Ladies...lets talk period calorie intake

so do yall find it a lot harder to stay on track with your calories during that time of month? I think it's a universal thing for women, so what do you do to keep it under control?
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Replies

  • Allelito
    Allelito Posts: 179 Member
    For me.. Not really, no.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    I eat the same amount as the rest of the month.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I am a woman and I don't experience it. It may be common, but it isn't universal.

  • jgrabowski33
    jgrabowski33 Posts: 19 Member
    I used to eat a lot during, but with a little self control and determination I don't mind sticking to my calorie goal while on my period. After eating well for a while I rarely crave anything bad, but I still love chocolate occasionally. For me it was about putting my goal before my cravings, or finding a way to fit them into my calories. Committing to continuing to workout during my period helps a lot too- I don't want that workout to go to waste!
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    nah, I'm good. I just get really hungry the day after deadlifts is all.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Nope
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I try to stick to my goal and exercise normally.
    I have observed over the past 6 months of logging that I may eat 100-200 calories more than normal on one day during my period. That is not really a problem.
  • ArkMom35
    ArkMom35 Posts: 225 Member
    For me it's usually the day or two before that I'm ravenous. I just eat. Exercise. It all balances out in the end.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    For me it's one week before. I typically have a couple days when I'm ravenous and can easily eat over 3000 calories... No issue at all once my period actually starts.
  • smileysarah66
    smileysarah66 Posts: 15 Member
    I have really bad cravings for sweet sugary things and CHOCOLATE is at the top of the list but I remain strong and try my hardest to stay in my limit. :)
  • bewarethedog
    bewarethedog Posts: 42 Member
    I eat the same as every other week of the month. It's maybe a bit harder to have self control than usual, but i'm done making excuses for overeating. The cravings will pass whether I eat them or not.
  • krissyrey
    krissyrey Posts: 67 Member
    yes i have terrible cravings as well. I notice them a few days before it happens. I tend to eat any and everything which really sucks. When my period arrives, I no longer feel like eating since I now have to deal with stomach aches and lose my appetite. I guess it balances off pretty well, because I am at a deficit once it arrives. I always use to wonder how we women work out with our cycles. I tried it and it actually is not bad at all. I actually feel less cramping and bloating after the workouts. To me if I don't work out on those days they go to waste, and it gets you lazy to get back on the band wagon...just my thoughts....
  • mrsdcsmithiv
    mrsdcsmithiv Posts: 16 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    For me it's one week before. I typically have a couple days when I'm ravenous and can easily eat over 3000 calories... No issue at all once my period actually starts.

    I'm the same way!!
  • Amylynnf1984
    Amylynnf1984 Posts: 1 Member
    sugar, i crave sugar big time. Then i eat some and then feel terrible!!! I need to learn to stay away all together. I have only lost 27 lbs so far and my goal was to be to 30 by the end of the week but now the scale says im 4 up. I know it has to do with my period but i get discouraged when i see that and then feel discouraged. Even when i dont let the sweets win me over my period i still easily gain 4 lbs from retaining fluids. Really really sucks. I just need to remain strong and not give into them cravings!!!
  • cici8912
    cici8912 Posts: 20 Member
    Yep, same here....
    Francl27 wrote: »
    For me it's one week before. I typically have a couple days when I'm ravenous and can easily eat over 3000 calories... No issue at all once my period actually starts.

    I'm the same way!!

