Low Carb and PMS

[bakergirl57]

I was wondering if anybody knew anything about PMS and craving foods while on low carb. I have been doing really well but today I am three days away from TOM and having cramps. I am craving sweets - BIG TIME. I have to say, I gave in and had a few pieces of black licorice. Normally, my cravings have been down and I've been able to avoid eating anything I shouldn't . What's up with this today? Any ideas?

[2big4mysize]

hormones can effect more then just reproduction. there are actual studies showing how elite athletes need to adjust their trsining schedule becuase of effects on stamina, breathing, metabolism and other body parts. were you craving a particular sweet or just sugar in general? you can make some very low carb atkins legla choclate from creamcheese or cream cocoa powder and sweetner of choice. and stay legal.

[bakergirl57]

Actually, I do have some low carb alternatives that I like but I was having a bad pms day and really wanting the real thing, probably out of boredom. What I was saying though is that most of the time, I can handle the cravings for something "real" and not cross the line but yesterday, there was no way it was going to happen. Today, it is officially "TOM" so, the hormones and blood sugar thing must have been really out of wack. My original question I guess was, can PMS affect blood sugar.

[2big4mysize]

yep and cravings are not always in response to blood sugar either.
the human mind has a vast system of filing and crossreferencing items like food and the effects it has physically and psychologically on you. Many foods like chocolate can mimic neurtransmitters so when you feel a certain way the brain scans its vast storage for past history you have had feeling this way and what things you did that improved this feeling some we may not even remember like eating some dirt as a kid or something. Then the brain prescribes those cures it knows worked the best. Low carbers need to send DR Brain back to school for some retraining. Ignoring the signals to eat a high carb food will not retain it but doing something else that does fix the feelings will. So we need to know what for and why DR Brain is prescribing. if you journal your foods and feelings it can help. Then once you have identified the feelingsd you can know what to use as a sub for that high carb food. like if you are sad and Dr Brain is prescribing high carb food exercise or talking with a friend can fix it too as exercise will generate chemicals that make the brain feel better and talking with a friend can cheer you up and laughing will generate some cool brain chems too. the more you don't use the food and sub the other "cures" for what the brain is trying to fix the weaker the prescrition for high carb foods will get. that is where the exercising your will power makes it stronger theory comes from.

hang in there