Hi ladies, please tell me how you cope with cravings especially the sweet kind! I'm trying to be good eating wise as have put on half a stone but I can't stop these cravings I have for chocolate or sweet things in general :-( I just can't seem to find the will power to say no! I never used to be this bad and im getting spots on my face. It's just crazy....any tips would be very much appreciated. Btw having fruit instead or drinking water doesn't work!
Hi tracky
I had same thing, do you take a magnesium supplement ?
Useful info ..
If you crave chocolate, it doesn't mean your body has a chocolate deficiency, although I think most people would prefer that.
Chocolate is high in magnesium.
Cravings for it often indicate that your body is deficient in magnesium, which is a common deficiency.
I take solgar chelated magnesium as is good for meno anyway..
Chelated magnesium does not upset stomach like magnesium citrate or magnesium oxide those have laxative effects.
Jay x
Magnesium has many benefits to good health, one of them being its action as an effective natural sleep aid. James F. Balch, M.D., author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing, writes: “A lack of the nutrients magnesium and calcium will cause you to wake up after a few hours and not be able to return to sleep.”
Chronic insomnia that occurs with frequent night time awakenings is one of the main symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
On the other hand, a high magnesium diet has been found to be associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep. This was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota.
Mildred Seelig, M.D., the leading medical researcher on magnesium says: “Many people needlessly suffer pain – including fibromyalgia, migraines and muscle cramps – because they don’t get enough magnesium.”
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center web site, inadequate magnesium also appears to reduce serotonin levels in the brain.
One study found that magnesium was just as effective as an antidepressant drug in treating depression. In addition, researchers at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute reported that for every 100 milligram increase in magnesium intake, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes decreased by 15 per cent. Other studies have shown that people with migraine headaches have low concentrations of magnesium in their body.
Jay x
Finally
Taking chelated magnesium 400 - 600mg daily or Eating magnesium-rich foods regularly can help strengthen your bones and prevent conditions like osteoporosis, which often develops during menopause. Strong bones can help prevent bone fractures and injury. Magnesium can also help reduce symptoms of menopause such as insomnia, tissue dryness, mood swings, anxiety, irritability and water-retention. The mineral can also help improve energy levels, which tend to dwindle during menopause.
Hope that all helps
Hi Tracey
Having put on 8 kg over 4 year period (and I'm a little person at 5f1inches), being in perimenopause and 44, I too was experiencing cravings for biscuits, salty chips or basically any high calorie food. I ended up joining weight watchers in Oct last year primarily to ditch 8kgs. I have lost the 8 kg in 4 months whilst still enjoying a glass of wine 3-4 nights a week and one meal a week (Mon night for our family) where I eat what I want including dessert and sometimes a 3/4 slab of chocolate.
I tell you this because I found that one unexpected consequence of following the WW diet is t hat I have no cravings....yes no cravings at all.
The secret is I think that on WW fruit and veggies are zero points as an inducement to eat more healthily, but also because they are frankly filling and reduce cravings. If you also snack on protein rich foods or high fibre fruit you will feel full and have no cravings.
So for me personally (btw, I don't exercise other than usual daily activity) I know that if I eat a banana, or an apple, or 10 raw almonds, I will feel full within 10 mins and not be hungry for few hours. For this reason, I keep either a banana or small zip lock bag with 10 raw almonds in my handbag at all times so that if I'm out and on the run and starting to feel peckish or craving sugary or salty naughties, I can nip it in the bud.
Btw, I have no affiliation or link with ww, it's just my personal experience and desire to lose the pesky perimenopause weight.
Let me know how you travel with fighting the calorie craves,
Sydneymum
Hiya jay where can I purchase magnesium?
Thank you so much Jayneejay a wonderful source of information as always. I don't take magnesium so am going to look into buying some asap.
Thank you Sydneymum to have no cravings would be fab :-) I'll take what you've said on board and see what happens. Im allowing myself 2 plain biscuits with my morning cup of tea but that's all and then try and be good during the day carrying fruit and nuts with me.
Hi Jay, hope you are ok? I wanted to ask you how much kelp you take for your hair? I've bought some as I feel like a member of the hair bear bunch at the moment. Lol. Xx
Hi Tracey
Sounds like a sensible plan! Be aware though that unfortunately sugary foods or heavy calorific carbohydrates like salty crisps tend to create more cravings.
