Gal Only: How do you handle PMS Cravings

In for learning.

Okay Girls, this week has been brutal for me. I woke up last night with aunt flo and was almost sick to my stomach and sweating and my heart was pounding...I've been trying to keep within my daily calorie limit for weigh loss but I've been messing up and feel out of control. Should I lower my sugar the week before (hard to do)? I'm off my birth control ring since gaining 40 lbs on it but now my face is breaking out and I keep teeter tottering with the same 5 lbs lost but creeping back on again after a cheat.

How do you deal with TOM and fluctuating hormone levels that can make life seem hopeless? I'm not normally such a Debbie Downer, but this month is killing me!!

Switch to low calorie birth control pills. I think that helps. Those chocolate coated ones pack a wallop in the calorie department. I'd be gaining weight too.

Stop cheating. Of course the weight goes back up if you eat more. That's science. Your weight is your calorie intake minus your calories burned. If you eat more than you burn you'll gain weight. It really is that simple.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1079988-how-do-you-handle-pms

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1072852-pms-rant

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1060095-one-for-the-ladies-pms-cravings-tips-please

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1058733-pms-symptom-curious

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1056279-dealing-with-pms-and-pcos

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1056146-pms-hunger

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1043870-ladies-pms-topic

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1026011-ladies-pms-tom-question

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1019270-pms-and-binge-eating-real-or-just-an-excuse

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1008390-pms-made-me-do-it

Do you keep those links handy?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1079988-how-do-you-handle-pms

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1072852-pms-rant

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1060095-one-for-the-ladies-pms-cravings-tips-please

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1058733-pms-symptom-curious

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1056279-dealing-with-pms-and-pcos

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1056146-pms-hunger

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1043870-ladies-pms-topic

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1026011-ladies-pms-tom-question

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1019270-pms-and-binge-eating-real-or-just-an-excuse

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1008390-pms-made-me-do-it

Do you keep those links handy?

No, but I am going to start.
It's a lot of work.

It's great being a girl sometimes, isn't it?? I find I'm usually up 4-5 lbs during my "fun week".

Honestly, Tylenol is my friend at that time of the month. I find taking one before a workout really helps so I'm not dying. Cutting back on the pop and caffeine seems to have really helped with the cramps. As far as cravings, there is nothing wrong with giving into them, just fit them into your day's total. I normally crave burgers and fries so instead or running out to the local fast food joint I make them at home and at least I know that they are healthy, lower in fat and not full of a bunch of ingredients I can't even pronounce.

I believe I made this post earlier...

But take a Midol and get over it.

I fight it for two days and then I realise that my body is crying out for something, and that I'm about to go through something rather unpleasant and I give myself a break and have something I'm craving.

It ain’t easy, to be sure. I show great restraint some months. Other months, Crazy Aunt Flo makes it almost impossible to stay within my limits. For me, it’s an insistent craving for sodium, red meat, and chocolate. I’ve learned that I can stave off the monthly madness with a few substitutions. Here they are:

I want salt.
Old me – kettle chips and lots of them
New me – pop chips. They satisfy the craving without blasting through my fat and calorie allowance for the day.

I want MEAT! Now! NOW! NOW!!!
Old me – bacon cheeseburger. Since I’m here, I may as well get some fries with that.
New me – kale shake. I’m not really craving meat; I’m craving iron. The big blast from the kale shake calms me right down.

Give me chocolate, or else …
Old me – enough chocolate cookies, candy and cakes to keep an entire class of 1st graders buzzing for an entire day.
New me – one serving of the darkest chocolate I can find. That satisfies the craving without a massive caloric splurge.

As I said, sometimes Crazy Aunt Flo wins, and I eat a cupcake (or three), but that doesn’t happen every month. Progress is progress.

I chew my husbands *kitten* then I eat chocolate....

OP, I have found that I typically eat an extra 200-300 calories during my TOM. And I don't exercise for at least two days, sometimes three. I smoke a bowl and watch some TV and munch. It hasn't hurt my progress one bit. Eat the chocolate. You actually burn a bit more calories on those days. If you are restricting too much during the rest of the month, you'll pay for it when your hormones take over your brain for those few days. Eating fun foods each day also helps keep cravings in check. I very rarely crave sugar. (Usually if anything, it's specifically chocolate.) Cravings exist for a reason, and I found that dark chocolate has nutrients that we lose from the blood loss. Go figure. Best of luck! :flowerforyou: