Recognize that your body loathing is A. Hormonal and B. Because you’re bloated. No one likes being bloated.
Dear Momma Bare,
I'm not on any hormonal birth control so have a natural menstrual cycle after two children. At certain points in the month I definitely feel worse about my body. I'm much less confident and more prone to eating the wrong things, not doing physical exercise etc. It's very frustrating. Other times of the month I don't feel like that at all. Is there anything that can help? Is it normal to experience this? Could it be hormonal?
Thanks! I love the work you are doing!
Best wishes,
J
Hi J!
I am also a J.
I can answer this in one word: YES.
Yes, it’s frustrating. Yes, it’s hormones. Yes, there are things you can do to ease the insanity that is PMS.
Off the bat let me say, go with it. I mean don’t let it make you crazy. It is a reality and it’s a reality that most women deal with about every four weeks. Don’t be super critical of yourself and your choices during that time. Recognize that your body loathing is A. Hormonal and B. Because you’re bloated. No one likes being bloated.
I had my period last week and in the five days prior I wanted to eat a cheeseburger, milkshake, fries, and an entire pound cake. With strawberries. Because you know, healthy. When I was pregnant with my last baby, I drank pickle juice. FROM THE JAR. That happened. Hormones are real. Do not underestimate them.
Here are some things that can help with PMS: I have found that wild yam and chaste berry are particularly beneficial for me. Clary sage is a great essential oil, mixed with coconut oil and applied to the soles of your feet. I realize this sounds like some hippie shit. And if you read my article last week, you already know I don’t shave my armpits, so that sort of amplifies my hippie shit status, but I pinky swear to you, I’m not making this up. There is a reason that many medications are plant derived, i.e., valium = valerian root. Plants are nature’s medicine. Now you can’t rely on greenery for everything, but in this case I think it’s worth a shot.
In the meantime. Let them eat cake.
In love and LOTS OF cake,
Joni
