Menstrual Cycle Binging...anyone else do it?

I have the worst time when my cycle comes. I am always hungry. I do not know why, but I just want to eat all the time. I am sure my period is coming in the next few days, because I am STARVING. No, it is not thirst... just hunger. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you handle it? I was lucky... I ate a little more, and a little more often today...but, i still managed to stay under...barely, but under goal. Any suggestions... am I alone? Interesting all my other PMS symptoms are better since I started exercising.

Im exactly in the same situation! I don't know what to do anymore. Every month is the same thing, at least one week when I'm always starving, craving everything, lots of anxiety... Girl, I do understand you. I work out every day, at least 1:30 hr, but it doesn't help that much on this days.

My friends say that I should star taking birth control pills again, that it's going to help me, but I don't know.

Sure, totally normal.  (Luciana, thanks for reminding me to take my pill - LOL!)  I can't say I've overcome the TTOM issue, but I do try to at least fill up veggies and fruits and high-fiber, high-volume foods.  Salty/crunchy - SmartPop 100-calorie pack popcorn; sweet - Swiss Miss Diet Hot Chocolate (25 calories in the packet); lots of people on CCP love the All-Bran Honey Oat bars.  If I don't feel too horrible, I try to exercise more - a little more slowly than usual, but I am sticking by my new motto for 2008:  Any good thing leads to more good things.  Good luck!!!!!

I allow myself about 150-200 more calories a day during my time of the month otherwise I feel like I am starving.

I normally eat one egg on a 100 calorie english muffin for breakfast.  I up it to 2 eggs during my time of the month.  I also add in an extra snack during the day.

I'm in the same boat right now :-(  I eat, and I'm still hungry.  I have been able to fight the cravings, but I have given in and had a little truffle, milk chocolate ball and I REALLY want to make some popcorn.....hmmmm

Lord, yes. I'm like a bottomless pit 2 or 3 days before my period. Then when I get it, my appetite goes way below normal, so i guess it all evens out.  

Since I have been weighing myself for the past 4 months every week religiously I have discovered that even if I do PMS binge I have lost it and then some the next week.  I don't usually crave sweets, I crave salt, so I retain water.  And girls, I will tell you, it doesn't get better as you get older.  I am almost 47 and sometimes it's like it was in high school or even further back when I first started getting my periods.  That goes for the cravings, too!  I remember when I was on birth control that the bloating, cramping, mood swings and cravings were better but there are some health risks involved with the pill and heavier women.  Weigh (no pun intended) your options.  Pop corn is really not a bad snack - you can eat an entire bag for what, around 300 or so calories??  If you are going to binge then that's the way to go, less to have to work off.  That's what I pick up.

Since your weight is an average of what you had eaten, if you can lower your calorie intake before and after those days you many be fine. Personally I find that does not work that well for me. I just try for low calorie snacks to be around - carrot , celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, air popped popcorn. the only time I might drink diet pop. The most anoying thing is NOTHING satisfies. Stuff that is a favourite, filling and satisfying migh as well not be eaten.  I try doing something that keeps me away from food- read magazines at the library, go shopping ( I never buy food for snacking when shopping). There are times I'm tempted to get drunk(always makes me sleepy- sleep the munchies away!) but alcohol has so many calories!

i don't get any hungrier, in fact i'm less hungry!  (probably because i balloon up atleast a size in clothes and can't fit anything!)  but what i crave is completely different than the rest of the month... it's the ONLY time i ever really want chocolate... and peanut butter... and cheesey stuff (ok more than usual anyway)... i'm hoping for next time to just make some better choices with what i eat... peanut butter?  have an apple with it... or banana.... chocolate? maybe a square and some strawberries... cheese.... maybe crackers and cheese instead of easy mac, or cheese flavored popcorn... since you are more hungry i would say keep as much healthy food around you to snack on as you can- lots of fruits and veggies, add peanut butter or hummus or cheese so you have some protein to hold you over... spinach is supposed to be great so add more of that to your meals too.

 

I do it, I get SO hungry...I'm anemic so that doesn't help either!  I'm constantly craving beef, steaks!  I do have steak 1 night, but I pair it with some baby spinach with cherry tomatoes etc so I can get a LOT of protein in me, but yeah I know exactly how you feel!

I honestly thought I was just being piggy. I'm so glad I'm not alone.  My hunger gets increasingly worse the closer I get.  So I can sit with a bag of chips and cry and eat at the same time.  I wonder how many calories crying burns? LOL  I think I like the idea of trying to stay busy.  But I'll need to snack a little bit or by the time dinner rolls around I binge on it because I'm ravenous cause I didn't graze   And it's getting to be right about now and I want deep fried greasy foods (like long john silver's) and LOTS of choc. *SIGH*

I have always binged right before my period.  I crave everything! Sweets then something salty.  I even eat peanut butter which I can't even smell when I am not pre-menstrual.  I am also a 3-4 cups of coffee drinker except when I am on my period I cant even drink one cup.  People tell me its all in my head, but I disagree, because I know other people who binge before their period. I need to find a way to stop!  I get so depressed after bingeing. 

I feel like a nutcase when it's that time of month! I just want to eat everything in site, especially carbs!

I've noticed the week before my period and the week during it I crave like CRAZY. I should be getting mine in about a day or two and trust me I've eaten enough ice cream this past week to feed an army. Lmao!