A Question for the ladies...

Drink lots and lots of water. Ice water is great because not only is it good for you, but your body needs to burn more calories in order to take that cold water and make it body temperature!

I have the same problem, and I also dread my workout because cardio makes my cramps and headaches so much worse. I decide to give my self a few treats in the first two days of my TOM because those are the worst for me. I don't completely blow my diet, but I usually take the days off from working out and let myself eat pasta and other foods I may crave during the month. Drink lots of water and focus on eating iron-rich foods because you are losing a lot of iron from your body which also increases fatigue.

If you don't take any vitamins, try that. It can fill a void in your diet which may be causing you to be extra hungry. I also find green tea to be good for suppressing my appetite. After a meal, plan what you are going to do in your head then you know when you are done eating you are on to the next task rather than back to the kitchen for something else to eat.

When I know it's that time of the month I tell myself "this is temporary and that tomorrow this will be gone", try and just make it through the day. I get the same craving and it's insane but I find if I can identify the trigger (i.e. TOM) then I sometimes have a better time getting through it. Other tricks include eating a ton of popcorn or graze on fresh fruit if it’s available. Sometimes you just need to feed the demon but count it, put it in your food diary and try to budget it in. It may be just a piece of dark chocolate that you are craving. I did Body for Life a few years back and they encourage everyone to have one free food day a week. I usually used that as one free treat day a week and always got myself an ice-cream sunday. I lost 25 pounds in three months and that ice-cream sunday never affected my weight loss so maybe you could just have your one free day a month and indulge. It might quiet monthly demon you battle.

For some reason, I crave greasy foods, like cheeseburgers, fries, liquid cheese, anything fried... I also inexplicable find that soda and chocolate makes the cramps better, though I'm pretty sure this is just psychological. I agree with the ice-water tip. Other than that just try to keep bad things out of the house at this time. I feel you pain. :flowerforyou:

For some reason, I crave greasy foods, like cheeseburgers, fries, liquid cheese, anything fried... I also inexplicable find that soda and chocolate makes the cramps better, though I'm pretty sure this is just psychological. I agree with the ice-water tip. Other than that just try to keep bad things out of the house at this time. I feel you pain. :flowerforyou:

Ditto for me. Anything that is sold at a fast food joint--I want it. I just let myself binge on those days, but try and make up for it with the exercising.

Some months I get the same way, and other months I'm not hungry at all. Sometimes, this happens to me for two weeks before my TOM...I try to stick to healthier foods and not buy the snacky stuff...as for chocolate, dark chocolate always satisfies my sweet tooth a lot faster than milk chocolate so I don't eat as much of it. But, I agree with all the other ladies who've posted ideas and suggestions. I also try to keep my hands and brain occupied on things other than food and can sometimes forget about my cravings - at least for a little while.

i was going trough the same thing the first 3 weeks. and around TOM it was worse cuz my body got out of wack cuz of the eating changes! I pretty much just sucked it up! if i was that hungry i would have a piece of fruit or a bite of something small just to chew. it all about will power and believe me i am still working trough it.