Aunt Flo

[BalhamBeast]

We all have to go through the food cravings and bloating the week before the old hag shows up but I also get very lethargic and lose motivation during this time as well. Does anyone else experience this and if so, how do you deal with it?

[lovingit]

I do get very tired during TOM so I just go to bed earlier when I can. There are days when I want to just sleep all day - extra coffee helps.

As for cravings, I try to just eat small portions - such as one square of dark chocolate. It can be tough when I'm feeling ravenous.

[SuperMomx4]

Ack, yes. PMS this week and I morph into total f-it mode because I am so damn tired and moody and craving crap.

I try to find a balance between it all. Had four hard lifting days planned this week. Went in Tuesday and could barely move so I changed it up, did an abbreviated workout I could feel good about, didnt beat myself up. Yesterday I was ready to eat my first born rolled in chocolate syrup. I'm cutting and finally after a mental battle making my day miserable I just added a couple hundred calories of something I wanted, prepped today's food before bed and moved on.

I also go to bed earlier...just shut it down.

I find these weeks I also can emotionally benefit from a few short (like ten min) of LISS cardio. Something about just moving in a non exhausting way helps.

And gallons of coffee and sugar free monster.

[deagravelle]

Around that time of month I get extremely tired and also crave more things that I usually don't eat! I listen to my body most days! If I feel like I need more sleep I give myself more sleep and will push back my workout until the afternoon! Listen to your body but also stay focused on your goals! We all need a little down time sometimes!

[BEEvon]

Do you think this is because a women's BMR goes up right before her time of the month? Or is this a convenient myth I have chosen to believe?? Please break it to me gently......

[MadCatLady]

Aunt Irma ;-)

I get a day of hideous depression. I know why I have it I just can't seem to shake it. I often don't even get dressed or leVe the house. Horrible. Getting worse as well, I'm thinking it might be my age.

[BalhamBeast]

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

I don't get much in the way of mood swings, fortunately - occasionally I might feel a bit down but I don't get grumpy, just lethargic and unmotivated.

I made the post because I just started running after Christmas after an 18 month hiatus (due to a foot operation and achilles tendonosis) and steadily worked up my distance. I have a 10 mile race coming up on Sunday. I ran 9 miles twice and 10 miles once in the past month but last Sunday I could barely make 3 and also struggled with 3 again yesterday. I'm getting concerned I'll be OK on the day. I know my gym workouts suffer but it's easy enough to get around by doing a deload. Not so easy when it's a race I've entered.

[oregonchick76]

Around that time of month I get extremely tired and also crave more things that I usually don't eat! I listen to my body most days! If I feel like I need more sleep I give myself more sleep and will push back my workout until the afternoon! Listen to your body but also stay focused on your goals! We all need a little down time sometimes!

Do you really have to put an exclamation point at the end of every single sentence?

[oregonchick76]

Aunt Irma ;-)

I get a day of hideous depression. I know why I have it I just can't seem to shake it. I often don't even get dressed or leVe the house. Horrible. Getting worse as well, I'm thinking it might be my age.

I have that sometimes. I've heard that some women get 'premenstrual dysphoric disorder' and require meds. I tend to suffer from depression outside of TOM, and it just gets worse during. If it makes you non-functional for more than a day or two, I'd look into antidepressants.

[Simpy]

Do you really have to put an exclamation point at the end of every single sentence?

My TOM is so hit and miss that I honestly couldn't tell you. I do tend to get tired, but sometimes I bloat like mad and other times, not so much. I also am irregular in my desires for food. That all said, sometimes I find I'm tired, grumpy, and jonesing for chips and salsa and my period is nowhere in sight.


Conclusion = I'm the nightmare, not Flo. *sigh*

[lovingit]

Aunt Irma ;-)

I get a day of hideous depression. I know why I have it I just can't seem to shake it. I often don't even get dressed or leVe the house. Horrible. Getting worse as well, I'm thinking it might be my age.

Funny you mentioned this because my PMS gets worse every year. It's so bad that I actually googled it to see if it's normal when we age. (I'm 42)

[deagravelle]

Do you really have to put an exclamation point at the end of every single sentence?

Does it really bother you that much?

[oregonchick76]

Does it really bother you that much?

LOL. If an exclamation point's purpose is "to indicate strong feelings or high volume (shouting)", then you've been shouting constantly for 3 days... No, it doesn't really bother me, but your posts come off as very cheerleader-ish and I'm finding it hard to take you very seriously. Just my opinion.

[SuperMomx4]

Am I the only one laughing inside that there is arguing about exclamation points on a PMS thread? Seems appropriate.

[Romina81]

Am I the only one laughing inside that there is arguing about exclamation points on a PMS thread? Seems appropriate.

