How to Make Sustainable Changes

How to Make Sustainable Changes

A year ago today I thought I was going to make a career out of being a Health Coach. That’s not really my game plan at the moment but I do still enjoy sharing strategies I’ve learned and picked up that can help others be more productive human beings.

Naturally, we all have goals for ourselves and sometimes there is a challenge between setting goals and actually taking them off the ground. I’m sharing all about how to create a sustainable system of change by breaking down the major influences that dictate the success of a goal. 

There’s a couple of things to consider when setting a new goal for yourself and methods that make it easier to accomplish! Is this a goal you have for this week or a lifestyle change that you want to keep going for a couple of months or longer? Check out the tips in this video to set yourself up for success.

For more videos from me, subscribe to the YouTube channel here!

 

10 Ways to Tend to Your Body, Mind, & Spirit During Self-Quarantine #Self-Care

10 Ways to Tend to Your Body, Mind, & Spirit During Self-Quarantine #Self-Care

I hope you all are well and staying safe.  I’ve been laying low myself and have come to a comfortable place with the whole stay-at-home situation.  For a while I was going stir-crazy but that was before I realized the potential for self-work and growth that this time offers.

There are a ton of lists and videos floating around for things you can do during self-quarantine to help the time pass.  I’ve seen them and you’ve probably seen them. However, I don’t want to ask you to go watch Netflix shows for the next few weeks just because you’re staying home.  I love Netflix as much as the next person but I hope to enlighten you with some different ways you can make the most of your time in self-quarantine.

This is a list of some of my favorite things to do during self-quarantine to tend to my body, mind, and spirit.

 

Learn a new skill

Everyone on the interweb is telling you to take up knitting and painting but pick up a skill you like.  I’m personally drawn toward creative projects but skills can also be more educational. You can find TONS of tutorials on YouTube for how to fix broken appliances, construction projects using extra plywood you have laying around, or how to use QuickBooks!  Yes, you can learn skills to improve your financial organization (do your own taxes!), start an online business, even how to code or do data entry. There is a lot of FREE information available, which is what I’d encourage you to utilize first before buying anything; it just requires a little digging–but, hey, you have time, remember?

Dive into self-work

I know I’m not the only one who had a minor (or major) freak out when businesses started shutting down, news reports of people contracting the virus showered TV and online media sites, or when the government released mandates to stay home.  It’s important to be informed but what helped me, and what has helped me for a while now, is turning my fears inside out. After a moment of panic, I try to regain my footing and ask myself why something is freaking me out. Why am I afraid?  

One fear is usually attached to another fear.  So, if you can take yourself down that rabbit hole, you can get to the bottom of things and create new belief systems.  When you engage in self-work, you can use fears as an opportunity to see where you’re unintentionally keeping yourself small or where you’re repeating patterns not serving you.  This is honestly a topic that needs more than one tiny paragraph to do it justice but, if your interest is piqued, I’ll direct you to some of my favorite resources to get your feet wet.

My very accessible 30 Days of Self Discovery Journal Prompts

The Holistic Psychologist YouTube 

To Be Magnetic Shadow

melmakesithappen

Movement

Oh, movement, how I adore you.  In my earliest days of dabbling with self-care, movement was my way to feel good.  Move your body and, naturally, you will flush out stagnant energy and find a new flow.  Contrary to what anyone might tell you, there is no “better” or “worse” form of exercise.  The best kind of exercise is the one you’re going to enjoy doing.  If you don’t have any movement routine at the moment, or if your current one ever feels like a chore, then change it up.  You don’t have to be married to ONE form of movement.

In fact, every form of exercise has its own health and mood-boosting powers.  The reason for that is because when you get movement in, you take your mind off of stressors or anything else going on.  You’re focusing on the activity you’re engaged in, balance, strategy, and potential (i.e. that’s why it’s important to rotate exercises or attempt more advanced movements when they no longer challenge you).  So, I think you’ll follow when I say movement challenges your body and your mind. And that post-workout high you get? I’d say that’s your spirit being lifted.  

