There’s a dragon inside your brain that is demanding food. Chocolate, chips, ice cream, or maybe all of it combined. You don’t understand why every month it’s the same. You eat really well most of the time, but when the plague of PMS strikes, you cave.
You can’t seem to maintain any willpower or rational thinking.
The good news is, you are not crazy. There is real scientific evidence for what you are facing. The other good thing is, you are not alone. Many women experience extra hunger, cravings & out of control actions during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.
But you don’t want to continue to live like this month after month. Not only do your hormones wreak havoc on your emotions, but spikes in your blood sugar levels from over eating do to. This all translates into mood swings which make you (and everyone around you) miserable.
There is a way to help these symptoms by what you do leading up to those days.
The 5-7 days leading up to your period are probably the most demanding on your body. Even though it doesn’t seem to take any physical work on your part, the inside of your body is actually doing a lot. It’s amazing how much energy your body utilizes to keep basic functions going that are simply the foundation for you actually being able to get up & be mobile.
Keeping a calendar of your cycle & noting the days leading up to your period, is crucial to know when the following suggestions will work best for the onset of PMS symptoms
Here are some things that are crucial to not only overall health, but mental & physical health, especially during the most vulnerable days of your cycle.
Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. The hormones produced in your body while you sleep are imperative for the body to restore itself form the work it does to keep you alive. God specifically created these certain hormones, the ones that control brain function, hunger & reproductive cycles, to be released when we are fully asleep. There is nothing that can replace what your body does while it is sleeping.
Add in some extra fat & carbs in the days leading up to your period. This is not a candy bar loaded with processed ingredients but instead is more like an apple with nut butter, a boiled egg with berries or some carrot sticks with guacamole.
Don’t skip your time with God. This isn’t a cliché bible thumping suggestion. This is based on science that says quiet meditation time improves mood & will-power. As believers, we know that the power of the Spirit {Galatians 5:22-23} can give us what we need. So ask God to help you with cravings & mood swings. Also, ask Him to give you the ability to shut down the world & go to bed a little earlier to get enough sleep during this time.