Do chocolate and extra calories really help soothe period grottiness?

[Teaandcaaaaake]

Not sure if it is just psychological but I honestly feel like I NEED chocolate, as well as eating more carbs in general, just before and on the first day or so of my period.

But I remember reading before that we only use up maybe an extra 100 calories or so when menstruating. Is that accurate? It feels like it takes a lot more energy than that out of me! I get really tired beforehand as well, and need extra sleep.

There is also no way I could exercise today, I'm slightly dizzy just standing up and my legs feel sort of floaty like they're not anchored to the ground properly. I'm not anaemic but do have folate and ferritin deficiencies and huge period clots, so that may be where the unsteadiness comes from, but it is unpleasant.

Do you eat more and do you want carby or chocolatey things?

Off to eat another row of Lindt pieces with another cup of tea!

Funnily enough though, I reckon my appetite drops quite a bit then after a couple of days bleeding - as in less than what is normal for me when not on period. Maybe it all balances itself out that way.

I definitely crave sugar especially in the form of chocolate the few days prior to the start of my period. Like, I could just happily eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
But then the day the bleeding actually starts I sort of go off food completely for a couple of days.

I'm not sure if there is a reason, but I do know that anyone who stands too close to me when I have my period is at risk of being eaten.....

I thought it was something to do with blood sugar going all over the place rather than a calorie thing? For some reason I remember reading that somewhere but I can't remember where so I'm useless 😁

Yep I definitely want chocolate and carbs more before my period and sometimes the first day or two. It balances itself out during the rest of the month though so I just enjoy it!

Another here who craves sugar. I can take or leave sweet stuff most of the month but have a day or 2 a month where I cannot get enough sugar (and carbs- slices of toast/jacket potatoes/thick sliced bread lathered in butter) and like a PP then go off food for a couple of days. Hormones are powerful. I also want to eat all the red meat about a week before- so fillet steak the bloodier the better or a pile of lamb chops.

My period started today and I've not stopped eating carbs and sugar, including demolishing 2 bars of chocolate in quick succession this afternoon. It didn't make me feel better, just guilty and a bit sick, but the cravings are so strong.

I normally only feel like this for 1 or 2 days a month thankfully!

The women in our family call this time of the month/the first 2 days of our period "The very hungry caterpillar, she's In it to win it!" .

Honestly, the hunger is real.