Uncontrollable and horrible cravings

ibfat4ever
ibfat4ever Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
I am 40 years old and have 5 kids. I got my tubes tied after I had the twins 9 years ago and since then, I started having cravings a week to two weeks before my period. I rarely ate until noon but when I get these cravings, I will wake up hungry when I get up at 5am. Any weight I lose, I will regain during that time when I get these cravings. I have tried to control it but I will get so upset and in a trance if I do not eat something I am craving. It is usually things that are high in sodium and salt, rarely sweets. I wish I could go to the dr about this but do not have insurance. I am debating on whether to try some of the over the counter suppressants to help me get this under control. Any ideas or suggestions?

Replies

  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Your metabolism can increase up to 200 calories a day during that TOM, so cut yourself some slack here.

    I would guess that at least some of your weight gain is water weight - remember that you have to eat 3500 calories over *maintenance* to gain a pound of fat. So, if you're eating an extra 2000 calories a week over your plan and seeing a 3 pound increase, then maybe 1/2 a pound (or less) of that is added fat.

    Also, make sure you're eating enough calories through the month, so you aren't binging just because of hunger + normal cravings. Finally, try drinking Gatorade Zero. That helps me control salt cravings, but isn't high calorie at all.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I totally sympathize! I have a few days every month where it's horrible, I'm always hungry. Before I joined MFP I probably ate 10,000 calories or something on those days, and sometimes I had to eat a whole box of pasta with half a jar of sauce for it to go away.

    Now I try to eat a ton of protein and stick to the foods that fill me up (eggs, protein bars etc). It sucks but so far I've managed to control it. I try to exercise more when it happens too...
  • ThoseLittleCats
    ThoseLittleCats Posts: 180
    eat wat u want, but control how much u eat. lyke have 2 slicez of pizza, not tha whole pie :D
  • rowanwood
    rowanwood Posts: 509 Member
    I have heard some people end up with wild craving due to a wide variety of nutritional lacks. I've also heard of women having luck with supplements like evening primrose oil.

    Weirdly, I discovered the worst part of cravings for me was the anxiety that went with them, so I do something to relax like herbal tea or a valerian root capsule and a big glass of water and usually in 10 minutes or so, the craving goes away.
  • hrmom26
    hrmom26 Posts: 53 Member
    i, some months have the same issue, its a pain. what i do is drink more, i eat in moderation but i exercise a bit more so i have more calories during that time , i do always eat my exercise calories during this time though lol
  • ThoseLittleCats
    ThoseLittleCats Posts: 180
    i get weird cravingz to. sometimez i get tha urge to lick a cardboard box :| my doctor said i prob lack nutrientz. =\
  • Maikana2
    Maikana2 Posts: 13 Member
    Try to get a good vitamin, not a cheap one. I like rainbow lights prenatal. It has amazing vitmains and minerals and it is derived from veggies, so easy to absorb. Many people have song cravings to compensate deficiencies.
  • desiv2
    desiv2 Posts: 651 Member
    During TOM I eat all the food. Lol I'm normally a savory person but during that week I crave sweets! Working in a bakery during shark week means lots of oopsies.

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