that your serotonin (a neurotransmitter in your brain that regulates your mood and keeps you happy). Serotonin is made in the gut and the more carbs you eat, the more readily it is made. Basically, when your estrogen drops, your serotonin levels also drop and with that you start craving carbs because eating them will rebalance your serotonin levels. So, you're completely normal. You may want to have some things handy that take the edge off, such as dark chocolate (85% plus), hot chocolate made with water, or anything else that is low in sugar but gives you a little sense of pleasure. There are plenty of brands that produce a small dark chocolate bar, so you don't cave in entirely. A little bit is all you need.




There's also a great supplement called Oona, made from black cohosh and chasteberry tree. it helps balance your hormones if you feel PMS is taken overhand. There are two types of products - pms 1 and pms 2. The green tin is taken daily for hormone balancing and the orange tin is taken as needed for cramps, menstrual backaches, etc.




As a first step I suggest you focus on getting through the PMS by keeping a clean diet. I have seen plenty of clients who cleaned up their diets and their PMS symptoms almost disappeared. Your diet has a huge effect on how you feel before and during your period.

Kebby83

This might sound crazy, but Prozaac just during PMS (usually take for 2 weeks) has helped my mood swings and my cravings for these bad foods! I had talked to my Obgyn about it and this is what she recommended, and it reallly works for me anyway

Really? Prozac takes about a month to work and causes suicidal feelings for the first few weeks from what I heard - what gives? I don't take Prozac but my husband takes an anti depressant and has crazy pains if he stops taking it all of a sudden. I know your OBGYN recommended and I'm glad it works for you but I worry about side effects from a two week on two week off schedule of taking a drug?

RilantheFirebug

Get a bag of the individually wrapped Dove dark chocolate squares. Not awful for you and you can just grab one or two to satisfy your chocolate craving.

sasarafo

Water, water and more water.

I gained 8 lbs of bloat on Sunday. By today I was back down to normal and actually lost another 1.6lbs!

So I am sticking with the crazy amounts of water lol.

Oh and a little chocolate or other treat is no biggie. I just track it and move on

cleavagefurrow

I usually end up eating more or eating high calorie foods around that time. I just can't control myself when it's that time of the month (which is now actually...). So I log it and will try to resist again the next day.

littlemiss5foot1

This might sound crazy, but Prozaac just during PMS (usually take for 2 weeks) has helped my mood swings and my cravings for these bad foods! I had talked to my Obgyn about it and this is what she recommended, and it reallly works for me anyway

Really? Prozac takes about a month to work and causes suicidal feelings for the first few weeks from what I heard - what gives? I don't take Prozac but my husband takes an anti depressant and has crazy pains if he stops taking it all of a sudden. I know your OBGYN recommended and I'm glad it works for you but I worry about side effects from a two week on two week off schedule of taking a drug?

Honestly stay away from Prozacc, It is designed as an anti depressant which targets the part of the receptors in the brain injecting it with serotine ... which to explain it without being technical.. its pretty much putting a blind fold on u. Plaing with these sort of drugs is dangerious, expecially when u dont actually need them, These are designed to balace out the part of the brain which is causing depression, OCD, And some personality disorders not for people who want to stop sugar cravings,, and even if it is working to stop cravings,,, its not good. u r playing with a pill thats messing with ur perfectly normal brain. dosing ur brain with chemicals not needed only can be discribed as Its like over charging your phone... plugging in your phone when its fully charged overloads it and eventually it stops working.... You fee on top of the world coz thats what this drug is designed todo....

I think taking this for weight management isnt right.. Might as well whip out a crack pipe and smoke that, Leave prozac for the people like this ladys partner for people who need it..
Doctors will anc can presicirbe what they feel, Ive had 3 doctors tell me to go on Duromine 30mg, Im 5'1 and weigh 58. UNless i want holes in my artiries and increased risk of stroke and u want ur brain to conk out i suggest another alternative,, and perhaps another Doctor.

lindaschultz45

Craving chocolate during your period can be explained by the fact that chocolate contains a large amount of iron (more than in beef liver). Your body needs extra iron during this time, thus the craving. Supposedly the best way to curb this intensive craving is to allow youself a piece or two of high quality dark chocolate or eat foods rich in iron.

Sabrina918

I agree! I must hide the scale! So annoying!

Kebby83

This might sound crazy, but Prozaac just during PMS (usually take for 2 weeks) has helped my mood swings and my cravings for these bad foods! I had talked to my Obgyn about it and this is what she recommended, and it reallly works for me anyway

Really? Prozac takes about a month to work and causes suicidal feelings for the first few weeks from what I heard - what gives? I don't take Prozac but my husband takes an anti depressant and has crazy pains if he stops taking it all of a sudden. I know your OBGYN recommended and I'm glad it works for you but I worry about side effects from a two week on two week off schedule of taking a drug?

