HOW YOUR PERIOD IMPACTS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD

🌻 Inner critic/ body image:

During your autumn/ winter phases you're much more likely to experience self critical thoughts from your inner mean girl, which include negative thoughts about your body and around food.

Self sabotage may be more prevalent at this time as you may not be able to upkeep the high standards you set during the summer and spring phase of your cycle.

A dip in estrogen means you may be feeling less sexy or confident. Water retention due to the fluctuation of hormones is also quite normal during this phase of your cycle, so you may feel bigger of more 'puffy', which can cause discomfort when it comes to body image.

🍰 Cravings:

You may find that you're craving much more carb heavy foods and feeling the pull towards meals and snacks that are comforting. It's normal to feel a lot hungrier during these phases of your cycle and so eating more is needed/ to be expected - your body is working hard behind the scenes, so keep this in mind.

If your sleep isn't as good during this time, you may also be experiencing higher ghrelin levels causing more cravings for 'quick fix' foods that give you a hit of energy and short term pleasure, whilst feeling less in control around your food choices.

⚡️ Energy slumps:

It's natural that you may feel you have less energy during these phases, so you might find yourself less motivated to workout or move your body. Learning to work WITH your body here and move in a way that is mindful and gentle will help. Ultimately, planning and not feeling guilt for rest should be a priority.

🙅🏼‍♀️ Boundaries:

It's even more important to set boundaries and protect your energy during your period, it's likely that you have less tolerance for other people's drama. Often times ignoring these boundaries can result in destructive or self sabotaging behaviour around good as a way of coping or replenishing lost energy. Learning to lean in to the different phases of your cycle rather than fighting against them is honestly one of the most empowering things we can do as women.

🌱 Want to know where to start?

Start by tracking your cycle along with the symptoms you're experiencing, sleep, energy levels & appetite (I have a full podcast episode on how to start tracking for your health) to uncover what synchronicities are coming up for you.

If you’re ready to transform your health & your life, check out the ways to work together or book in for a free connection call.

Sarah xx