Deepen your faith

Do you have a spiritual practice?  Spirituality is our way as humans to explain the happenings of the world and give us purpose.  It is once I developed my sense of spirituality that I was able to see myself as more than just a hamster on a wheel (going nowhere).  If you’ve ever been told, “things just happen” or “that’s just the way it is”, you’ll know that is not at all comforting.  An effective spiritual practice piques thought, proposes reasons for why we go through things in life, and offers possibilities for how to navigate them. 

My sense of spirituality isn’t just tied to religion, churches, and prayer but if that resonates with you then keep at it.  Deepen your practice, read the scriptures, and have discussions. Additionally, I think talking about our beliefs with a community that is open and receptive is one very important component to spirituality.  I have found my like-minded community through podcasts I listen to and online groups on Facebook. Don’t ever feel like you’re an oddball in terms of beliefs–there is a community for everything, you just need to go out there and find it.

Seek out expanding media

This is still bouncing off the topic of spirituality but hear me out.  I think a big influence on our belief system is the media we choose to consume.  The shows you watch and the things you hear are reinforcing certain ideas.  Are those ideas benefiting you?  Many times, we don’t realize how ingrained our belief systems are until something comes forward to question it.

Start by finding a resource that speaks to you in an area that interests you.  This can be a book, a blog, a podcast, a movie, or anything that piques your interest.  Maybe you’re a singer and you’d like to start playing shows live; so, watch some documentaries on singers you admire.  If you’re a woman who wants to travel alone but isn’t sure how, try reading the accounts of other women who have done the same.  Consuming media in this way is a safe method to explore a subject you’re interested in without any commitments.  

sausage potato kale soup

Cook something new

Ohhh yesss.  If you’re typically an eat-out-at-restaurants kind of person then staying home presents an added challenge–but a fun one!  For anyone completely new to cooking at home, my biggest tip is to try recreating a dish that you like ordering out.  Cooking, like movement, is a lot more fun when you’re eating/doing something you like.  

Those who know their way around a mixing bowl (my first kitchen experimentation was through baking before moving into cooking) but don’t often use a grill might want to try cooking something new.  I know cooking can simply be a form of fuel for some and they’re pleased enough with a sandwich but, if we’re talking about learning new skills, it feels really empowering when you can make whatever it is you’re craving with confidence.

Some easy recipes on my blog:

Sweet Potato Cucumber Salad with Curried Tahini Dressing

Fresh Shakshuka for One

Sausage, Potato, & Kale Soup/

Pumpkin Cookies (GF & V) 

Bond with your family / housemates

It might seem really obvious but staying at home provides a great time to bond with your family or housemates.  You all are forced to see each other a little more than usual now and perhaps that has caused some head-butting.  I know it has been a little tense in my house! However, talk it out and reconnect with them.  Express your intentions and open up the channels for communication.  That will make spending isolated time with each other much easier.

Tend to your yard and garden

Those of us who live in a traditional house can use this time to cultivate a visually attractive yard or patio.  Trim any askew tree branches, dedicate a spot of land to create a compost, or re-purpose some fresh branches to grow another plant–a no-cost way to get more plants without buying more.  If you have packets of seeds, then now is the perfect moment to plant flowers, veggies, or other plants to liven up your yard.  

If you’re in an apartment, you can also liven up your space by sweeping the steps, clearing your patio of clutter, and creating a potted plant arrangement.  

diy mustard bath soak recipe melmakesithappen

Relax & Release

Ironically, those of us who have a little more time on our hands might be the most stressed of all!  It’s understandable to feel confused and even scared but holding onto such strong emotions can really weigh on you.  Movement is one way to ease negative emotions out but also including practices that remind you that you are safe. I like taking a walk, drinking some warm tea while sitting outdoors, or singing aloud to my favorite songs.  Let’s also give a special mention to baths because they are so helpful to warm up our muscles and release stored tension in our bodies.

