Girl questions....

holy crap! don't start a revolution you can't win! i am all for getting healthy but you have to consider the long haul. i would say give in just a little. don't go hog wild and binge till you are sick. but, give your mind and your body a bit of a break now and then. i can just about guarantee that if you have a little chocolate your diet won't be totally derailed.

if you really want to stick to it, there are GREAT sugar-free chocolates on the market. Dove makes an amazing sugar-free dark chocolate candy that are wrapped in individual packages so that you are not tempted to "eat the whole thing just to get it out of the house". look for them in the candy aisle or where they sell diabetic foods in your grocery store.

if you are in the mood for ice cream (one of my vices), fat-free sugar-free jello pudding is a godsend! with a little whipping cream...yum!

there are ways to give in to your indulgences without getting off your diet. you just have to be a little more creative.

I am not sure what the best advice is but it sounds like you are trying to make a lot of lifestyle changes at once. take it slow. As far as period stuff food not going to help it but my gym teacher always told us that exercizing actully makes the cramps less intence and told us to work through them. I would not allow too many extras right now as you have just started and I binge when i do that, if you can just eat alittle though and it helps go for it.

I would agree that you are going cold turkey on to many things at the same time.. i don't want to discourage you but usually that doesn't work out..

Go slow..take one habit at a time.. and than -REPLACE what you take out.. you can't just " kick " something out and not replace it..

you kicked coffee.. what are you taking instead of it ? b/c that " habit ' created a room/space.. now it's empty and it needs to be filled with a new habit.. so before we take something maybe we should think of what to do instead of it ?

Me- and " the time " - if i don't exercise i'm dying of cramps and pains .. and cravings..
If I exercise- no pain, no craving, ..

I have the " must have sugar " days- not moments- days.. and i think i would kill for sugar.. sometimes i just give in- but most of the times i'm looking for " sweet " alternatives..

Every month is an adventure i guess.. i never know how it will work out.. sometimes i'm down for 10 days .. sometiemes i don't even feel anything- but i noticed that happens only if i'm strickt with my workouts.. I did read somewhere that you should work out durin that time it helps with the cramps and some kind of hormones reg. the cravings.. :ohwell:

And one more thing- maybe if you give yourself a plan ahead you can be more prepared.. Like i did this time
PLAN: work 6 x a week for the whole month of January.. i was super determined i didnt' care how little sleep i got i didn't care about all the sore muscles in the am .. i was just- DO IT
and i didn't even notice that the " time " started, didn't pay attention to the pain.. just DO IT...
maybe it' s more " mind over matter ? "

You are detoxing BIG TIME and your body is overloaded with toxins! Try to flush it out with lots of water. It will help hydrate your muscles and the headaches should ease after the 2nd week. I say go for a small cup of joe in the am.

My friends and I call it "Bob" I've never heard "Tom" before HAHA :laugh:

TOM=time of month