Ladies only! Lol. Diet and "time of the month"

GoodVibes95
GoodVibes95 Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
It's that time of the month of me, you know.....the big PMS. Ahhh LOL! Every month this is EXACTLY when I screw my entire diet up and eventually say f%#! it. I have non stop cravings right now and am hungry every single hour no matter what I eat. Seems like it's impossible to stay in the 1200-1400 calories I normally eat 3/4 of the month....

What do you ladies do during that time? Do you raise your calories a bit? Hold on to your willpower for dear life? HELP lol
«13

Replies

  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    mt Friend "Aunt Flow" showed up this morning.. a week early ( better late than not at all I suppose)... and definitely messed up my workout plans due to bad cramping... Im loading up on Tylenol so I can workout this evening...

    I dont have cravings (YET!) but I do things like drink hot apple cider...its sweet enough to ward off the munchies without making me feel guilty like a candy bar or cupcake would.... its also warm so it helps with cramps...
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    The ONLY advantage to being pre-menopausal is you don't have these pre-visitation munches. You're just *****y ALL the time. :bigsmile:
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    I try my best to stick to my goals. Maybe sneak in an extra chocolate pudding pack (60 cals and pretty decent chocolate taste) or a diet swiss miss (25 calorie packet).

    If not, I try to exercise more to offset.

    Otherwise, cramps + self loathing from overeating gets me even worse.
  • Blastastic
    Blastastic Posts: 280 Member
    You should ask Tom ... I have no clue who he is but every thread that involves this topic, a lot if people talk about him.
  • fightininggirl
    fightininggirl Posts: 792 Member
    the first thing is I don't weigh during my monthly vistor. the water retention adds 5-10 pounds to you

    don't stress I eat the calories alloted me

    drink hot tea and water with lemon.

    I heat myself with a heating dome for 30 minuets.
  • RainbootsToBikinis
    RainbootsToBikinis Posts: 465 Member
    Drink lots of water and eat your veggies. Veggies are low cal and very filling. I also don't keep any cheat foods in the house, so if I really want something I have to go out and buy it. Usually by the time I've walked over to the store (if I even make it that far) I've talked myself out of it.
  • Dani_Davies23
    Dani_Davies23 Posts: 86
    Honestly.
    Bleeding out of an orifice for a week straight.
    Accompanied by my boobs feeling like bruised sacs of flour and throttling cramps....
    I let myself have chocolate.

    Just push yourself harder next week.
  • Atarahh
    Atarahh Posts: 485 Member
    I dont weigh in during TOM.
    I detox during this time since my body is naturally ridding itself of other things too.
    Around the last couple of days I take Diurex to pull that water off.

    Also, I know the first major day of TOM I cramp hard so I always take an Aleve the night before so the cramps don't really bother me.Tylenol doesn't work for me or Motrin. Aleve is the only thing that works!
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    You should ask Tom ... I have no clue who he is but every thread that involves this topic, a lot if people talk about him.

    He gets a lot of action
  • legnarevocrednu
    legnarevocrednu Posts: 467 Member
    I just do the best I can. I don't work out as much during the time (some women say it makes them feel better...that is definitely not the case with me!) but I do take water pills to help with the bloating feeling. Also, the day after it stops, I have usually dropped a whole bunch of weight.
  • skrakalaka
    skrakalaka Posts: 338 Member
    It's either eat chocolate or commit murder, I go for the chocolate. Then do a ton of cardio the next day.
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    I workout a little longer because i crave cheese and not just a little stick of it, like a block of it a day so i try to even it out that way. I get really bloated during that time so it is easy for me to want to go and workout a bit more.
  • chervil6
    chervil6 Posts: 236 Member
    i eat air popped corn , just gives me something to munch on , maybe i should munch on carrot sticks n houmous ... hate that T.O.M ... hoping its soon over for me :o) no sign though :(
  • rahlpn
    rahlpn Posts: 551 Member
    Take a Midol and stick to your guns!
  • jules1202
    jules1202 Posts: 65
    Part of what drives the hormonal part of things is the drop in calcium levels so you might try adding in extra calcium when AF is coming (like a pill or liquid calcium magnesium supplement). Also Evening Primrose Oil can help with PMS syptoms.

    I taking the 90 day pill pack (due to having endo) so I only have AF every 3 months or I would have this problem alot more too. Maybe try to stay busy and add in extra fiber to help you feeling full longer?
  • NataBee
    NataBee Posts: 57 Member
    I'm suffering with the need for all things comforting around this time and i've like to have one square of chocolate, take a sip of coffee and let it melt in my mouth for ages. Heaven for the time and i'll curl up and relax then while finishing my coffee :)
  • katrina603
    katrina603 Posts: 11
    yo plaits yogurts or a skinny cow. I never want sweets, ever unless i get my period lol
  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
    Now were all in danger. Thanks a lot

    grizzly-bears-420x0.jpg
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    Hormones don't make you decisions. Your brain does. So simply decide which is more important. Your goals or your cravings.
    And if you feel there is something deeper going on such as PMDD, see your doctor.
  • szarlotka717
    szarlotka717 Posts: 85 Member
    I've read that menstruating expends 100-200 more calories a day. If I'm starving around my TOM, I figure that it's my body telling me that I haven't eaten enough to account for the extra energy it needs. I still *try* to eat within my goals, but don't feel bad if I need to go 100-200 calories over.

