Do you actually allow yourself to indulge when on your period?

When your husband experiences his uterine lining falling out once a month (or more often if you're unlucky and close to the every 21 days cycle) then he can have an opinion on what is and isn't normal.

But yes. I eat around 200-300g of chocolate a day on my period. But I am strict the rest of the time. Usually have chocolate covered strawberries and/or lots of ferrero rochers (a small box a day, minimum).

Honestly, OP, I hate to say it but it actually sounds more like he doesn't want you to gain weight again more than anything else. I'd have taken it as a 'if you do this, you'll get fat, other women don't do it' type comment.

When your husband starts having periods, then he gets to have opinions about them. Until that happens he can stfu.

I am and always have been a healthy weight. I have a good relationship with food. I also stuff my face with carbs three days a month. It helps me not murder the people I live with.

What would your (presumably) male husband know about the norm, when it comes to eating during a period?

Eat what you like, 1 week a month when the cravings strike won't hurt.

I need to lose a little weight, but that won't stop me eating a decent sized steak when my body craves iron or a chocolate bar because it's all I can think about.

And try to work on being less cruel to yourself. You've achieved an incredible weight loss x

No, I eat and drink the same as always. Life goes on period or not

I'm starving before my period, always have been but then I lose my appetite so presumably it balances out

I do it's too hard to not 😂😂

ShesTheAlbatross

I'm.similar.

If I want to eat something, I eat it.

I don't make excuses for it though.

So, if I'm hungrier around my period, I'll eat more (or up my magnesium intake) but I don't eat stuff I wouldn't normally eat or junk food and use my period to justify it. I don't think I've ever used food as a 'comfort', no.

So is it normal?

For some women, yes.

For others, no.

It's not a universal thing.

@Daisyvodka
No idea if it's true, sorry! My own might-be-might-not-be, is that I think (for me anyway) your oestrogen rises just before a period, causing the bloat/heaviness; and testosterone is higher in the week after, so that, plus losing the weight of the womb lining, always makes me lose a quarter stone. So I would always eat the chocolate because I know the weight loss will follow anyway!

I adjust for my period, but also at other times when a small indulgence helps to make me feel better.

I’ve just had a delicious custard tart, I didn’t need it, I wanted it, and that’s ok within a balanced week of eating.

Eat your chocolate and tell your husband to shut his mouth.

I am hungrier in the lead up to my period, so I will eat more in total.
I don’t mean to come across like a pious dick because I’m certainly not judging, but since you did ask, no, I don’t really use food for comfort in the way you describe ie you had cramps and needed a pick me up, rather than actually being more hungry.

But that doesn’t mean I think you’re wrong, and I wouldn’t call it disordered eating either.

Yes, I do indulge on my periods.

How embarrassing of your husband though. Imagine being a man, mansplaining to a woman how she should feel on her period. What an idiot.

It might help to not label it as an “indulgence” - making foods forbidden and therefore more desirable, associating it with guilt and moral value - and instead consider it simply listening to your body. Hormonal fluctuations are known to have an effect on our bodies’ craving for salt and/or sugar.

And husband can get in the bin.

Your husband knows nothing about what it is like to have a period. His view is wholly without merit.

Who was the close family member who gave you the cruel comment OP?

I also eat loads during my period, I try to double up and fill up on comforting healthy stuff, and I also eat some sweet treats. Maybe try to identify what's soothing and not too unhealthy, if possible. Limit it to 2 days (ish).

I think your husband should shut the fuck up tbh.

This. It does not matter what time of the Month it is, for me.

I don’t tend to indulge more than usual but that’s because I genuinely don’t really get food cravings with my periods (surprisingly, given how much I love my food in general) but I’m sure if I would if I did.

I don’t think a couple of treats a month when you’re on your period suggest disordered eating! If you were spending one week in four binge-eating sugar until you were sick, sure. But not a bar of chocolate or a pizza now and again!

Well no but I also don’t crave anything in particular any more than I usually would.

So I continue as normal.

That said I think it’s fine if you do - if you feel shitty and something makes you feel better then go for it. Your DH needs to be quiet unless he also bleeds through his genitals.

I am learning not to use food as the crutch during my period - especially as I am trying to lose weight. Now I will tend to try and get out for a walk to clear the cobwebs and get some happy endorphins flowing. However, what is right for one person isn't necessarily right for everyone. If you are happy, do what you do :)

1 million percent this

I always used to crave loads of chocolate around that time of the month. I never denied myself it!

I get ravenous on my period. I usually indulge, always regret it, and rarely seem to manage to do otherwise.

I mean look, I'll hold my hands up to not having any scientific backing for this, but its always been my belief that you burn more energy during your period because your body is carrying out a non standard task (like I said, don't have the science on this, would be interested if anyone does know if this is true??) And therefore depending on your body, you might need more food/rest at that time. Again, could be nonsense but still.

I’m reasonably healthy but I always crave chocolate around my period and indulge it. It just hits the spot and makes me feel better.