Ask a woman when it is hardest for her to stick to a diet plan and she is likely to tell you the week before or the week of her menstrual period. She will tell you that her craving for chocolate on those days is so intense, so insane that she cannot truly function unless she has some. She may feel incredibly weepy or angry or both until she has had that chocolate. Sorry guys, here is the truth about hormones and weight gain: women are not lying when they say they want chocolate more at this time of the month than at any other time, it is biological.

But, before we all start making the sign of the cross at chocolate bars and blaming them because we can’t zip our jeans in the mornings, there are other foods that we may eat more of because of hormones. Weight gain caused by these foods can be just as dramatic as that of the chocolate bar. In fact, it is more likely that other foods are the main cause of the weight gain rather than a few bits of chocolate here and there.

Hormones and weight gain can be caused by cravings after the menstrual cycle starts or just as it is ending as well. Some women start craving lots of red meat especially if they are low in iron before the cycle starts- the sloughing of red blood cells and menstrual flow can increase the anemia and make the woman want to replenish it. Even a woman who eats healthfully for much of the month may turn into a ravening carnivore when she is dealing with the hormones that are raging through her body.

It is not just the food that the woman is eating on these days either. Hormones and weight gain are linked because the extreme exhaustion and other problems that can make even the simplest of workouts seem like too much of a struggle. While yoga and other gentle twists may relieve some of the aches and pains of the menstrual cramps that many women feel, there are some poses that should be avoided, especially the inverted poses during this particular time of the month.

There are ways to combat the effects of hormones and weight gain, including being prepared for any and all cravings with smaller but still satisfying portions of trigger foods and having ways to distract yourself.

Making healthier choices, including using chocolate mousse style yogurt instead of chocolate pudding or chocolate ice cream or eating dark chocolate which has a more intense flavor than other types and can allow you to eat smaller amounts. Gentle exercise can be beneficial as well, keeping in mind that anything that increases blood flow or makes the cramping worse should be avoided. Have a few alternative workout plans in mind for the days when you are feeling less than your very best and make sure that you are allowing yourself a little bit of pampering time without overdoing the high calorie treats.

Learn how you can lose weight today . At Strip That Fat you will be taught about healthy eating and exercise you can do for the long-term.