Females... and diet around your period..

2

Replies

  • valente347
    valente347 Posts: 201 Member
    Yes, usually the first few days of my period. And it's always sweets. It's gotten worse and more noticeable since I've lost 80#
  • oolou
    oolou Posts: 765 Member
    You would think given that this happens every month that I would realise and remember this. But no ... overate last night by a lot and have been in a grouch all day. And didn't even think, Oolou girl, you're due.

    Thanks to all in this thread for reminding me what was behind last night's #musteatallthefood raid.
  • tkmotivation
    tkmotivation Posts: 19 Member
    YES! Cookies, sugar, ice cream, you name it! I usually find that having a treat and upping my protein helps. I think we just need to enjoy what we want at that time (on moderation) and get back on track ASAP!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    edited January 2016
    Just a heads up - watch out before the 'it's in your head', 'you're using it as an excuse to stuff your face' posts show up. There are some very mean people on MFP. I envy those people though because they have no idea how awful it is.

    I wish I could just eat at maintenance those days, but I often need over 3000 calories in order to stop feeling awful (my maintenance is 2200-2300).. and it lasts 10 days! My usual breakfast that would keep me full for 4 hours normally satisfies me for one... maybe... Some days are worse than others though... The first day I just let myself eat what I want. By the third day, I'm so sick of food and end up eating things I don't want to eat just hoping that it will make the feeling go away. It sucks. Sometimes when I'm lucky having just a piece of bread will help. Often it doesn't. I don't crave sweets at all though, but pizza, bagels, pasta etc. But yeah often I end up binging on sweets because the hormones are driving me completely crazy and I'd just eat anything to feel better. It's not a feeling I can ignore, I get the shakes and hot flashes and I get dizzy and 'hangry' doesn't even start to describe it...

    For me it only started when I got close to my goal weight though, which is a good thing as I would never have managed to lose anything otherwise (heck I've been this weight for almost 2 years now and still haven't reached my goal!). I mean I remember a few occurrences before I lost weight, but that's pretty much it... I have to eat less the rest of the time to make up for it, obviously, and even then it's been very difficult to maintain (I really have to be very careful to keep a deficit or I know I will gain that month). Total nightmare and definitely not how I expected my maintenance to be. I've been trying pretty much anything (heck I even bought some 'PMS tea' last month but it didn't seem to help either). Tried low carb/high fat too... It was even worse.

    So OP, I sympathize. I just exercise a lot to make up for some of it...
  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
    edited January 2016
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Just a heads up - watch out before the 'it's in your head', 'you're using it as an excuse to stuff your face' posts show up

    I am very bad at keeping track of my period. I don't get cramps, chocolate cravings, emotional shifts or any real indicators that it's on the way aside from water weight during ovulation. I don't want kids, I'm not sexually active, and my reproductive organs are useless to me. Instead of getting a surprise every month, I downloaded a period tracker app. Before I used it, I figured my hunger came in waves because most days I have issues making my calories and don't even eat my first meal until dinner, then *bam* sudden all day, insatiable hunger. After I got the tracker, after a few months I realized that day or two of extreme hunger only came when I was ovulating according to the app and it all made sense. So yeah it's definitely not in our heads. :D
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Yes this happens to me. I just eat what I want within reason and drink lots of water and add extra time to the workout. This too shall pass. Only 5 ish days. You'll get through it.
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    I'm going through this NOW. Having a Fitbit is helping me see how my activity is helping me "earn" this extra food that I oh so crave and will make me oh so happy right now. Lol

    I may go over my calories a bit but it's good to know my marching in place while drinking my wine is helping offset the extra calories incurred from these TOM cravings.
  • pepperfrostx
    pepperfrostx Posts: 5 Member
    I never tell myself I can't have icecream during my period, just that I can't have that much. So I buy the super small ones (that are still 200-400 calories because its icecream) and I enjoy them. The pain is worth some kind of reward.
  • Patrieee
    Patrieee Posts: 6 Member
    Yeah that happens to me. I just roll with it. I don't use it as an excuse to overindulge but I don't deprive myself. It only lasts a day or so, then I'm right back to normal.
  • SeptemberFeyre
    SeptemberFeyre Posts: 178 Member
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/
  • shrcpr
    shrcpr Posts: 885 Member
    I mostly just feel weak and tired. Like I'm slogging through mud all day.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/

    I don't know how I feel about that article... I don't really notice much of a difference the 2 weeks after ovulation and they're both pretty much horrible to me.

    I do like this quote though Not every woman suffers from premenstrual syndrome and symptoms can be milder or more severe from month to month, often due to diet, stress, medications, exercise habits or your body’s personal sensitivity to hormones.. Something a lot of women on MFP seem to forget... (yes I am bitter but I've been called a lot of not very nice things for having this issue).

