Cravings and PMS...

Okay...so that time of the month is about 6 days away and I am craving salty/sweets more than over since I've been dieting...started June 1st. 

How do I fight these cravings???

I was good for breakfast.  Egg white and low fat yogurt.  Then lunch I had a baked piece of chicken, a plum tomato, a pear and a 10 calorie sugar free jello.  By the time I got back to my desk people in my department were digging into this Chess Cake my boss made.  It's basically butter, sugar, walnuts and graham crackers.  Yum!  I didn't have any but then I started craving salty/sweet.  I went and got a small bag of Sun Chips and a 100 calorie bag of Chips Ahoy.  Then later on I grabbed from the candy jar a handful of peanut m&ms.  All I want to do is eat and it seems like the more I avoid it the more I crave it.  Grrrrrr!

Seems like the body thinks its eating for two when you get your period - Im sure theres a biological protection thing going on there.

It would be nice (funny) to have a TOM forum for all the frustrations of weight flucuation.  Just think when its over, I bet your in for some weight LOSS>

Tiffany, you're not alone and I have yet to figure out how to combat those cravings.  I've tried substituting fresh, sweet fruit, but it's not the same and only makes me want chocolate or other sweets more.  I usually crave reese's peanut butter cups and when I don't have any I've been known to eat a tablespoon or two of Jiff Peanut butter.  This time I'm not craving reese's but I am so wanting candy corn.  Must be the time of year for it.

Sun123, I like your idea of a TOM forum.....could prove useful and helpful

Peanut butter cups............ Mmmmmm, omg me to!  I just give in.  I have to, it's the only time that I do, and my husband is thankful for it!

I'm all for that new forum idea!  My cycles are murder, especially since the cravings and ravenous hunger start a week or two before my actual period :-( !

i don't have cravings during  before my period, but i do tend to eat more. I'm just wondering...Does your body burn more or less calories while your on your period?

i think i agree with this common thread of having unavoidable cravings during THE WEEK OF HELL which is what i liken it to ;) as far as the sugar cravings... frozen yogurt is pretty good and also gummy fruitsnacks if the candy craving is out of control.  the whole salty issue i have yet to find a low cal solution for :(

For salty? How about the 100 calorie bags of popcorn or pretzels? They're pretty low in calories too.

Why can't Midol and Pamprin put something in their medicines to curb cravings? That'd be great.

best solution i have for the chocolate craving is no pudge brownies. i know they have been mentioned around the forum before, but they are only 90 cals per serving and oh-so-freeking delicious. its just a powdered brownie mix in a pink box. dont forget to get the yogurt you need to make them while you are there!

(that i am going to have to make a trip to the store to pick up now)

It is almost Halloween and Fun Size candies are great.  I bought M&M's today.  It is 180 calories for 2 fun size bags...I eat just one...90 calories and a chocolate craving.  On my really bad days I eat a light lunch and decent dinner and get a blizzard at Dairy Queen...split into two servings and eat half.  I have done this quite a bit and stayed at my 1200 calories.  I have lost 13.5 lbs in a month...6lbs my first week.  I am junk food junkie at heart and this diet makes it easy to have my cake and eat it too...  I also found Hostess Cupcake 100 calorie packs that are yummy!!!  There are a lot of options out there...it is about portion control really.

 

HUGS 

Somewhere in the recipe forum there's a recipe for brownies made with black beans...they're supposed to taste the same and be really good for fiber.

Oh, I feel your pain, I get staving that week too...and usually just give myself that little extra, I just try get in a little more exercise on those days too even things out.

 

Oh! That's why I'm starving today! I never noticed it before, but "Aunt Flo" is due to arrive this week, and I am craving everything in sight. I have eaten properly today and should be full (It's mid-afternoon here and I've consumed about 900 cals). But instead, all I can think about is MORE FOOD.

I'm happy I saw this post because at least I have something to blame now.

I would die if it wasn't for Cadbury Thins.  I really enjoy the toffee ones.  100 calories and all the flavor.  Plus, it looks close enough to a full size chocolate bar that it psychs me out and I only eat one.  Those Halloween fun-size bars just don't cut it.  I'd eat 5 before I felt like I had a whole bar.

I like jelly beans.  They are little, and if I get the super flavored ones I can only eat a handful before my tastebuds fizzle out.

 I also love the Halloween candies!  I freeze the mini chocolate bars, and then I can't eat them too quickly without risking injury.

When I'm feeling ambitious I freeze banana chunks and then eat one with a few chocolate chips.   Once again, it needs to be eaten slowly. 

But yeah, it is a bit like a hell week. :(    

i get salty cravings like asian food.  the week before my period i want chinese food so bad and i usually get general tsao's or kung pow the spicier the better! or nacho doritos with cream cheese i know its weird but soooo good. i try to make up for it on the treadmill but my cramps are usually so bad i just lie in bed.

I usually buy the 100 cal chocolate bars...and if im at home I have treats for my daughter that are the mini chocolate bars you give out at Halloween so I will take one of those, and sometimes I go back for another. (I believe eating two will equal less than 100 cal.) The other thing I do is drink chocolate milk. Gives me the chocolate, and also fills you at the same time.

there's one thing that totally satisfies my salty food craving: they have this really really good turkey pastrami at trader joe's and if you put them in pita pockets with some lettuce and cheese it totally satisfies me. plus its like 70 calories for like 8 slices, its pretty good.

as for the sugar craving, i eat yogurt pretzels and yogurt raisins. that way you get the sugar you're craving, but youre also eating something kind of healthy too. dark chocolate raisins are good too.