Probably Best for Women only (I said probably but opinions a

I always crave chocolate and sugary foods when I've got my TOTM, to the point where I stuff myself without registering what's going in. While that's not healthy either, life is too short to leave yourself miserable. Have a small treat here and there for that one week, but make sure it's only for that week and it doesn't turn into a binge! And only have it if you really, really want it.

I get the chocolate squares and let myself have one when I'm having bad day, but going overboard 25% of the time won't help you reach your goals or keep you there once you reach them.

Do some exercise to get your energy level up. Sounds counterintuitive, but it works.

All you TOM posters.....just weight for menopause, that's the real struggle

You need to be more selective about your eating. Planning, planning, planning. If you know your week is coming, then plan meals around less caloric, higher density food. Use that week to go vegetarian once a month.IDk if there are foods you dont eat, but you can eat a pound of broccoli,eggs, fish or turkey, and green vegetables or fruit several times a day and keep calories easily under 1400. Easily.

You know its coming each month, dont wait for it to show up and then seem clueless. Plan. factor in regular eating to keep your energy from waning. Figure out what you will eat daily, and then split it up into however many meals you need to.

Depending on whether you are trying to conceive or some other medical reason you cannot take birth control you might talk to your doctor about taking the pill continuously for 3 months (skipping the week of sugar pills you take to get your cycle) so it cuts down on the number of cycles you have. This could help with the hormone and craving fluctuations as well.

I know I have to take BC because of heavy and painful periods after having my daughter and my doctor told me that if the pill helped regulate (I was getting my cycle twice a month) but was not helping the other issues that I could do one cycle every 3 months.

Other than that the only advice I have is try to be as good as possible and not binge.

All you TOM posters.....just weight for menopause, that's the real struggle

A prophetic misspelling of wait, perhaps? I've just started menopause so am now falling on both sides of the fence, never knowing when TOM with come, or as I said to my DH, TOQ - time of quarter. LOL. and then feeling crap when it does. My DH's response is usually that he has it worse because he has to shave every day. Come ON!

Ugh, mine was last week. I over ate on several different days and now I am so mad at myself. Its like I was an uncontrollable eating machine. I hate TOM weeks.

I agree with planning and exercising. I work three jobs so run-down is par for the course, but that TOTM is even worse. But exercising really will make you feel better. I usually run, but when I'm really down, I tell myself all I have to do is just walk, for 20-30 minutes. Once I get up and going, I usually end up running and feeling much better. But small steps are key. Knowing that all I have to do is walk makes it easier to get up and moving.

I also plan on having treats and other things I know I will crave. Iron is important and I will crave red meat, so I have a steak or something, 4-5 oz. I will want ice cream, so I have some. Knowing that I am allowing myself makes me feel in control and less likely to overdo it. Plus I still track everything and keep it sensible, I just include those cravings.

And if I really have a bad day and blow the diet out of the water, I just let it go and start fresh the next day. Feeling bad about it only increases my awful hormonal mood and I will end up doing it again!

I ate what i wanted mostly chocolate! No one dare stop me i would have been likely to bite their head off

That being said i did well on carl and still did exercise walked rather than the wii because i get back pain but stick in there. If i say no to anything at that time i will only end up on a hinge if i say yes i have a little and stop.

Yeah I know, this is more of a venting post, but seriously was wondering if our bodies during this time require a bit more for our energy levels. I just feel so run down.

My docs (both GP and OBGYN) say we need a little more iron and protein, less sodium and caffeine, and both recommend more frequent but not necessarily more strenuous exercise during TOM.

I usually make it a point to have a steak around "day 2" and don't drink coffee the first 3 days (coffee makes my cramps worse), and I try to get in a few lunchtime walks. The walks help with my cramps and energy levels too.

I read somewhere (I think Women's Health Magazine) that your metabolism is slightly higher around that time of the month.

You need to be more selective about your eating. Planning, planning, planning. If you know your week is coming, then plan meals around less caloric, higher density food. Use that week to go vegetarian once a month.IDk if there are foods you dont eat, but you can eat a pound of broccoli,eggs, fish or turkey, and green vegetables or fruit several times a day and keep calories easily under 1400. Easily.

You know its coming each month, dont wait for it to show up and then seem clueless. Plan. factor in regular eating to keep your energy from waning. Figure out what you will eat daily, and then split it up into however many meals you need to.

You couldn't be more right. A good plan can help eliminate a lot of mistakes. I dont use TOM as an excuse to eat a bunch of crap. And I've found that excercise really helps me feel better during those few days. Evening Primrose Oil capsules help too.