AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

[buhbye12]

Help! What do you gals do when your TOM comes around? I am at the point where I am actively seeking out anything wretchedly sinful to cram down my throat! It's almost all mental, because I am NOT this hungry! It's like there's some demon ME lurking right beneath my conscious will to WIN THIS WAR that does not want me to win it.

I started induction 2 weeks ago today, and this morning I weighed (after Thanksgiving cheating and subsequent badness) the same as what I did on day one. Actually I was relieved when I got on the scale and saw that I didn't weigh MORE than when I started.

I asked a pharmacist for some help in this monthly battle and she suggested this stuff called 5-HTP (l-5-Hydroxytryptophan) made by "Nature's Way". I have to admit, I think it is doing the trick... normally I would want to start wolfing chocolate 2 whole weeks before I get my P. and really, this overwhelming desire has just overtaken me in the last 24 hours (I am due for my P. in 3 days)... so maybe it is taking the edge off and it's only the hardcore days that I really have to work on being vigilant with my willpower.

So, anyone else dealing with this? What are your tricks?

Christie (Milky Way Piggy)
167/167/130

[spirittalker]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

Water and exercise and something fatty. Personally i struggle with PMS and huge cravings but i cannot honestly say anything helps met get through it other than consciously realizing that it's PMS induced and it shall pass.

[blue996]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

I think it is important to recognize the symptoms and have a plan. I always get really grumpy when TOM is coming and have learnt to not take it out on other people. I don't have an issue with binge eating or craving carbs but I do tend to eat more fat and exercise more which I am sure helps.

[Chicklady]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

Lovely hormone swings presumably lower seratonin levels, which carbs increase. *shrugging* read that somewhere. Same reason carbs tend to be peoples comfort food.

[Hoping]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

I drink lots of water and try to keep busy. It gets better with time.

[TitianWasp]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

When I am PMS'ing, I want alternately salty then sweet.

What I did was have a bunch of sugar free jellos and things of pork rinds around, and munch off of them. I ended up eating more than I wanted, but I didn't leave ketosis and I managed to get through the days without cheating. Nuts, jellos and pork rinds.

[buhbye12]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

Thanks girls! Hoping - you say it gets better with time - I'm 35 and it's been a struggle since I was 15... in fact I seriously believe that is why I have been 30 lbs overweight almost my whole adult life. And I swear it seems like it got worse after having my daughter a year ago. Frightening mood swings and ferocious cravings.

But truly, that 5-HTP stuff really seems to be helping somewhat. You are supposed to start with one and work your way up to as many as 3 or 4 a day, and since they nauseate me, I haven't gone past 1. Maybe it's time to up the dosage. And hey! The nausea might help me out too! Who wants to eat when they are feeling green?


Keep up the good work, y'all!

[Hoping]

Re: AK! PMS-induced carb frenzy!!

lol...well, yeah, PMS doesn't ever go away~unfortunately! What I meant was that when I started atkins I had a very hard time coping with the cravings, but as time has progressed I feel more in control. I get cravings, but I know that I'm on a plan so I find an alternative to whatever unhealthy food I'm craving. So in that sense it's gotten better with time.
You have nausea? That's strange....are you eating enough?