One cool day, I must have been 12 or 13, I curled up onto my mom’s bed crying in pain. After going to the walk in, they thought it must have been my appendix because every word they used to try to nail down the pain seemed accurate. When they found droplets of menstrual blood in my urine, I was discharged, and my family doctor put me on the pill. This was my first and certainly not the last time my cramps were dismissed because it was related to my uterus. 20 years later, I’ve found myself again after the pill numbed so much and have finally found ways to balance out the pain. It’s not all better but I don’t think I’m dying anymore. I can’t promise it’ll work for you but hope it might be worth try!

The books I learnt most from are Fix Your Period: Six Weeks to Banish Bloating, Conquer Cramps, Manage Moodiness, and Ignite Lasting Hormone Balance by Nicole  Jardim, The Happy Hormone Guide by Shannon Leparski and the Moon Cycle Cookbook by Devon Loftus and Jenna Radomski. I also learnt a lot from the Maisie Hill Podcast. I’ve adapted their advice for what’s suitable for my experience with ADHD including reducing vitamin C intake while I’m taking medication (taking it before bed if my diet doesn’t naturally have enough during the day, and more structure than purely listening to my body as it doesn’t always cue (except clearly loudly!)

Start with tracking your cycle

Those without uteruses decided a lot of how our daily lives are planned out, but if you have a menstrual cycle planning things according to the 24 hour day doesn’t make as much sense as along with your moon cycle. I wake every day and take my temperature and enter it into my Natural Cycles App, which is paid but there are guides to manually tracking if you live in a place where data might not be safe or if its not accessible to you. I take ovulation tests and track symptoms of my cycle including sex drive, PMS and cramps. This helps me know what my body might need.

By LP Penner

August 22 2022

The Seasons

The moon cycle is broken into seasons where my energy level usually matches.

Menstrual – Winter and this would be represented by a new moon.

This is where every cycle begins thus, we treat it like a new start. I am literally shredding the uterine lining making space for new things. This also takes work so the body and brain need rest. I try to book in my calendar less during this phase of my cycle, when possible delaying meetings or sending out emails by schedule knowing I won’t have it me to reply right away. I might be a less social and do extra soothing self care like binging TV, letting myself feel whatever is needed and comforting my body. This including (not sponsored) Somedays cramp cream, baths, candles, Midol and cats laying across my belly. If budget allows this is when I would go to therapy and get massages.

Follicular – Spring and Half Moon.

Just like spring, this is when to plant some seeds. Those scheduled emails go out now! I might do my most intense workouts at this time or try to plan the big things for now. This is when I re-organize and chart things out. This is when I tend to feel most free from my period. I may have a drink or two and socialize more.

Ovulation – Summer and Full Moon

This is literally harvest time. The most energy, and all my new ideas are out! This is also when I’m most frisky and ready to connect with folks. This is also when I know I can do the hardest things like book that appointment or write up the blog post about periods. I get little pangs signaling the egg is out of my follicular tube and start thinking of how I’ll care for my menstrual and the luteal phase.

Luteal Phase – Fall and crescent moon

I always resist what I need at the start of this phase! It’s hard to slow down! I really listen to routine and try to my body ready for the winter phase. This is when my cramps tend to be the worst so really I try to care for myself. I also start to adjust my diet, without too much restriction because that wouldn’t help either!

Foods

This is where the cookbooks have made a huge difference! I sit down on Mondays and go through my data and see what phase I’m in then meal plan accordingly. I refuse to keep it strict so that I am more likely to stay with it and connected with loved ones as food so binds us.

Menstrual

I take extra iron to replenish what is lost. The focus is on grounding, so root vegetables help and keep me full. Things like beets, dulse, kale, nori, whole wheat breads, berries, black bens, edamame, tempeh and tofu and plenty of chocolate.

Follicular

Green like spring! Artichokes, asparagus, basil, broccoli…. So much broccoli…. Carrots, lettuce, beans, avocado, quinoa and fermented goodies like pickles, olives and the like.

Ovulatory

I think of how I don’t want heavy foods on a hot day and so my food matches at this time. My partner usually needs extra snacks as his cycle isn’t the same. Lots of salad and fruit. I tend to like Mexican foods like bean tacos. Lots of bell peppers, cucumbers, fennel, spinach, tomatoes, corn, pineapple and sunflower seeds.

Luteal

This is where I tend to see the most changes and say no to things which is nice practice. I try to limit sugar and gluten and nourish myself with things that make me fuller than that like chickpeas, beans, brown rice, Brussel spouts, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, parsnips, rutabagas, squash, sweet potatoes and the like. I try to avoid alcohol or anything else that makes my body work hard to process it.

Some notes

I find with ADHD and my workout routine I need more protein than these plans offer and have lots of eggs in the morning with fiber. I also see a dietician who really helped with exploring foods that would keep me energized and I would actually eat! If you have coverage, I’d highly recommend doing the same. Sometimes I can’t keep with this routine exactly for example if I’m invited to eat with others, have a drink or just sense I need something else I decide what is worth it and connection often is! So, concerts almost always win, someone else feeding me makes me feel good and I was vegan for too long to totally stick to this.