Ok...so, here is my problem. I was doing REALLY good. I lost 8lbs, was walking 5 times a week (on top of physical therapy twice a week). I always have a problem where I'm ready to lose the weight. This time I was hugely motivated to lose weight again. But, the same cycle is happening; a week before my period, I just get off track.

I have been doing good with eating but slowly nothing seems to satisfy. Eating pudding was helping the sweet cravings, I get salty cravings and nothing helped...I just am always hungry, try drinking water, get really down...I take vitamins, I get plenty of sleep but am always tired, it's just a week before my period I get really bad and then the week off is about the same. a day after it's over, I'm back to wanting to get back on track! But, it's just a vicious cycle....i lose, i gain, I lose I gain.

So, do any of you have any natural advice on how to curve this issue? I really don't want to take medication. I was on birth control back in 2006 and it only amplified everything and made me MUCH worse. I'm up to trying herbs. I currently take the following vitamins, 1 maternity vitamin (i'm not pregnant, just taking it for the extra nutrients), vitamin C, E, Omega 3 fish oil, calcium pill. I had tried Sam-E years ago and it didn't help much....I'm thinking of getting light therapy (don't know if the lights are the same but I have aero garden and I'm thinking those lights might help a little for 30 minutes..might be less powerful).

Any advice would help! I have a LOT of weight to lose (I'm down 8lbs from my 110lbs to lose total...) So, I'll take anything!!! Thanks!!!

try journaling, try talking to a therapist, try planning snacks in advance that will satisfy your cravings, make a list of things you could do instead of eat (like call a friend, take a bath etc.), dont keep the stuff in your house or in site, take a walk, eat 4-5 mini-meals a day, keep refrig stocked of healthy foods you could easily grab, keep a food journal...

What types of foods are you eating? Do you crave sweets more just before your period?

A note on the fish oil, unless it's a SUPER CONCENTRATED EPA/DHA blend, it's probably not doing much for you. In order to get the effectiveness seen in clinical trials, you'd have to consume 5-6X what the health-food grade stuff suggests. Lots of fish oil also contain heavy metals - once it goes in your body, it doesn't come out! If you're not using the super concentrated $50 a bottle range stuff, you might want to do some more research on it.

Do you have PCOS? You sound somewhat similar to my friend who does.

That's all that we have. New Years Day, we rid the home of all bad food. The problem is because of that, whenever I have cravings, nothing satisfied BECAUSE there is no junk in the house to eat. So, I'll end up eating just more of what I"m supposed to (soup, salad, granola bars...etc...)

I technically have a food journal because I do weight watchers. I think I might just have to see a therapist.

I've never heard of that? What is it exactly?

Also, on the fish oil, I know you are supposed to take it 3 times a day..I started off slow though...I didn't know anything about that info. All I know is that my mother was told by her doctor to take it because of her blood pressure and it's hereditary in my family so I've been taking it as well since I'm 26 (average is 25 for my family's blood pressure to make a turn around to high...) and sure enough, when I was 24, my blood pressure was below normal, now, it's rising and i'm prehypertention! I'll talk to my doctor about it...you bring up a lot of things to look for!

Let me whip out my book that says how many grams of EPA and DHA is recommended per day ... be right back!

For existing obesity, type 2 diabetes, or heart disease, it's recommended that you take 5 g of EPA and DHA daily.

This doesn't mean 5 total grams of fish oil. Look on the label and see how much EPA and DHA is in it - you need to have 5 grams of THAT.

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, I believe. I don't know all of the details surrounding it, but people who have it are generally carb sensitve and have higher insulin levels, which tends to make fat loss (or ANY weight loss for that matter), more difficult than for the average person.

One of the female hormones is also elevated, which increases PMS type symptoms, water retention, etc.

A diet designed to control blood sugar levels has been proven effective for people suffering from PCOS.

Sorry for the really long post in advance.

PCOS is poly-cystic ovary syndrome. It actually does not mean you have cysts on your ovaries. Trust me, I've been pretty much diagnosed with it and yet had the ultrasound that confirmed I don't have any cysts. There's a lot of symptoms that are found in people with pcos, and usually if you have a number of them then your doctor will suggest that you probably have pcos. It's really hard to officially diagnose (which is why I haven't been, even though I've had over 4 doctors state that they believe I have it).

Some of the symptoms can be inability to lose weight, facial hair - as in more hair then you expect on a female, but does not mean you have to have a beard and mustache), an increased risk of diabetes, an increased risk of heart disease, abnormal hormone levels, and more.

