Cravings during menstrual (keepin it real!)

SHAMEKALACHELLE

Ok LADIES and nutritionists!!!! How do you ignore and/or substitute chocolate, caffiene, potato chips, ice cream, and some of those other items that some of us crave during that time of the month? This is a biggie for me, need some help on substitution ideas.........and fast!

curlygirl71

sugar free chocolate pudding
yogurt covered raisins
Lays light chips (made with olean)
carrots (with a little ranch to dip them in)
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs and bars

I'm with ya, going through it right now :-)

SammyLynn010

I'm noy good at substitutions (sp) soooo I exercise tons and eat the real thing...sad but true! lol

Dark Chocolate is a good alternative though...it is better for you than milk chocolate and it tastes yummy!

taryn_perry

I can all too relate. I'm a huge fan of all, but you have to stay strong and keep sight on your goals. Do you have your "WHY" or goals posted in front of you on a daily basis? That's really helpful for me, especially when it's on the fridge, so I won't open those doors to reach for the guilty stuff.

With that being said, don't entirely deprive yourself, as then you'll binge. So here's a few things to think about:
1. Caffiene - best in moderation. If you have a cup of coffee each morning, ok, but just say NO TO SODA!!
2. Chocolate - if you have to give in, reach for organic, fair trade dark chocolate with at least 65% cocoa. Limit yourself to 1 square a day. Or carob chips.
3. Potato chips - make your own sweet potato chips, so you can munch on them, if you need that "crunch". Or reach for some carrots, as they can often satisfy that crunch appeal we are going for.
4. Ice cream - go for a natural fruit sorbet, if you have to. Otherwise, try and resist and get the dark chocolate fix instead.

I hope this is helpful. I know it's hard to resist, but I think you'll find it easier and easier, if you mentally prepare yourself before your period, instead of trying to fight it the day it arrives.

dansdeb

:flowerforyou: I used to (don't have to worry about it any more - yea) go ahead and eat the real thing, just add a little more exercise. I found if I didn't eat the real thing, the witch in me would come out and then I would binge. That always started a downward spiral for me. good luck!

taryn_perry

sugar free chocolate pudding
yogurt covered raisins
Lays light chips (made with olean)
carrots (with a little ranch to dip them in)
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs and bars

I would just be careful of the sugar free stuff and chips with Olean. They are chemicals, thus harmful to our bodies and will significantly slow your desired results and compromise your health (immune system). Just a thought.. :flowerforyou:

mynulife

Try the cocoa roasted almonds - they are a great "fake" candy bar! and the almond part is good for you!

CatRodger

I eat the real thing and add it to my calories goal, I also sometimes opt for the WW Double Choc Chip Brownie there lush at only 167 calories INfact its my TOM on friday and ive not got munchi attack yet but it will come

Ive added Choc to my MFP diet anyway as when I move on to retain weight I dont want to be held by restrictions, so I still eat choc, the only thing ive totally cut back on almost completely is THE REAL COKE lol, I now drink Coke Zero or even better Pepsi Max anything with no Sugar.

heebiejeebie

Have a little of the real thing and don't feel guilty for it.
Account for it in your calorie goal.

I find reminding myself of my long term goals helps control the urge to overindulge.

heebiejeebie

sugar free chocolate pudding
yogurt covered raisins
Lays light chips (made with olean)
carrots (with a little ranch to dip them in)
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs and bars

I would just be careful of the sugar free stuff and chips with Olean. They are chemicals, thus harmful to our bodies and will significantly slow your desired results and compromise your health (immune system). Just a thought.. :flowerforyou:

Water is a chemical. Vitamins are chemicals. Chemicals are not all harmful to our bodies.

MsP90X

I have recently started taking Evening Primrose Oil vitamins to try and keep my hormones from taking over my mind before that TOM. I will let you know how well it works... my friends swear by it! In the meantime for the crunchy cravings I eat pistachios and for the sweet cravings I have jello with light coolwhip. Sometimes I do break down and have an Oh Yeah! protein bar to satisfy the uncontrollable need for CHOCOLATE...

We are all the same make it a great day!

DizzieLittleLifter

I have heard from some that taking Cinnamon pills helps with the sweet cravings. I haven't tried it. I find that giving in to the craving opens the door for more. I have my once a week treat (a scone from Starbucks) and try really hard to not have anything else. I had some donut holes this weekend. I had 5 :blushing: But I know had I not had one I would have been fine. Acknowledging the craving and making a healthy choice works best for me. IE Eating strawberries or yogurt with honey.
I also just wanted to agree that artificial sweeteners are not good for our bodies, but I suggest that each person do their own research and come to that conclusion on their own. :flowerforyou:

SHAMEKALACHELLE

HEEEY thanks for all the great advice.
I did go over to the health food store and got some organic bananas (sweeeet), some raw almonds, some soynuts, and got me some Quakers granola bars with caramel and nuts (not from the HF store). The granolas are only 140 calories as opposed to my usual snicker bar at 280! So I'm working it! Caffiene I can handle, I may do a little coffee, 2 tsp non dairy creamer, 1 tsp sugar, and I'm good. Thanks a lot! I'll try some of those others too, esp the jello! I love sherbert, so that's works too.

lilmissy2

Water is a chemical. Vitamins are chemicals. Chemicals are not all harmful to our bodies.

