For the ladies...

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

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.

It may help to up your protein and fiber as well along with your water.

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

As a fellow PMDD sufferrer, I completely understand this. One solution I have is to just allow the cravings to take over. You can make sweets much healthier if you make them from scratch. I learned how to use 1/3 oat, whole wheat and whole wheat baby white (not bleached) instead of regular flour. Applesauce instead of oil, and organic sugar or honey instead of more refined sugar. Last time I lost a ton of weight, I did it eating baked goods all the time, but with these substitutions. PMDD is HORRIBLE. Every month I thank God that my last pregnancy reversed the mental side of it. My cravings are still bad and I still have numb leg. Sometimes when going through this, we just have to thank God that it isn't worse, and just deal with what symptoms we do have, even if it does mean eating that entire chocolate bar. Just remember that when you must give in, tomorrow is a new day and that you can work harder the next day to get back on the healthy side of things.

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!

I did not have so much as a cranky moment related to TOM before having my 4th child and only son. My hormones where whacked beyond belief after giving birth to him.

I tried 7 different BC in 2.5 years...The PMDD I experienced were horrible. I did not have predictable TOM, even on the pill, and only knew when I might be possibly due for TOM when I felt completely out of control of myself as a human, emotionally, physically etc. I would feel tired, have cravings, scream at people, want more horrible thoughts to end, hate myself for giving into a craving etc. After 2-3 days of this I would tell my husband, usually in tears, that I bet I get TOM tomorrow..and lo and behold i would.

I could not do another pill. Between migraines, pain, frightening moods, and unusual cycles it was clear that non of the BC was going to "fix it". I went to a crazy doctor we call the witch doctor. He did all kinds of nutrition allergy type testing and told me to go gluten and dairy free for 6 months and then we would go from there...symptoms improved dramatically in 6 weeks. I am regular and on my worst months I would say I have PMS..not PMDD anymore. His methods are odd but his results match testing I had done earlier in life via blood tests etc.

Look up Nutritive Response Testing. It is nuts but it is one of those things that can't hurt to try and if it doesn't solve problems you have not done anything harmful to your body.

Okay....It's embarrassing that I know this but the Stonyfield chocolate frozen yogurt has 400 calories in an entire pint. Sometimes I have 400 calories left over....and I eat the whole thing!