For the ladies...

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emdeesea
emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Sorry guys if this is TMI. I apologize up front, but I need some feedback.

Ladies, I am usually very good about watching what I eat and logging everything. That is until about 10 days before that time of month.

I have Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder, which, if you're not familiar, is a severe form of PMS.

Some months its tolerable, and others it's crippling. I've had it for long enough that I can function through the emotional aspects, but the cravings are what does me in.

So does anyone have any tricks that they go to to get through the PMS cravings? I've tried a high carb diet and that worked so-so, but I did end up pretty bloated and uncomfortable. I already exercise, and that doesn't really seem to do anything. The cravings are still there, like a monster lurking under the bed, and there are times when I already feel like garbage anyway and the cravings are near impossible to resist. Having one little piece of chocolate doesn't work either because that turns into a whole bar of chocolate. I'm like an alcoholic during that time. Or like Dexter's "Dark Passenger," who is in the driver's seat.

Ugh. Does anyone have any tips they can give me? Thanks,
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Replies

  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
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    Popcorn with a olive oil and sea salt, and spices. You can have loads of popcorn for very few calories, so long as you don't go crazy with topping.
    Fro-yo. It's not super low in calorie but it's better than icecream. I like Ben and Jerry's cherry garcia. For as rich as it tastes, it's pretty fair calorie-wise.
    Dark chocolate + peanut butter (super filling, satisfies your sweet tooth, has protein.)
    And maybe during your period week just eat at maintenance calories, or set it to .5 pounds a week.
  • Shell_1384
    Shell_1384 Posts: 80 Member
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    Sorry, don't have any tips for you. I just wanted to make a comment to help boost your post to the top of the forum list in the hopes it gets the attention of someone who can help. Best of luck achieving your goals :)
  • knitapeace
    knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member
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    Popcorn with a olive oil and sea salt, and spices. You can have loads of popcorn for very few calories, so long as you don't go crazy with topping.
    Fro-yo. It's not super low in calorie but it's better than icecream. I like Ben and Jerry's cherry garcia. For as rich as it tastes, it's pretty fair calorie-wise.
    Dark chocolate + peanut butter (super filling, satisfies your sweet tooth, has protein.)
    And maybe during your period week just eat at maintenance calories, or set it to .5 pounds a week.

    +1 Great suggestions!
  • tabbyblack13
    tabbyblack13 Posts: 299 Member
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    I know some people may not like me saying this but look at birth control. I have used it to reduce my period and to keep me from experiencing the craving and emotional swing. Now, I doubt I have ever been as bad as you but I work mainly with guys and they can't seem to understand what PMS (or anyother 'female' issue) can do to a person.

    I saw the food suggestions and those sound good even without the cravings. The suggestion to do maintanence is also a good one. Helps takes off the pressure to lose weight during a rough time.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
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    Salted dark chocolate. Bitter, sweet, salty. Fills all the cravings and isn't terrible for you. Eat the whole bar. Yummmm.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
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    It may help to up your protein and fiber as well along with your water.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
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    I know some people may not like me saying this but look at birth control. I have used it to reduce my period and to keep me from experiencing the craving and emotional swing. Now, I doubt I have ever been as bad as you but I work mainly with guys and they can't seem to understand what PMS (or anyother 'female' issue) can do to a person.

    I saw the food suggestions and those sound good even without the cravings. The suggestion to do maintanence is also a good one. Helps takes off the pressure to lose weight during a rough time.

    Yell at people who wouldn't like you for this. Birth control isn't just for the controlling of pregnancy, and is often prescribed to help with exactly this kind of problem. It's a medical issue and you suggested a medical solution. You are right.
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
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    Dark Chocolate is better than Milk chocolate.

    Maybe do a protein shake with some dark chocolate flavoring ... make it so you think you are eating ice cream :)
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
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    I know some people may not like me saying this but look at birth control. I have used it to reduce my period and to keep me from experiencing the craving and emotional swing. Now, I doubt I have ever been as bad as you but I work mainly with guys and they can't seem to understand what PMS (or anyother 'female' issue) can do to a person.

    I saw the food suggestions and those sound good even without the cravings. The suggestion to do maintanence is also a good one. Helps takes off the pressure to lose weight during a rough time.

    I'm on my 4th kind of birth control because I have crazy pms and my BC doesn't help. I don't have an answer for you my dear. I'm trying yoga, exercise, reduce sodium, but in the end I still chow down on sour candies and chips. I try and stave off the monster until the weekend, and keep it to one day, but that doesn't always happen.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
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    I know some people may not like me saying this but look at birth control. I have used it to reduce my period and to keep me from experiencing the craving and emotional swing. Now, I doubt I have ever been as bad as you but I work mainly with guys and they can't seem to understand what PMS (or anyother 'female' issue) can do to a person.

    I saw the food suggestions and those sound good even without the cravings. The suggestion to do maintanence is also a good one. Helps takes off the pressure to lose weight during a rough time.

    Yell at people who wouldn't like you for this. Birth control isn't just for the controlling of pregnancy, and is often prescribed to help with exactly this kind of problem. It's a medical issue and you suggested a medical solution. You are right.

    after you're done yelling, b!tch slap them. Birth Control isn't the devil!
  • luvmydawgs
    luvmydawgs Posts: 182 Member
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    Keep it away from you! I am scared my period is due soon and I can already feel myself getting more and more hungry. It is not that I need bad stuff it is just that when I am hungry that is all I can find!
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
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    Thanks everyone. I was on birth control for a while for the medical aspects but as I've gotten older it has affected my blood pressure negatively. The last time I was on it I had to go off because my blood pressure spiked to stroke levels. So no more BC for me.

