Girls, do you eat more or less when you're on your period?

[Queen_naki5]

Whenever I'm on my period I eat like a pig. I can't even help myself. I ate a Big Mac for the first time in years. I also had a big breakfast this morning and I'm on my 2nd day :-( This is very common for me. I eat more when I'm on it than when I'm off of it. Is this normal? Is it common for you to eat more or less while on your menstrual?

[redeyemindtricks]

Lol, my periods are most-awesome-pony times of cleared-up skin, focused thinking, decreased appetite, and general tranquility.

I had REALLY bad cramping with my periods from age 14 until my mid 20's. It was actually worse than labor (not exaggerating -- I've delivered 3 babies natural, all >9 lbs, and... not even close). Same kind of rhythmic contractions, and everything.

If any of y'all suffer from this, know that it WILL get better by yr mid to late 20's, and it will go away permanently the first time you get pregs. After that, yr period will probably be a wonderful experience like what I've described above.

Actually the only time of the month when it's EASY to diet, for me.
Yep.

[Queen_naki5]

Wow!! That's rough. That's great that it went away though. Strong woman you are. Good luck.

[redeyemindtricks]

Oh, also, you'll be greatly amused to know the kinds of foods I craved. See, I'm weird, and I always liked the kinds of foods that are supposed to be "acquired tastes". Garlic, green olives, artichokes, the works. (When I turned 6 years old, my daddy said I could have a pizza with 6 toppings from the local joint. I chose green olives, green olives, green olives, green olives, green olives, and green olives.) So, when I got pregnant, I THOUGHT I was gna be all normal, and start craving sweets, and shit. Nope. Instead, it was like I WANT THAT WHOLE COSTCO JAR OF MARINATED ARTICHOKES, NOOWWWWWWW.

[Queen_naki5]

Oh oh goodness. That's an acquired taste for real. I actually tried artichokes for the first time a few years ago and really loved it. I cooked it with spinach and added some cheese to it and loved it lol.

[redeyemindtricks]

Aw yr making me so hungry not fair. LOL I've actually never "acquired" a taste in my life. See, that's actually my point. I like exactly the same foods now that I did when I was my kids' age. Literally, exactly the same goods. My palate is completely frozen in time.

[Punkin45]

Actually, mine did not get much better after I had a child. I am actually cramping today. I woke up in the middle of the night it hurts so bad. So it might get better but it might not. However, it is totally true that menstrual cramps are like early labor. When I was in labor with my son for the first 12 hours at home, it just felt like a period, including the shakiness and stomach upset. I was like, "Shit, I've been in LABOR every MONTH!"

[redeyemindtricks]

@Punkin45 Do you have the kind of cramps that start during the pre-menstruum? Like, heavy dragging cramps that start up to a week before, and just get WORSE when the period itself comes?

[Punkin45]

Yup. Sometimes I think I have a stomach virus and then I'm like, oh, no its just cramps. I also tend to get diarrhea that accompanies it. My sister used to get so sick every month she would throw up.

[redeyemindtricks]

@Punkin45 Yeah ok. That's classic signs of "congestive PMS dysmenorrhea". Basically, you got the most rotten shit-end possible, of this deal. Mine was a different thing ("spasmodic dysmenorrhea"), caused by different hormones. You probably know this stuff already, but, just in case you don't -- You should feel a lot better if you eat starchy foods every 2 to 3 hours during the cramping. If it's REALLY bad, then, going on progesterone (depo-provera for instance) should help it a lot... although you wouldn't want to stay on that for more than a year or two at a time, for bone density-related reasons. Random q of the day, but, do you have darker nipples than most women you know? Like more brownish? That seems to be a thing, in women I've known with similar PMS cramping issues.

[Punkin45]

Nope, I'm extremely fair and got little pink nipples. Lol. I've tried going on the pill before and it totally screws with my mind so I don't do that. I also would much rather deal with my periods then increased cancer risks and blood clots problems some of my friends have had to deal with. When she get a clock, & I only have to go off the pill but then you have to take blood thinners which makes you bleed like crazy. In general, I find that the OB GYNs around here are jerks. They don't listen, they just try to push you to do what they want you to do. The act like I'm some kind of weirdo because I don't want to be on the pill.

[Punkin45]

Omg that was a funny auto-correct. "Once you get a clot..."

[Punkin45]

However, that does explain my craving for carbs during my period. I have been eating snowflake rolls, the worst kind of bleached flour, nuttritionless carbohydrate you can have, but its what I want when I'm cramping. Helps settle my stomach, too.

[redeyemindtricks]

@Punkin45 Yeah, you gotta make yr own choices there. I mean, you've dealt with it for all these years, right? I knew I'd picked the right boy, when he told me even liked THAT part of me. The crazy-shit-every-month part of me. He liked it, he said, because it made me just that much more of a woman. <3 If you've got the right people around you, yeah, it should be all right. But, still, some instant rice should be yr friend. This is not the time for a low carb diet.

