For The Ladies (Unless the men know)

Okay... Seriously, I am so mad at myself. I know within the next 1-1and a half weeks aunt flow is coming to visit from red river and the same thing happened last month I crave junk food and because I am avoiding it I will keep grazing the kitchen to try and substitute last night I made a veggie sandwich (not a bad thing) I was still within my calorie intake, but nooOOoOooo I couldn't stop there so I grabbed some trisquit bisquits, could I stop there NOooOoooo I had an apple (not bad) I know, but I have been like this for 2 days in a row the previous night I ate a gigantic amount of popcorn. I weighed myself today and I am sure the popcorn finally caught up with me because now I am 2 more pounds heavier than yesterday morning. So, bottom line... HOW IN THE HECK do you ladies prevent near that time of the month snacking, and I guess it could work for anytime of the month how do you turn off the junkfood craving switch in the brain? I do soooo good for 3 weeks out of the month but then I graze because I am not getting what I truly want a big ol' bag of chips and chocolate. I keep thinking just buy a bag get it out of your system but I know me and cannot be trusted with junk food I will eat it until it is gone or if I do manage to save some I will eat it everyday until its gone. I know I have to stay away from it I havent even bought a bag of chips since the end of May.
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Replies

  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    I try to make smart decisions. I always crave meat, like hot wings, fried chicken or burgers. I off set by drinking tons of water, working out hard, and getting lots of fiber. But hey it's going to happen.
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    I try to make smart decisions. I always crave meat, like hot wings, fried chicken or burgers. I off set by drinking tons of water, working out hard, and getting lots of fiber. But hey it's going to happen.

    Good advice. Does fiber help? Maybe I should try this.
  • When i get hungry, i make hot tea and use stevia 0 calorie sweeteners. no calories, fills you up, and its yummy! :)
  • amonroe1343
    amonroe1343 Posts: 206 Member
    I don't deny myself my cravings but I try to make sure that I portion out the bad stuff so that I can just satisfy my cravings and nothing more. I rarely need more than just a taste of something to satisfy my craving for that food so I can't help you with the overindulging. Some of the stuff you can put in your freezer and then you have to thaw it completely before you can eat it so that might make you less likely to eat it. I think it's usually about what is on hand at that time. Good luck!
  • I always have that problem. Have you ever seen the Chocolate Covered Katie website? She has a lot of great, healthy food that satisfies those cravings. My favorite go-to are the Brownie Batter pancakes. They take care of all my sweet cravings, and I don't have to beat myself up afterwards. And there are many others.
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    When i get hungry, i make hot tea and use stevia 0 calorie sweeteners. no calories, fills you up, and its yummy! :)

    That sounds nice! Okay my goal tonight, is if I get the munchies I will make a cup of tea and sip on it until the craving is over :-D GREAT tip thanks :)
  • mdelcott
    mdelcott Posts: 529 Member
    Maybe let yourself have what your craving...Fit it into you calories...Im not saying Eat an entire Big Bag of chips, but maybe get one of those snack size ones and enjoy it.. Try sugar free dark chocolate...Its ok to indulge once in a while just dont OVER indulge..
  • redscylla
    redscylla Posts: 211 Member
    I have a couple simple rules.

    1.) I don't get on the scale the week before my period or the week of. Just don't do it. There is never good news there and it's always water retention. I bloat up like a tick. So yeah, that's two weeks out of the month I don't weigh myself, but it's two weeks I don't torment myself.

    2.) I allow myself some junk food when I'm in the grips of the menstrual fury. A candy bar here. A slice of pizza here. It keeps me from going off the deep end with grazing,and so far, it's not hurting my bottom line on weight loss. So if the thing that's making you snarfle up "good for you food" in mass quantities is the urge for salty chips and a cola, get a small bag of chips and a cola. Eat, drink, try not to rip the face off of every man you see. I think of it as a public service.

    3.) Drink a LOT of water. It's the only thing that really helps with the bloating.

    Good luck.
  • sera799
    sera799 Posts: 9
    It might be that your 2lb gain is just water retention? I gain 2lbs whenever I come on, and once I'm off my weight drops down almost straight away. Why not consult the calorie counting on MFP to check how much crisps of choccy you could have before you're nearing your intake goal? Then you can have it and still be on track. It's hard but allow yourself small amounts instead of not at all! Keep in your mind why you're wanting to lose weight and ask yourself what is more important, that bag of crisps or looking at the scales later and knowing you haven't been too naughty! Nobody is making you diet, that's YOU wanting to improve yourself for whatever reason, for YOU! :)
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    I don't deny myself my cravings but I try to make sure that I portion out the bad stuff so that I can just satisfy my cravings and nothing more. I rarely need more than just a taste of something to satisfy my craving for that food so I can't help you with the overindulging. Some of the stuff you can put in your freezer and then you have to thaw it completely before you can eat it so that might make you less likely to eat it. I think it's usually about what is on hand at that time. Good luck!

