TOM and veering off plan
 

As usual, I am interested in other's opinions on various subjects. This subject is -

Do you think TOM is a "valid" reason to give into "cravings" and/or binge and go off plan?


For me, it is not. If I stray because of TOM then, for me, I am not sure I could hop back on track so for me, I stay on plan almost 99.99% of the time.


Opinions? Thoughts? Share :)

I think it's valid to adjust one's eating to one's body's needs. But I don't think that *ever* has to mean binging.

For me, no. If I give into my TOM cravings then they wont just be TOM cravings but all the time cravings until I could get past them again like I did at the very beginning of my weight loss.

I need a lot of self-discipline to stay on plan and giving in to excuses, even just a little can snowball really fast for me.

Same here, MewoMix. If I give in, it can quickly turn to a full out binge type situation and I just refuse to let it happen.

I am always so sick and miserable during the first few days of mine that I am physically incapable of my normal cooking/eating/exercising habits. And very weird things happen to my appetite, so I end up sometimes eating very little, but not always healthy choices, but I need anything I can keep down so that I can take painkillers. Sometimes it's three bowls of Total, sometimes it's three pieces of pizza.

I don't allow myself carte blanche, but I have decided to not torture myself over what happens for those couple of days, and just focus on returning to business as usual once I recover. It's a priority thing for me - if all **** is breaking loose in my body, hating myself after the fact does nothing but bring my spirits down. Better to focus on doing the right thing going forward.

Okay, I for one gave into some cravings during TOM (We are human). However, I am going to plan my course of action so it doesn't happen next month.

I never implied anyone wasn't human or that is necessarily a bad thing if someone does give into cravings. I only posted the question for others thoughts on it. Nothing more, nothing less.

I think it is definitely not a good reason to veer off a plan. I guess if someone does, hopefully they have the strength to continue like I will do :)

I eat pretty much the same although there is usually one day where I want chocolate or ice cream very badly, so I might have one of those mini chocolate bars or a scoop of ice cream to settle my craving.

Plus I don't know if it's really wrong to eat more if your body needs it. Eating more iron rich foods is probably a good idea for every woman during TOM.

Again, I never said anything was really bad or wrong if someone does eat something extra or give into a craving, etc.

It's definitely a sore temptation to "justify" just letting yourself go, and I think it's really awesome to maintain plan steadfastly...all I'm saying is, at the same time, you're also facing challenges that you don't ordinarily have to factor in to your healthy lifestyle efforts, so don't give yourself too hard a time if you can't do as well in those circumstances. Don't berate the past; embrace the future! :)

I've always wondered . . do our bodies 'need' more during that time? Are they burning more calories? Is that part of the cravings? Or is it just hormones?

This is something I've always wondered. Anyone know?

I wasn't specifying what you said Onderchic, I was just saying it because I lot of ladies seem to believe that it's wrong themselves. Since we are all trying to eat well and keep ourselves under control if we fall of the boat for a day we might feel a lot of guilt, I know I have.
So I just meant it's not wrong to eat more if they feel that their body needs it. Plus bodies probably don't reeeeeally need junk food, they want something else. Like when I crave chocolate or ice cream maybe what I really want is dairy... I dunno, just a thought!

@MeowMix - that would make sense to me, as the cravings are sometimes so odd! The PMS-phase cravings are more the traditional "mood/blues" cravings of chocolate, etc., but sometimes when you're actually on Aunt Flo, you find yourself eating the strangest things!

Also, I've always noticed that I desperately crave red meat and big salads, which I always theorized as my body trying to get more iron. Who knows the science behind it all, though!

your metabolism actually has a slight boost in the few days before your period. it compensates for the slight overeating. i usually give in to a degree, if i want chocolate, i have a few hershey kisses. i think as long as you dont go nuts, its fine.

I tend to be low on iron anyway, and I make a point of eating more red meat, and larger servings, at that time. And yes, that's a craving. Probably the only one I really give in to, but I can justify it!

No, haven't gone off plan during my period. I don't knowingly go out of my caloric range. I have skipped a few workouts because of cramps, though.

My problem is PMS cravings. They're quite severe. I honestly feel food insanity during this time and have control difficulties. I always thought I was crazy and didn't make the connection until I realized I felt this way before unexpected periods too (had 2 in August what fun!). Once everything starts I am fine (literally the first day) and have no interest in bad food. I am starting to take fish oil and maybe evening primrose oil and magnesium to see if this helps.

I give in to my cravings but not because I want to... but because it's uncontrollable for me. I've only been on this new lifestyle for 3 months so I haven't learned my patterns yet but it would seem that the week before tom is full of awful cravings. And I don't exercise the first day because of severe cramps and bloating. I'm just waiting it out and hoping the cravings go away when it does.

what a timely question! (its that time...)

ive been really emotional the past two days. super stressful days at work, messy kitchen (too much time at work), exhausted, crabby, sorry-for-myself feelings weepy at silly things...

i decided to order delivery- dont feel like cooking, dont feel like cleaning- was going to order a pizza (ive been so good, one time won't hurt- ive been working so hard, i deserve it)

i ordered a special salad with romaine, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella and grilled chicken, dressing on the side. (its a really good delivery place!)

i realized that eating a pizza would just make me feel crappier. and even if i only ate 2 (or 3) slices, i don't want the rest around.

so while the BEST option would be just to make my own food, im giving in to indulgence, but keeping it responsible.

oh, my acupuncturist always advised me to eat red meat during my period. (i usually get iron from collards and kale, etc, which i eat often)

i make bad choices when i'm exhausted. sometimes TOM just leaves you exhausted, no matter what. so i'm trying to find Better Choices to fall back on. i think i succeeded tonight. (except for the wine i'm drinking! i have mostly quit that- but tonight, its another indulence...)

I have no problems eating only 1200 calories a day from beginning of TOM until ovulation. The 2 weeks after ovulation I need about 1400 a day to be happy. The day before TOM begins I usually eat at maintenance because I am starving. I just listen to my body. Trying to go against it's wishes is usually futile for me and just leads to binges.