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

[Teree]

So I’ve lost 30 pounds. My weight loss was spurred on by a cruel comment from a close family member. I think I have used it as a stick to beat myself for months. But today I’m starting to question how cruel I’ve been to myself.

I always allowed myself to indulge when I got my period. I get very painful cramps and really do need a pick me up. But my husband and I were talking and he made it seem like this was disordered and not the norm. What does he know?? I told him I think a lot of women with healthy relationships with food use food for comfort during their periods.

This is normal right?

I just got my period and have had 5 horrible periods previously where I stuck to salads and chicken breast.

But now I’m thinking fuck it. I’m a human being who needs comfort occasionally.

I get terrible cramps and chocolate makes me feel less like death. If there's any time of the month you should be treating yourself it's then!!

I eat very healthily. When I am on my period my body wants what it wants. I have just had two twix bars - not going to stress about it

I have PCOS and always struggle around my periods - I just give my body whatever it craves. It's only for a few days and makes things slightly more bearable than they would be otherwise!

I don't use periods (dont have them) but I use my mood and external events; making a judgement call if I can indulge depending on how much I've indulged that week.

Depends on what your definition of indulge is. If I’m craving some chocolate then yes, of course I’ll let myself have some. Knowing when to stop is the key though

In the two or three day run up to my period I'll feel hungrier, so I eat more. I don't sit scoffing an entire tub of Ben & Jerrys, but I will eat more snacks on those days.

WTF does husband know about period cravings?

Mine is Maltesers, so i have them.

I don’t use food to make myself feel better tbh. Only in that I feel better when I eat well. I’m more likely to sit with a book and cup of tea for half an hour.

When your DH starts having periods he can have a say on what's 'disordered and not the norm' until then he can stfu.
Tell him to go and talk to his sister/ mum/ aunt / female work mate / next door neighbour or any other females and see what they say.

I am sorry someone thought it was ok to make a cruel comment on your weight.

Yes, for those few days when your craving something it's absolutely fine to eat it.

I eat well most of the time but around my period I crave fat, salt, sugar etc. No amount of eating fruit and veg or lean protein gets rid of that craving so I’ll have something. It can vary month to month, so sometimes it will be crisps and sometimes it might be chocolate/cake or whatever. Most of the time I don’t need loads but again, some months, I eat more than others.

Absolutely. I’ve lost 30lbs over the past year, but every month have had a few days off calorie counting and gym to indulge. My body needs it! And I’ve still managed to lose the weight.

I was watching a doctor talk on menstrual symptoms and she said almost every woman she treats is ravenously hungry just before their period. It’s natural.

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.

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

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

1 million percent this

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 :)

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 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!

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

I think your husband should shut the fuck up tbh.

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).

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?

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.

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.