PMT chocolate cravings

[Candyfloss]

Does anyone else suffer badly from this?

I get very enticed by chocolate a few days before I'm due...

It driving me crazy, I'm trying to diet and this week I haven't lost anything due to endulging slighty, now I'm totally bloated and have a face full of spots to show for it

Any ideas how to keep myself under control during this time?

[terracotta]

Get some dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa content. You should not need as much to satisfy the cravings.

[Candyfloss]

That sounds like a plan, I never thought of that, good idea thanks

[bebeklein]

Yea, I won't plow through dark chocolate like I will milk chocolate.

You can also melt the chocolate & dip strawberries in it. (you can add stevia to sweeten it too)

[Candyfloss]

Thanks...

That's sounds really yummy, all I need now is some hot guy to share them with and it would be perfect LOL

[Scarl3tbutt3rfly]

I buy dark chocolate powder and start adding it to everything when I get like that. It really helps curb my cravings for chocolate. You dont have to add much, so not as much calories as using regular chocolate either.

[BostonBoy22]

Originally Posted by Candyfloss

Thanks...

That's sounds really yummy, all I need now is some hot guy to share them with and it would be perfect LOL

I like strawberries

[jaycee1]

This is a recipe a friend of mine gave me, I have yet to make it on my own but when she made it, it was delicious. Very Rich. I can't eat a whole serving, but it is great for those chocolate cravings.

Low Fat Dark Chocolate Mousse With Raspberry Sauce

1 (3.5-ounce) bars premium dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/8 cup sugar or splenda
1 tablespoon margarine
1/4 cup egg substitute
1/8 cup fat-free milk
3/4 cups fat-free nondairy whipped topping
Low fat/Sugar free Raspberry Sauce (optional)
Garnishes: fresh raspberries, dark chocolate shavings
Preparation

Cook first 3 ingredients in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts.

Whisk together egg substitute and milk. Gradually whisk about 1/2 of chocolate mixture into egg mixture; add to remaining chocolate mixture, stirring constantly. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, 5 to 8 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; transfer to a small, nonmetallic bowl, and let stand 45 minutes.

Fold whipped topping gently into cooled chocolate mixture until blended.

Note: Nutritional analysis includes 2 tablespoons sauce per serving.

Makes 4 servings

Calories:126
Fat: 5.9g

[xoloveinautumn]

dark chocolate + oatmeal is really good
I would eat that almost everymorning and was losing a good amount of weight
since it's a monounsaturated fat it also helps keep you full for longer

[brittafoster]

I make protien pudding. You get the instant pudding individuals, and add about a 1/2 scoop of protien, and ff milk. Oh this is soooo good. I usually add caesin powder, and eat this at night. I always crave sweets at night.

[bebeklein]

Originally Posted by jaycee1

This is a recipe a friend of mine gave me, I have yet to make it on my own but when she made it, it was delicious. Very Rich. I can't eat a whole serving, but it is great for those chocolate cravings.

Low Fat Dark Chocolate Mousse With Raspberry Sauce

1 (3.5-ounce) bars premium dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/8 cup sugar or splenda
1 tablespoon margarine
1/4 cup egg substitute
1/8 cup fat-free milk
3/4 cups fat-free nondairy whipped topping
Low fat/Sugar free Raspberry Sauce (optional)
Garnishes: fresh raspberries, dark chocolate shavings
Preparation

Cook first 3 ingredients in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts.

Whisk together egg substitute and milk. Gradually whisk about 1/2 of chocolate mixture into egg mixture; add to remaining chocolate mixture, stirring constantly. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, 5 to 8 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; transfer to a small, nonmetallic bowl, and let stand 45 minutes.

Fold whipped topping gently into cooled chocolate mixture until blended.

Note: Nutritional analysis includes 2 tablespoons sauce per serving.

Makes 4 servings

Calories:126
Fat: 5.9g

OMG chocolate mousse is like heaven for me...I'll have to try this...I wonder if I could make it w/Stevia....I've never cooked with it before.