    I've read about it.. it's caused by low progesterone and the brain not producing enough serotonin at that time (the hormone that makes you feel full, and carbs produce serotonin, so that's why you crave carbs and why carbs seem to help). It can also get worse if you have a history of depression and your hormones are already a bit out of whack (might be my problem). I know that my GYN told me that it's one of the reasons he offers anti-depressants to help some women with PMS.. I just have bad experiences with them (with pretty much everything that changes my hormones, really) so I'm reluctant to try it.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    ........ diet ...........
    diet period diet
    ........ diet ...........
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    brower47 wrote: »
    ........ diet ...........
    diet period diet
    ........ diet ...........

    Yes and I'm quite sure that's why OP is here.. asking for tips. As I said though, I've tried pretty much everything and I haven't found anything that worked for me. I typically eat high protein, lots of veggies, good amount of fat, and I tried high fat and it was even worse.
  • momoftwins985
    momoftwins985 Posts: 653 Member
    Same. Two days before AF I'm a bottomless pit. And the days around ovulation too. Aaannd the first two days of AF because of depression of yet another failed cycle(been trying to conceive for a year)
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/

    I don't know how I feel about that article... I don't really notice much of a difference the 2 weeks after ovulation and they're both pretty much horrible to me.

    I do like this quote though Not every woman suffers from premenstrual syndrome and symptoms can be milder or more severe from month to month, often due to diet, stress, medications, exercise habits or your body’s personal sensitivity to hormones.. Something a lot of women on MFP seem to forget... (yes I am bitter but I've been called a lot of not very nice things for having this issue).

    I've read about it.. it's caused by low progesterone and the brain not producing enough serotonin at that time (the hormone that makes you feel full, and carbs produce serotonin, so that's why you crave carbs and why carbs seem to help). It can also get worse if you have a history of depression and your hormones are already a bit out of whack (might be my problem). I know that my GYN told me that it's one of the reasons he offers anti-depressants to help some women with PMS.. I just have bad experiences with them (with pretty much everything that changes my hormones, really) so I'm reluctant to try it.

    I asked you on another thread "Have you tried Prometrium, which is a bio-identical progesterone?" and didn't see your response until just now. You'd asked if it was prescription. Yes, it is. I take it from ovulation to when my period starts. Unlike synthetic progesterones, I have no side effects from it, except the beneficial one that it makes me sleep better.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/

    They left out "nesting/compulsive cleaning" in Week 4 :D
  • jmgj27
    jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
    Yep. I basically have one week where I'm not hungry at all, two weeks of average hunger and one week where I'm starving the whole time. I try to just ride it out but if I'm desperately craving something sweet I'll let myself have something small. I also always allow myself a free meal on Saturday nights so that really helps me to have something to look forward to and doesn't have any long term affect on my weight loss.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    edited January 2016
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/

    I don't know how I feel about that article... I don't really notice much of a difference the 2 weeks after ovulation and they're both pretty much horrible to me.

    I do like this quote though Not every woman suffers from premenstrual syndrome and symptoms can be milder or more severe from month to month, often due to diet, stress, medications, exercise habits or your body’s personal sensitivity to hormones.. Something a lot of women on MFP seem to forget... (yes I am bitter but I've been called a lot of not very nice things for having this issue).

    I've read about it.. it's caused by low progesterone and the brain not producing enough serotonin at that time (the hormone that makes you feel full, and carbs produce serotonin, so that's why you crave carbs and why carbs seem to help). It can also get worse if you have a history of depression and your hormones are already a bit out of whack (might be my problem). I know that my GYN told me that it's one of the reasons he offers anti-depressants to help some women with PMS.. I just have bad experiences with them (with pretty much everything that changes my hormones, really) so I'm reluctant to try it.

    I asked you on another thread "Have you tried Prometrium, which is a bio-identical progesterone?" and didn't see your response until just now. You'd asked if it was prescription. Yes, it is. I take it from ovulation to when my period starts. Unlike synthetic progesterones, I have no side effects from it, except the beneficial one that it makes me sleep better.

    I missed it! But I'll definitely ask my doctor about it - thanks! Nervous though, it seems that there's a long list of side effects and when I took it for IVF it pretty much put me to sleep within 30 minutes... but if it can help, it's worth mentioning for sure.
  • noobletmcnugget
    noobletmcnugget Posts: 518 Member
    I feel lucky in that I don't get excessively hungry at any point throughout my cycle. PMS makes me horrendously bloated though and I feel really awful mentally about four days before my period. So I'm not so lucky in other aspects haha.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Not me, at least haven't noticed any difference.
  • bottemil13
    bottemil13 Posts: 21 Member
    Glad to know I am not alone! ;) Feeling this right now, like no matter how much I eat I am hungry again very quickly. I have been off of my calorie counting the last few months, back to logging today, so I have to reign things back in! Its probably a great idea to eat at maintenance for a few days, that way the miserable time of month is a little less terrible. Even more power to you if you can keep going with your calorie goals during this time!!
  • Chupiite
    Chupiite Posts: 55 Member
    I'm glad to see that I'm not the one in this world with this problem lol
  • racheln2017
    racheln2017 Posts: 45 Member
    I'm big offender for this. I get really intense cravings right before my period and during. But, during this time, I also have two extremes: I either have no appetite whatsoever and have no desire to eat anything, or an unquenchable hunger for literally anything I can get my hands on.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/

    I don't know how I feel about that article... I don't really notice much of a difference the 2 weeks after ovulation and they're both pretty much horrible to me.