Honestly stay away from Prozacc, It is designed as an anti depressant which targets the part of the receptors in the brain injecting it with serotine ... which to explain it without being technical.. its pretty much putting a blind fold on u. Plaing with these sort of drugs is dangerious, expecially when u dont actually need them, These are designed to balace out the part of the brain which is causing depression, OCD, And some personality disorders not for people who want to stop sugar cravings,, and even if it is working to stop cravings,,, its not good. u r playing with a pill thats messing with ur perfectly normal brain. dosing ur brain with chemicals not needed only can be discribed as Its like over charging your phone... plugging in your phone when its fully charged overloads it and eventually it stops working.... You fee on top of the world coz thats what this drug is designed todo....

I think taking this for weight management isnt right.. Might as well whip out a crack pipe and smoke that, Leave prozac for the people like this ladys partner for people who need it..
Doctors will anc can presicirbe what they feel, Ive had 3 doctors tell me to go on Duromine 30mg, Im 5'1 and weigh 58. UNless i want holes in my artiries and increased risk of stroke and u want ur brain to conk out i suggest another alternative,, and perhaps another Doctor.

They all scare me anyone. I think prozac was the one that caused my stomach pains to be so bad (the dr described them as "uncomfortable") that I was bent over in agony. I used to take anti depressants for panic attacks but I stopped because my health insurance stopped. I've never heard of it used as a weight management: I have heard people GAIN weight on them? Totally OT but it interests me - my ex-husband is bipolar with bad OCD and my husband now with his issues (he has depression), and me with mental health issues it becomes fascinating to see aids that help.

chelsie_1984

I don't deprive myself whether it's that time of the month or not. I have tried so many diets and could never stick to it. So I treat myself to a yummy snack if I really have that urge. My big thing has been portion control and so far so good. I just make sure I don't skip out on a part of my meal just to indulge and I make sure I have the calories to spare. Right now my favorite sweets are anything by Skinny Cow (ice cream or candy), Werther's Original Caramel Apple Hard Candy (40 calories for 5 pieces), Whitman's Weight Watchers - Caramel Medallion Candy (160 calorie for 3 pieces, I allow myself 1). Good luck. Normally a bag of candy wouldn't have lasted me three days. I have just bought my second bag of candies since April :-) And have had the same box of 6 icecreams for over 2 months :-) Helps the pocket and the belly! LOL

cbevan1229

For me, I find if I eat a really rich piece of dark chocolate (Dove Promise,) I'll eat it slowly, and be satisfied. I know if I chose to eat something like M&Ms, I'd eat a whole bag before I knew what happened.

vicki81868

I can handle the craving, what I can not handle is the weight gain during this time. How long before your period do you ladies can some pounds? I am about a week away and gained a few and don't know if it is bc my period is coming or I am just gaining. HELP!

I don't weigh right before my period, during my period, or until about 3 days after..I wait till all the dust settles. LOL

Same here!

inraptorswetrust

I've never craved chocolate, but the best thing you can do for a craving is to just NOT BUY IT. It's not there so you can't eat it (and let's face it you shouldn't really have it lying around if you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle). If you go and buy it, that's your own darn fault.

fitnessfashionista17

Mix unsweetened cocoa powder into oatmeal or have the super thin squares of chocolate from lindt, you can even have a couple of them at a time.

JackieLivingHealthy

I have the same problem....what about a cup of fat-free chocolate pudding sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs? A smoothie from Jamba Juice or somewhere similar might also do the trick.

saintspoon

OMEGA 3 FISH OIL PILLS!!! <- help with all sorts of inflamation including the kinds that make you *****y, hungry & crampy!


If I take these regularly & daily leading up to TOM it is a really good one... still bleed of course but no cramps, no cravings & very little grumpyness.

This month I slacked on my fish oils & am REALLy paying the price... was super annoyed at everything for 2 WHOLE days & super-crampy + want to eat & eat & eat!:( Such a MEGA difference from the months where I don't slack.

Give it a try! :flowerforyou:

DPulidoo

You can eat 1 small bar of chocolate every day only at that time of the month but it has to fit in you calorie deficit,chocolate is good for you in small portions,and if its dark chocolate its better,i havent got this trouble cause at that time of the month i eat less cause i cant stomach to much food ^^

1DayMarathonRnner

I don't have cravings during my TOM, in fact I hate eating during this week. It is this week for me and I am really struggling even getting above 1200. It isnt the cramps or anything, I just dont have an appetite.

Is there anyone else like this?

olivia_sweeetie

Honestly, I work out like crazy and drink plenty of water. Sounds crazy, but it eases the cramps and keeps you from ruining your diet. Plus drinking water can supress your cravings too!

Sinisi2012

Honestly, just eat a portion, log it and move on.

No sense in depriving yourself of something.. and as long as it fits in your calorie goal, then you will be fine.

This ^^

pams132

Honestly, just eat a portion, log it and move on.

No sense in depriving yourself of something.. and as long as it fits in your calorie goal, then you will be fine.