TOM question for the ladies

prettysoul1908
prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
How do you ladies handle pms hunger pangs? The irrational hunger that makes you want want a burger and fries AFTER eating dinner. lol.

Does anyone know if it is true that our hunger increases because we are burning more calories during ovulation? I can't remember where I read that. Maybe wishful thinking? Lol.

I would love to hear how you get through this period (pun unintentionally intended).

Replies

  • MondayJune22nd2015
    MondayJune22nd2015 Posts: 876 Member
    edited October 2015
    Since your body does more work, you can consume approximately 100 - 300 more calories. Like 100 more on your light day & 300 on your heavy day but I only do 100 more regardless or you can do this & eat at maintenance, if you're still unsatisfied with just doing your deficit & 100 - 300 more calories.
  • amberlyda1
    amberlyda1 Posts: 154 Member
    low sodium soup. Im usually a salt craver. So yeah some broth and cut up veggies and add some hot sauce . It usually helps me. I also keep club soda around; it helps fill me up
  • MarvelGrrl
    MarvelGrrl Posts: 622 Member
    My cravings are definitely a bit different. In general I don't have a chocolate craving or problem saying no. TOM time my lady bits occasionally demand I consume chocolate STAT . Walking helps with the physical symptoms which in turn leaves more wiggle room for a bit of indulging. Moderation is key for me.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Most just eat at maintenance for a few days.
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    Thanks for the tips guys! Glad to know this hunger isn't a myth. Lol.

    Regarding eating at maintenance... Do I just change MFP settings for a while? Will that alter my "weight loss plan" on MFP? I'm new at using the science of CICO to healthily lose weight.

    Soon I need to learn more about TDEE so my numbers are more personalized. I have a mental block for some reason when it comes to figuring mine out.
  • mmarie_3
    mmarie_3 Posts: 57 Member
    Popcorn!!! And some low sugar hot chocolate. I stay within my macros when I'm PMSing, but get this. The hormones you produce while on your period also stimulate more muscle growth. So I eat to fuel my muscles when I'm flow comes to town, that keeps me in line.
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    I do my best to eat at maintenance. Idk if its because of blood loss but if I eat red meat and or foods high in iron it helps with the cravings a lot. Im a "i need salt and chocolate together now.. I need it all" TOM craver
  • MondayJune22nd2015
    MondayJune22nd2015 Posts: 876 Member
    mhaskins08 wrote: »
    Thanks for the tips guys! Glad to know this hunger isn't a myth. Lol.

    Regarding eating at maintenance... Do I just change MFP settings for a while? Will that alter my "weight loss plan" on MFP? I'm new at using the science of CICO to healthily lose weight.

    Soon I need to learn more about TDEE so my numbers are more personalized. I have a mental block for some reason when it comes to figuring mine out.

    You could but I don't, I just overeat my deficit & that's it because my TOM isn't always consistent, I was 2 days late this month & since I am single, there was no chance of me being pregnant.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    MondayJune22nd2015 wrote: »
    Since your body does more work, you can consume approximately 100 - 300 more calories. Like 100 more on your light day & 300 on your heavy day but I only do 100 more regardless or you can do this & eat at maintenance, if you're still unsatisfied with just doing your deficit & 100 - 300 more calories.

    I'd like to read the research that backs up this
  • cindytw
    cindytw Posts: 1,027 Member
    I say that whatever you are truly craving beyond the moment (I can have cravings for a week), you really NEED something in that food. So if it's chocolate you may need magnesium, if its chips you may need sodium, if it's a burger you may need more fat and protein...pay attention to WHAT it is and you can maybe do with less than an actual binge. Or, give yourself ONE treat and move on. You probably won't even hurt your efforts as true cravings that last are usually something we NEED, not a want.
  • MondayJune22nd2015
    MondayJune22nd2015 Posts: 876 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    MondayJune22nd2015 wrote: »
    Since your body does more work, you can consume approximately 100 - 300 more calories. Like 100 more on your light day & 300 on your heavy day but I only do 100 more regardless or you can do this & eat at maintenance, if you're still unsatisfied with just doing your deficit & 100 - 300 more calories.

    I'd like to read the research that backs up this

    http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/womens-health/a5103/understanding-your-menstrual-cycle-109611/
  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    MondayJune22nd2015 wrote: »
    Since your body does more work, you can consume approximately 100 - 300 more calories. Like 100 more on your light day & 300 on your heavy day but I only do 100 more regardless or you can do this & eat at maintenance, if you're still unsatisfied with just doing your deficit & 100 - 300 more calories.

