The Fat Loss TroubleshootThis is your place to troubleshoot your fat loss problems from nutrition to training. This section is led by Leigh Peele, author of "The Fat Loss Troubleshoot," the ultimate fat loss manual. If your results have slowed or stalled this is the place to come for advice for all your fat loss needs.
Sometimes during the TOM, esp the first and second day when Auntie flow is heaviest, I notice I am VERY hungry. Is this psychological or physiological? Is there some way to remedy it without ruining the fat loss efforts? On first hand, I wonder if we are burning more calories and may can afford an extra 100 or 200 cals to our diet. Perhaps its also a time, for those carb cycling, to reserve the higher carb days during this time?
I know sometimes it's a matter of nutrient deficiency in women, like magnesium or iron, and that's part of the reasons for the extra hunger and specific cravings (chocolate, for instance). I'm sure there's other factors, but I think in general it's prolly a lot of nutrient balance and hormonal crap. Maybe emotional because of the hormonal crap, esp if you're an emotional eater? (I donno, never an issue for me.)
I find sometimes that simply having a treat, like something chocolate, and maybe just a bit over cals (I'm bloated anyway) helps a lot. That and some green tea. But, I don't have many issues anymore, it's gotten better over the years since I've adjusted to my new cycle (on seasonale) and so I hardly notice anymore, other than the slight uptick in weight beforehand.
I am the same way. I have read that we do burn more calories during TOM so some of that hunger could just be our bodies needing more. Also, it causes us to be more fatigued and I know personally when I am tired I feel hungrier in general.
I also think that the reproductive hormonal changes that take place during TOM must also impact the other hormones that affect appetite, satiety, etc.
I have found that if I eat a bit more of clean, healthy food during that time I am not as hungry and don't have crazy carb and sugar cravings like I used to get.
I read that the hormone swings during that time make us more insulin sensitive so we can have lower blood sugar even right after eating, and feel hungry. I have been drinking a tea by Triple Leaf called Sugar Balance. It has been helping. It might just be the placebo effect, but I've had less intense carb cravings with the tea. There are lots of Triple Leaf teas in the supermarket, but they don't always have Sugar Balance. I ordered mine on line directly from Triple Leaf.
Of course I had to speak up here as I'm the queen of charting analysis vs food intake.
If anything, I'll be less hungry when TOM is around (not you stingo ). But very rarely, I'm finding myself quite hungry.
Nearly invariably appetite is incurable when body temp is at its' highest.
Normally body temp will drop down right before TOM but sometimes it stays higher.. it's when it stays on the high side, I'll still be hungry. This must be from progesterone lingering in the system.
Vice versa, as I'm doing a semi-fast right now on first day of TOM I'm even less hungry without EC than 1 week ago while using 2 tabs of EC. Could also be that I didn't chew as much gum. Last week's stomach gurgling & bloat was driving me crazy.
So in conclusion, totally NOT normal (for me at least) to be hungry during TOM. If I'd ever do a week long fast I'd opt for the first 7 days of a cycle.. the TOM-induced whooshes are always motivating anyway.
It certainly makes sense that TOM creates more work for the system and thus a need for more calories. But I think the jury is still out on how many calories. I have read anything from 200 cals (or more) to 10% of your BMR. But generally the highest calorie expenditure is always given around ovulation.
Personally I think it is best to be conservative with a guess on how many extra calories one might need. I am comforted by 10% of BMR and it really helps to keep me from pigging out. lol
More seriously, I used to have the worst cravings for the whole week. But after I made some dietary changes (ie more veggies and fish) I no longer have the strong cravings. Which is interesting as omega 3s have been shown to reduce PMS symptoms including carvings.
But generally the highest calorie expenditure is always given around ovulation.
This is my experience. right after ovulation I could eat the couch. (on any given day there are some tasty crumbs b/w the cushions anyway). This goes on and off till just before TOM, then abates.
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Newdawn, until not too long ago, highest intake would coincide with the highest BBT, but in the last year this changed to the days around ovulation with a second appetite surge around the highest temp day. But like I said before, never or very rarely during TOM.
Originally Posted by newdawn (on any given day there are some tasty crumbs b/w the cushions anyway).
A dog would take care of that problem
The resident labrador is currently banned from the living room on account of a bladder problem secondary to a course of prednisone and the resultant increased consumption of H2O. Otherwise, yes, she eats anything - what the vet calls "an indiscriminate diet." he's putting it nicely.
Espi, good to know it's not my imagination on the hunger!
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To be calm is the highest achievement of the self.
TOM hunger
). But very rarely, I'm finding myself quite hungry. 
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