I remember reading somewhere that your body needs more calories during that time of month than it does otherwise. Is this true?

I ask because right now I've eaten my full day's worth of calories, and mostly decent food instead of empty junk calories, but for some reason I am STARVING and I feel like I could use another meal when normally a day like this would leave me completely satisfied.

Kinda makes sense, I suppose. There does have to be some healing and blood cell regeneration happening. I always just thought it was kookie hormone craving crap.
Either way, it's probably OK to have a little something extra as long as it's good stuff.
Should google that and see what comes up.

I sure as need something! And I don't mean lettuce.

How about diet rootbeer with a scoop of low fat cool whip. No nutrition but it's yummy ... almost sinful!

Actually, during this time I don't crave sweet food (except maybe dark chocolate..).. I want healthy hot (temperature hot) light foods... like soups.. and Asian noodles with stock, things that are warming and go down the throat easily especially on DAY 1. The problem is that I have such bad cramps that I am too miserable to cook... and there is no one here to cook for me. So I become even more miserable and pathetic. I think I have to plan a little better and make sure the freezer always has some soup stock ready in cases like this.

I've discovered that when I don't get what I really seem to want/need.. I might settle for anything and still not feel satisfied or even good about the choices.

Plan Plan Plan.. Gotta plan ahead.

I can just see your freezer. Chicken and vegetables, beef and broccoli, period soup ...

If I wrote that on it at least no one would eat it .. ensuring that it was always available to me... not a bad idea.

It is obvious you are binging and you are mindful of what you are eatingg, so go ahead and eat what you need (in moderation and with calories in mind). Life is not meant to follow a formula for the rest of your life. It's just there to guide you so you learn how to treat moderation. Try the 1 hour rule first. Go one hour and if you still want it, eat it. It's really better to do that then binge later because it drove you mad.

Have you tried cool whip between 2 graham crackers and freeze it. I need to do this..good icecream sandwhich substitute!!

Oops. I don't mean to add more temptation!

BTW, I like the soup idea. SOme of that low calorie, eat a bunch of it stuff.

Am I sick? I look forward to my TOM because I almost ALWAYS lose an extra pound that week!!! I'm lucky--I haven't had bad cramps since high school. And I don't get cravings at my TOM. Maybe before or after, but they're not so bad that I have to give into them.

Ahh, I just had a snack and feel much better. (I also went out dancing for 2 hours. First things first.)

I found a few mentions of this on google but most of the links seemed a bit shady so I'm not going to post them.

I think I really do need more food then but I never noticed it because I ate too much, so when I'm down near my minimum calories all of a sudden that extra 100-200 calories becomes crucial. It's not necessarily something I would catch normally but I'd been eating a bit too much lately so I was determined to keep my eating in check. Now to make sure I eat well instead of sneaking in a candy bar

Allinnell, I'm the same way. In fact there have been some months where my TOM is the ONLY week I've lost weight. I know it's just my body releasing water that it has stored up and that really I've probably been losing weight all along, but even so...

I used to get cravings, chocolate in particular, but since I've been restricting my calories, I don't really notice any cravings. Well, I crave peanut butter, but that is all the time, not just during my TOM. Don't know why.

I've also been on the pill for so long (over ten years) I barely remember what a cramp feels like although I use to get horrible ones along with back pain. Just this month I switched to Nuvaring to give myself a break from the hormones and I'm hoping it will also help with the water retention.

- Barbara

I had an endometrial ablation in May -- now I don't have to deal with this any more! 2 months so far of freedom!!

I go through the same thing. So during that time, I allow myself to indulge to make up for how miserable I feel.

I'm always "kind" to myself during TOM (like right now! grrrr)
the first two days, if I want it, I eat it. Going back on program after day two though. I've never gained during TOM, after the bloating water is gone that is. I never weight until atleast 3 to 4 days after TOM. I always make sure to drink extra water too, and because of this, the bloating is not the problem it used to be.