    I do like this quote though Not every woman suffers from premenstrual syndrome and symptoms can be milder or more severe from month to month, often due to diet, stress, medications, exercise habits or your body’s personal sensitivity to hormones.. Something a lot of women on MFP seem to forget... (yes I am bitter but I've been called a lot of not very nice things for having this issue).

    I've read about it.. it's caused by low progesterone and the brain not producing enough serotonin at that time (the hormone that makes you feel full, and carbs produce serotonin, so that's why you crave carbs and why carbs seem to help). It can also get worse if you have a history of depression and your hormones are already a bit out of whack (might be my problem). I know that my GYN told me that it's one of the reasons he offers anti-depressants to help some women with PMS.. I just have bad experiences with them (with pretty much everything that changes my hormones, really) so I'm reluctant to try it.

    I asked you on another thread "Have you tried Prometrium, which is a bio-identical progesterone?" and didn't see your response until just now. You'd asked if it was prescription. Yes, it is. I take it from ovulation to when my period starts. Unlike synthetic progesterones, I have no side effects from it, except the beneficial one that it makes me sleep better.

    I missed it! But I'll definitely ask my doctor about it - thanks! Nervous though, it seems that there's a long list of side effects and when I took it for IVF it pretty much put me to sleep within 30 minutes... but if it can help, it's worth mentioning for sure.

    Yes, I take it before bed :)

    I take 100 mg - you may have had a higher dose for IVF.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I have this as well, plus I crave chocolate. Apparently it's hormones. I don't believe in horoscopes, but thought this site gave a good explanation of what's going on in our bodies. It looks like progesterone is the main culprit:
    http://hormonehoroscope.com/the-female-hormone-cycle/

    I don't know how I feel about that article... I don't really notice much of a difference the 2 weeks after ovulation and they're both pretty much horrible to me.

    I do like this quote though Not every woman suffers from premenstrual syndrome and symptoms can be milder or more severe from month to month, often due to diet, stress, medications, exercise habits or your body’s personal sensitivity to hormones.. Something a lot of women on MFP seem to forget... (yes I am bitter but I've been called a lot of not very nice things for having this issue).

    I've read about it.. it's caused by low progesterone and the brain not producing enough serotonin at that time (the hormone that makes you feel full, and carbs produce serotonin, so that's why you crave carbs and why carbs seem to help). It can also get worse if you have a history of depression and your hormones are already a bit out of whack (might be my problem). I know that my GYN told me that it's one of the reasons he offers anti-depressants to help some women with PMS.. I just have bad experiences with them (with pretty much everything that changes my hormones, really) so I'm reluctant to try it.

    I asked you on another thread "Have you tried Prometrium, which is a bio-identical progesterone?" and didn't see your response until just now. You'd asked if it was prescription. Yes, it is. I take it from ovulation to when my period starts. Unlike synthetic progesterones, I have no side effects from it, except the beneficial one that it makes me sleep better.

    I missed it! But I'll definitely ask my doctor about it - thanks! Nervous though, it seems that there's a long list of side effects and when I took it for IVF it pretty much put me to sleep within 30 minutes... but if it can help, it's worth mentioning for sure.

    Yes, I take it before bed :)

    I take 100 mg - you may have had a higher dose for IVF.

    Did it make a big difference for your appetite? I'm definitely intrigued.
  • SunnyDayzMomma
    SunnyDayzMomma Posts: 114 Member
    Yes! Sometimes my period lasts a crazy long time, and the longer it lingers, the longer my hungry days last :( I try to munch on low cal snacks like veg, some fruit for sweet cravings, and I allow myself some indulgence because I'd go crazy if I didn't (chocolate chips with that fruit anyone?) I'm in this for the long haul, it's not a diet, so if I have a few crazy food days a month, but that allows me (mentally) to persevere throughout the rest of the month, I think I come out ahead at the end of it all.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Yes! Sometimes my period lasts a crazy long time, and the longer it lingers, the longer my hungry days last :( I try to munch on low cal snacks like veg, some fruit for sweet cravings, and I allow myself some indulgence because I'd go crazy if I didn't (chocolate chips with that fruit anyone?) I'm in this for the long haul, it's not a diet, so if I have a few crazy food days a month, but that allows me (mentally) to persevere throughout the rest of the month, I think I come out ahead at the end of it all.

    That's a bit odd, for me a longer period means less days hungry, as the hunger pretty much stops on day 2.
  • 3AAnn3
    3AAnn3 Posts: 3,054 Member
    Totes! For those two days, I let myself eat 3000 or 4000 calories, then get back to it!
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    brower47 wrote: »
    ........ diet ...........
    diet period diet
    ........ diet ...........

    IFLY. I can't believe how many people missed this brilliance.