Gril Talk (That "time" of the month)

Even tho' I don't always "feel" like exercising during that T.O.M. - I force myself to, because it usually makes me feel better afterward.
Exercise also helps to keep a person from retaining as much fluid. And YES, drinking alot of water helps, because it helps flush out that retained fluid.
Also, exercise releases endorphins, which are your "feel good" hormones - helps to combat those "I just wanna be a witch" hormones
Stay busy with hobbies or projects - takes your mind of the munchies!

~~Prairie Rose

My weight goes up and I crave chocolate. A good tip to drink even more water during this time! Thank you!

1) Always goes up, its water weight but not even herbal remedies can shake it.
2) Totally, sometimes for iron which foods (body needs it), sometimes sugar. The sugar cravings are due to a steep drop in your serotonin levels. Sugar is a quick jolt to make you happy.
3) I try to eat healthier sweets like fruit, black strap molasses (sticky, sweet, chock full of iron, and 42 cal/serving ), or i mix unsweetened cocoa powder in with snacks like oatmeal or cereal. The unsweetened powder works particularly well Drink lots of water and do an activity that makes you happy to boost your serotonin.

Worth a try anyway

My cycles are around 30 days long. Around day 15 I will be up about 2-3lbs and it will stay up until about day 25 and then I will lose the 2-3 I gained and most of the time another 1-2lbs.

From around days 18-28 I am starving and crave fast food and chocolate like a crazy monster. It is insane. The only way to make the cravings go away is to eat them. Period. That's the only thing that works for me. I try very hard to stay under my calories on these days, and most days I do, but I do not make good choices with what goes in my body during this time. Even still, I am doing 100% better than before I started this journey so I am ok with it. :happy:

BTW today is day 19 and I am so hungry I want to chew my arm off, and I have eaten a lot of food already today. Blah.

I don't weigh myself during my period - I can SEE the belly bloat for myself so I don't need the number on the scales to confirm what I already know! I don't really crave anything but I do feel hungrier in general and feel I need more food.

Yeah, my weight goes up.
I do have cravings usually for sweet things, if they're not in the house I won't eat them.
I've been buying substitutes for most sweet things I'd eat like low fat Ice cream and stuff. So I don't feel as bad when I do get cravings.

My weight does go up sadly due to ALL water gain as well as me just sitting/laying around due to the cramps. I do, however, try to work be it outside, moving furniture, etc. It does help with the pain. Also, for snacks, I tend to crave something salty (chips or the like), but I end up eating saltines or other crackers. I eat a lot of fruit as well.

I refuse to touch the scale or the tape measurer anywhere near my period. I bloat so much. I literally look several months pregnant during the first few days of my period. I crave sweets and junk food. If I just HAVE to have something sweet, I like fruit and the chocolatey flavors of Special K bars. (I just ate one actually.) I try to exercise because everyone tells me it helps cramps (it never does) but I will take a day at the gym much lighter than normal. Today I made myself go but only exercised a little bit. I have NO energy most days.

My weight goes up HEAPS. My record is 5kg (11lb), although usually it's around 1-2kg (2-4.5lb). I retain water like a camel and I'm usually constipated too, so bloated like you wouldn't believe, even when I'm having a ton of fibre and loads of water. All in all, it's a really FUN few days for me.

I always crave bacon, and often sugar too. My favourite TOM food is french toast with bacon and maple syrup. I just eat it and don't worry too much about the calories - because if I try to resist the cravings I end up eating everything else under the sun, then have the thing I was craving anyway. The weight gain is temporary and always comes off in the following week. It means I have two weeks of the month where my weight is all over the place, but on the other weeks it's fine and I'm still losing slowly so I don't stress about it. Well, I TRY not to stress about it!

I do a 6km (3.7 mile) walk 5 days a week. When it's TOM I still do it but it usually takes me a bit longer. Sometimes I do a shorter walk. And sometimes I lie on the couch feeling sorry for myself and eating chocolate.

I usually do gain at least 2 or 3 lbs ...but last week it was TOM and I lost 4 ...so go figure. The nice thing about this site is that you can see why...I crave salty/sweet stuff but last week I restrained myself so less bloating. When I started MFP I went out and got dark choc chips...you can eat 20 for 70 cals...fakes me out that I'm eating more and satisfying that oh so unstopable craving!!

Yep, mine goes up, you're not alone here! A little dark chocolate and a nice piece of steak with a side of salt shaker seem to get me through! I've learned to curb the cravings by trying to tell myself that it's not a craving, it's an excuse, and if I cave, I'm just making excuses for myself.

Also, I've found that even though it's so much harder to get the motivation to work out when I get super PMSy, it makes the cramps better, and it helps take the edge off the cravings.

What a depressing topic lol Yep mine is almost here, and already up 2-3 lbs! Feeling lethargic and craving all things junk food. I haven't caved yet, but it is really hard.

I am currently craving salty/sweet foods like no one's business. But I have found that a small batch of homemade coleslaw takes care of that! I make mine with vinegar, Splenda, and low-fat mayo . . . . . so far the taste combo seems to do the trick

My weight doesn't go up with TOM, it goes up a few pounds the week or so before (PMS). PMS is also when I have all my cravings... mostly sweets and carbs.

I wish I had some tips for ya... the biggest things I try to do... drink lots of water, and not keep those craving foods in the house!!!

Honestly, I don't weigh myself when I'm on my period. I take birth control pills, so I'm already hormonal as it is, ESPECIALLY during that time of the month. I do have a lot of cravings though. When I'm craving something that's bad for you, every once and a while, if it's not TOO TOO bad, I'll go ahead & have a little treat. You gotta cheat sometimes! Otherwise, I just eat sometimes that's not so bad to snack on. One of my favorites are those quaker rice patty thingys, they have chocolate ones in 90 calorie packages. NOM NOM NOM!