Hi Ladies,
I need advice regarding the carb cravings I get from PMS. They are driving me NUTS!! I've blown the diet Mon, Tues and Wed of this week. I feel doomed!

I have basicly two good weeks of the month to lose weight. I lost 2.8lbs as of Monday and want to keep it going.

What do you do to keep losing weight while yet having these insane cravings.

My calorie count at the moment is 1200-1299. Maybe raising it into 1300's would help.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I really wish I had something to offer but I have the same problem. Last month I ate an entire loaf of bread in one day while I was PMSing (granted, Japanese loaves are half the size of American ones. But still!).

I hate to blow my diet when I am PMSing b/c I know next will come the water retention and I won't lose for he next week.

When I have a craving I drink 16 oz of crystal light. IT fills my belly and gives me a flavor and more liquids.

If you really need the carbs my trainer just told me to have whole wheat and NOT pasta and if I am eating the carbs I should reduce my fat intake.

Same. This week I've done nothing but binged on carbs.

My only suggestions would be to drink water/tea until you feel physically ill, but that's not really good for you either...

I don't have much advice either...seems were all in teh same boat, and there's a lot of us, so perhaps a boat that seats more people...

As someone said, carbs seem to be the PMS food of craving! Then here comes the water weight from teh carbs and from general PMS and gees the scale doesnt start moving down for like over a week!! You're right, there's only like 2 good weeks of weightloss a month!

I binged last Friday on carbs and the scale is still harassing me. I finally got my period today. Sheesh...
I'm thinking of getting a lock box for all the carbs next month and giving my husband the key. My only stradegy is to brush my teeth, like super brush like 3 times, lots of toothpaste, mouthwash (the kind that really burns) and keep my breath minty. I'm less likely to eat with fresh minty breath.

Sorry that's all I've got.

I make some sweet tea with splenda. It gives me that sweet taste I'm looking for without any calories. I drink it cold during the day and warm at night, seems to fill my tummy up long enough to fall asleep.

On the train ride to work the other day, I used the time to think of a way to deal with these carb cravings because controling them is essential to losing the weight once and for all and keeping it off. I came up with a plan!

I increased my calorie range to 1200's-1400's and I started adding in rice cakes and dry Cheerios. I've been eating more carbs, but staying in the calorie range. It's been working! I no longer feel like an adict withdrawing and when I got on the scale Wed morning it said I gained back everything I had lost this year (2.8lbs). Well happy to report that as of this morning I am down 2lbs! This may actually work!!!

So for this TOM my calories can stay the same, just the composition of those calories changes!

I, too, have the horrid horrid pms crave monster. Not only do I crave carbs but I feel more hungry as well. Before I eat more I always drink 32 oz of water then wait. If I still feel hungry I break up my meals into smaller meals so I am eating 5-6 meals a day, with those meals i will split one serving of veggie straws (38 straws = 130 calories) and munch on some of those. They help tame the carb beast. I also eat lots of baby carrots, chewing them makes my mouth tired. I also try and increase the amount of exercise I do do for that week.

It is awful isn't it?

I eat a lot of squashes and beans when I'm PMSing. It seems to help. I also use the Quaker Rice Snacks and Fiber One bars.

WillsAngel - I LOVE Veggie straws, but I can't have them, I can't stop at 38. I will eat the whole bag. I told hubby I am thinking of getting some and having him hide them and then he can get me only 38 of them at a time when I ask for them and he can tell me no if I ask more than once a day.