i need female advice

I try to just keep drinking my water and when I start to have cravings I either eat a piece of fruit, make a salad or go do some exercise. I started 3 days ago and my only 'craving' would be Pepsi, since I use to have 3 or more on a daily basis. Try think how proud you'll be when you ignore the craving and eat healthy/exercise instead

Ok - most of the weight you have gained will be water weight and will go once you have finished your cycle - a lot of people dont weigh them selves during or just before it as it is just on of those things and when you are dieting you tend to notice the natural fluctuations more.

What are you craving and can you fit it into your calories - if so give in to some of it and dont feel guilty - as long as you get 99% of good stuff in your diet then a couple of squares of dark chocolate is not going to kill you - or think about an alternative - so if it is sweet your body is screaming for - go for a fruit smoothie and chuck a cup of fresh spinach in there too (you wont taste it but your body will love you for it)

Try Raspberry leaf tea - it helps with the cramps and with the bloated feelings and personally for me the worst of the mood swings and cravings - if you hate fruit teas then brew it and chill it and use it in smoothies - it will still do the job and you wont taste it.

But mostly dont beat yourself up - it is not like you have pitched your tent at the all you can eat chinese buffet and are refusing to move while setting a world eating record - your body is a beautiful thing and needs a bit of extra TLC sometimes - you have made an awsome start so be proud of yourself and give your self a hug

You're embarrassed by having periods?! That's awful, what are you afraid of? You're not losing blood, you're losing the lining of your womb, it just looks like blood. You might need a bit of extra iron in your diet if you shed a lot, but you don't need to eat tons of stuff to get back other nutrients. I am going to post some info from the NHS website (the UK national health service) below, for info.

But seriously, you shouldn't be embarrassed by periods - nearly every woman you meet of child bearing age has them. If you're worried about accidents, use a tampon AND a sanitary towel.

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Iron is an essential mineral that has several important roles in the body. For example, it helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. A lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anaemia.

Good sources of iron include:
liver
meat
beans
nuts
dried fruit, such as dried apricots
wholegrains, such as brown rice
fortified breakfast cereals
soybean flour
most dark-green leafy vegetables, such as watercress and curly kale

Many people think that spinach is a good source of iron, but spinach also contains a substance that makes it harder for the body to absorb the iron from it.
Similarly, tea and coffee contain a substance that can make it harder for the body to absorb iron. Therefore, cutting down on tea and coffee could help improve your iron levels.
Although liver is a good source of iron, do not eat it if you are pregnant. This is because it is also rich in vitamin A, large amounts of which can damage your unborn baby.

The amount of iron you need is:
8.7mg a day for men
14.8mg a day for women
You should be able to get all the iron you need from your daily diet.

Women who lose a lot of blood during their monthly period may need to take iron supplements. Speak to your GP or a state-registered dietitian for more advice.

Most people should be able to get all the iron they need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take iron supplements, do not take too much because this could be harmful. Taking 17mg or less a day of iron supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. However, continue taking a higher dose if advised to by your GP.

Cravings? No idea. Retaining water? I've heard (and I could be entirely wrong about this) that people make the mistake of not drinking enough when they're retaining water because they're afraid they'll hold that too, when in truth the more you drink the more salt is cleared out of your system and the less you retain.

If your periods are not "normal" you may want to ask your doctor to check you for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). I was diagnosed when I was 17 because I had gone over a year without a cycle. As for cravings, try to drink some hot green tea and wait to see if the craving goes away. If its still there after an hour or two then just have a very small amount of what you are craving. That is what I do and it has been helping me.

Hi, I have always had irregular & very heavy periods. I have always used tampons & pads together as I was paranoid about having an 'accident'. Do not be ashamed of them, I always was, but when my son asked me about them I made the choce to be open about them & why should I be ashamed, I'm a woman !!! is it an option to go onto birth control pill purely to regulate? I chose to do this after having my so & it really helps.
re the craving, I am a raving chocoholic, but switching to dark chocolate helps as it gives you a stronger hit for less. break up a few peices on a plate & sit & eat it & focus on eating it. you will find you will eat less. and give up diet drinks & srick to water, I found my craving reduced when I gave up anything with artificial sweeteners in.

