Cravings caused by hormones

(Nicola Blair) #1

I’m struggling to deal with carb cravings during my period. My husband’s the cook and has been great in making keto puddings etc. The trouble is I overeat them and its how I knocked myself out of ketosis before. This craving is every month , I’m fine inbetween times but the urge is overwhelming. I start to feel more and more hungry and find it extremely difficult to control if at all. Has anyone else found a way to deal with it ?

(Lazy, Dirty Keto 😝) #2

I have the same issue during the times when I’d normally have my period (I have an IUD so I don’t really have one monthly anymore, and when I do have one it’s light and only for a day or 2). As cliche as it sounds, I’ve learned to just fight through the cravings and plan accordingly. I plan my meals ahead and make sure all my food is logged in Cronometer, and I also allow myself some leeway in case I do get a craving that I can’t overcome. For example, I’ll make a meal plan for 12g net carbs. That way, even if I have a bad craving, I know I still have 8g net carbs left that I can eat. That causes me less stress, knowing that I have some leeway; which in turn makes it easier to overcome my cravings. I crave a lot more when stressed.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #3

Sometimes I get the most intense cravings when I’m tired, or thirsty, or have to pee, etc. It’s easier to identify what I’m really after, the longer I go on. Most of the time it isn’t the food, it’s an escape from a feeling or a desire for another feeling. Things that have helped are: a keto friendly replacement, introspection, scenery change, a nap, distractions in general. I find that a craving is often an obsessive thought and working on managing that gets to the bottom of things.

(Khara) #4

I keep plenty of keto snacky stuff around and nothing that mimics a dessert. Sweet tasting stuff just makes my cravings worse. But, if I can have some cheeses and summer sausage and small amount of nuts, I get a bit of an indulgence relief but with strictly low carb items. Good luck. It is quite interesting isn’t it how those cravings appear with a period. I wonder what the physiology is there.

(Nicola Blair) #5

Prior to keto, my periods had gone down to once every 2 months, which I was very happy about, so this was not a welcome result. The cravings are so strong, it feels just like the craving I would get when I was smoking. Maybe the resentment of my period does play a part, I really dread them now. I can’t even take contraception to stop them due to a history of cancer.

(Nicola Blair) #6

The little research I’ve done, shows the body is craving certain nutrients. I just feel frustrated as I find keto is clicking with me. Any other time (just like when I eventually stopped smoking), I don’t crave like this at all. My husband’s the cook and is trying to help by making keto sweet puddings (using xylitol or 85% chocolate and cream), but I can’t stop at just one. I’ll eat the lot if I can. I’ll try to sort out snacks and be stricter with myself. I’ve been sticking to under 16gm carbs so at this time it just shoots up and knocks me out of ketosis.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #7

Eating extra fat can help some people with hunger; for others, the solution is to eat a bit more protein. In any case, our advice is to eat to satiety, not to a calorie target. I find that some days, I am simply not hungry, whereas other days I need a lot more food. It seems to even out over time, however.

ETA: Eating more carbohydrate is not likely to help.

(Nicola Blair) #8

There’s a huge degree of frustration for me that I stay under my carbs with relative ease out with my period, but the cravings are almost impossible to resist during it. It really is like craving a cigarette when trying to stop smoking but not really ready to.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #9

I find that being physically satisfied blunts most of the force of cravings, and the rest is psychological and will respond to a psychological solution. But as long as I satisfy the cravings with low-carbohydrate snacks, I don’t gain weight even when I eat past the point of satiety (for emotional reasons).

(PSackmann) #10

You can do this, if you stopped smoking and kicked those cravings, you can overcome these as well. I know your husband is trying to help, but giving your body a sweet taste in response to cravings won’t get them to stop long-term. Try some fat instead, my personal favorite is a pat of butter with some salt on top. Sounds odd until you try it, it’s surprisingly satisfying.

(Nicola Blair) #11

I’ll give it a go. I’m willing to try anything to get this under control.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #12

I would ask your husband to lay off on pudding production. Stop eating chocolate and xylitol or other artificial sweeteners. Avoid sweet foods like berries. Turn towards salty fatty foods instead. Meals don’t need to end with deserts. Save them for special occasions instead of including them in your regular diet. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Nicola Blair) #13

To be fair to my husband, it’s only during that week, and when I say puddings, it’s more like truffle fat bombs and coconut cream lime and lemon jelly squares. We don’t eat puddings as a rule, and never really have done. I think that’s why keto fits us so well. As you say , if its not there then I can’t have it and need to do something else.

(Edith) #14

I will second/third the skipping alternative sweeteners. I think they just add to the cravings. I have found eating no carbs before my period helps a huge amount. I also find eating no carbs keeps me satisfied for longer. If you get hungry try a protein and fat real food, like a chicken thigh or hamburger, not a snack. That may curtail the cravings.

Oooh , one more thing. I believe my electrolyte need increases when I menstruate. Maybe you have cravings because you need more electrolytes or some other nutrients at that time.

(Nicola Blair) #15

I’ll try the no carbs before my period. I find that most of my carb intake is in cream, yoghurt, chia seeds and my favourite veg broccoli. Breakfast is bullet coffee(2 carbs), lunch is bone broth/prawn mayonnaise(homemade) salad and dinner is usually chicken/beef/fish with cream sauce and veg of some sort. So generally very low in carb. I’ve managed to almost completely cut out tea (1tsp of xylitol), not even one a day now which is down from 5, and my dark chocolate intake is almost nil. Then once a month it’s just like someone flipped a switch and the cravings hit . I work in a hospital and gifts are generally sweets and biscuits, I’ve had none of that since October last year, not even my favourite pastry, which I used to eat daily. I can’t remember the last time I ate crisps. Gin and low cal tonic is now my only vice left and that is weekends only now. Just so frustrated that I can do all that , yet once a month, for a few days, I lose the plot craving junk food I wouldn’t look twice at any other time. As you all say, I need to find ways to counter this and the suggestions so far are things I haven’t tried yet.

#16

Nicola, I know the hormonal cravings are rough and that you’re trying to find a solution, but reading through your last post my main thought was that you are doing great!!

(Nicola Blair) #17

Thank you Madeleine.

(Robert C) #18

Have you tried fasting?

Near the end of the second day I think it is common to have very good feelings mentally (sometimes euphoria for me) and that is also about that time that all hunger pretty much ceases (so the carb cravings might also cease or greatly lessen).

(Nicola Blair) #19

During my period I need to keep energy up as I get extremely tired which for me means eating as well as the fluids. This is the first month using Andrews liver salts to see if they help with the cramping. The pain can keep me awake through the night/wake me up. The pain meds (anti inflammatory) need me to have food in my stomach to prevent aggravating my stomach ulcer.

(Nicola Blair) #20

I have to say I have found partial fasting relatively easy to do and I liked it. I’m going to try it properly during my annual leave. My job requires me to be physically and mentally on the ball so if it’s not right for me it’d places people at risk.