Cravings During Pms

Yes, oh Yes! I crave chocolate, caffeine and salt right before and during my period. And, like you, my appetite is just plain voracious for that week or so. Just can't get enough it seems.

I just try to give in a little bit and allow myself one or two pieces of chocolate, not the whole bad in one sitting. I keep individual bags of chips, not the big bags for this reason. And, the caffeine, well I deserve something don't I? lol

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I have the same problem and the thing that is funny is that you want to control it, but your body says otherwise......what you can do is find your trigger - if you want chocolate - maybe take a couple of pieces of whatever. Eat that then walk away - if you want more you can have some more in an hour after your snack or lunch or what ever......Ha Ha - I'm thinking as I'm writing this maybe this is what I should do....but it's an option. Bottom line though - I wouldn't restrict your self from your cravings because then you will want it more and then you will just go nuts and over indulge.

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yeah it's pretty common to have major cravings right before you start your period. My advise would be just to eat every 2 hours but eat healthier or lower calorie stuff. That way you can still eat all day to help with your cravings and feelings of hunger but you won't actually be eating too many calories. Like buy the single serving pop corn....the whole bag is only 100 calories so you can sit and eat it all. Or buy the skinny cow or WW ice cream sandwiches. Again they are like 140 calories and they are pretty big so they really help with a sweet, chocolate craving. Snack on nuts....protein helps fill you up. Drink diet pop or crystal light for a sweet drink. So you can still snack but making little changes like this will help to keep you more on track.

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I find if I just indulge myself in some small way before I crave it big time. Like I know have a craving sometime before bed. So I give myself a dove chocolate right after dinner and usually ok. Breaks my diet but better than some other choices. Like a cake. If you head it off before works.

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i have a diet for you if you are interested.

I had this with sugar at one time. It's tough!

Find healthy low cal things to eat instead of trying to deprive yourself. Have alternatives handy. For example, instead of a bag of candy, have tea with a little honey in it.

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Wish I could offer some help but I have the same problem. I can be fairly good for the rest of the month and manage to lose a few pounds but when I have pms I end up completely blowing it and I end up gaining back the weight that I managed to lose earlier in the month. When I have pms it feels like I'm always hungry. Sorry I'm not any help. :(

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I crave salty foods during that time. My Mom is the same way.
I'll get the snack size bags of chips/pretzels because 1 small bag addresses the craving and then I can stop.

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Yep...same problem. I have a huge appetite!!! Not good as I am doing WW. Start tracking those days so you can recognize the onset of PMS...During those times, try to be preoccupied with something else so your hands are busy doing other things then feeding your face LOL! Also go for low fat volume foods like light popcorn, or a huges smoothie with simply frozen fruit. Believe me I soooo can relate and have to practice what I am preachin' here. Good luck

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Yes! I have the same issue! I have a friend who actually wound up diagnosed with PMDD and put on antidepressants (I think?) and that helped her a lot. She felt a lot more in control of things--not just her appetite. She only took the meds part time, I think. I'm not sure how it worked, but your doc would know.

That said...I saw lots of "eat in moderation" and "do single serving" type stuff, which, for me, doesn't cut it--I KNOW to eat in moderation; during PMS, I CAN'T. What kind of sort of works for me, though, is knowing my foe--can you leave the house? Find something to do, perhaps that involves other people and not eating? I know if I either have a LOT to do at home (which is stressful) or if I'm out and about, doing productive things, I am a bit less inclined to sit at home and think about what I'm hungry for. For me, it does help not to have those things around; even if I stop for a candy bar at the gas station, it's still better than having a bag of chocolate chips at home and downing them over the course of 4 days. Could you volunteer somewhere with baby? Plan to run errands when you know your period is due? Make play dates?

Good luck...I wish I had better answers!

It is important to keep your blood sugar steady. Lean protein with every meal. I start every day with a protein shake and can't believe how I don't think about food for hours!
With most weight loss, you lose fat and muscle. Then your metabolism drops and you end up gaining it back.
Muscle = Metabolism
Studies on protein with extra leucine (a natural amino acid) show that 100
% of weight lost can be fat, which means your muscle remains and you continue burning. Add a little exercise, and you can see visible results.
Let me know if you would like me to send you a link to a website about this. I don't want to spam you, but I feel your pain. :)
K.

Yes, I think this is pretty normal. I crave hot fudge sundaes and Doritos, sometimes at the same time. What I know my body needs is more protein, to keep me from the blood sugar dips that I am prone to. I try, but the ice cream and chocolate are more fun...

Hi C.,

All cravings are caused because the body thinks it needs something. In general, that would usually be a nutritional deficiency. Childbirth takes a lot out of you and changes your general chemical makeup and you need to replenish nutrients so that your body can get back to normal. A GOOD, ABSORBABLE, multivitamin/mineral complex should stop the cravings. There are some vitamins that have all the right stuff in them but if it doesn't absorb into your system then it's not doing any good.

My husband lost 110 pounds on the right vitamin (that means it has to absorb). The first 60 pounds he dropped without any diet change or activity change. His body was satisfied with the nutrition.....needless to say, he wasn't snacking. He was never one to overeat but when he craved something he would satisfy that craving....probably too much. When he realized he was feeling better, he noticed that he didn't crave anything at all.

Hope this helps.

M.