women of MFP

I don't change anything and just wait for my body to catch up with itself.

I find that my PM days I may go up a pound to a pound and a half. I weigh myself daily as a self check and make sure I get enough water and stay away from salty foods. Usually I drop the weight and then some if I've been good the week following my period.

I don't change anything that I do during TOM, but I do tend to get bloated and gain exactly 2 lbs which always disappears after, as well as whatever else I worked on losing during that week.

I lose weight just fine during my TOM. I stay on track as much as possible (and add a little extra salt to my popcorn).

I have had extremely intense menstrual cycles since age 12. Not to get all TMI, but the flow is so heavy that I have to wear overnight pads through the entire 7 days (yes 7, sometimes 8 or 9). When I first started, I was getting them every 2 weeks. I cramp so severely that I vomit. I get hormone triggered migraines days before and sometimes during. I am anemic, hypoglycemic, and hypotensive (low blood pressure), and my cycle intensifies that. I also have PMDD which means I am pretty much a beast with rapid mood swings and extreme emotional distress. I have excessive fatigue, back pain, and retain water like a sponge even more than I normally do.

Thank everything I'm taking birth control to control all this and regulate or I might be in jail for assault, battery or worse.

Even on medication, I crave red meat during my "girl week", and often chocolate. And salt--you'd think I would avoid it at all costs, but I can't. It's often a vicious circle--must eat red meat, with something salty, followed by something chocolate. I can gain anywhere from 2-10lbs just in water weight. It usually drops right off after, though a pound or two might linger.

Normal activity will cause my blood sugar to drop during my non-cycle weeks, but during it's even worse. I have to eat more so that I don't pass out during intense workouts. I tend to do gentle things like yoga (no inverted poses, of course), or belly dance practice, which actually eases cramps. I try to avoid weights and extreme cardio.

I don't feel guilty about any sort of indulgence. I eat fries if I feel like, but I try to limit the intake. It's difficult. I track it. I try to get in as much activity as possible. And I drink a ton of water, more than I already do normally.

That's pretty much it.

I shop in preparation for the week.
The house is usually cleaned of trigger foods that normally I can leave alone.
The house itself is cleaned cos for first 3 days of cycle I am a physical wreck.
I now always buy tampax and painkillers at the end of a cycle just in case I lose track of next cycle.
I get anything stressful done week before (paying bills, making appointments etc).
After 20yrs together my husband and I have learnt to minimize any stressful discussions during that time and to b honest he takes over a lot with the kids. It's not that I am agro but I am foggy headed. This can start week before sometimes.
I only let myself pick at protein, fruits n veg n I have protein shakes. I dont minimise any of these n i dont care if it takes me over cals. Take vitamins. If I allow myself a carb I know it has the potential to become a binge so they almost disappear.
I still exercise.
Basically I batten down the hatches!
Since realizing I had to strategies for this, I have sometimes lost weight when I've finished the cycle. It took about a year of losing b4 I found what worked for me. I was sick of feeling like I was in a plane with an autopilot.

I find that walking helps my cramps more than anything else!

TOM has absolutely no effect on my diet or fitness routine. I don't really gain or lose weight, I do feel a little bloated some days. Thats pretty much it.

When it is that TOM for me, I do gain weight... I am currently 58kg and it appears I can gain 1-2kg whilst on my period. I try and eat as well as I can, but I am one of the poor sods that get really cravings... and sometimes I can go over my calories by a bit... usually I have one BIG binge-like eating day (usually a big dinner or snacks/sweets after dinner) but it doesn't affect the scales the following week. I give my body what it wants during this time (to a certain extent) and I find I am a lot more bloated from water and all the rest of it too... so the following week I always am back to normal again. It doesn't interfere with my exercise regime - I've always remembered an old netball coach of mine telling me that exercise can actually help get rid of any pains etc. during that time. I don't know if it's true or not, but it hasn't stopped me from exercising!

I lost 2lbs yesterday and I'm on my TOM right now and have been for two days.
So I don't believe that is true.

Lets just hope I am down another 2 when my TOM goes away.