I’ll link to a mustard bath soak that I like to use here: Easy DIY Mustard Bath Soak

Clean-out &clear-out

If you’re staying home, this is the perfect time to sort through any closets, under the bed, or any places of storage.  Years and years will pass where we just keep holding onto clothes that don’t fit us, obsolete paperwork, or knick-knacks that a friend brought back from their Cancun vacation.  I’m not saying you have to get rid of anything but, going through all the corners of your home might reveal some stuff you haven’t looked at in years.  When you create space, you make room for new energy, new products, and new opportunities that better align with who you are today (not the you from 10 years ago that saved that stuff).

Let’s also take a moment to give special mention to clearing out social media, email, and online storage.  I know you’ve probably got tons of accounts you don’t even know you’re following on social media.  Weed them out and you’ll get a feed more customized to what you want.  And, instead of paying for additional storage, make use of free services like Dropbox and Google Drive–just stop clouding them up with assignments from college and photos from high school.  You know who you are.

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To be honest, many of the items on this list aren’t too different from things I enjoy doing on a regular basis.  The only difference now for myself, and probably for many of you, is the amount of time you have on your hands.  Some of these things might not directly seem like they impact your mind, body, and spirit but it’s little actions that add to your overall peace and sense of well-being.

 

 

The Free and Life-Changing Tip I Practice for a Healthier Relationship with Food

The Free and Life-Changing Tip I Practice for a Healthier Relationship with Food

During my recent Sugar Detox, I struggled with trying to banish my cravings.  I whipped up some sugar-free snacks and stuffed my face with roasted sweet potatoes and bananas because they were free of “added-sugar”.  I’m not even upset about the way I approached things because it led me to figuring out a really helpful tip that I now use EVERY TIME I EAT A MEAL.

Before I share the tip (impatient folks can scroll down) I want to clarify my approach on the sugar detox.  I wanted to eliminate added-sugars because I sensed those were the major culprit for my wild and uncontrollable cravings.  Sometimes I wouldn’t necessarily even be hungry for a sweet but all I needed to do was look at a skillet cookie and BAM!  The entire thing might as well be in my stomach because I felt like my self-control was on vacation.  Who else can relate?

I’ve since learned that self-control around food is primarily determined by the “baggage” we may be bringing to our plates.  Think of it: we spend our days knocking out chores, running errands all over town, meeting with people, and oftentimes chowing down food on-the-go.  How well do you think your mind recognizes the food you eat when you’re spooning overnight oats in between passing lanes?  Plus, what about all of that erratic energy you’re bringing into your meal?

The field of nutrition is thought of as a body of food rules.  However, I don’t believe in a world where food is only something we have to eat to survive.  Food is meant to be enjoyed.  Yet, for myself and probably many people, there is also a need for moderation.  It is up to us as individuals to determine how much moderation to apply and where we want to strengthen or loosen our grips on that relationship with food.  

As a matter of fact, the tip I’m about to share was something I picked up because I wanted to set boundaries and stop reaching for food when I wasn’t hungry.  On the other hand, it can totally be used if you want to expand your food options and feel less restrictive.

The free and life-changing tip that I now practice for a healthier relationship with food is: GIVING THANKS.

In Western culture, we can be pretty self-indulgent and come to expect certain things in our day-to-day life so much so that the things that really matter get taken for granted.  Every day we eat a meal, at least once but, probably a few times.  Food is widely available and that almost reduces its perceived value because we think we can just get more later.  That may be true accessibility-wise but I like to think about the process that made the food possible.  The growing process, the farmers, the store I purchased the food, and the preparation involved. 

Just try…next time, instead of jamming a forkful of food into your mouth the moment you lay eyes on your plate, try turning it into an experience.  I knew a friend who would carefully hold something that she was about to eat and smell it.  She’d legitimately spend a few seconds just smelling her food before eating it!  That blew my mind!  It was basically a full sensory experience.  So, I like to take as much time as possible (without letting my food get cold) before eating to appreciate my food. 

Here is what that usually looks like for me:

When possible, I prefer to take a seat at a table and in a space without noise and distractions.  Then, I like to stare at my plate a little bit.  I smile and think about the way I took my time to prepare my food—or, if someone else made it, then I think about how appreciative I am that they prepared this dish for me.  I’ll give my dish a sniff and then place my hands together, and, with my eyes closed, just express thanks for whatever comes to mind.  (Thanks can also be directed towards whomever or whatever you’d like: God, Jesus, the Earth, Mother Nature, the Universe, anything!)

