Please! What can I take to stop terrible sugar cravings and pmt before start of period? Possibly peri menopausal (ie old)

[TsarChasm]

I'm starting to notice a pattern here.

I'm getting terrible cravings for cakes and sweet things before the start of my period.

Usually I'm ok - I mean who doesn't like foods like that? But I don't crave it madly like this. It's not doing my weight loss attempts any good at all, and I was doing pretty well.

I'm 44 (knocking on a bit ) and my periods have gone crazy. Heavy, unpredictable, long Arrgh!

I've never had cravings (and pmt! hide the kitchen knives) like this before though. What could I do or take?

I already exercise (run) btw.

Have you ever tried homeopathy? This is exactly the kind of problem that I've found homeopathy can really help with. After a miscarriage in Oct I've been seeing a homeopath and she's helped with everything from recurring nightmares to grief and reducing hair loss. I can't recommend it enough. I like the fact they treat you as whole person rather than just a set of symptoms. Might be worth a try if you're not sceptical.

Interesting re: homeopathy. Maybe I should give it a try. I also have ridiculous sugar cravings in the week running up to my period. They are evil - worse than nicotine cravings when I was giving up smoking. My periods have also got longer and heavier in the last couple of years.

I feel your pain, TsarChasm. I have lost a stone since January and have got into a good habit of exercising and eating well, but PMT sabotages it completely

My PMT cravings are for salty savoury stuff, crisps etc. Might try homeopathy though - is it expensive?

It's usually about £50 for an initial session then £40 for a follow (these are W London prices, probably cheaper elsewhere). You shouldn't have to see one for a long period of time so not endless on going expense. I am sure there is probably some sort of organisation that oversees them but to be honest I fuond my current lady by googling 'ealing homeopath' and she's been brilliant. In the face of indifference and sometimes unkindness from conventional doctors/medicine she has been such a breath of fresh air. And I really believe she has helped me.

Magnesium, Chronium and Fish Oils.

'Yogi' tea (licorice flavour) is naturally sweet and really helps my sugar cravings

Thank you all for the replies.

I certainly wouldn't discount homeopathy. I tried it years ago for dd's eczema when she was a baby.

It wasn't hugely successful but luckily she grew out of it in the end. I think I was looking for a faster remedy than could be expected from alternative medicine though. Probably it requires more of a long term commitment.

I like the 'whole body' approach, so maybe this is the sort of thing that it could help. I'll certainly give it some thought.

SpringBlossom - so sorry It sounds as though you've had some difficult things to contend with there. I hope things are better for you now.

Poor MrsMattie. You sound as though you're struggling with this too. I become demonic - a bad tempered cake eating harridan. It's awful; like being possessed. I'm quite a mild mannered controlled sort of person usually. I've no idea what's going on with me.

Chromium rigs a bell but I haven't tried the other things mentioned. Thanks again all.