For the ladies!

So, I'm noticing two things...

1.) I have learned that I "think" it's acceptable to eat whatever I want for my time of the month...normally I don't crave sweet things or want anything that's not really salty or such but the past week (esp with in the the past couple of days) I've literally lost count of all the lil nibbles I've ate and such.

2.) I can't stay on track for the weekends!!! I've tried so hard this past weekend, and started out doing pretty good with Saturday-except I went nuts with a bag for curtons! Yum Yum!! I thought it was better than going back for seconds on a pasta or maybe I did go back for seconds on the pasta!?!?!

So, advice time...women-how to stay on track with those cravings during the cycle? How do I pinch those cravings and STILL not want to punch someone in the face for eating ice-cream in front of me while I eat my English muffin??? And what's the best way to stay on track during the weekend? I've come a long ways but it's taken me a great deal of time to get here (I've been trying since 2009 & to be honest, I don't feel like anyone that sees me these days actually realizes that I've lost the weight or at least they don't say anything to me about. One person said something to someone else and they told me but that doesn't really count to me, I'd like for people to actually be able to see a difference when they look at me! So, I want to pick this up and STOP with the excuses on weekend and cycle habits!)

SAME EXACT problem!!

Waiting to hear back on this one...

All I can say is that I keep snacks like that OUT of my house and on weekends I just stay busy busy busy! It helps me to not have those "I'm bored" snacks. Always keep a granola bar handy just in case... Good luck!

200 cal portions. Do you guys eat more on weekends than weekdays?

Try to stay busy on the weekends. More activity=less eating. It helps when you aren't surrounded by food.

Friday thru sunday are my worst days!!!!! Especially since I am the only female in the house my men go crazy for food. recently I found that if my hubby can cook for us on wednesdays and thrusdays I agree to cook on Fridays. For example, this past friday I made tacos. there was enough extra for meat omletes, tacos for lunch and burritos for dinner. then on Sunday I cooked again and we had leftovers for Monday.So now my hubby cooks tuesday, wednesday and thursday. It seems to help me keep my weekend calories under control. Good Luck!!!!!:flowerforyou:

I don't crave anything more when im on the rag. i just crave ALL the time and to me, thats the same thing. its just as hard when having my period. this is one problem i dont have ! lol wow!! yay. i didnt know it existed. but the weekend thing, yes. we go have dinner with my inlaws on sundays at their house and i swear, she puts out muffins and crap like that on purpose and then laughs when i eat 2, knowing i will gain weight and she will always be skinnier. B&^%(!! I DO alow myself a little flexibility though so the hubby and i can have dinner together or something like that. maybe an icecream treat together. the 1/2 the fat ice cream is really yummy. The thinkg to remember is that you have to have a calorie deficite of 3500?? i think to lose a lb in a week. so think about that before you eat a package of cream cheese with that bagel. thats what helps me. plus you can walk it off. that will give you some cals to use later. also, someit es if i need to, i skip breakfast, and eat lunch around 12 or 1. then have a snack around 3 or 4 and then dinner. that leaves me with a lot of cals to munch on if i need to.

Thinking about this more...SERIOUSLY drink lots of water! I think the reason it works is it makes your stomach *full* and you don't want to intake any more...

Idk if you crave chocolate, but I do and I get those Lindt truffles--each one is like 70 cals and only like 3 g of sugar....

When I crave salt I get the planters Cajun trail mix...So damn good. But I can reasonably portion it!

Hey Ladies,

I hear what you're screaming...I scream that too! I have found that for the whole "my time of the month thing" that if I buy the chocolate, and measure it out into small (keyword is SMALL) portions in individual bags, I can keep control of what I'm putting in my mouth. I also allow myself to eat every single one of my calories (even the exercise ones) during that week. I will have a few bags of 5 hershey kisses or whatever, ready for those "eat the chocolate or kill a busload of nuns" moments. I have a rule, if I bite it, I write it. whether in my diary or here on MFP. If I have to look at and admit to what I really eat, it helps me not go postal at the chinese buffet... As for the weekends. I try to only eat out or socially once per weekend. If I'm eating at home, I will take the time during the weekend to prepare something I really like and stay within my boundaries. When I eat out, I go to the website ahead of time and decide what I will be ordering (although other people's Texas Cheese Fries are like CRACK...) It's hard, no matter how you look at it. Try to keep a sense of humor, I found that helpful. I laugh at the reality of this process, and all of the funny side effects ir produces...it's laugh or cry...now I need the chocolate...ugh.