    If you only need an extra 200 cals in the third trimester of a pregnancy, i fail to see how much extra work ovulation or a few cramps would burn.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    Whitezombiegirl wrote: »
    MondayJune22nd2015 wrote: »
    Since your body does more work, you can consume approximately 100 - 300 more calories. Like 100 more on your light day & 300 on your heavy day but I only do 100 more regardless or you can do this & eat at maintenance, if you're still unsatisfied with just doing your deficit & 100 - 300 more calories.

    If you only need an extra 200 cals in the third trimester of a pregnancy, i fail to see how much extra work ovulation or a few cramps would burn.

    Me neither, but I so want it to be true.
  • MondayJune22nd2015
    MondayJune22nd2015 Posts: 876 Member
    @Whitezombiegirl & @yesimpson, I just posted the article above; your comments.
  • Sinead1819
    Sinead1819 Posts: 67 Member
    How about small cubes of dark chocolate 80%+) and suck on them for chocolate craving :) lot more healthy than milk chocolate
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    I'm not sure I'm convinced without the article referencing where they got that figure from.

    The most interesting bit was where it mentioned that women are more likely to suffer cruciate injuries at a particular point in their cycle. Bodies are weird.
  • jodsaccount
    jodsaccount Posts: 22 Member
    But that's not actually what that article says....It says "Your body burns an extra 100 to 300 calories per day the week before your period, "
    Which it goes on to explain is because of estrogen levels dropping.
    And for the record if someone rationalizes that they can consume more during ovulation, during PMS and during period then that doesn't leave a whole lot of days for a woman to be consuming less.
  • samgamgee
    samgamgee Posts: 398 Member
    I drink plenty of hot herbal tea, keep some very high cocoa dark chocolate in the house (a few squares tend to shut down my craving for a whole bar of Galaxy) and often eat to maintenance. If I am absolutely desperate for something else to eat I might have another small snack that takes me over maintenance (like I did a couple of days ago) which isn't ideal but frankly I'm not going to beat myself up about it when I'm on, I've got enough to be dealing with. Back on track now!
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
    I don't know about everyone else but it's the week before period where I'm starving. On my period I could care less about food altogether. I have to make myself eat because food seems yuck to me. Week before my period (not the whole week but sometime in that week for 1-3 days) I am starving all day long. No matter how much I eat my stomach is still growling and I feel empty. Like today I ate an extra 600 calories and I'm still starving. Gotta hit the gym big time tomorrow to try and make up for itZ stupid stupid 1800 calories today. 1200 I'm sorry I broke you lol
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    MondayJune22nd2015 wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    MondayJune22nd2015 wrote: »
    Since your body does more work, you can consume approximately 100 - 300 more calories. Like 100 more on your light day & 300 on your heavy day but I only do 100 more regardless or you can do this & eat at maintenance, if you're still unsatisfied with just doing your deficit & 100 - 300 more calories.

    I'd like to read the research that backs up this

    http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/womens-health/a5103/understanding-your-menstrual-cycle-109611/

    That's not research ...I was talking about the increased in TDEE and any supporting source material
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    keepitupmfp wrote: »
    But that's not actually what that article says....It says "Your body burns an extra 100 to 300 calories per day the week before your period, "
    Which it goes on to explain is because of estrogen levels dropping.
    And for the record if someone rationalizes that they can consume more during ovulation, during PMS and during period then that doesn't leave a whole lot of days for a woman to be consuming less.

    That's a good point.

    And I feel like 100 calories can quite easily be lost in the mire when you think about the fact that at times keeping track of calories in and out is going to involve some guesswork. Runkeeper tells me I burnt 400 calories for that run - how do I know that's dead-on accurate? I have dinner out at a restaurant with no calorie counts and have to estimate - could be 100 calories off there. If I was trying to lose weight I don't think I'd add that 100 calories onto my daily allowance, even if it is true.

    And as @Whitezombiegirl said, if pregnant women only need 200 calories extra for a baby that approaching the end of gestation is going to weigh a few pounds, as well as all the energy required to support the placenta, preparing for breastfeeding etc., I don't see how your body needs MORE just to ovulate/prepare for a period.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    To answer the original question, I know when I've had enough food and just because the little PMS devil on my shoulder is telling me I need a steak and carbonara and tiramisu and enough wine to render someone unconscious, that doesn't mean I actually need all of that.

    I let myself eat a bit more if I feel I need it, because for me the cramps and tiredness only last for 3-4 days or so, and I know I'll be back to my usual self soon. Plus I find exercise can help my cramps sometimes, so that allows me more room for chocolate.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I don't listen to my cravings during TOM any more....its a habit that took time, but its doable.
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