  • jennismagic
    jennismagic Posts: 243 Member
    When I first started out, it was rough, but now I crave healthy foods during that time. The worst it will make me do is binge on fruit, cheese, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, and green smoothies, so nothing terrible. I think working out and eating well have curbed my crazy PMS/PMDD stuff significantly. Still working on the emotional side of things, because PMDD is such a cluster to deal with. It's getting better, though.
  • Lexicpt
    Lexicpt Posts: 209 Member
    I just eat a few Hershey kisses and log them within my calorie budget. Seems to do the trick.
  • NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner
    NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner Posts: 1,018 Member
    I'm due on my period. I just scoffed a small Easter egg. But it was in my calories so who cares. Ha ha
  • DearestWinter
    DearestWinter Posts: 595 Member
    I generally stay around my calorie goal. I might have a day or two where I eat 100-200 extra calories but it's still below maintenance.
  • winterWind341
    winterWind341 Posts: 24 Member
    I usually don't have problems with cravings during tom but the last time I went on a terrible binge. Never again. I felt so bad after it was over and i was bloated for a week. Let's not mention the extra 4 lbs i put on (and took them off soon after but still).
  • jenniferinfl
    jenniferinfl Posts: 456 Member
    Nah, the only thing really different for me is that I tend to want more carbs than usual. I've finally just decided that my macros won't be perfect that week and eat more carbs. Calories are still in line though.
  • RougeSara
    RougeSara Posts: 60 Member
    I crave more fattier foods but I otherwise stay in my goal. If I want to eat more that day I exercise more.
  • jennycina93
    jennycina93 Posts: 127 Member
    I always want to eat more about a week before my period. I also get very specific cravings (I know whether I want sweet or salty). I don't really resist the cravings, I just eat the cravings in moderation but that's also how I "diet" in general. I don't really have off limit foods, I just eat the foods I want but in smaller quantities.
  • CherokeeBabe
    CherokeeBabe Posts: 1,704 Member
    A bit harder, I crave worse foods, but when I keep the junk out of the house, I make it through. If I make the mistake of buying candy, etc, a week beforehand (without realizing it usually) I have to keep my self-control a little tighter until the wave passes.
  • LovelyIvy466
    LovelyIvy466 Posts: 387 Member
    Absolutely, the week before. I generally end up eating probably 100 - 150 calories over my goal at least one or two days. I try to not sweat it, as long as I didn't go crazy, and make good choices in what I eat. Giving in to burgers and milkshakes would only make it worse.
  • ericaelainefields
    ericaelainefields Posts: 14 Member
    I've spent years tracking my blood sugar and know that my numbers get low during my period. I really hit high gear with my workouts two months ago and haven't had a period until this weekend. However when it finally came i ate the whole kitchen for two days!! I was so dizzy before i ate and felt ravenous. Didn't affect my measurements or weight though. It's one of those circumstances where I feel we need to ask if our bodies are asking for food for a reason. I needed it :)
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    edited April 2015
    I get very hungry immediately before ovulation and immediately before my period, but if I overeat, I gain weight, and that's that. So it's my choice: binge and gain, or don't binge and don't gain. I've heard all sorts of theories about how we "need" more calories at PMS time as our bodies are working harder and yadda yadda. Not for me. ;) I eat too much...I gain. Whether it's Day 2, Day 15, or Day 28. Doesn't matter. My body very obviously doesn't "need" more calories just before my period, and that's that.

    I do eat more "bulk" around that time. I'll eat more veggies and the like just for the bulk. At that time I want to EAT. OTOH, I'll also sometimes want the sweetest, saltiest or whatever food I can find and typically it will take up a lot of calories, but I find room for it. Yes, I will cut back on "healthy" foods in order to have my crappy food. But it keeps me on track, it makes me feel satisfied and I don't overeat that way.

    Now with that said, if I don't eat over my daily allotment, I don't gain before my period; not even "water weight". I know I must be retaining water due to how my hands and fingers look, but rather than gaining, I just stay the same/don't lose. Then after my period starts I'll go down a couple of pounds (this is assuming my allotment is based on a deficit in order to lose, which is my current aim).
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    My goal today is 1500 calories. I still ate chocolate, cookies, and am getting a few squares of cookie butter cheese cake from trader joes. Pre-log that shiznit.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    In a similar thread the other day someone linked an article and said that cravings isn't a universal sypmtom. I didn't get a chance to go back and read the article though. I would be interested to see if that is true.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    edited April 2015
    In a similar thread the other day someone linked an article and said that cravings isn't a universal sypmtom. I didn't get a chance to go back and read the article though. I would be interested to see if that is true.

    It's obviously not universal, but just as obviously it is a symptom for a number of women. Exactly what that number is, who knows...perhaps the article you're referencing had an answer to that. But it's not like it's unheard of for any given woman to feel very hungry before her period.

    Hormonal shifts of various kinds can produce this feeling in some people.