PMS Cravings--Any advice on staving them off ladies?

[Electrogrrl]

I'm sure this topic has been covered but I went back pages and pages and couldn't find it. My appetite is absolutely out of control the week before my period. It's not even that I am hungry but more of a mental thing I suppose. I just have to fill up on sweets and carbs. I have no problem eating these foods moderately when I am not PMSing (so it's not like I deprive myself of them or anything)but I have a huge problem with them when I am. Then I feel bloated and disgusting afterwards (not mentally disgusted with myself, just physically icky). So I was wondering, do any of you gals have any tips on keeping your intake of these foods at a moderate level while PMSing?

 

 

....I will be eating my brownie while waiting for replies

[LucreziaBorgia]

I'm a PMS binger, myself. While I have no problems outside of PMS, I absolutely cannot control it during the PMS period of my cycle. If I deprive, I get in horrible black moods. If I indulge, I feel better... but feel gross and bloated afterward. Hopefully someone can advise. I would love to find a way to completely end the cravings. They are really terrible.

[sophia34]

I'm the same way! However, from what I've read, it seems that women are SUPPOSED to eat a bit more during that time. Something about the process of shedding those unnecessary cells taking increased energy--I've read that women should consume about 300 more calories a day during their periods, just like they should during a pregnancy.

 

I cope with it by 1) accepting the fact that I will and probably should eat more on those days of the month, 2) keeping horrible snacks, like twinkies and brownies (sorry!), out of the house, 3) having in the house much healthier alternatives like bananas, melon, berries, oatmeal raisin cookies I make by substituting applesauce for some of the butter, sweet potato chips, or a really killer carrot cake I make with almost no oil whatsoever, or even protein bars, and 4) eating well the rest of the month so that three- or four-day binge doesn't really set me back at all, weight-wise.

 

So, my advice would be not to try to get rid of the cravings at all. Indulge! I actually enjoy the freedom to eat that I feel that time of the month. But just indulge with healthier options, and try to maintain an exercise routine. Exercise really helps keep the cravings under control as well.