I Severe Cravings and I'm Not Pregnant

What specifically, do you get crazy cravings for? The thing is, what we crave can reflect mineral, vitamin, or nutritional deficiencies. There could be an actual reason you are craving these foods. If you don't mind updating with what you crave, I can tell you what those cravings are generally linked to!

No, there is nothing wrong with you. IF you can better understand your monthly cycle and not see it just as when your period begins and ends, you can then gain a better of understanding of what it is doing ALL month long. This in turn will help you curb some of your cravings... begin with this :

Once we ovulate, so begins the Luteal phase of our cycle, (when we become Progesterone dominant) The idea being that IF you were to become pregnant, the Progesterone would help thicken the uterine walls so that a baby could live.. That said, even If you don't become pregnant, your body, although it doesn't produce as much Progesterone as a pregnant woman does, esp in the third trimester, what happens is the Progesterone can cause you to become "insulin resistant".... hence, you crave more sugar and carbs,, ...... additionally, Progesterone can make you feel more sluggish, which that coupled with restless sleep right before your period (this due to BOTH estrogen and progesterone lowering) BAM.. you crave like crazy....

Now, what can help you is this.. IF you get knock out some of the sugar and or processed foods BEFORE your Luteal phase begins, you have a better chance of not giving into cravings during a time in your cycle when the hormones can wreak havoc. Also bear in the mind, that once you ovulate and your Estrogen levels lower and become their lowest right before your period, you may begin to feel fidgety.. why is that?? In part, it's because Estrogen controls the stress hormone, Cortisol.... so as estrogen falls, your cortisol levels are less controlled and depending upon your lifestyle, nutrition and health, well the Cortisol levels can become raised and further cause you to gain weight....... which then becomes a vicious cycle and you feel bad and therefore, to feel good (at least temporarily) you eat more..

It's crucial to get off the vicious cycle BEFORE the first two weeks leading up to your period, I find that IF you try and make modifications during that time, they usually fail.. what this would mean is you get back to basics.. get off the sugar and processed foods. it's tough the first week, but once you do, you feel so much better. Also, exercise definitely helps me... it's key... I well imagine that having CD you are well aware of what is good for you or not.. I would approach this from the standpoint of having a sugar/processed carb addiction.. (that's what I do) to me that means.. you make some goals, write them down and work out ways that you can achieve them.. Also, perhaps meeting with a nutritionist who can help you can back on track.. Believe me as someone who has had major sugar cravings in the past, cutting back on the stuff has made a world of difference when my period arrives.. it has also helped my moods..

if anything, read up about how hormones might be affecting your cycle. I think once you are armed with that knowledge, you will then have a good starting point that's right for you.... you can get better and feel better.. but it will take work.... begin now with where you are.. one day at a time... moment by moment.. it's all possible...

good luck to you

I have hurd that sometimes things you crave have something in them that your body needs in some way or another. I get them sometimes before and mine don't keep me in bed anymore cause I had the cyst removed that cause that pain but now I just have very heavy periods. I would talk to you dr and let them know what's going on. You should not have to stay in bed because of there.

It is your hormones. You are having crazy hormone fluxes...I get them too right before my period and I feel like I cannot get full no matter how much I eat. I think you have to be stronger than your urges/cravings. You CAN choose not to eat those things. You CAN do it!!!! You can be stronger. Since you know this happens each month come up with a plan. Do not have these foods in the house. Make lots of super healthy yet delicious foods to have available instead. Drink a ton of water. Get out of the house and exercise. I have not tried asking my doctor, but maybe you should try this and see if they have any advice for you. If your periods are that bad they might have some solutions to help you.

You have CROHN's....that is ONE thing that is WRONG with you...you are not ALONE....However, if you know what you should NOT have and do it anyway.....That makes YOU your own worst enemy. Get some help and start treating your body like your temple.

My problem is that I cannot seem to get full before my period. It's like, for that brief time, my stomach stops sending the "full" signals to my brain! I eat and eat and I'm still hungry; it's awful. I think it MUST be hormones.

If you are craving sweets, this can sometimes indicate a protein deficiency, for some reason. You might also talk to your doctor to see whether hormone therapy (read: The Pill) might be able to help regulate your cravings. Finally, find some substitutes. If you are craving sweet things, eat some celery with low-fat peanut butter on it. If you want salty, add plenty of healthy salsa to your chips. Good luck!

Well I would speak to your doctor about the periods being that bad. You could have endometriosis which could cause the pain. I too get certain cravings before my period (usually chocolate). I think that is quite normal because your body is getting ready for it's menstrual cycle so since you're losing blood, you're losing nutrients. I wouldn't stress too much about it but please call your doctor about the pain you're having.

Hmmmm. Our body chemistry does change before periods. And cravings are common. However, yours are so severe you're unable to not act on them. I suggest starting with a gynecologist to find out if there is a way to deal with the chemistry.

I would then start in counseling to learn ways to manage my emotions and cravings. You can control what you do. There are ways to be learned so that you're able to do that.

The first step is to acknowledge/know that you are in charge of what you eat.

I know it's difficult to do so. I crave carbs. It's a constant battle to limit their intake. If it was good for me I'd eat a sweet roll or two or three every morning. I've been eating too much and have gained weight. It's not my body's fault. It's my responsibility to find a way to stop eating so much.

I have noticed on my last few cycles that I get ravenous the few days before my cycle starts, then I'm not hungry the first couple of days. It evens out - but I feel sick after I have those cravings days. And it's not even wanting one thing, so much as that I'm never satisfied during those few days.

I also try the drinking lots of water, hot tea, I'll get a Smart Ones dessert to curb my sweet tooth, or some fruit.

Have you tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info)? My daughter has ulcerative colitis and has been on it for two years. It has helped her tremendously.

I have had terrible cravings and a weird sharp pain in my lower abdomen. A GI doc said the pain might be IBS or Crohn's but he would need to do a colonoscopy to rule out Crohn's. I went on the SCD and my cravings disappeared as did the pain. Then I thought I could cheat and after a few weeks, my cravings and pain returned. I am back on the SCD. Not worth it to me to cheat again.

I've recently conquered my crazy cravings (and I mean crazy...like, I feel like I'm going to die without that bowl of peanut butter every night.) What worked for me was 1) keeping it out of the house, 2) drinking lots of water, 3) getting more exercise, and 4) smaller portions at each meal. Literally, within just a few days of making those simple changes (well, besides the water because I already drank that) I stopped having these cravings. It's been a few weeks, I've bought more peanut butter for the children, and haven't touched it...and it's not been a battle of will power.

chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate.....& red meat. A good steak. Just one steak. But, boy oh boy, do I crave that steak!

& then chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate. & more chocolate. :)

The thing is....as soon as I start, all cravings end. All bloating drops. It's insane. & what's worse is that I'm perimenopausal, so my periods are erratic. It's my general witchiness that signals my cycle....not cramping!

You're not alone! I call my stomach the bottomless pit when I'm soon to start. I want to eat all the time...and no specific foods, although I hear that women crave chocolate and alcohol more around that time of the month.

Just manage what you're snacking on so you won't irrate your Crohn's Disease. I have GERD and it's no fun. I can't have what I really want at times:-(

When I was younger, I craved sweets/chocolate before my period.
Now I crave salty things - chips, pretzels.
I'll have a little snack pack of something to keep the portion small.
Drink lots of tea and water - it helps to flush your system.

My cravings are never more intense than right after I give birth ands I'm having that really long period and making breast milk reserves. I want sugar and iron so bad sometimes I feel hollow. Cravings usually mean we need particular vitamins or need the comfort that those things brought us.

I believe it's important to pay attention to them.