Taking a moment to express a few words of gratitude helps me feel present and appreciate what I have.  Any other stuff going on in my day or life is set aside, for this moment, so that I can eat in peace.  Giving thanks helps me eat more slowly and, consequently, be more attuned to my body.  In that state, I can make better decisions for myself and I am significantly less likely to reach for unnecessary second helpings, snacks, or my vice: sweets. 🙂

When I started implementing my life-changing practice, I felt like I finally understood Michael Pollan’s famous words about eating food, but not too much, and mostly plants.

Eat food, not too much, mostly plants

It really isn’t complicated but giving thanks before a meal is almost a lost art.  So, tell me, did you grow up giving thanks for meals?  Do you currently have a gratitude practice related to food? 

 

Tips for Better Sleep That You’ll Want to Start Using Now

Tips for Better Sleep That You’ll Want to Start Using Now

Recently a friend of mine and I were talking about how we’ve been off our sleep schedules.  It seems silly to keep blaming the energy from the holidays for us developing a late night bedtime routine but, truly, any slight change can cause our sleep to be thrown off. 

If you’re one of those rare few who can drink an afternoon coffee and still go to bed at 9pm AND fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow, then more power to ya!  Though, from my experience and the experience of those around me, a sleep routine can be a difficult thing to master.

Some might argue that sleep is variable depending on whether you are a night owl or a day person.  I’ll refute that by saying sleep is a matter of routine.  Honestly, a couple of nights of staying up late once in a while are not a big deal.  When those few nights start to form a routine where you aren’t getting the necessary 7-8 hours of sleep then you’ve got some work to do. 

The biggest reason I feel we stay up later than we wish is because we tend to stay active up until bed and that makes it harder for us to actually fall asleep. 

Not what you expected to hear?  Well, I figure if you’re reading a post like this you’ve probably tried what you think is everything to solve your insomnia. 

  • You probably already know you shouldn’t consume caffeine, i.e. coffee, caffeinated teas and sodas, or energy drinks in the afternoon.
  • Sugar can be just as bad as caffeine for some people. It is worth minimizing or eliminating sugar in the evenings to see if that helps sleep arrive sooner.
  • Also, as important as exercise is for us, no one is going to be ready to sleep after sweating, lifting, and maybe chugging a protein shake at 8:30pm or later. I won’t tell you not to do an evening workout but I will let you decide where it best fits in after reading this post.

Food and exercise can certainly impact your ability to sleep at night but so can a few lesser addressed areas. 

Time is everything when it comes to sleep.

If you’re still up at 9pm doing laundry, cooking, walking around, or even watching TV, you’re stimulating yourself to stay awake.  Think of it: our bodies have protection mechanisms built-in.  How safe would it be if we were to be taking a walk and just drop down and fall asleep all of a sudden?  Yet, you’re doing all of these activities at night and then going to bed and asking, “WHY CAN’T I FALL ASLEEP?”

The best thing we can do to help our bodies get ready for sleep is to draw the activities in a little earlier.  That means eat an early dinner, try to work out in the morning or during the day, and stop scrolling through your phone or surfing the internet late at night. 

I think most people know the artificial light from screens like the TV, computer, and phones have a way of keeping us up.  Though, I’ll just mention that as a sidenote here incase you didn’t know!  If you must do late night work, keep red lights turned on in your house or choose blue-light blocking filters for your electronics.  I like f.lux for my computer (PC and MAC) and Twilight for my cell phone (Android) .

Anyway, let’s get back to drawing in those late night activities.  I know many people have jobs that prevent them from being home early.  So, it is only natural that cooking and leisure time will happen later.  Still, keep in mind the time you want to go to bed.  Remember that old rule about how we should avoid eating two hours before going to bed?  Well, that rule is relevant not just for the sake of digestion but so that you also have a chance to relax as well. 

