BUT WHYYY DO OUR PERIODS MAKE US CRAVE EVERYTHING?!

So this is usually how things play out for me…

A week before I start I’ll just be chillin going about my day doing my thaaang and out of nowhere BOOM “If I don’t get some sort of pasta in my life right now, someones going to die” Then everything gets put on hold until I can figure out what i’m going to do in order to get some pasta. I think last time I ended up going to my local whole foods and got a container of mac n cheese.

Ah - everything’s good. Until Its not. 4 hours later and BOOM… I NEED FRO YO!!

This goes on for 1-3 days then I start and it’s NO APPETITE at all because my stomach feels like there’s an alien devil inside of it and I have back cramps, stomach cramps and feel like I haven’t slept in at least 7 days. 

I think a day or two after that is when I try to get my life back together. Just to start the 3 week countdown until i have this much fun again.

So my question is WHYYYY do we have cravings??

What the hell is going on that I can eat healthy 99% of the time and then out of nowhere need a pizza or a mac n cheese sandwich in my life. (Made that up in 5th grade, best invention ever.2 pieces of bread and butter with mac n cheese in between…I don’t actually recommend it but…damn. its good)

So when we are getting ready to have our periods, our estrogen is fluctuating on a f-ing roller coaster having the time of its life while we suffer.

When this happens, our stress hormone cortisol starts to fluctuate, as well as our hormone serotonin which increases our feelings of happiness and contentment. 

If cortisol (stress) is up and serotonin (happiness) is down, we’ll crave simple carbs, fats, and sugary treats. This is because our body knows that simple carbs (sugar) will raise our happiness hormones quickly.

If our cortisol (stress) is raised but our happy hormone serotonin is regular, we’ll crave the fats and carbs but not necessarily the sugary treat. (croissants, bagels, peanut butter etc)

If you’re craving chocolate then that is most likely your body telling you that you are deficient in magnesium. 

These cravings along with bloating, mood swings, sleepiness and irritability can start 7-10 days before we start and sometimes last into our cycle. 

Thats a lot of time to be hungry and pissed. Not to mention that on top of just the cravings, we actually do feel hungrier during menstruation because our caloric needs fluctuate throughout the cycle.

Meanwhile, we’re just trying to live our lives and get our bods on point. 

So what can we do to reduce the cravings, control the cravings and reduce the bloat???

Check it:

- If you’re on your period now and want to eat everything, try starting your morning with protein and whole grains! This, opposed to sugary pancakes or cereal will help keep your blood sugar levels balanced for the rest of the day.

- In the middle of the day eat fresh produce. It is filled with water and fiber which helps reduce bloat and put off hunger as well as cravings.

- Magnesium can decrease cramping, insomnia, headaches, water retention, anxiety, and sore swollen breasts. Reach for cocoa and put it into your shakes, oats and green veggies. Also if you want to get this through chocolate, be sure to get one that is at least 70% cocoa. Or, get like me and get a magnesium supplement!

- Focus on WHOLE GRAINS AND HEALTHY FATS (one of my fav snacks is toast with almond butter and a banana with honey, really hits the spot)

- Have a craving? Then have it! Don’t ignore it. You’re already sensitive so don’t deprive yourself of that meal you want. No one need to know that you’re crying over a lack of burgers and french fries in your life. Modify whatever you can though, for example I would get a veggie burger with sweet potato fries.

You will be hungrier than usual, ITS NORMAL. Our uterus wall is shedding, we’re eliminating toxins and we’re dealing with any bottled up emotions from the previous weeks, this TAKES ENERGY FROM US!

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! If you feel exhausted, let yourself rest, if you feel alright and think you can hit the gym to raise those happy hormones for 0 minutes, then do it!

we all go through it so lets learn how to go through it the best….? way…..

Periods SUUUUUUCK but they can suck less.

peace out.

YOUR SUMMER BOD TRAINING AND MEALS

HALLELUJAH! The time has come where my days consist of bathing suits, big t-shirts, sandles, snacks and tanning.

Im throughly enjoying working from home, writing blogs by the pool and getting outside for my exercise. So since iv’e been home more I wanted to share with you guys some healthy and refreshing drinks and snacks I’ve been having, along with my exercise regimen I’ve been doing, sound good?!

Heres what a day looks like:

BREAKFAST:

- if I’m only doing cardio that day then I don’t have as many carbs so i go with my yogurt breakfast.

     - ½ cup fat free yogurt//fresh berries//mixed nuts (pistachios, almonds, walnuts, dried cranberries) and chia seeds.

- If I’m doing cardio and weights that day then i’ll have either:

     - 1 piece ezekiel toast with MCT oil, 2 eggs whites, ¼ an avocado and fresh salsa

     - 1/3 cup cooked oatmeal with fresh berries

EXERCISE: (Legs and Booty)

- 30 minutes on the stair master or elliptical OR a run outside if i’m not doing weights. 

( 3 sets of 15 for each exercise. When I do weights I also do 30 mins of cardio first)

- leg press (85 lbs) // inner/outer thigh abductors (70 lbs) // jump squats // walking lunges (30 lb barbell) // calf raises (hold 20 lbs) // regular squats (slow) // Deadlifts (30 lbs) // Clam Exercise (with a band above your knees) // Donkey Kicks on Cable Machine (30 lbs)

LUNCH: Now you Need Protein! 

I’m simple. I like things that are healthy, easy to make, and good. For lunch i might have one of these.

- Can of tuna with sriracha and Trader Joes spicy flaxseed tortilla chips

- Protein Shake

- Egg White and Veggie wrap (sauté bell peppers, broccoli, and spinach. Use a whole wheat wrap)

- Spicy Black Beans with steamed broccoli and salsa.

This is usually when i go tan, write, read, maybe grab a chai tea latte (with MTC oil)

SNACKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY:

Apples and chunky almond butter // Air Popped Popcorn // Mixed nuts // Carrots and Hummus // Juice // 

Now go out there and enjoy the 90′s ! 

BREAKFAST DO'S AND DON'TS

Obviously, wake up with no pants on first. Then stare at your fridge for 10 minutes with a cup of coffee and try to figure it out. 

Personally, I know that if my first meal is french toast and hash browns, my meal standards for the rest of the day are pretttyyy low. Screw it i had syrupy bread for breakfast, might as well have the whole sushi menu for lunch. 

So besides breakfast being important for setting the tone for the rest of your lovely long lived day, it’s important because it will decide how you feel immediately. Here’s some pointers for that first big decision of the day.

DO’S:

Do start by drinking a glass of water with fresh squeezed lemon

Do enjoy coffee with a nut milk or a tea with honey

Do enjoy a protein filled breakfast. This will make you fuller faster and keep you fuller, longer!

Do take out the egg yolk

Do have complex carbs > refined carbs (ALWAYS!) This means whole grain toast or oatmeal. NOT cereal, white bread, muffins, doughnuts or any of that crap that will turn into sugar as soon as it’s digested.

DONT’S:

Don’t go carb crazy, especially if you don’t have a busy day planned ahead. Remember carbs = energy. If I’m doing 30 mins of cardio an hour after I wake up i’ll have fruit for breakfast or maybe some yogurt and berries. If i’m doing heavy weights i’ll have oatmeal or gluten free toast with egg whites and avocado.

Don’t skip breakfast

Don’t have sugar loaded juice or juice from concentrate. FRESH OR COLD PRESSED JUICE ONLY! 

Don’t drown your breakfast in a sodium filled hot sauce, salt = bloating and dehydration

helpful?!