What are your particular cravings? If I knew some of your triggers, I could make more specific suggestions for healthier alternatives.

My periods are fairly suppressed right now, because I am so heavy (I am prescribed BC pills without the one week break, to suppress them). Without the pills, I bleed way too much, and all of the usual symptoms of my time of the month are far worse. I know that when my time of the month would roll around, I always craved red meat (likely for the iron... like in the form of a big, rare steak), had a desire to guzzle orange juice and milk (probably for the folic acid and calcium), and had the desire for chocolate (multiple benefits). The first three things are pretty healthy, in reasonable amounts. For the chocolate, I recommend that if you crave this, try getting some 70% (or higher) cocoa-content chocolate. Natural Foods stores are great for this. Right now, I am loving Endangered Species Chocolate (the brand donates 10% of profits to help endangered species). I have been getting the 70% cocoa variety, in orange and cherry flavours. The strong cocoa taste makes it hard to power through tons of the stuff, like you would with cheaper milk chocolate bars.

I just want to offer some support! You shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed of your period; it's inconvenient, but completely natural and normal. If your periods are irregular, as others have suggested, maybe birth control is an option? Are you talking to your doctor, or an ob-gyn? (Highly recommend talking to a female ob-gyn!) I see you are a college student, take advantage of the health center at your school!

Be kind to yourself. Drink lots of water. (And remember, you are probably retaining a lot of water during your period.) I'd allow myself some treats, but try not to completely sabotage yourself. (If you like salty things, a small serving of potato chips or whatever it is you want. Sweet? Dark chocolate. Etc.) I think you've gotten some great advice from other posters.

Good luck.

It would help if your eating things you enjoy every day. I don't deprive myself of anything, feel free to view my diary. This has helped me a great deal because I love snacks

i have been splurging even whatever i want to eat and back to eating sweets ...i know im back to eating a ton of calories .. i hate this ...i wish i cold b more gentle with myself i know im almost 20 but i am so embarassed of havin a period. its irregular and sometimes i flow really heavy and i just completely panic. and when i panic i go in the fridge and i explode. bekuz i think to myself u r losing lots of blood u have to eat and regain nutrients even if it means going over your calories

Not to sound harsh at all but this literaly had me LMAO! I had a IUD inserted about 9 months ago and I bled for atleast 2 months straight so I totally feel you on thinking you need to replinish nutrients.

When it comes to cravings for something sweet I allow myself a fun size or mini candy bar. Usually 1 will do the trick but even if I have 2 its a whole lot better than a slice of cake!

Finally....I can always figure my scale will be 2 - 3 pounds heavier during my period even if I am eating the exact same. So I just avoid the scale during that time.

I try to just drink a lot of water throughout the day. Then if I really cant help it ill make some eggs, or a salad, or eat some cheese or peperoni.

I have found that a good way to defeat those cravings, is gum try the flavored stuff like the desert kind i know it isnt the like eating a big piece of chocolate cake .......but if the gum just isnt enough i suggest getting a 60% ghiradelli chocolate bar and smuckers natural peanutbutter and have a piece of that everyday it is healthy and is bound to put you in a better mood(: just make sure you are only eating one cause calories do add up fast.

Apologies, I have not read every reply, but try replacing the food you're craving with something healithier: http://www.dailytransformations.com/2011/05/05/food-cravings-here-is-what-your-body-really-wants/

And drink a ton o' water!
Good luck!

My cravings are usually the worst after dinner, which is pretty much the most deadly time for me to eat. I find that forcing myself to go to the gym for a few hours gets me both distracted and out of the house (which means away from food!). Basically I distance myself from the kitchen and the house itself :P

Being in college (i.e. dirt poor), it's a lot easier to avoid buying sugary/chocolaty food when I'm away from home because I know my poor debit card can handle it just about as well as my tummy