Okay 1st TOM since I started my journey and it is a HUGE problem. I got up and wanted to eat so much random stuff. And then of course about an hour later cramps from h-e-double hockey stick decided to show up.

So how do you deal with awful cravings at your TOM? Do you stay strong and not indulge, indulge a little, see if lettuce shuts it up, or does it end up getting the best of you?

Hot tea. Especially peppermint tea for some reason. Really soothing and will kill most cravings. Or I have a little dark chocolate. Mm.

I also get extreme cravings... usually about 2-3 days before it begins. Then, during TOM I almost can't eat. I feel sick and my digestion is all off kilter.

Anyway, I sort of do a combination of all of the items you wrote. If I have an awful craving, I know I'll just burst in to tears if I don't have something, so I usually indulge (within reason). Tom is generally really pretty medically and physically awful for me. So the few days leading up to it, I just essentially allow myself more calories. It's almost like a treat. I then spend the week maintaining. Essentially, I eat like a bird, only if I have to, but I gain tons of water weight. This is my first as well since I started dieting, and sure enough I blew up like a balloon. I know it's not fat, it's water.

I also try to eat really filling foods, so that I have to eat less, even if I am allowing myself more calories in those pre-tom days.

It's all about whatever works for you. I can't deny myself something a little fattier or a little higher in calories right before because I'm constantly hungry. I just work on not eating everything in sight. Even if I did, one day likely wouldn't ruin a whole diet.

I suck on sugar free mints or drink some iced tea (decaf) sweetened with splenda or the like. Helps me!

I am currently pre-TOM...I can tell by the cravings. I am doing a little indulging and a little refraining...

I want red velvet cake...I'll get a sugar free fat free pudding cup.
I want a thick crust delivery pizza...I'll get a single serving frozen pizza from the grocery store.

I am trying to find alternatives to satiate my desires, while not making me, and everyone around me, crazy.

I usually get cravings the week before TOM, but they magically disappear during TOM.

However, what I do is: drink TONS of water, try to distract myself by doing activities that are located far from the kitchen/food, and indulge a little. If I don't indulge at all, I tend to go crazy and overeat. A little indulgence is good

I get more cravings pre-TOM then during. If I have a bad craving, I'll indulge a little. Like maybe have one item with cheese, for example. Because I count calories, I make sure it fits into my plan. But I resist as hard as I can, that said. I don't give in easy.

I'm like a few others. My worst symptoms are during my PRE-menstrual week, not during. I always start craving sweet and salty items (together), which used to be solved with a large McDonald's sweet tea, french fries, and a 10 piece nugget. Of course, I'm not going to blow a day's worth of calories on McD's, so I solve the problem by "overindulging" in the good stuff. Last month, this meant treating myself with a larger-than-normal salad. I know it sounds crazy, but knowing that I was indulging, even if healthily, kept me from running out to the nearest fast food chain. If I get a chocolate craving, I grab a 60-calorie chocolate pudding cup from the fridge.

I'm terrified of weighing in tomorrow, as it will be my first pre-TOM weigh-in, and I can already tell I'm bloating up. I hope I've done well enough this week to off-set the water gain and will see a big whoosh next Friday after TOM is over. :-/

I struggle with this too! Since I count calories, I'll let myself have a little of whatever it is I'm really craving. Like others have said I try to find a healthy alternative. I generally don't go for processed foods but the weight watchers desserts are a delicious way to satisfy a sweet tooth craving, and I love the blue diamond sea salted almonds for a salty treat!