While there is lots of stuff on the web about this, it's actually really scary to read it on your own, so I suggest you're better off talking to a doctor about this first to see if it's something you might have. Pretty much every doctor I've talked to has stated again and again that it's nothing to really get worried about. Mainly, it just means you should be careful with what you eat and make sure you're getting lots of exercise to decrease your risk of a bunch of stuff.

I was referred to an endocrinologist recently and when I went and saw him he told me that he thinks anyone with a fairly typical north american diet (does not equate to a junk food diet) should take omega-3 pills. And he also stated that this needs to come from fish, not vegetables. Now, I've also been put on a medication in that visit that I have to work my way on to, (started with 1/2 a pill two weeks ago, and will be trying to add a second half today), and so haven't bothered to go there with the fish oil pills yet. There's only so many pills I can take a day, and these new pills I'm on are not fun to introduce, thus the slow introduction. The goal is to have it up to three pills a day, one before each meal. As you can see, this is going to be a multi-month process.

I definitely get super hungry the week before/beginning of my period. What I pretty much do is allow my self one snack each of those days. If you work it into your diet plan it doesn't have to be a disaster. You could get those 100 calorie chocolate bars and chips, and then depending on if you're going for salt/sugar choose between those two. Or popcorn can be good for the salt craving and not many calories for a large amount (even better if air popped or you buy the smart bags). I also find if I keep working out during that time it helps a lot with stress and everything else. I thought I'd find it a disaster to try and do so, but it actually has seemed really beneficial. I feel a lot better when I finish. And because I did some exercise, eating that small chocolate bar or what not is not going to be a huge problem.

It's better (for me at least) to focus on moderation of foods then elimination. I do what you do and try not to keep much in my house because then I'll eat it. But sometimes, you need to let yourself have something. It often doesn't take much to soothe the craving.

Once again, sorry for the really long post.

Ooh, another thing about pcos... to go with what Angie said.

Many people with pcos can have poor insulin resistance (I think that was the terminology). Anyway, it boiled down to something along the lines that you don't respond to normal levels of insulin and so your body has to pump out more than normal and of course, insulin makes your body turn food into fat. So a low glycemic index diet is suppose to be good for this because you don't get the insulin spikes. And from what I've been told my my doctor and endocrinologist, it's not the same as diabetes... similar, but not the same thing exactly, I'd have to look it up again to know what the specific difference is.

Neesha,

When your insulin levels are constantly high, as they can be with PCOS, over time your cells build up a resistance to the hormone, known as "insulin resistance". It's kind of like tolerance one can build for alcohol. You have to consume more and more alcohol to become drunk; well, you body has to pump out more and more insulin for the cells to respond.

Type II Diabetes occurs when your cells becomes so resistant to insulin that your body can't produce enough insulin to get the job done. That's why some diabetics get insulin shots.. they have to inject more than what the body is able to produce on its own.

So, I could see how someone with PCOS would be more likely to develop diabetes later on in life than the average person.

Hi Brandi,

First: Pat yourself on the back for really trying. Stop beating yourself up.

I have gone through the same problem myself. My cravings are all salt! Chips, popcorn, nachos. Of course all the nasty stuff that has to go with it.

Here's what I did: I am a big believer in writing stuff down. I kept track of myself for a two week time frame. Here's the kicker....I did not do it at the time I ate. (This allowed an honest eating habit and not one with the shadow of a diary by the fridge.) I did it at the end of the day. I took an hour before bed to write down what I ate and when. What was I doing? feeling? etc...

What I found is that I am a very lazy person during that week before my period. Not in a horrible way but,...drained, almost every day. Even on my days off. So, I found ways to keep myself busy but not in an energy draining way. I love to read so, I saved my favorite novels for that week. I get so involved that I don't think about food as much. I save my little projects for my house during that week. Minor repairs, room changing, etc...

I still have the salty craving but it isn't as bad and I treat myself during this week. If I don't gain weight that week, to me it is a successful week. I may not have lost that 1 or 1.5 lbs but I didn't gain any either. When I do have the set backs, I look back, reflect on what I could have done better and go on.

I hope this helps, knowing someone else understands.

Cyd

Another thing with excessive insulin levels (or hyperinsulinemia) is that it is a vicious cycle. High insulin levels are associated with PCOS and prediabetes especially if you eat a high carb diet. The levels are high because of the insulin resistance. The vicious cycle part is that high insulin levels make you feel hungry - you eat more - the insulin levels go higher - you feel hungrier you eat more and so on and so on.