If you can’t meal prep, at least plan your meal out so that you can prepare something to eat right when you get home.  It might be tempting to arrive home and take off your shoes and chill but save that for later!  I promise you’ll get a chance to do that and it will coincide with better sleep, too.  Go ahead and get your food cooking, throw your clothes into the washing machine, or take out the trash.  When you get the chores out of the way first, you’ll have nothing but rest time leading up towards bedtime.  It’s much more streamlined this way rather than going into spurts of activity and rest then activity and rest.

So, let’s apply that two hours rule to not just food but to avoid ANY stimulating activities before bed.  Dim the bright lights in your house, shut down your computer and TV, and puh-lease shut off your phone or put it on airplane mode.  You don’t need to do these all at once but aim to slowly knock out each of these one at a time.

It sounds like I’m playing hardball here.  You might be wondering what the heck you’re supposed to do with yourself if not eat or scroll through your phone. 

Think: leisure and relaxation. 

Example activities: playing with your pets, reading a book, taking a shower, doing some light yoga or stretching, and meditation.  Instead of wondering what can entertain you at night, opt for self-care and figure out ways to entertain yourself! 

If you need to pack a lunch or pick some clothes for the next day of work/school, then consider those as the first activities to do in the evening.  Get those done before settling down into your night routine.  Once you start the leisure time, you want to stay in relaxation mode. 

🌔My night routine for better sleep⭐

I start thinking about how to wind down around 5pm.  Yes!  This might sound extreme but I aim to be in bed by 10pm.  Honestly, I am not so structured that this can’t be adjusted for a date or a trip the movies but I know I want to rise early the next morning (6am is ideal).  I want to make sure I get enough sleep so that I can feel my best! 

By 5pm, I’m not doing heavy exercise anymore.  That is for earlier in the day.  I am definitely still doing some computer work but my red-light filter has probably kicked in already.

Around 5:30pm I start preparing dinner.  Depending on if I am cooking for myself or for my family, I usually have a meal ready between 6pm and 6:30pm.  I aim to stop eating by 7pm.  This is more of a metal bookmark rather than a strict rule.  More often than not, eating past this hour wouldn’t be feeding actual hunger for me so 7pm benefits me but maybe another time would be a better bookmark for you.

So, after eating, I brush my teeth.  I try to do that immediately—again, so that I don’t feel tempted to snack.  Then, I might do some more computer work if I’m feeling up for it or watch a movie/tv program with my family.  Whatever I choose, I wrap this up by 8pm so that I can take a shower.  Hopefully most people already take a nighttime shower but this is a great way to ease into that relaxation mode we’re looking for. 

After the shower, it is around 8:30pm and I usually put on a podcast while I dry brush and rub myself down with lotion.  I also might do a face mask or jade roll my face at this time, too.  Notice how I said I listen to a podcast at night still?  I’ll allow a podcast up through around 9:30pm, if I’m feeling it.  Like I said earlier, the goal is to ease out of your lights and electronics slowly throughout the evening.  BUT if you’re tempted to go on Instagram by having your phone/media device available then say no to the podcast.  I’ve developed more of a routine that I don’t feel as inclined to go online at this time of day.

After my dry-brushing and jade-rolling, I like to do some light stretching or foam rolling so that my muscles can relax.  Lots of rolling is going on here but it’s all gentle, I promise! 😉 From here, it is around T minus 45 minutes.  Depending on how I feel, I might sit and meditate; this could also be a moment for me to journal or read my book. 

 In an ideal schedule, I’d be feeling sleepy and hop into bed at 10pm.  Of course, I’m human and this fluctuates a little bit but I try to stick with this routine as much as I can because I know it’s what makes me feel best.

Alright, I’ve explained my tips for getting better sleep which primarily involves starting your nighttime routine earlier.  Just to recap:

Eat dinner earlier

Get your chores or workout done earlier

Turn off electronics

Shower and self-care

Unwind with relaxing movement

Bedtime!

If you can’t do all of these things then try to integrate one change at a time but I guarantee this will change your sleep game.  These habits have been years in the making so I’m happy to be able to share with you guys what works for me.  If you have any sleep hacks that help you, be sure to tell me what those are in the comments or message me on social media.  I’d love to hear!