    You know that is so true. I was never a big pop fan but I had a hankering for it about 2 and a half weeks ago. I grabbed one of my daughters small kid size cups had that small glass and then the bottle sat in the fridge until it went flat lol. Maybe I have more control than I thought now lol. Thanks for the advice! :)
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    It could be that the extra weight is from the extra food, and not actual weight gain, especially if you had lots of salt on the popcorn.
  • weeblex
    weeblex Posts: 412 Member
    Is it a time of the month thing though?

    We have been watching my wife's food vs. dates vs. exercise for the last 3 months and she has wanted to eat less and has lost more weight during that week than any other week.

    She is probably just special though :smile: :heart:
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    I always have that problem. Have you ever seen the Chocolate Covered Katie website? She has a lot of great, healthy food that satisfies those cravings. My favorite go-to are the Brownie Batter pancakes. They take care of all my sweet cravings, and I don't have to beat myself up afterwards. And there are many others.

    I have never heard of her but I will be sure to check this site out those sound divine! :-D Thanks.
  • brwneyedirish813
    brwneyedirish813 Posts: 67 Member
    I try to allow myself about 500 more calories during this time... because i was told your metabolism is quicker this time too. good luck hun! :D
  • ColletteNicole
    ColletteNicole Posts: 145 Member
    it's SO hard. I try to keep healthier chocolate options around because that's what I crave - so diet hot chocolate (25 cals), fiber one chocolate brownies (90 cals), chocolate frozen banana slices, etc. I also highly recommend extended cycle birth control, like seasonal, I love only having to see Aunt Flo 4 times a year! :-)
  • sds76
    sds76 Posts: 215 Member
    I agree with above posters...eat what you are craving but do so in moderation or try an alternative and get off the scale. I unfortunately have horrid PMS for 2 weeks prior to AF and I retain water bad, so I know the scale is not giving me the real story. I know the gain isn't from the cravings because when AF is over I lose it all and then some.
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    It might be that your 2lb gain is just water retention? I gain 2lbs whenever I come on, and once I'm off my weight drops down almost straight away. Why not consult the calorie counting on MFP to check how much crisps of choccy you could have before you're nearing your intake goal? Then you can have it and still be on track. It's hard but allow yourself small amounts instead of not at all! Keep in your mind why you're wanting to lose weight and ask yourself what is more important, that bag of crisps or looking at the scales later and knowing you haven't been too naughty! Nobody is making you diet, that's YOU wanting to improve yourself for whatever reason, for YOU! :)

    This one hit home :-) Thanks I do ask myself this every so often I should ask myself this more frequently. :) Thank you.
  • laurie0507
    laurie0507 Posts: 92 Member
    I can relate.. I dont even want to tell you what I ate yesterday because of PMS. I do know that your body burns more calories when you're PMSing.. it must know we eat more during that time. Try and give yourself plenty of healthy snacks, get up and walk around and try and take your mind off of it. Also, you can't eat a lot today and have it show up on the scale tomorrow, sometimes it takes a day or two to show up. Weekly weigh ins are more accurate for that reason, IMO.
  • sds76
    sds76 Posts: 215 Member
    it's SO hard. I try to keep healthier chocolate options around because that's what I crave - so diet hot chocolate (25 cals), fiber one chocolate brownies (90 cals), chocolate frozen banana slices, etc. I also highly recommend extended cycle birth control, like seasonal, I love only having to see Aunt Flo 4 times a year! :-)


    Just curious with the seasonal, I know you only see AF 4 times a year but does that mean no PMS either? I was supposed to have a procedure done to lessen or get rid of AF but I still would have dealt with PMS. I don't need birth control for it's intended use but have thought about going back on it for the PMS reason.
  • maybe if you satisfy your craving, you'll stop grazing in the kitchen! i have that problem too. if it chocolate i want nothing else works for me, i'll keep "trying" things but it wont go away until i get my piece of chocolate. so if i just get it out of my system, i actually save myself some calories. otherwise i just keep going back to the kitchen.
  • LCFulmer
    LCFulmer Posts: 183 Member
    I don't deny myself my cravings but I try to make sure that I portion out the bad stuff so that I can just satisfy my cravings and nothing more. I rarely need more than just a taste of something to satisfy my craving for that food so I can't help you with the overindulging. Some of the stuff you can put in your freezer and then you have to thaw it completely before you can eat it so that might make you less likely to eat it. I think it's usually about what is on hand at that time. Good luck!

    I agree... I don't deny myself... I just have a 100 calorie version of what I crave and workout hard. :smile:
  • angieleighbyrd
    angieleighbyrd Posts: 989 Member
    pickles.
  • deannasw
    deannasw Posts: 47
    Skinny Cow snacks. I keep a bunch in the pantry for my after dinner need. If you NEED chips.. Try Snikiddy EAT YOUR VEGETABLES... they are awesome and each serving = one FULL serving of veggies too.
  • movn4ward
    movn4ward Posts: 69 Member
    I have a couple simple rules.