[redeyemindtricks]

@Punkin45 Yep. All the starches of the world, every 2-3 hours. You shouldn't need huge portions. I read the whole mechanism once, but of course I forgot all that. LOL

[Punkin45]

Thanks! And it sounds like you have a good guy.

[redeyemindtricks]

Tx for the MH luv. <3

[Sweetart2]

Yup, my whole life. I kid you not, I got it Wednesday and I was fantasizing about a Big Mac and fries!!!

I decided to have a nonfat latte and a brownie instead, because my chocolate craving was stronger than me fast food craving. Plus I figured it's less calories.

[Queen_naki5]

Lol you're like the 3rd one to say that. I want a brownie now lol.

[Sweetart2]

Hahaha

[EmpatheticLady]

Oh, dear lord. I eat so much right before my period is about to start and the first couple of days during it. >_>

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[Queen_naki5]

Hahahaha I love it!

[EmpatheticLady]

Haha. Yeah, it's not far from the truth.

[Victorianna]

I eat less because i get very painful period cramp, severe headaches and i feel nauseous. So i can't be bothered to eat. I am on my period now and i have only had one small meal today because i feel too sick to eat anything.

[MeghanL]

Have you been to the gynecologist about it?

[Victorianna]

@MeghanL Yes but they didn't seem very helpful :(

[MeghanL]

Maybe you need a second opinion.

[Victorianna]

@MeghanL I am going back again to another Doctor though :) Thank you!

[MeghanL]

Glad to hear that. Good luck & take care!

[samhradh_leannan]

I tend to eat a bit less, because my cramps and other symptoms sometimes mask my feelings of hunger. However, I do crave chocolate and sweets more often. Somehow both of those things happen at the same time.

[TheINTJ]

I think just the same, but a week before I crave a lot of junk food. :/

[Ghosted]

MOAR. especially before it happens. when it happens i may feel too sick or bloated to eat initially.

[SolitaireBond]

I can't honestly say that my eating habits change that much during my TOTM.

[BiscuitesSwag]

I use that time at the best and eat whatever I want, whenever I want. 💁
It's the only time of the month when I can eat anything without gaining weight. 💪

[Queen_naki5]

Lol that's how I feel

[existing_not_living]

Less. I haver terrible cramps which cause me to lose my appetite.

[justbanANNAz]

i eat less.

[AzureGirl]

I eat more, especially if it happens to be sweets.

[Queen_naki5]

OMG yes! I always want ice cream lol

[AzureGirl]

For me it's always brownies lol

[Possible_Mate]

right before my period i eat a ton but as soon as my period hits i can barely eat without throwing up for at least the first day; and i eat much lighter throughout.

[MeghanL]

I'm about the same. Sometimes I have an increased craving for sweets.

[Queen_naki5]

Yeah a lot of ladies are saying that haha

[MeghanL]

So I'm in good company!

[fauchelevent]

I eat a hell of a lot more. I always want ice cream and chocolate.

[Queen_naki5]

Yeah me too lol.

[shortandsweet24]

Less. My stomach tends to bother me, so I end up not being very hungry.

[Queen_naki5]

Oh that's awful. Drinking a lot of water can help. Ever considered eating bananas?

[shortandsweet24]

Actually, I have a sensitive stomach due to a digestive condition, that I've had since I was a kid. Potassium tends to throw off the equilibrium so, I generally just stick with Activia and water. Thank you though! 😁

[Queen_naki5]

Ohhh okay I see. That's good, you know your body well :-)

[shortandsweet24]

Thank you. I agree! 😁

[CœurRosé]

I have terrible cramps that also make me nauseous so I don't eat a lot when I'm on my period :(

[Queen_naki5]

Aww I'm sorry to hear that Hun 😞

[quinoaflakes]

Less. I just don't get hungry.

[Queen_naki5]

Lucky! Lol

[ashisimo]

eat less, i eat more beforehand

[CHARismatic110]

Less when it's actually on. More the week before.

[Queen_naki5]

Yeah that seems to be the norm I notice lol.

[BelleGirl21]

I eat tons before my period and then practically starve myself on my period. Today is my first day and it's sucking this month 😭

[poppunk]

I eat about the same and my moods are about the same too, it's the day before that's the problem. I guess i'm lucky that way. I feel like that's probably normal though.

[rgb008]

I eat more.

[Anonymous]

Oh my God, I eat like a ravenous pig. I think it's all that blood loss, my body feels like I need to replenish the nutrients or something. I also get like that before my period. I tend to become emotional and start emotionally eating.

[Queen_naki5]

Hahaha I eat like a savage on my period.