I am sure this has been asked before but I wanted updated information

How do you ladies handle "time of the month"?

I am starving today and I know its only because aunt flo is due any day now.... So what do you do when your starving even though you have eaten right for the day? I have about 100 calories left in my day so I am thinking a banana sounds really good right now but I am so hungry I could eat a horse!

To help stay on plan I make sure I plan. I try not to slack with the meal planning, snacks and water for this time. I'm way more likely to go off plan if I allow myself to get too hungry.

Some people are different with cravings. I have been planning a treat here and there while staying within calories but some people can't do that because it triggers binge feelings.

I would go with the banana and maybe a tablespoon of peanut butter. I think its a good idea to give yourself a few extra calories during TOM/PMS. One month I was so hungry, I gave myself the okay to have goal weight, maintenance level calories. It averaged out to 2500 calories for the day. I wouldn't go to that extent, if I were you, because you are so early in the journey, but just to give you an idea of what it is I did. Your body prepares to burn more calories during this time. Its okay to give yourself a break, but not too big of a break.

I have really been struggling this month more than any other month. I think it's a combination of TOM and self-sabotage that comes with getting closer to my goal weight (messed up, I know and am trying to fix it). The point is, I hate the struggle...that desperate "hunger" to stuff myself with food at the end of the day. I just found something that is helping me though! Tonight, I did a workout dvd! It really eliminated my urges and compulsions. I don't know how long this will help, but it's worth a try! I should mention that I already did 30 minutes of intense cardio this morning, but this dvd (30 day shred) helped me release my tension without the assistance of food.

I guess I'm one of those women who feel more motivated to eat healthy during my TOM...Yes, I do get a few cravings, but sugar free pop tends to keep those at bay and making sure I get a multi with all of my mineral and vitamin requirements.

I have to be especially careful during PMS/TOM because I have absolutely insane hunger and cravings. I feel like a starved, rabid, caged animal. Birth control helps to some degree, bringing the craving down (slightly less starved, and no longer rabid).

I don't believe that I could have lost the weight without birth control. My hormonal TOM hunger is just too insane. All I can think about is food 24/7 (it even invades my dreams).

My two worst cravings during TOM are beef and chocolate (and both ideally very fatty). I do indulge my beef and chocolate cravings, but I've found low-calorie, low-fat ways to do it.

I follow an exchange plan, and I do give myself a few more protein and fat exchanges (about 250 calories), but I'm extra strict about carrying my food journal around with me during that time. I try to eat more vegetables. Lower-carb dieting helps me control hunger which is why I choose protein and fat as my extra exchanges and not fruit or starches. I do include fruit and starch exchanges in my diet, but they're more limited than protein, fat, and low-carb dairy. I don't really limit non-starchy vegetables (or to put it more accurately I have a limit of 10 servings, or 250 calories per day, so many that I rarely have to worry about exceeding).

I didn't this month! I had a bout of late night munchies last night, and was a little upset and confused. I was under my calories until I hit 10pm. Monday, I was short-tempered, and yesterday I was exhausted all day, and it was difficult to walk/jog. I started today.

I didn't think I had any "pre" symptoms (Maybe my family might have a different opinion on that). I usually get cramps, backaches, and nausea, but that usually starts about 3 hours after I do (like now) and lasts for an entire 24 hours. I will definitely be on the lookout for it from now on. Honestly, I guess I never paid that much attention to it, because I was always overeating anyway.

I try to just see it rationally, as in that I know why I crave more and why I'm hungrier (and more tired) than normal. Then I tend to ignore it. I personally am quite comfortable with being hungry, so that works for me.
I love hot drinks to take the edge off the hunger, like a nice cup of herbal tea

I've been very lucky, this is the first month ever( I'm 42), getting extra hungry during TOM. I got it 2 days ago & I am constantly feeling hunger pain, even after I eat and am full. An hour later I'm starving. I don't know what to do without going over my calories, I'm lost. A little something to eat doesn't help, it has to be alot to fill me up. I ate 2 yogurts w/ lunch today, instead of one. That seemed to help for a while. Now I know to plan for this, just in case it happens next month.

I avoid my TOM like the plauge haha well my contraceptive pill takes my TOM away so i dont get the physical effect but i do get milder mood swings and cravings.

Tho they are not as strong i do get days where i could eat a horse, if i feel indulgant i try to eat healty things like pickled onions , cockles , or i make myself chilli dip, to snack on

But if im having a raving mad day where i need chocolate then i just have it and move on lol

I am craving cold stone ice cream! I am thinking I will just go have a small size (cake batter) and hopefully that will take the craving away but other than the craving I am just pure hungry all day for the last 2 days! UGGHHHHH I did ignore it yesterday and had just my banana and went to bed. At this moment I am trying to think of what I can eat for dinner that will allow me to eat large quantities and take a while to eat...lol

I get absolutely famished right before TOM and the first day or two of it. I try to fill up with high protein, high fiber foods that are low calorie, like chicken breast on a high fiber tortilla with salsa. If I need chocolate, I try to skim back my other meals a little to make room for some chocolate. I almost always drop a pound or two during TOM. I never gain the water weight, oddly enough.

Ugh, I'm struggling with the same thing right now! How'd I deal tonight? I ate a nice serving of ice cream... And then a second. I'm leaning that I might be better not letting in during TOM except for a bit of chocolate as this is really the only time I crave that. Your post has very good timing, everyone has such good advice

I couldn't figure out why I was so hungry last week but I'm on Day 2 of TOM so it all makes sense now. I don't really handle it any differently. Just because I'm about to bleed doesn't mean I get to let myself go (any more than usual, heh). TOM happens every month, not once in a decade. But I also am blessed with extremely mild symptoms - very little pain, mood changes, etc.

I get mad mood swings and hunger but none of the pain most of the time. Maybe 2x per year I might get cramps but other than that nada which I am thankful for. Plus my TOM rarely last more than 2-3 days.... Its the intense starving sensation I get the few days before that is my killer!