Happy sleeping!

Xoxo,

Melanie

 

Storytime: How I Lost My Period and Got it Back + My 3 Tips!

Storytime: How I Lost My Period and Got it Back + My 3 Tips!

I used to be the girl with the perfect period. In my school years, my friends would talk about missing periods, backaches, cramps, acne, and other uncomfortable period symptoms. My period would come and go in a few short days but I never had problems. Until a few years ago, when I lost my period.

When that happened, I read anything I could find online from WebMD, to small blogs, and even random online forums to just get as much information as I could about why this was happening to me. Admittedly, I know what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for everyone else. The advice I found online was just to eat more or cut out exercise completely but neither of those felt right to me. For nearly two years, I lived without my natural period but I finally found a method that works. My hope is to share my experiences and possibly be a resource to someone else who is struggling with the same problem.

Melanie Tries to Get Fit

First, I’m going to take us back to summer 2015 when I was bright-eyed college student looking for a distraction. I was taking an online class and wanted an activity to break up all of the sitting-at-my-computer-work. Throughout my life, I was never into exercise but, now, I thought it would help me channel my pent up energy and get fit at the same time. I found Tone it Up on YouTube and spent any time I wasn’t working on schoolwork getting sweaty 😉

In fact, I started spending an obscene amount of time working out. I would exercise first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Each day, I would kill 3-4 Tone it Up workout videos like: HIIT, a total body workout, arms, and an ab video. I felt the exercise high for the first time in my life and overdid it big time. I was working out at a high intensity (especially for someone who used to be a couch potato) and consistently did this each day for two months.

Lettuce Eat Low Calorie

Here is the cherry on top: you know how I said I knew nothing about exercise? I also knew zilch about nutrition. Basically, I was aware of calories and I knew that people who wanted to lose weight needed to eat less calories. So, I stayed away from any food with fat and calorie-dense carbs. I used an app called MyFitnessPal on and off to track my calorie intake. It served me well and my proudest days (at the time) were ones where I had calories remaining so therefore I was in a deficit. At the end of a day, on MyFitnessPal, the words “If every day were like today you’d weigh…” came onto the screen and I would either jump for joy or punish myself if I wasn’t happy with the number.

So, to put it plainly, I exercised and starved myself into losing my period.

My disordered thoughts around eating were long-standing ones (a story for another time) but now I was exercising, too. I needed to eat way more than I was allowing myself and that took a toll. Finally, after going the summer without my period, I went to see my general practitioner in fall of 2015. She said I was just too thin and needed to eat more. My GP assured me exercise was not the problem and I just needed some fat on me to kick my body back into period mode. In the meantime, she referred me to a gynecologist who then had my hormone levels tested.

It turns out, I was low in progesterone so she gave me a prescription for progesterone contraceptive pills. I held the prescription in hand and remember asking the gynecologist if there could be any other reason as to my mysterious period absence. You know, if there was a reason, then I could try to fix it. Instead she told me I could just try eating more. In addition, the pill would help my hormone levels balance out and, in a year, we could see if my body was ready to produce a period naturally. I stayed on those pills for almost two months before I switched to an estrogen + progesterone pill. Both pills made me feel emotionally unstable but the latter ones were manageable. That is what I took for the entire year of 2016.

Although my body had a rocky adjustment, my hormones eventually evened out.  Well, evened out enough so that I didn’t feel like an emotional mess. I took the bleeding week each month as a sign that my body was having a period and all was good. Deep down, I knew I needed to make some minor changes but the contraceptive pill was enough to allow me to carry on with my fitness routine. I followed the Tone it Up workout schedules which involved lots of cardio, HIIT, and strength training most days out of the week.

While the cardio high kept me thriving, I made an effort to fuel myself with larger meals, too.  I ate a bit more but filled up my meals with lots of low-calorie fruit and splurged on desserts regularly . Looking back on it all, I thought I knew what I was doing. I was so dedicated to my workouts that I could not go a day without exercising. I was burning calories like crazy but feeding myself mostly sugar in return. Realistically, my body was exhausted and wanted a break but my mind was telling me to push forward.