Well, for my PMS I got medicated. It has helped greatly w/ the cravings as it balances out my hormones. I also drink my water when I am craving something. The weekends are rough on me as well but all you can do is keep at it and TRY to make this coming weekend BETTER than the last. I also set daily goals and really try to plan out my food for the day and stick with it.

I don't feel like anyone that sees me these days actually realizes that I've lost the weight or at least they don't say anything to me about. One person said something to someone else and they told me but that doesn't really count to me, I'd like for people to actually be able to see a difference when they look at me!

According to your ticker, you've lost 68 pounds? I promise you, people have noticed your weight loss. PROMISE. I have almost 150 pounds to lose and I've lost 15 so far and it's weirdly (barely but is) noticeable. Perhaps people don't want to say anything for fear you'll think they thought you were fat before or something.

Dark chocolate is the best. I used to hate it, but now I love it. I have 1 Ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate square almost every day lol. One of them is 50 calories. 1 is enough usually since it's so rich.

Also, hershey kisses are good for portion control, too. Just grab 4 or 5 and you can still stay under 100 calories.

Drink sweet drinks with 0 cals like Vitamin Water Zero and Sobe.

Chocolate protein shake mixed with ice and if you reallllly want something yummy add a fiber one brownie to the blender when no one is looking. Brownie milkshake, healthy style.

Betty Crocker Warm Delights- 150 Calorie portions. The caramel ones are ridiculously delicious.

Skinny Cow ANYTHING. The chocolate truffle bars, ice cream sandwiches, and ice creams cups. Soooooo good.

FRUIT!!!

For salty I like Pop Chips, Special K Chip Crackers with sea salt, or pretzels with hummus.

Ok Ladies .... First of all, that time of the month needs to be addressed ... since we are already slightly annoyed at everything, we don't want to deprive ourselves of comfort foods. Question ... what is the nutrition on a bag of curtons ? ( Mind you I have no idea what those even are ! lol ! ) ... You have to allow for your daily goal to have these in it ... don't look to lose weight for 1 to 3 days .. maybe more for others ... our bodies all react differently. Forget about ALL the right foods and try to have a nice combination of things you love and things that love our bodies ! ie ... I love carrots and peanut butter, edamame and chocolate ! Yes ... that is a splurge for me ! Sooooo .... I get out 5 dark chocolate Hershey Kisses in the morning and put them on the cupboard ... thru out the day I take one to satisfy my craving. I also like to walk / ride everyday ... so exercise helps big time ! More calories burned = More food allowance. Just don't go over your calories allowed / burned for the day.

Weekends ... it's all psychological, a mind game. Weekends = Freedom to most people. So don't stress it ... enjoy your weekends out and about ... eat less of a splurge and add more veggies ... exercise, exercise, exercise ... I can't say it enough ! You can basically splurge on anything within reason and be able to burn it off !

Just remember .... 3500 Calories burned = 1 Pound lost. It really is that simple !

I have the mobile app to help me on the weekends - it's really great to be able to pop my phone out of my pocket and log it in right then. As far as staying on track during that time of the month - just limit yourself. If you want ice cream, have it. But instead of a whole bowl have 2 scoops.

Try whole grain baked chips or crackers, portioned out, for salty snacks. Try the following recipe for an ice cream like treat.

Slice up a couple of really ripe bananas, lay them in a tray lined with parchment paper and freeze them for a good couple of hours. Once they are frozen hard, put them in a blender or food processor, pulse them a few times, then let them whip until the bananas become completely smooth, the consistency of hard ice cream. Add two -four tablespoons of cocoa or peanut butter, or both! Add a little honey if you need more sweetness. If the bananas are really ripe they should have enough natural sugar.
So good, and healthy to boot!

I tried burning calories before I snack on craving foods, really had to think if the calories were worth the extra work.
Also, don't match bite to note with men. They burn up to a thousand calories more and don't get the extra layer of fat at puberty that girls do. It ain't fair, but that's the way it is. You can eat the same foods, just smaller portions, and if you're like me, don't gorge on bread and mashed potatoes and pasta. I like me some carbs.

Get even by NOT eating all the crap your mother in law puts out. Get even by being healthier. When you want to eat the muffin or whatever, chew gum, drink water, offer to help prepare something so that you stay distracted. Don't let her win, you are stronger! :happy: