Question for the ladies

What about strength training instead of cardio? If running during your TOM gets you light headed, maybe lighting weights, which you can do slowly but with a heavy weight, might be more up your alley. Your doctor could tell you if your iron is low, but if you want to boost it, look for foods naturally high in iron, or try cooking your normal food in a cast iron pan so that it leaks iron mineral into your meal.

I read in a magazine that your metabolism is higher during your period and you may be burning extra calories because of it. I am hungry all the time during my period but I try to eat healthy foods and reap the benefits of having a higher metabolism for those days.

carb cravings before your period -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.Good luck! :happy:

I've noticed since starting MFP and actually tracking things like food and exercise that I am also different one week out of the month.
I noticed that for one week I feel completely drained and exercise tends to add to that feeling for me.
I tried this past round to just make sure I had good, healthy foods around to choose from that would satisfy the cravings without totally throwing me off for that day.
Bad, but I did slack off on my workouts during that week though. I just felt so tired!

Can you add some extra sleep, maybe skip a normal evening activity? I find I need more for a few days, and with fewer waking hours I have fewer in which to eat. Also, I rarely eat red meat, but when have PMS, look out, I want steak and burgers! Green tea seems to help with the energy and hydration as well.

Yes. Me too. When its that time, the usual things I eat dont keep me full as long, so Im hungrier all day long...and I tend to let my self eat more (bad) foods than I should. But I suppose it all evens out for me. I mean, I dont go eat an entire cake or whole bag of chips or anything (I crave carbs, seriously bad) but I do cheat more. And I can definitely tell in my workouts that I dont have the usual stamina.

I don't wanna say its all in your head, since its mostly not, but it really is. Once you get into the habit of working out through your period you'll probably notice the cramps subside while you exercise. Eating a little more might give you some energy too. I give into some cravings but I just try not to go so far.

Oh yeah and don't take any iron supplements unless you have a test saying its low. I started taking some iron because I figured it couldn't hurt but it made me feel pretty nauseated for the day.

Don't be fooled by your craving, I guarantee just because you are craving chocolate, a cheeseburger, or cheesecake that it does not mean that your body is needing it. Your body is asking for something, but not that stuff. That is all fat and you do not NEED that. You are technically losing blood, hence, the fatigue. Drink water to rehydrate, keep eating healthy, exercise, and it will all pass.