Why So Hungry When on my Period?

I have been so good and then today - BAM - I'm starving and wanting to eat. I am feeling so guilty about being over my allotted calories but this conversation makes a lot of sense so I guess I will try not to beat myself up too much.

You crave chocolate and other sugars for a seritonin boost as all hormones dip during your cycle. Extra iron is also needed... the heavier your flow the more you need. This is a perfect time to indulge in a steak (unless, of course, you are a vegitarian). I've found it's useless to try to ignore hormonal cravings. I'll eat more calories trying to subsitute rather than eat what I want (that only works for several days of the month though.. the rest of the time is all on me).

After going 435 over my calories today, I now feel much better having read everyone's similar experiences with these few rough days every month!

Amen my sistas lol. I always joke that I want to eat anything that not nailed down during that time of the month :bigsmile: Its funny how until I started watching what I eat I never noticed this trend, however, after speaking with my a nutritionist/ dietitian it was confirmed that yes this is normal and its ok, just be careful not to be led totally astray. Also after the initial few psm days my appetite goes back to normal thanks god lol

I don't know...usually for me it's before. During, I want to eat less....does this always happen to you, or have you been lifting weights lately?

Because our bodies are the devil.

LOL I love this!

last night i was at my boyfriends house. he ordered a large pizza. the dog was barking so he went to go run him outside on his skateboard. He left me alone.. in his room.. with the pizza.. he was gone for like twenty minutes. by the time he came back, there were 2 slices left on his nightstand and he found me in his kitchen eating left over cake out of the fridge. . no plate, just a fork and a tray of cake. he looked at me like i was crazy... i got my period this morning.. now im in bed at 12 :30 at night eating chocalote pudding and marshmallow fluff and pistachios.. i bascially havent stopped eating for more than 20 minutes in the past 4 days... just happy its cold out so sweat pants and a sweat shirt looks like a "normal" thing to wear right now.. no one has to know i cant button up my shorts for a week.. ahh depressing.. i feel your pain.. and i think it is normal because this happens to me EVERY month without fail since i was 14. i eat like a psycho for like a week and a half, cry at every animal shelter commercial and yell at people for no reason then tell them i love them and am so happy there in my life.. and then just go back to normal after.. just one more of the crazy emotional ups and downs that women have and men can't understand..

bump for joila's link

i have found great consolation in reading 'time of the month tiger' memes

I was just complaining to my boyfriend about my darn cravings! which lately it has been peanut butter (peter pan honey roast!!) I normally dont care for sweet stuff but OMG during this time I want everytime in sight plus candy!

So not only am i emotional and always complaining about my pains but im hungry, best time of the month isnt it :sad: !!!

"As you lay in your bed doing nothing at all, your body is burning up fuel, or calories, keeping your digestive system working, helping your heart beat and all of the other wonderful things that happen inside us that we don’t have to think about on a daily basis. Every thirty days or so, the systems in your body pick up another task.

With the menstrual cycle, the week of your period makes your body do some extra work. This extra work burns more calories and your BMR actually goes up. In some women, the week of your period can make you burn up to fifteen percent more calories, and you haven’t changed a single thing about your lifestyle!

Of course, if you’re trying to figure out why your period makes you so hungry, the answer is clear. Your body is doing more work; your body needs more calories. To get the calories it needs, your body sends a message to your brain telling you you’re hungry more often. Since you’re feeling hungry, you eat."

Quoted from http://www.iibc.com/hungry-period/

Hahah that made me go "OHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhh". That's a good explanation.

HAHA!! ME TOO!!!

Some time I wish I would just bleed to death and get it over with!

During that time of the month the body uses an extra 350 calories (though it varries from person to person).

Also if you get emotional, it could be emotional hunger and not real hunger~