So, around the month of October 2016, I dabbled in lighter workouts. I found yoga through Boho Beautiful on YouTube. Her yoga workouts were challenging but satisfying for days that I didn’t want to do a crazy hard workout. Then, I learned about Yoga with Adriene and her 30 Days of Yoga Challenge. I still did my regular Tone it Up workouts but added on a yoga video. Though, I’d look forward to the moments I’d get to do the lighter, gentler, yet invigorating yoga workouts. I started to think maybe this was what my body needed.

Come January 2017, Yoga with Adriene was doing a Yoga Revolution 31 Day challenge and I decided to quit all my other workouts to just focus on this. I strictly allowed myself one yoga video and then carried on with my day. It also seemed like the perfect time to stop taking the pill. The changes in my fitness routine encouraged me to tune into my body’s signals and something told me I would feel better without the pill.

Well, I definitely did not feel better off the pill. Without the fake hormones to assist me, I could feel my energy and emotions were all over the place. Still, I persisted.

On Instagram, I sought out others who had experienced the same and finally learned about a book called Woman Code through Lee From America. I finally checked it out for myself at the start of summer 2017. If you haven’t heard of the book, it is an incredible guide to improve and balance a woman’s hormones. The doctors I previously saw would tell me to eat more but not what to eat or when.  Or what life factors could be affecting me.  Unlike WomanCode author Alisa Vitti, they didn’t have a holistic understanding of my issues.  They were not something I could simply put a band-aid on.

I am now proud to say that after following the recommendations in the book, AKA cycle-syncing, I was able to bring my period back. 🙌

my period story

Along the way, I’ve picked up a few specific tips that worked for me:

Establish a routine

A few set patterns can really help bring balance to our bodies. Our bodies function optimally when we have a consistent schedule for our basic needs. When our bodies have reliable sleep and wake times, meal times, and even an evening relaxation time to wind down, they will know how to proceed through the day. If we are constantly skipping meals, staying up late, napping through the day, then our internal clock is thrown off.

Reduce stress

Emotional and physical stressors take a toll on our bodies. I wasn’t giving myself proper recovery time between exercise and different life factors weren’t helping. One way I alleviated stress was by adding a peaceful morning ritual of journaling and yoga each morning. I feel so much less tense and more emotionally stable when I can start my day calmly and gently.

Eat more fats instead of sugar

Fats are what help keep our blood sugar and energy levels stable. Sugar causes disruptions in that stability which then throws off our endocrine system functioning. Personally, I love sweets. I was the girl who would eat 4-5 servings of fruit a day not long ago. Fruit it not the enemy but sugar can be. I’ve since trained my taste buds to crave the richness of fats which allows me to comfortably intake less sugar. You can read more about how to begin in my post on How to Reduce Sugar In Your Life.

For women, our periods are just one sign that our bodies are functioning as they should be. Inconsistent periods can also be a sign of a deeper hormonal issue that can have a number of other repercussions. As you may have gathered from the tips, I believe our bodies are sensitive to even the smallest disruptions. If we lack a routine, are filled with stress, and further throw off our energy levels with constant sugar in food, it is no wonder a period may skip or be out of the picture for months.

Over the past few years, I tried to ignore my period problem and that didn’t benefit me. I attempted to eat more food and workout less but that wasn’t the magic ticket either. The tips I shared are probably the biggest takeaways I’ve noticed in myself. Still, I can’t recommend checking out WomanCode enough if you haven’t yet. I’ve also got a series here on my blog to journal my cycle-syncing observations when I started.

At this point, I’ve happily enjoyed a period the past two months. My monthly cycle lasts a bit longer than it should but I feel good about what I’m doing. I really believe in my tips and the WomanCode protocol to regulate my period (and hormones in consequence!). Please, feel free to reach out if you want to chat more about this. I’d love to be a resource to others who currently face these same issues.

my period story

As a disclaimer, this post is my period story.  It is not intended to diagnose or treat anyone else’s individual conditions. I’m not a medical professional and am just sharing tips that work for me.