All 4 of those servings would be gone in one sitting tho

[TheRockShow182]

Food cravings/additions are usually a sign that we are not getting a balanced diet full of the correct vitamins and minerals.

Chocolate cravings and additions have been linked in many studies to a lack in essential vitamins, especially that of Magnesium.

Check out this article

[Candyfloss]

That's an interesting article, I also suffer from anxiety problems such as disturbed sleeping etc as well as bad PMT, possible it could be linked to a magnesium, can heavy cardio deplete you of vits and minerals?

[TheRockShow182]

Originally Posted by Candyfloss

That's an interesting article, I also suffer from anxiety problems such as disturbed sleeping etc as well as bad PMT, possible it could be linked to a magnesium, can heavy cardio deplete you of vits and minerals?

That's a good question. I'm not sure but I would definitely make sure you are getting the right amounts of the essential vitamins and minerals. Most anxiety problems, depression, and other seemingly neurological diseases are very often diet related. I would recommend taking a B-Complex if you don't already do so and perhaps looking into your essential vitamins and minerals and making sure you are both consuming enough and also absorbing them. Many times people think they are getting the correct amount when in fact their methods of taking the supplements or the sources of them are not conducive to proper absorption.

I've recently just gotten off of anti-depressants which completely messed up my entire adrenal system so I am taking a series of supplements (vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids etc.) to help my get my system up and running correctly. In conjunction with this I am seeing a naturopathic doctor who did a full spectrum blood panel on me and I would recommend this to anyone, including yourself, who believes they may be suffering from a deficiency of some sort.

My doctor performs the SpectraCell test which from my, very basic, understanding is unique because they use a larger needle in order to facilitate a proper blood withdrawal which does not run the risk of damaging the white blood cells. This allows for a better overall analysis of the patients blood.


For more on nutritional deficiencies check these videos out!

Part 1

Part 2

[TheRockShow182]

Oh and I also wanted to add that consuming large amounts of chocolate, carbs and even peanut butter can be linked to a serotonin deficiency which is often also related to adrenal fatigue. If you are working out very hard and very often you could be suffering from over-exertion and not even realize it.

Make sure to check this is not the case, as adrenal fatigue is the cause of so many undiagnosed illnesses. A good resource for more information is Jame's Wilson's book, Adrenal Fatigue and his website here.

[Emoore]

Put in the blender:

1c skim milk
2 Tbsp fat-free, sugar-free choclate pudding mix
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1c cottage cheese

Blend until smooth, then refrigerate until it has a pudding-type texture.

Makes a tasty chocolate protein snack. If you divide it into 4 servings, they're about 150calories per.

[CharliC]

I'd definitely second the dark chocolate idea (Lindt 85% is heaven). Also, diet hot chocolate does the trick for me. If I don't drink it, I'll mix a couple of teaspoons in with some CC.

[freebirdmac]

I get those cravings too as does my daughter. I always eat a few pieces of 73-percent dark chocolate anyway. So I just have to stop myself from eating more.

The bad thing is during perimenopause and menopause, PMS symptoms can go on for weeks. Even months! It's crazy!

[bebeklein]

Originally Posted by Scarl3tbutt3rfly

I buy dark chocolate powder and start adding it to everything when I get like that. It really helps curb my cravings for chocolate. You dont have to add much, so not as much calories as using regular chocolate either.

I bought Cacao powder this weekend and tonight I added it to some cottage cheese with a little stevia and it hit the spot and only 10 cals for the cacao. Great idea!

[jsmircich]

Originally Posted by brittafoster

I make protien pudding. You get the instant pudding individuals, and add about a 1/2 scoop of protien, and ff milk. Oh this is soooo good. I usually add caesin powder, and eat this at night. I always crave sweets at night.

I do this as well (and occassionally add ff whipped topping)

[cvBaby]

hehe with all of these pms threads it seems the female section is on the same cycle! llol