    1.) I don't get on the scale the week before my period or the week of. Just don't do it. There is never good news there and it's always water retention. I bloat up like a tick. So yeah, that's two weeks out of the month I don't weigh myself, but it's two weeks I don't torment myself.

    2.) I allow myself some junk food when I'm in the grips of the menstrual fury. A candy bar here. A slice of pizza here. It keeps me from going off the deep end with grazing,and so far, it's not hurting my bottom line on weight loss. So if the thing that's making you snarfle up "good for you food" in mass quantities is the urge for salty chips and a cola, get a small bag of chips and a cola. Eat, drink, try not to rip the face off of every man you see. I think of it as a public service.

    3.) Drink a LOT of water. It's the only thing that really helps with the bloating.

    Good luck.

    I second this, during that time of month (and the week prior and a few days after) my body goes crazy. No scale will ever see me during this time and if you are craving a bag of chips and chocolate. Have an individual bag of chips and a snack size candy bar. Then drink water and aim to burn those calories off if you are going to feel guilty about it.
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    Oh my gosh you guys are the BEST! I tried to keep up with each individual response but they are flowing in (haha no bad pun intended LOL) Thank you all from my heart!!! These are all awesome wonderful tips and advice. Thank you so much! I am sooooo happy to have MFP because I thought I had to suffer in silence with the bad devil on the side of my shoulder saying "It's okay nikki... GO ahead.... Eat IT" then the angel on my other shoulder says "Noooooo Nikki... Don't do it! It's not worth it!"

    I feel like I can face the rest of this month with the same oomph that I have put in for the last 3 weeks. Thank you all!!!!

    It could be salt I never thought of that I am not a huge salt fan as in I don't cook with it often so maybe it could be this. I never even thought about retaining water. Tomorrow was supposed to be my weigh in day but hmm maybe I will avoid it until afterwards. I didn't know about our metabilism being higher during this time so now I feel even more enthusiastic to kick butt!

    Thank you all sooooo so so so much! :)
  • cfregon
    cfregon Posts: 147
    I always have that problem. Have you ever seen the Chocolate Covered Katie website? She has a lot of great, healthy food that satisfies those cravings. My favorite go-to are the Brownie Batter pancakes. They take care of all my sweet cravings, and I don't have to beat myself up afterwards. And there are many others.

    I just visited this website for the first time after reading this....THANKYOU! I'm already in love with it all...I'll have to try some soon :)
  • helen0616
    helen0616 Posts: 97
    I am commenting so I can keep up with this. Same exact issue here and am really struggling with this. I just feel unsatisfied!

    Last night, I did have some (and for some reason I am embarrassed to post this but am going to do it anyway) Baker's Dipping Chocolate pieces (http://www.amazon.com/Bakers-Dipping-Chocolate-7-Ounce-Microwavable/dp/B000E1DRSC). They were 80 calories for 6 of them but in all honesty, I had 12 LOL.

    It really helped though, and I let each one melt in my mouth before the next one went in. The whole process probably took an hour and it was enough to let the craving pass. That 160 calories would have been a LOT more had I eaten what I wanted, which was an entire bag of chips and that leftover Easter chocolate that is hidden in the back of the freezer, and whatever else I could get my little hands on.
  • CDMAGS
    CDMAGS Posts: 150 Member
    If Craving something I go by the 3 bite rule. If you want something have the first bite it will taste sooooooooooo good, the second bite will be good still, the third bite usually kills the craving for me. Good luck!
  • jfrankic
    jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
    Its ok!! Just make some modifications....

    Popcorn - pop one serving in a brown paper bag in the microwave. 130 calories, no oils or added junk!
    Chocolate - dark chocolate. Ghirardelli dark baking chips are awesome. You get 16 for 80 calories. Eat them one at a time, they are rich. We keep them in the freezer so they are crunchy.
    Chips - try veggie chips. Still about 130 calories but less fat and a better option.
    Homemade yogurt with some vanilla, fruit and a little crunchy fiber cereal really satisfies my bedtime sweet cravings.

    Also, plan ahead. Work out and "earn" extra calories, then enjoy!!
  • sandersen50
    sandersen50 Posts: 6 Member
    My go to snack is a granny smith apple with almond butter. I buy the unsalted almond butter so I can add salt without guilt. Slice up the apple, put it on a plate with a tablespoon of almond butter (or peanut butter). Sprinkle with sea salt. This is a <200 calorie snack that satisfies the sweet, salty, crunchy and fat cravings. Sort of like a taffy apple. Prep time helps slow down that "gottta eat" feeling, too.