    Regarding water weight - drinking extra water can help with that.
  • Tw1zzler
    Tw1zzler Posts: 583
    You should ask Tom ... I have no clue who he is but every thread that involves this topic, a lot if people talk about him.

    He gets a lot of action

    Tom is a douche.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    It's that time of the month of me, you know.....the big PMS. Ahhh LOL! Every month this is EXACTLY when I screw my entire diet up and eventually say f%#! it. I have non stop cravings right now and am hungry every single hour no matter what I eat. Seems like it's impossible to stay in the 1200-1400 calories I normally eat 3/4 of the month....

    What do you ladies do during that time? Do you raise your calories a bit? Hold on to your willpower for dear life? HELP lol

    I will eat about 200-300 calorie more, usually in the form of chocolate.
  • Prettylittlelotus
    Prettylittlelotus Posts: 239 Member
    Honestly.
    Bleeding out of an orifice for a week straight.
    Accompanied by my boobs feeling like bruised sacs of flour and throttling cramps....
    I let myself have chocolate.

    Just push yourself harder next week.

    Preach it!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Hormones don't make you decisions. Your brain does. So simply decide which is more important. Your goals or your cravings.
    And if you feel there is something deeper going on such as PMDD, see your doctor.

    If you already have a large deficit, then a few hundred extra calories for 2-3 days will NOT prevent anyone from achieving their weight loss goals. It *will* improve your mood though.
  • z2bn3sec
    z2bn3sec Posts: 8
    I crave fast food like crazy during that time. So I have to make sure that I have snacks with me and that I'm full-ish before I go anywhere.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    Hormones don't make you decisions. Your brain does. So simply decide which is more important. Your goals or your cravings.
    And if you feel there is something deeper going on such as PMDD, see your doctor.

    Like someone in another thread posted, "THERE'S NO LOGIC DURING SHARK WEEK."
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    I find small ways to indulge my cravings. A little chocolate, I split a bag of popcorn with a CW, I'll even have Taco Bell for lunch!!!! *GASP*



    .....because I'm not going to spend the rest of my days as a fertile woman ignoring those cravings and shoving them aside. I'm going to find manageable ways to handle them in a manner that I can sustain for years to come.
  • PrincessMissDee
    PrincessMissDee Posts: 183 Member
    It's that time of the month of me, you know.....the big PMS. Ahhh LOL! Every month this is EXACTLY when I screw my entire diet up and eventually say f%#! it. I have non stop cravings right now and am hungry every single hour no matter what I eat. Seems like it's impossible to stay in the 1200-1400 calories I normally eat 3/4 of the month....

    What do you ladies do during that time? Do you raise your calories a bit? Hold on to your willpower for dear life? HELP lol

    What are your cravings? I used to get terrible PMT and horrific cramps, cheese and milk were my main cravings. I realised that probably meant I was lacking calcium and sorted out my diet generally.

    Cravings are usually signifiers of some deficit in your body.

    I also agree with Evening Primrose Oil, it levels out your hormones a little so they don't go crazy during that week.
  • iamkarent
    iamkarent Posts: 144 Member
    You could easily allow 200 extra calories during that period and still be well under TDEE. May slow your loss slightly...but will still lose, and if it helps keep you on track overall...then it is a win. There is no reason to be miserable.

    Also second the drinking lots of water and getting lots of snacking vegetables....celery sticks...carrots etc..
  • healthyKYgirl
    healthyKYgirl Posts: 272 Member
    Often we have cravings because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and during this time of the month, we may need more of something. For instance, chocolate is high in magnesium. Magnesium helps alleviate muscle soreness including soreness from cramps. What do most women crave at this time? (Chocolate)

    Something that helped me was taking a magnesium supplement, especially right before, during, and after - my cramps disappeared.

    Also, depending on what you are craving you might be missing other things too. Your body is doing more than it normally would and you are losing blood, which might mean more water consumption and iron and b vitamins. Also, you might need a slightly higher calorie count at this time (Not sure about this, but it would make sense that you are burning more). But only you can figure out what you need, so look at your symptoms and see what you are craving and see what's missing.

    Also, exercise helps alleviate symptoms of PMS so as much as it sucks to workout at this time, working out helps.

    Oh, and FYI, when I actually take the magnesium and don't forget my cravings for chocolate go away. There's nothing to fight because I am giving my body what it needs. And you don't have to do it through a supplement, you can do it through other foods.

Categories