[PandaBun]

Every month is like a continuous cycle. About one week before I get my period, all these strange symptoms show up. It's like, no matter what I do, I ALWAYS gain weight one week before. So one week in every month, I will feel fat and rather infelicitous! It really affects my self-image and confidence since I would be eating healthy and my appetite would be stable, and then all of a sudden everything goes out of control and I crave carbs and sugar like crazy.

I am currently thinking about taking supplements to prevent or alleviate these re-occuring symptoms. Anyone else here going through the same thing? What do you do to avoid this annoying monthly cycle? Any suggestions would help!!

Edit:
I just wanted to add that I drink A LOT of tea (up to 5 full teapots of tea, fresh brewed) a day on a consistent basis. I think the caffeine might be screwing up my hormones and making my pms symptoms worse. However, the caffeine in tea is relatively small compared to the amount in coffee. I have a friend who is a huge coffee drinker and her symptoms are not as bad as mine.

[LeahB]

well, usually it's not weight gain, it's just that you get a bigger appetite during that time of month (because your body is losing blood too). so the best thing to do is eat plenty of healthy and LOW sodium things, and drink lots of water. low sodium + water = no bloating. and foods that help replenish blood will also curb that hunger feeling.

[aggiesbaby]

I know exactly how you feel! The week before my period, I have the appetite of a horse and I crave chocolate and junk food. I get really bloated as well and I feel like I've gained a lot of weight. I drink loads of water and make the best effort to consume low sodium foods. Salt=bloating....try having foods like oatmeal (high in fiber), so you feel full. Some people take midol/advil to alleviate the bloating and it works.

After my period, I shoot straight back down to my original figure/weight (I eat a pretty healthy diet).

Stupid hormones lol!

[Poetic_Goofy]

Actually, it's natural. I heard the body collects water more before/during the period. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_water_retention) So it's not fat or something, it's just your body taking care of itself (: Happens to me too, the craving I dunno... maybe, I always get cravings now and then so I don't notice it that much xD

Try eating fruit instead if you are craving for sugar.

Edit: Copied this for you:

"Lifestyle changes
Taking extra-good care of yourself just before your period can help banish bloating. Plus, positive lifestyle changes provide other health benefits all month long.

* Exercise. When PMS strikes, fight the urge to sit around in your sweats and watch chick flicks. Women who exercise generally report fewer PMS symptoms.

* Skip the salt. Restricting sodium in the last few days before your period can reduce bloating, fluid retention, and breast swelling and tenderness. So put away your saltshaker. And pay attention to less-obvious sources of sodium, including condiments, such as soy sauce, and processed and prepared foods, such as canned vegetables, soups and deli meats.

* Try smaller meals. Nibble on five or six small meals, instead of three big ones. Just make sure these smaller meals include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

For most women, these lifestyle changes are the only treatment needed for water retention. "

Credit: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water-ret...NSECTIONGROUP=2

[PandaBun]

thank u so much for the responses guys!!

[itrayya]

i think it's normal
i think so.
because before/during/right after your cycle,
your body changes so it can deal with the cycle.

during my cycle, i feel bloated and all my jeans DONT ever fit. true story.
i feel fat during my cycle too but i guess that's for my body to allow it to do what it does.

to think that it comes around the cycle time,
it's safe to think that it's just a cycle thing. right?
i think so.

take care.

[suzushii]

I could have written the OP myself.

My solution:

- work out a bit every day. It helps SO MUCH (we're talking TMI ALERT cravings, duration of period, and volume, and pain - all reduced). omg, exercise is AMAZING. But not too much. Then you lose your period. Which sucks.

- save my cheat days for then. eat the stuff I crave for. What the hell, I retain water anyways, so might as well enjoy myself. In my case it's salty stuff like pretzels. I like pretzels anwyays, but then I go MAD for them, lol

And don't worry about the weight gain, it's water weight, plus once the period starts you get negative appetite, and negative cravings, so it evens out. And when I say don't worry, don't worry. I once appeared as if I lost 4 pounds from one evening till the next morning. It's freaking ridiculous how much you can retain.

[prechuz_azn]

OMG that happens to me too.
When its that time of month I feel so fat =(
I make up for this bloating body of mine by exercising. Exercising is amazing
and it relieves cramps which is like killing two birds with one stone!

So yeah...exercise. It does the body good =D

[nestachan]

hormones go crazy during menstration. makes you do crazy things.XD
drink water, nothing with caffeine(that just gives you cramps, i read that on the kotex pad box.lol.) and exercise.
that helped me a lot.

[birthdaycakes]

Haha, that happens to me too....I always gain about two to three pounds the week prior to getting my period, my face breaks out a bit, I get cramps randomly....funny thing is, I never really had symptoms of PMS until after I went off the pill.
I also get cravings for sweets and just....more food in general. :-/
But I just eat with moderation, enough to quell the craving and give myself a taste. My weight always goes back down to normal on its own by the next week anyway.

[Cakdel]

Its natural to feel that way. Just try to avoid salt because it makes you feel even more bloated.
i wouldn't say you should go using pills right away, but if the effects are really bad, i heard there is a pill that curbs all the cravings, stop bloatings and cramps.... you should talk to your dr. about it

[sus]

i think thatsn ormal for a girl
well for me neways
for a wk i eat like a pig.. junk food to the max haha

[cocooned soul]

Oh gosh. I get the same problem too x__x What I do is drink A LOT of water. Then nature calls and makes you want to go to the bathroom, and it feels a lot better (: It just like everyone else says, exercise!

[PocketOtaku]

I think I gain some weight because I don't exercise, but I don't really eat any more than I usually do.

[kinein]

What Leah Suzushii and Poetic said.

No more "inevitable" talk!

[HikariJung]

i dunno....when I PMs I lose weight.....
only because I cry about everything and lose my appetite.......and feel depressed
I hate having my period.....

[cciconoclastic]

Yeah I tended to bloat noticeably during every PMS period as well as getting moody and maybe getting an increased appetite every other month. Exercise definitely helps!

Going on the pill does has made my PMS symptoms a lot less severe and noticeable though. (I'm mainly on the pill for clearer skin though.) I don't bloat anymore!