how to satisfy the period "tapeworm"

I find that mine isn't as bad when I workout (strength train, yoga, belly dance). I believe I heard that working out does something to the hormones, but not sure. Anyhow, since I have added heavy lifting to my routine, my PMS hasn't been that bad. Maybe my uterus fell out from the heavy lifting.

If I find that I am craving something, I have it or something like it in moderation.

Tortilla Chips and Salsa :
Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips: 10 chips equals 140 calories
(They have lots of good for you things in them flax, quinoa, etc. and are yummy!)
Sabra Pico de Gallo: 2 Tbsp equals 10 calories
Say I had 10 chips and 10 Tbsp of salsa. That equals 190 calories for a salty/savory craving.
If I wanted "nachos" I would just put a little bit of pico on each chip, get some shredded cheese and add just a tad bit per chip. Then I would micro them or stick them in the oven until the cheese melted. I would just add on the cheese calories to the total and maybe up them to the 240-250 range depending upon the type and amount of cheese.

Chocolate:
Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Squares (all different kinds of flavors) are around 60-70 calories per square. They come individually wrapped, so portion control is easier. I also take my time and nibble it little bit by bit instead of shoving the whole square in my mouth as I might have done previously. (Ahem.)

I know myself, and if I ignore my craving and try to eat something else, I will still be craving the salty or the sweet and it will keep on nagging at me. But if I have something that I know will satisfy it, then it will be done and over with and I can focus on something else.

If you have a craving you can't get rid of, try making a healthier version of it. We do this for pizza and steak sandwiches and wings all the time. Make a home cooked version where we can monitor what goes into it. Our steak sandwiches have become a lot less meat and more veggies (mushrooms, onions, peppers) yet it's still delicious and has that taste we are looking for.

If you are just hungry in general, then eat foods that you know will give you a more full and satisfied feeling for less calories. I always find that a huge salad with some protein added makes me feel as though I pigged out because I am stuffed at the end, but the veggies don't add up to much calorie wise. I also like the toss or shaker method of salad dressing usage. I measure out my dressing and pour it over it in a bigger bowl and toss it to coat or if it's in a container I put the lid on and shake it around. Lets the dressing become more evenly distributed and I use much less dressing.

I apologize if this is TMI for some people, but I'm quite curious as to what the answers will be!
Just before and during my 'lady time' every month, I become viciously hungry. And I don't mean just craving chocolate or sweets, but actually hungry!
Tell me how YOU survive that time of the month without blowing your calorie-count/diet plan/healthy eating?

I wonder if you might have a deficiency of some specific nutrient. The only one that springs to mind is iron, but I'm sure there are other possibilities. You might check whether you get enough of the various nutrients by MFP standards, at least.

Someone said magnesium, which is where the chocolate craving comes from. Raisins and spinach are high in iron. And dark chocolate is good for you in other ways, and also has magnesium. But so do almonds.

I recommend a BIG salad of spinach with dried cranberries or raisins, some feta cheese, raspberry vinaigrette, and almond slivers on top...then a square of dark chocolate for dessert. Ought to hit all the nutritional cravings without blowing the budget.

My thing is not wanting to work out this week. I have PCOS, so I get TOM about three times a year....but always with a vengeance. This is the worst it has been in forever. I haven't wanted to eat...but I also haven't wanted to move much. Just really thirsty.

I drink a lot of ice water and crunchy stuff like carrots, raw green beans, etc. I don't actually keep myself from eating sweets, I just make sure I stay within my calorie limit. I make sure to eat something healthy before I eat my sweets and even wait a few minutes in between. Sometimes after I eat the healthy pre meal I will completely forget about the craving. I work out when I feel like snacking. I have a pilates ring and free weights in my living room and I will pick them up and do 5 sets of reps.

I also tend to bloat and keep on weight during what I like to call "shark week" and so when worse comes to worse and I don't feel like I can control my munchies I will step on the scale during a craving. At the point I snarl at the number and have very little desire to eat junk. LOL!

When I'm on my shark week,

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Shark week - I love it! LOL

I usually crave salty carbs during that time, and I try to just keep things in check, log what I eat and drink lots of water. But I just realized that this past month, I didn't really have the cravings, and I didn't gain any weight this time around - in fact I lost a little! Shocking, I know!

