It's frustrating as 50% of the world are women and yet we know so little about diet and the cycle and menopause. Yet lots of research into obesity.
Logically it makes sense, everyone gets carb cravings when you are due on, this is progesterone talking. So far I tried increasing my complex carbs in the second half of my cycle. I actually got more and more carb cravings the more I did it and found the only solution was to graze a bit more than usual so I didn't get hangry. Then about 5 days on that kind of passed and I now just feel like eating salads and fish, I'm due imminently. My cycle is 35 days and wondering if it will 28 days due to all this hormonal balancing! However I have the sorest breasts which I don't often get. It has made me more aware of listening to my body
Her diet suggestions are so wierd, no more than 50g protein and 150g carb, unless you are eating a ridiculous amount of fat that isn't very many calories and can't see how it's sustainable. Elsewhere she talks about interchanging fast days with higher calorie days, it's all very confusing and I much prefer the Fast800 book as that explains fasting principles much better and is science based.
So in short, I'll increase carb when I'm closer to my period, and I'l try to make the meals sufficient that I don't feel like snacking or have a healthy dessert straight after and I'll increase fats in the first half of my cycle, but not to extreme amounts either way. Both halfs of the cycle seem to call for lots of prebiotic foods. If I can with ease do a longer fast in the first half of my cycle I'll do it but on the whole I'm happy with a 12 hour fast.
The other change I made in my second half of the cycle is to ensure breakfast has some kind of protein, and I function much much better if I've had my 50g protein intake by lunchtime. Also I've moved complex carbs from dinner time to lunch time, and having a lighter dinner- will see if this helps maintaining not gaining weight, as by evening am less active whereas theory is I will burn it more at lunchtime.