Sunday and Monday I went completely crazy with a binge. I ate tons and tons of food. It didn't help that I went on a date to Indian food-how do you order healthy at Indian?-and the kid is a foodie and kept putting food on my plate...and it was SOOO good!

I've realized that I have a tendency to go off plan (BAD) about a week before my TOM. Its like I can't control myself! I plan on going on the pill (have an appointment today actually). I'm hoping this might help?

I'm curious, does anyone else have this problem? How do you stay on track? Did going on the pill help at all?

Yep I'm going through this problem RIGHT NOW as we speak! I'm not on the pill though I actually don't think being on the pill helped me much other than the uncontrolable pain my cramps give me. I think the pill made my even more psycho on it then I am right now.

I have the same problem. I dread every cycle because it leads to unbelievable cravings. I am on the Mirena IUD and it obviously hasn't done any good in terms of regulating my cravings. All I do is just try to stay within my calories. I also try to go to my room by 9pm because I tend to binge at night. I chew gum. Drink hot tea. Try to watch weight loss shows. Come here for support. Do some planks and/or pushups. Eat Jello gelatin (sugar free). I don't have any great advice. Just hang in there and do the best you can. You're definitely not alone.

I just have to fight my body- say NO. Last week I still managed to lose 1.5 lbs despite being on TOM because this time I refused to give in to my cravings. I think one night I really was hungry so I ate 2 eggs with a slice of whole wheat toast and that helped my cravings.

Sometimes cravings come from habit so I'm guessing at one point you were feeling full but kept eating- so maybe just start drinking water at that point

It's hard cuz I love Indian Food too- so I suggest staying away from that stuff cuz even if it's healthy if you eat a lot of it that kind of defeats the purpose lol.

I'm so worried about this. I've just started my effort this time two weeks ago so the first TOM is in... two days. AHHH. Looking forward to hearing all this advice!

So far I've been stocking up on sweets that might satisfy my chocolate cravings -- I really like dried haw candy (they're a Chinese fig-like fruit, haha) because it's chewy and "meaty" and only abt 20 calories for a pretty substantive piece. I'm really hoping that works... will keep you all posted.

I go through the same thing and usually I don't fight it. Don't get me wrong, I don't binge, but if I'm hungrier, I eat more. Your body actually burns more calories the week before and during TOM, hence the increased hunger.

I'm going this this right now. I'm a bottomless pit during TOM, like seriously I am NEVER FULL. I always feel hungry, even an hour after I eat a meal. I try not to give into my cravings so I try snacking on cinnamon almonds (homemade) and fruit to control my sweet cravings. I weighed myself this morning and so far I haven't gained any weight during TOM, I'm just going to hope for the next few days I don't cave lol.

I'm also forcing myself to drink even more water than I normally do so I can feel full from the water rather than eating junk. Ugh, just a few more days until TOM is over, then I can go back to my normal routine.

Its easy (ish)! My boyfriend is indian and we eat indian at home all the time. Eating out is tricky because they tend to add lots of cream and ghee but what I do basically is:
-stick to a dry curry, such as chicken tikka
-try to avoid rice, or have just a little
-most entres tend to be deep fried, like samosa, bhaji, poppadoms (omg bhaji) so i avoid those, or get a platter of them to share between my boyfriend or the others that im dining with
-when you are full, stop (this takes so much practice and self discipline, lol)

I am on the pill and i still get cravings and more hunger at tom, but i dont really remember what they were like before i went on the pill. It only lasts about a day though, so maybe the duration is decreased? Eitherway, hopefully it helps for you. When I do have cravings, I try to make a healthier version of the food. If i'm actually hungry, I'll eat a little more. 100 cals more on a few days a month isnt going to kill your progress for example, as long as you can keep it to just 100 cals more.

UGH! I get these too and I'm on Nuvaring. I have my TOM next week and I've been craving starch and fried food and chocolate like crazy. It makes me think I'm ALWAYS hungry, when I know I'm not. I started drinking more water and hot tea (decaf) and it usually alleviates the cravings. Try to keep busy too!

i wouldn't say i go "out of control" before TOM, but i do get irrational cravings and feel hungrier most of the time. i'll have a tendency to be eating chocolate everyday, even if i fit it into my calories. plus depending on how heavy the pms are, the emotional unstability can really do some damage and cause bingeing so it feels like i need so much more self-control! gah! why is it so unfair to be a girl?

don't beat yourself up too much though... you had a nice date just get back on track!!

yes. 100% yes. ugh.

i'm actually going through this right now Tom is not my friend lol i feel like i could eat by the truck load! i gave into my cravings of chocolate becuase i though if i didnt i was going to cry myself to sleep lol anyways its horrible but i know that if i make it through it ill be back on track by thursday! so its not so bad to me becuase im so good 28 days of the month and bad 3 so in the long run it might tiake me a total of 2 more weeks past my goal date of loseing weight and whats 2 weeks when ive waited 5 years!

Ugh.. me too! And I AM on the pill, I think they are not as bad, but I do still get them. My fixes?

For sweet cravings: sugar free chocolate pudding, gum, mints.

For salty cravings: pickles, carrots and hummous.

If all else fails, one big-A$$ Mexican meal really helps!

Get out of my head! I was totally going to say Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding!!

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