No idea what attribute that to, but can only hope that 8 months of eating healthy and regular exercise are paying off in more than just loss of fat! I do force myself to workout during that time too, even if I don't feel like it - it seems to make me feel better in the long run.

Somebody mentioned popcorn - I eat it nearly every day, so maybe that's what's been satisfying my salty carb cravings? Hmmm...but I agree, great snack if you air pop it or use a brown paper bag & microwave it. That's my method every day - 1/4 cup kernels in a paper bag on my micro's popcorn setting. Comes out perfect every time. I top it with coconut oil and a wee bit of butter, and a dash of salt. Good stuff.

How far do you blow it by?

I think it's perfectly okay to plan a few days of maintenance at specific times of the month. I always go a bit over but still just about maintenance on those days.

That is a fabulous idea! Why beat yourself up over it? If your body is telling you its hungry, there's a reason. Feed it! And feed it well!

Eat healthy full of fiber carbs.. like whole oats. The carbs are going to give you energy and the fiber will keep you full longer. Also, low glycemic carbs will digest much slower. Stay clear of processed carbs they will leave u within minutes LOL. Always eat some protein with your carbs.

Someone once told me to make a pasta meal with plenty of protein and it should work. I've been doing just that since, and it seems to be working. For instance, last night I made a big pot of spagetti with Barilla Plus noodles (whole grain noodles with added protein...but doesn't taste awful like most whole grain pastas tend to do), extra lean (96%) ground beef, and sugar free sauce (I like Colavita, but you can make your own with tomatoes and spices). I topped with some cheese, and I had 1 huge 500 calorie bowl of spagetti for dinner that helped me to not go over my 1400 daily limit, and I didn't get hungry later on at work (I work night shift).

That spinach salad with cranberries, almonds, and feta mentioned above sounds awesome too! I will have to give that a try!

I always eat whatever I want, within moderation, and stick within my calories for the day, including eating back my exercise calories, so I don't really find that I eat any more or less when it's my "time"

I've tried to ignore it. I've tried to find substitutes for things I crave. I've tried a lot of things and I've come to realize one thing..

I'm extra hungry for a reason. The "weight" I gain is water weight and is temporary. So, I allow myself to eat pretty much whatever I want for the week before I start. I know it'll all even out when my period is done, so I refuse to fret about it. Obsessing about it only makes me grumpier.

spaghetti?

One square of vosges dark chocolate bacon bar. Yup...chocolate with bacon. It satisfies my craving and I only eat it once a month so its no biggie

Dark chocolate and bacon is an amazing idea. I want it!

I usually have brazil nuts and dark chocolate together. And I eat at maintenance for the whole week. I never lose any weight that week anyway, so it all the works out the same!

I use the weight watchers method of knowing that fruits and veggies are thought of as no point items, so I pile a ton of raspberries on my cereal in the morning. I also eat a lot of bananas and drink a ton more water than normal. I still eat chocolate, but I'll eat the good stuff because you feel sick if you eat too much of it, your body will tell you 'no means no' with that stuff! If you crave salty snacks, eat those veggie and flaxseed tortilla chips from trader joes with some awesome salsa and a dollop of light sour cream. YUM!

Well, I can pretty much relate to you guys! When its " that time of the month," I crave sweets, I want eat more than I should, and I probably gain fluid....I hate fluid!! This time, I'm going to just try to keep my eyes on my goal! I plan to drink more water, watch my fat intake, my sodium especially! Yeah, its going to be hard, but I can do it! I have learned that there are just going to be bad days. I have been concentrating way too hard on what my weight is. According to my doctor, I shouldn't keep thinking about the scale. She told me to look at my waist line. Lately, its been really frustrating when I found out that I weigh 157 at the doctor's office, when on the scale at home, I weigh less! You feel like giving up, you think whats the point of this!! You just want to scream!! But I know that I'm not alone. One of my biggest inspirations is my sister-n-law Amanda. If anyone can understand the weight problem its her. She's been through so much with it. She will definately meet her goal...no doubt about it. She has wonderful husband and family thats given her sooo much support. May God help us all as we are going through the weight journey!!

I JUST talked to my OBGYN about this. She told me to take magnesium supplements and that should definitely help the chocolate cravings!

This.

My Multivitamin helps curb cravings.