Low glycemic index foods are a good choice and there are a lot of excellent resources out there on this type of diet.

I have PCOS. I used to be atypical because I was a skinny PCOS person. I was diagnosed due to fertility issues and was basically diagnosed because of the `cyst on my ovaries` but it is possible if the ultrasound is done at the wrong time of the month or in a month when you are having a normal cycle (hormone levels are relatively normal) for the cyst to not be that prominent.

The S in PCOS is syndrome which means that it is a collection of symptoms or conditions that are group together - you may have some of them and not others.

I know the food swings you are talking about. Some months are worse that others - related to how well my hormones are functioning!

Wow Brandi, the SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS TO ME. It makes me so upset. And it is not even like I crave a specific thing (though OBVIOUSLY it is all bad for me). It is almost like I have no craving or hunger even I JUST WANT TO EAT. I found various sites that talked about cravings as a PMS symptom. Apparently it is very common but it still makes me want to so frustrated. Take a look at these sites and see if you can modify your lifestyle to fit this and see if it works for you. The one I have been trying/want to try more is getting the increase in calcium. To tell you the truth it is pretty painless! I bought strawberry powder (nesquick) to put in my fat-free milk. And I drink 2 8 oz. portions of that a day with a tbs. of the powder for each 8 oz. portion (you could do chocolate too). That only comes out to 200 calories total AND it is cold, delicious, filling, comforting (mmm) and provides you with 60% of your calcium for the day!

It's worth a try!

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?art iclekey=56732

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/s tandard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ hc/wom/fitn/alert09112001.jsp

~Amy

I already have the 100 calorie kudos bars but after one, I just don't have enough satisfaction! I don't get much of a sugar craving and just crab for the lowest calorie snack to try to calm my cravings. Most of the time it's something something and/or carbs. I'll have to talk to my doctor about it. Could be a combination of other things. I've seen symptoms of anxiety. My family has a history of depression but I don't have the symptoms of it and don't really follow that trend (other than a slight chemical imbalance that is hereditary maybe...). Thanks for all the responses!

I've actually been borderline hypoglycemic for the past few years. My blood sugar levels are usually really low if that means something...hmm...

lol...I wish it was painless. I have a problem with milk for some reason...I get sick. Any other dairy products I'm fine. So, I've been drinking soy milk and taking a calcium pill in the morning. That, at eating lots of pudding. lol....I guess the pudding makes it painless....mmm..banana cream pie pudding....

Oh GOODNESS I know how this is big time. Right now im suffering from it. As Im sitting here replying im thinking about the YUMMIE Doritos my dad is eating in front of me... Isnt that just lovely. That PCOS thing is SUPER interesting too... i have pretty much all of the symptoms and such. I should DEF get that checked. ON TO THE TOPIC! Lately I'v been trying a new thing.. it fills me up and tastes pretty good. WHEY PROTEIN. Brother used to take it to gain muscle without gaining fat. Worked for him, and i read that its good for weight loss too. Its got the sweet taste that us women crave.. and for some reason although it has no Sodium ( or salty things) .. it gets rid of that for me too. All while not gaining weight.. and any excersise you get will build muscles.

try it

works

Are any of you taking Metformin for PCOS?? I am taking that and spironolactone. I think it is helping with cravings.........

i fell off the wagon so bad today it's not even funny. after two soft pretzels, a chocolate chip granola bar, a pack of peanut chews, and a pop tart i finally figured out i'm PMS'ng!! argh!! this has been going on with me for years! i know exactly what time of the month it is because i crave (and eat!) all of the things i typically avoid.
it's nice to know i'm not the only one. )

maybe you should just eat what your body is craving in moderation. i could never eat those 100 calorie snacks. i know it might work for some but to me its a waste. id rather have 1 or 2 of the real stuff than the "fake" stuff. so do you think you could go out and buy 1 candy bar or 1 bag of doritoes if that is what you are craving? im not recommeding a binge but im thinking maybe you are depriving yourself b/c you say you dont have any junk at home and maybe you really do want to have a little treat once in awhile? i dont know if this would work for you-meaning if this would set you up to crave more? so think about it. just a suggestion.
also, i know this may sound hard to hear but even though this is supposed to be a "lifestyle" and not a diet, no one said it was going to be easy to do. sometimes you do need to work really hard to fight the urges (im not saying you arent)and do whatever you can to stop yourself. you cant just give in to the food. (not saying you are).