Lmao at this ....aunt flo is visiting at the moment yuck

The day before Tom I feel very tired/look like i didn't sleep and get many cravings hubby being one of them.

[gobbles23]

Hahah! I'm bad for exclamation points I just like them. Making a conscious effort to stop. lol!

I always track my periods so I know when the week before is coming. I always lack energy the week before, so instead of following my usual method of training, I leave out the super heavy sets (3-5 reps) so I don't get frustrated when I can't lift my usual weight and do higher reps (8-12) and super-set most exercises. I just try to up the intensity since I can't usually up or match my usual weight. And I know I'm only craving things because it's almost that time of the month, so I'll fit in whatever I want. I do that anyway though. I ignore the bloat.

hubby being one of them.

Haha! Me too! I'm super needy and always want to be loved more!!!!

[Hannah82]

We all have to go through the food cravings and bloating the week before the old hag shows up but I also get very lethargic and lose motivation during this time as well. Does anyone else experience this and if so, how do you deal with it?

Yes! I end up just going thru the motions since pushing myself doesnt work. I notice I am a little weaker so I just do what I can and work on some stretching. I practically crash after a workout during AF and nap if I can. I gain like 5lb of bloat its rediculus.

[MadCatLady]

I have that sometimes. I've heard that some women get 'premenstrual dysphoric disorder' and require meds. I tend to suffer from depression outside of TOM, and it just gets worse during. If it makes you non-functional for more than a day or two, I'd look into antidepressants.

I've been thinking I should see the doc. I tend to make very bad decisions whilst I'm in that mood, which worries me.

[MrsBru]

I used to have horrendous PMS and periods. I would, literally, not get out of bed for 3-4 days straight. When I was in school, I would stay home sick. Once I entered the professional world I would call in sick every single month. BC pills helped me, I know there is much debate about them and they affect every woman differently, but for me they worked...at least my latest pill has. I've been on Loesterin for the last 2 years. No more PMS and no more periods. Oh....and I guess no more calling in sick...

[inbetweendays]

Funny you mentioned this because my PMS gets worse every year. It's so bad that I actually googled it to see if it's normal when we age. (I'm 42)

Mine definitely got worse as I got older. I'm 47 and it's finally starting to taper off as I approach menopause - so there is hope.

[minthai]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I get moody (or moodIER), I eat more, I have less energy, and I even get constipated. It sucks. Last month I tried this tea for the first time, it's made by Triple Leaf Tea, it's called Sugar Balance & Women's Tonic Tea, and it helped alleviate my symptoms. I drank one cup each night beginning when I began feeling PMS and stopped drinking the tea once I got my period. It was about 4 cups of tea. I noticed a difference, especially with the constipation and appetite. I am just a little hesitant to drink more, because the ingredient in it simulates estrogen. I think I'll save it for when the symptoms are very bad.

[Kelaina]

Do you really have to put an exclamation point at the end of every single sentence?

Oh thank God. I thought it was just me.

[Miranda]

Do you think this is because a women's BMR goes up right before her time of the month?

increased progresterone and higher body temperature in the luteal phase increase energy expenditure.

a bigger output doesn't necessarily cause madwoman cravings, though

[BEEvon]

increased progresterone and higher body temperature in the luteal phase increase energy expenditure.

a bigger output doesn't necessarily cause madwoman cravings, though

Damn.

[Miranda]

Damn.

well it depends. increased hunger in the above context makes sense. if you feel that you 'need to eat more' then eat a bit more.

monstrous cravings might be caused by something else, although an increase in energy needs certainly can aggravate them.

[GrBe]

Hahah! I'm bad for exclamation points I just like them. Making a conscious effort to stop. lol!

I always track my periods so I know when the week before is coming. I always lack energy the week before, so instead of following my usual method of training, I leave out the super heavy sets (3-5 reps) so I don't get frustrated when I can't lift my usual weight and do higher reps (8-12) and super-set most exercises. I just try to up the intensity since I can't usually up or match my usual weight. And I know I'm only craving things because it's almost that time of the month, so I'll fit in whatever I want. I do that anyway though. I ignore the bloat.



Haha! Me too! I'm super needy and always want to be loved more!!!!

Diddo! I am pretty needy the week prior and take offense to minor issues that generally do not bother me (my man is a saint for putting up with me as well as he does!). Running and stretching always make me feel better but trying to keep a good pace when I feel like a bloated cow is not the most motivating factor.. the only other consistent symptoms I experience are chocolate cravings like a crazy person and cramp up terribly the day prior to Auntie Flo's visit. No bueno, but on the plus side of things, at least I know when it's coming!