Ladies what do you do during T.O.M.

voldemortisreal wrote: »

I usually weigh-in and then annotate with T.O.M on my calendar (for my reference). If it is on an official weigh-in day...and is well beyond the weekly trend...I'll use the following week as my 'official' weight.

Honestly, cravings depend on how that T.O.M is going. Some months, meh...the cravings are mild and I can ignore it. Other times... well, as you said: "[it] didn't end well."

I try to be cognizant of the fact that this is not a short-term process. This is a long-term slog that could end up taking several months and quite possibly years. The duration necessary for goal also does not include the transition into maintenance either. *sigh* Thus, I've come to accept that a minor gain does not the failure make It's a process, and that process is not a linear descent.

Hope this helps.

Perfectly stated!

I don't weigh. I try to ignore the whole time. I kind of cheat a lot but don't go over maintenance. But it is also a pain in the butt.

I mark all trends in weight daily. It does not matter the day, I weigh what I weigh on what ever given day!

Not one craving thank goodness and my energy level sucks the day before but is through the roof on the day it happens.

I weigh and log. And then the next month, when I'm frustrated, I can look back at the previous months' weight and log and remind myself, "Oh, yeah, that worked itself out - this will, too."

I gain water weight when I ovulate, too. So really, my weight is up and down about 2 pounds two different times of the month. If I didn't log it, I'd agonize over it every time. It's easier to take a deep breath and let it go when I can see that the pattern is typical and doesn't mean I've screwed up.

Exercise seems to deal reasonably well with the cravings. If I'm working out or running, I seem less likely to crave chocolate. And if I DO, I'm better able to fit it into my day, anyway.

I log everything. Water weight fluctuations are normal and I personally find it interesting to see day to day changes that are influenced by water retention. Also when you weight everyday you can see trends which I think reflects overall changes more than that day's individual number.

I know a lot of people don't like to weigh during T.O.M because you are heavier from the water retention but I think weighing in and eventually getting an understanding of how certain foods or exercises or natural body cycles influence water retention.

Since I am a chronic weigher (daily) and a bit OCD when it comes to logging, I weigh in and log even during TOM. But as others have said, I'm more forgiving of myself if it 'doesn't go well' on days where the cravings are super bad. I am not really sure willpower helps when dealing with hormones, I just try not to go overboard and sabotage all my efforts from the other three or so weeks of the month.

I also keep in mind that most of the weigh gain is going to be water retention and in a few days it will all drop off. If I can keep consistent and workout through the pain and despite the bloat, then I'm often rewarded with a bit of an extra drop too. Sometimes working out helps me deal with the pain. Other times though, the heating pad is my BFF and you can't drag me out of my fetal position. It's a good time to not be too hard on yourself and realize it's a natural cycle that is just temporary. I too will annotate if it's TOM so that I know what is going on in the data if I'm having weigh in spikes.

I have heard that if you are craving chocolate, it is better to go with a dark chocolate; however, I'm really a milk chocolate girl. I never had chocolate cravings until the past few years (not much of a chocolate fan), so I find reasonable options - if I am going to have it around, I'll have mini-bars in the house rather than the full sized ones; look at chocolate alternatives like tootsie rolls for the chocolate taste or use chocolate protein powder in my drinks instead of vanilla. My weakness tends to be wine cravings rather than chocolate.

However, moderated cravings don't blow my eating because I don't restrict what I eat, I just restrict my calories. So, if I want that chocolate or that glass of wine, I work it in for the day, and try not to let it become gobs of chocolate and a whole bottle of wine.

I weigh and log. Cravings - I eat what I'm craving just not the amount I want. Make it fit in your goals and you'll likely be happier (and possibly less ToM ragey).

I weigh and log. For any sweet cravings I warm up a quest bar and break it up into halo top Ice-cream...I'm all about getting my protein in while satisfying my sweet tooth!

weigh and log it,

I dont seem to struggled too much with sweet cravings, I do get them but can hold them off....but I also get cravings for salty stuff...walkers ready salted crisps are just the right salty and I really struggle holding off on the salty stuff.

so I allow myself to have stuff but in small portions and i weigh ad log everything in my food diary even if it means going over my calories a bit

Megansmith112712 wrote: »

As far as weigh in. Do you weigh and log as normal? Do you weigh and not log? Do you just avoid the scale? Last month and weighed and didn't log (gained 2 lbs) I weighed after T.O.M. left and lost it, then proceeded to lose another 2 lbs.

Do you have cravings and what do you do? The chocolate craving is strong this week. I've tried healthier alternatives abs lay night found a box of junior mints in my kitchen (didn't end well).

I weigh myself on my normal weigh in day and record the result. I think it is useful even if I am retaining water that week. It is normal.
I might eat at maintenance level for a day or two. I keep dark chocolate in the house. One or two pieces a day is fine- a whole family size bag is not. I eat it slowly and really savor it.
You might try taking vitamin or mineral supplements like magnesium if you have a lot of cravings.

I step on the scale daily, so I'm used to fluctuations. Right now I'm nursing my youngest child, so no TOM for me (yay!!), but she turns one in August, so I know Aunt Flo will be back very, very soon . I make an effort to drink more water and avoid sodium-heavy foods to try to minimize the effects of the bloat during that time, but there is really only so much you can do.

I still stick with my plan (I eat LCHF), but I will allow myself a few squares of good quality dark chocolate (which isn't really off plan for me anyway, I just don't have it very often) if I am craving sweets. I find drinking more tea (or any warm cuppa) is really helpful in killing cravings for me (not sure what it is, maybe I just find it soothing/comforting?).