Love it!

deedeee

chocolate rice cakes
fiber one bars
or vita muffins warmed in the microwave

jolly time ff popcorn is awesome (kettlecorn is my favorite)

Barneystinson

I'm a big fan of really dark chocolate... no less than 85% all the way to 100%. This and fresh-brewed espresso with whole cream.

Both of those knock cravings away fast.

taryn_perry

sugar free chocolate pudding
yogurt covered raisins
Lays light chips (made with olean)
carrots (with a little ranch to dip them in)
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs and bars

I would just be careful of the sugar free stuff and chips with Olean. They are chemicals, thus harmful to our bodies and will significantly slow your desired results and compromise your health (immune system). Just a thought.. :flowerforyou:

Water is a chemical. Vitamins are chemicals. Chemicals are not all harmful to our bodies.

You are right, they are chemicals - and some are not harmful to our buddies. Although these (water, vitamins, etc) being naturally derived chemicals and not genetically enhanced or modified in a lab to provide a flavor that is not otherwise, natural, much like the sugar free and olean products. I'm just saying there are other options to satisfying the sweet tooth, then reaching for these "chemically engineered" type foods, just because they are low in fat or have little to no sugar.

SHAMEKALACHELLE

I have a new found like for dark chocolate too. Interesting.

lyparish

I eat ice. I put a cup of ice and pour some water in it for a half hour. Dump the water out, and chomp on the ice. Helps me... lol I'm a serious sugar addict.

Probably not good for your teeth but... whatever works, eh?

cornmffn

PLEASEEE UPDATE US ON HOW IT GOES!

allykat8

I am going through this right now and it is kicking my @$$

I have found that having some of the following has helped:

Hershey Special Dark Chocolate Bar
Almonds
Chocolate Covered Pretzles (100 calorie packs)
Strawberries topped w/Truvia
Vita Top Muffins (I eat them frozen)

July24Lioness

sugar free chocolate pudding
yogurt covered raisins
Lays light chips (made with olean)
carrots (with a little ranch to dip them in)
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs and bars

I would just be careful of the sugar free stuff and chips with Olean. They are chemicals, thus harmful to our bodies and will significantly slow your desired results and compromise your health (immune system). Just a thought.. :flowerforyou:

Water is a chemical. Vitamins are chemicals. Chemicals are not all harmful to our bodies.

Water and most vitamins are "natural" chemicals. She is talking about the chemically produced artificial sweeteners and the oils they use. You can not compare something that occurrs in nature to something created in a lab.

July24Lioness

I like to opt for some type of berry (strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are my favorites) and a splash of heavy cream.

I have blended heavy cream, stevia, berries and coconut milk together and froze for an ice cream type treat.

All natural and tastes heavenly.

aippolito1

Yesterday when cramps hit and I knew the only thing that would help was chocolate, I grabbed 12 almonds and 1 tbsp of real semi-sweet chocolate chips. I ate 2 or 3 chips with each almond and it tasted great, gave me some crunch and the chocolate eased my cramps. I'd already worked out in the morning and had another work out for last night planned so I just tweaked my numbers to fit in the snack, drank a TON of water, and I was fine the rest of the day as far as cravings go.

lab_goddess

For those times, I just try to delay or go to bed early--night time is awful for me in general--i always want to munch. I try to have fruit with a hershey's kiss size bite of chocolate. If i am doing okay on calories, I try to have a meal replacement shake earlier in the evening. If I am craving salty, I try to limit myself to one serving of pretzels with a little hummus, or some red peppers with hummus. I struggle with trying to separate what is in my "head" in terms of what sounds good or what I am thinking of and what I am actually craving. Sometimes it goes away, sometimes not. I just try to minimize the fulfillment or make the best possible choice. I've pretty much limited my evening munching to weekends. I just try to remember that I want to lose the weight more than I want the temporary fix! I also try to NOT bite off anyone's head, LOL!

heebiejeebie

I think the "artificial" versus "natural" chemicals is a discussion for a separate thread if anyone else is interested.

However, not everything "artificial" or "produced in a lab" is bad, not everything "natural" is good. Please don't oversimplify or generalise.

barresa

sweets:
uswellnessmeats.com sells a delicious raw cashew ice cream in various flavors. Healthiest you will ever have.
healthy energy bars like Raw Revolution
Kettlecorn popcorn (sweet)

salty:
Kettlecorn: Touch of Sea Salt (salty)

Health food stores have your best options but read the ingredients!

tal202

I tend to just have a low fat chocolate milksake, such as the Frijj one, and account for it in my tally. And I try to make it last over two days of cravings. Also, it fills me up quite a lot so I don't have my mid-afternoon Special K bar so I figure it all balances out.

taryn_perry

sugar free chocolate pudding
yogurt covered raisins
Lays light chips (made with olean)
carrots (with a little ranch to dip them in)
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs and bars

I would just be careful of the sugar free stuff and chips with Olean. They are chemicals, thus harmful to our bodies and will significantly slow your desired results and compromise your health (immune system). Just a thought.. :flowerforyou:

Water is a chemical. Vitamins are chemicals. Chemicals are not all harmful to our bodies.

Water and most vitamins are "natural" chemicals. She is talking about the chemically produced artificial sweeteners and the oils they use. You can not compare something that occurrs in nature to something created in a lab.

Thank you.

P.S. I'm SOOOOOOOO trying your heavy cream and berry treat when I get back. Sounds sooooo delish right now.