Periods & food. How do you stay in control?

Two weeks before my period. I up my calories by 200 or just eat at maintenance mode while exercising.

I just breathe you know. That time of the month makes me feel so darn fat. LOL

Do you have more hunger pains or just cramps on period. If it's cramps then moving around more will help, also maybe avoid dairy and naughty food. They have been known to exasperate period pains. If it's hunger pains then eat, if you can't eat when you're hungry then that's just silly.

Sometimes it's not all about will power (although I definitely agree that plays a huge role!!!)

If you are suffering from a lot of cramps that could mean that you have inflammation in your body. Taking out processed foods (especially sugar), foods that you are sensitive to (for me that's tomatoes, eggs, potatoes), foods that you are allergic to (for me gluten) or sometimes things like foods in nightshade family can greatly decrease cramping because your body is no longer so inflamed. Usually these foods have to be completely taken out at least two weeks before your period to feel the positive effects. I'm certainly not a doctor...just someone who has become a research nut after feeling miserable for so much of my life. Trial and error and this is one of the things that was a clear success for me nearly eliminating my previously **extremely** painful cramping.

Exercising definitely helps!! The best thing for me to do when I start cramping is go for a run...at first I feel like I *do not* want to...but after a bit the cramping subsides and I feel soo much better!

Also, like one of the other posters said if you are craving one thing then it could mean that your body is deficient in some vital nutrients! Like dark chocolate is often a sign of a magnesium deficiency (magnesium will also *really* help with muscle aches and bloating issues). A craving for french fries could mean that you could need some healthy fats like coconut or avocado.

Again, these aren't for sure things but I've learned to really *start* listening to the underlying cries of my body. Obviously NOT meaning if I'm craving a brownie I eat it...but I try to figure out *why* I want it so desperately and exchange it for something similar but soooo much more healthy!! Like brownies automatically make me think of steamed broccoli...don't ask me why but that stuff is like gold on a plate when I'm nearing my TOM.

Anyway, keep up the good work! Our bodies are constantly healing us and if we just put it in the right environment you'd be amazed how much it will do to help us feel and look amazing!!

lots of water, if your craving chocolate, have it, but it moderation, if your craving salty or meaty, have but make it yourself in a healthy version, your body knows what you need and when you are craving something you will crave it from a source you are used to getting it from. so the good way to counter that is to find a healthy food that has the same nutrient your body is craving,
for example;
every couple weeks i will really crave fatty fast food.I have been off of fast food for a couple years now. what i figured out is that i was craving either fat or meat. instead i made some fresh guacamole from avocadoes and soon instead of craving fast food when my body needed healthy fats i started craving avocadoes

see? =D

Going through that right now. I crave chocolate and spicy and creamy and everything that's bad for me this time of the month.

Pre-logging the junk and healthier versions of what I'm craving helps so much. Today was a crazy stressful day so KNEW I would be eating some junk. Breakfast was McDonalds, but I made it the egg white muffin thing. Lunch I was home so I made a huge salad with lots of spicy peppers and vinegar, lean ham, olives, and cottage cheese. Tasted like the bad for me italian hoagie I was craving, but seriously low cal.

Aaaand I just scarfed a chocolate iced donut and five Takis for a snack (only five- the rest are living in my car so I have to go down two flights of stairs and across the street to get to them).

Dinner will be a spicy and creamy chicken in the crockpot with loads of veggies, at only about 200 cal per serving. It will fill me up and satisfy some cravings while still being in my budget. Should have enough left over for a dark chocolate bar too.

Balanced? Eh, I'll be high in fat and sodium today. But to me, to stay on track and not just say "eff it"...totally worth the splurging.

Hello,
If you're talking about the pain of a period, you can actually get your doctor to prescribe you a strong ibuprofen that's what I take for my period pains.

However, if you are referring to the food that you crave on your period, or I know that I do anyway, the chocolate and greasy pizza. Just keep in mind that these things will NOT make it better. In fact, they will make the pain a ton worse.

Keep in mind that period pains and cravings do not last forever.

Magnesium supplements can help with your period im not sure if it helps with cravings but I try to make clean/ healthier versions of sweet foods that I like or eat fruit or high% cocoa dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

I eat at TDEE or above on the days I'm really hungry during my period. This has not sabotaged my weight loss long term. I focus on eating more carbs and sticking to my protein goal. I allow myself dark chocolate and any other treats I'm craving, in moderation.

I got rid of my period XD
IUDs for the win

just say no.....