    Same goes for SSRIs (antidepressants). Unfortunately I'm in the like 2% of people whose blood pressure is affected negatively.

    Which basically leaves me with trying to control it with diet.

    All of these food suggestions are great though, I will try a few of them and see what happens. Thanks again!
  • SJBQ87
    SJBQ87 Posts: 8
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    I feel your pain. I have horrible PMS symptoms. I was diagnosed with PMDD not too long ago, but I have to say that I think it's diminishing somewhat (I'm 49, still having regular periods, but probably something is changing with my hormones at this age.) Maybe I'm just getting used to it or getting better at dealing with it. I don't know. Overeating is a big problem with me for PMS week, so this month I'm trying something new. I just changed my goal status to "maintain current weight" and I'm leaving it that way until the PMS is over. It's impossible for me to lose any weight that week anyway. Now I have some extra calories to play with. I'll change back to "lose weight" when the PMS is over. I'm hoping that I will be able to feed the cravings a little knowing I have some extra calories and not have to beat myself up for indulging. If I don't give myself a reason to feel guilty, maybe I'll be less irritable about my eating. We'll see how it goes. Has anyone else tried anything like this?
  • xixshaiyaxix
    xixshaiyaxix Posts: 83 Member
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    I also feel your pain, I have PCOS and when I am bleeding (I bleed one every 3 months, but when I do, its dangerous amounts of blood), I can't physically move much during that time, and I barely eat. In the midst of my misery I often just tell the hubby to order pizza and that leads to ruining my diet. I am on treatment now, and hope that I will now have regular periods that I can still be active and do daily activities. I wish you the best.

    All I can suggest is, try grazing on vegetables and fruits and dark chocolate. Also eat lots of protein. I often get cravings so I know the struggle. Best wishes!
  • asia1967
    asia1967 Posts: 707 Member
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    Emdeesea: Thanks for posting, I just finished and whished I could have read this thread. I will also try the maintenance when going thru cycle. Some months are way worse than others. Good luck with whatever helps. If you happen to find some miracle please let the rest of us suffers know. Thanks again. :flowerforyou:
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
    Options
    Sorry guys if this is TMI. I apologize up front, but I need some feedback.

    Ladies, I am usually very good about watching what I eat and logging everything. That is until about 10 days before that time of month.

    I have Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder, which, if you're not familiar, is a severe form of PMS.

    Some months its tolerable, and others it's crippling. I've had it for long enough that I can function through the emotional aspects, but the cravings are what does me in.

    So does anyone have any tricks that they go to to get through the PMS cravings? I've tried a high carb diet and that worked so-so, but I did end up pretty bloated and uncomfortable. I already exercise, and that doesn't really seem to do anything. The cravings are still there, like a monster lurking under the bed, and there are times when I already feel like garbage anyway and the cravings are near impossible to resist. Having one little piece of chocolate doesn't work either because that turns into a whole bar of chocolate. I'm like an alcoholic during that time. Or like Dexter's "Dark Passenger," who is in the driver's seat.

    Ugh. Does anyone have any tips they can give me? Thanks,

    I've found that if I increase my fat intake around that time, it helps with cravings.
  • stephgas
    stephgas Posts: 159 Member
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    when i still had my period, i would get horrible cravings. sometimes it was just I WANT TO EAT, sometimes it was for specific things. when i just wanted to eat, popcorn was my go-to. a big bowl with a tablespoon of butter and a bit of salt was satisfying and not RIDICULOUS, and it gave me the feeling that i was eating a lot. dark chocolate, especially salted - another favorite when i had a craving. and i'd eat half a bar, and save the other half. jello pudding cups, the double chocolate, didn't always satisfy my chocolate cravings during TOM, but they helped.

    i also didn't just crave 'bad' foods - i'd get the worst cravings for spinach, broccoli, and tomatoes (not together). the spinach makes sense - iron - but some days i'd just slice a tomato and eat it with a pinch of salt or a pinch of sugar, depending on my mood. i guess i never 'got through' the cravings, i'd give into them. when i was actively watching my diet, i'd be sure to stay under my calorie goal each day so i had a bit of wiggle room for cravings.
  • TheRealNoodlette
    TheRealNoodlette Posts: 132 Member
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    I'm a huge fan of acupuncture and I really recommend it for issues related to your cycle. You may have to go several times a month for the effects. Do you have access to community acupuncture? It's usually cheaper, sliding scale around $15-40 or so. I don't know if this is something that is available to you or if you can afford it, but I think it might help. Best of luck to you!
  • cecesquats
    cecesquats Posts: 166 Member
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    For sweets, I really like the Weight Watchers ice cream. They have a lot of choices and they're soooo good. I've had ones that range from 60-140 calories. Also, if you check coupon websites, you may be able to find a $3 off/2 boxes coupon :) Another easy thing to do with sweets is making those little frozen yogurt bites. You take a cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper. Then you load up a plastic baggie with yogurt and cut a piece out of the corner and use it as a piping bag. Pipe little dots on the paper and freeze them. Tastes like candy :)
  • nashvillenellie
    nashvillenellie Posts: 75 Member
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    I can totally relate to your problem :( I just try to workout extra hard to make up for the junk food I inhale at that time of the month. It sucks!

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