If you enjoy your bikkies, go for it and supplement with magnesium chelated form in case you might be deficient or low.
Everyone one of us ladies is different hormonally and nutritionally and what works for one does not always work for the other. For me, I find having any biscuits during the week is a no no as I have no self discipline and certainly could not stop at two biscuits....more like the whole packet for me! So to be more moderate and keep my weight down I have one treat meal a week which is dinner of choice followed by dessert and if wanted 3/4 slab of chocolate or other treat food (like ice cream or biscuits). That keeps my cravings at bay and motivates me to hang on till next week.
But you must settle for what works for you personally and your lifestyle.
Good luck!
Sydneymum
Ps: What biscuits do you crave? My personal weakness is any biscuit with chocolate on it or in it!
Luckily I crave Rich Tea biscuits which are at least plain ones ;-) thank you x
That's fantastic J !!!!!! I'm going straight down to get some as I have that problem!!! Xx
Hi Sydneymum
Did you read about choc cravings and magnesium? Read jayneejay's post! I'm dashing to get some!!!
I've only just joined these forums so learning all the time!
Xxx
( ps. Amazingly I really think we know each other!)
Hi mooma
Havent seen you on here for ages, hope your well,
I take 1000mg Kelp from simply supplements. One a day.
I took it as hair was coming out, years ago. it worked so well for nails too, took it years and stopped taking it last year, 3 months later hair was falling out by the shed loads again, so restarted my kelp and within 6 weeks hair glossy, and no loss.
Jay
Hi
No idea where you live, i get solgar chelated from amazon
Jay
Hi Tracky
Sugar craving can also be caused by low adrenal function (basically we're a bit worn down!) which can unfortunately hit at peri/meno time! You can end up with sugar spikes & crashes, which is what happened to me. I ended up having to cut out sugar & caffeine especially, & eat more good protein & carbs, lots of veggies & go easy on the fruits, especially in the morning.
At this time of our lives we can have so much to deal with too, with empty nests, aging/dying parents, a build up of unprocessed emotional baggage, we're worn down, overworked, then we hit menopause!!
This is time to look after you. Some of us haven't looked after ourselves for years, ie: treating ourselves as important & special. Lots of things can go on the back burner, we can return to them when we're feeling stronger. I've only started being able to cook & clean again in the last few weeks. Still can't go up the shop on my own (vertigo/fog) but someone else can!
I think changing what you eat is the most important thing. You can look up diet for adrenal burnout....it can't possibly do any harm! xxxxxxx
Hi Jay, still much the same unfortunately, the jaw pain, stiff neck and headaches are lingering. My hair is also falling out in handfuls and so frizzy. I'll give the kelp a go . Thanks. Hope you are ok and enjoying the sun. We have a little sun here today but not as warm as yours unfortunately. Xx
Hi Mooma
i have been quite poorly ( not meno) had 3 slipped ( bulging) discs in spine and pain like you wouldnt believe but all over, turns out i had shingles as well. Knew something was sadly wrong other than my back.
as you may know after we have chixken pox, shingles lays dormant in all of us in our nerve roots, mine came on with the back problems injury..
i had it twice ( shingles, same place same side ) so still recovering, hard to rest when you have just moved house 2 weeks ago, but i am feeling alot brighter but not there yet ..
hope the kelp works for you, its a good all rounder to take anyway its always suited me and my hair loss just stopped after a few weeks.
if i stop taking it a few weeks later my hair starts clogging the sink and comes out in tufts in the comb, so i wont be stopping it again.
a doctor told me years ago to take it, and it does work .
jay x
Sorry to hear about your back.and shingles too? Very painful. I hope it doesn't linger too long. It's strange how these things trigger each other isn't it? Yes moving house can't have helped as its a bit stressful anyway. Hope you continue to recover quickly. Thanks for the info about the kelp. I can't really work out how much is in the tablets I have but I'll take one a day and up it if the hair doesn't improve. Thanks. Xxx
Thanks Mooma
Yes they say stress can also trigger shingles aswell .
My Kelp is super strength 1000mg from simply supplements uk ..
Infact someone bringing me 2 bottles over tomorrow. 😑 when they come.
They do ship overseas aswell ..
Good luck
Jay