Should I eat more the week before my period?

On Ep. 114, holistic health coach Jessica Suchan explains that after you ovulate, your body produces progesterone, which she describes as a thermogenic hormone. Your temperature rises and your metabolism speeds up slightly. That is why so many women notice they are naturally hungrier in the days before their period. It isn't a lack of willpower. It's biology.

Her practical fix is small. Instead of holding a strict deficit through that week, she has a lot of clients come up to maintenance, often just by adding one protein-rich snack of about 200 calories. She acknowledges that it can feel scary to eat more when you're trying to lose fat. Her warning is that if you don't, you'll probably end up overeating or bingeing later because you're fighting your hormones, and that giving yourself the snack leads to better results over time.

She also explains where the deficit fits best. In the follicular and ovulatory phases, the first part of your cycle, she says metabolism is slightly slower, so that's where a calorie deficit can do the most work if fat loss is your goal. It's also when she suggests pushing harder in the gym. This means you aren't giving up progress the week before your period. You're putting your effort where your body can support it.

Nikkiey shares that she does exactly this. She tracks her cycle, and at about seven days out she notices she's hungrier, so she bought extra yogurt to keep her protein up. This advice was given for women who still have a cycle. If your cycle is irregular or you have hormone concerns, talk it through with your doctor.