That's it! Period.

Calling all ladies! I suppose that today is as good a day as any to write my post regarding our arch nemesis, the crimson wave. Since I'm currently suffering from my moon time now, forgive me if my post isn't too cheery. Damn hormones!

Mother nature's gift (or curse) afflicts us once a month and leaves a path of destruction and mayhem in its wake. By this I mean, not only do you suffer the standard inconvenience i.e. back pain, breast tenderness, bloating, messiness and whatnot (Oh my uterus hurts!) but we also have to suffer from emotional and mental strain.

Granted, Aunt Flow afflicts us all differently so what I suffer through may be totally different from what you suffer through but Uncle T.O.M. (yes, I'm on a slang kick today) does tend to mess with us in some way.

Frankly, when the communists come to town for me, I am in the worst way. As I've gotten older, I believe I've become more sensitive to little red riding hood and her arrival into my forest. Though I generally don't have any issue curbing my carbs on any normal weeks, I become a ravenous carb fiend the week before and lose all control when it comes to carbs. Sadly, when I start craving bad, white carbohydrates, I know that I'll shortly be visiting Red Bank, NJ.

Not only do I start stocking my carb cupboard the week prior to the red dot of doom but I also get supremely lazy and uber cranky. I just can't help myself no matter what I do. I know that I'm cranky because my tectonic plates are about to shift but I'm short tempered and I walk around pouting.

Also, for 3 weeks, I'll be good as pie, working out consistently and eating right, slowly shedding fat at a rate of 1-2 pounds a week and then BAM!! I eat horribly, get really really bloated and stop moving. Generally, during this time frame, I'll put on a few pounds which kills my motivation.

I did a fair bit of research on said topic and here's some advice from me to you and back to me since I need to listen to it myself:

1. Do NOT NOT NOT weigh yourself during your period. If you're extremely sensitive to what you see on the scale.... then this is the worst possible time to weigh yourself. Even if you don't become a carb whore like myself, most women tend to retain water around this time. It can be as little as nothing to as much as 5-10 pounds. You heard me right. 5-10 FREAKING pounds. Most of this usually drops off once your period starts or once it's over but in the meantime, you WILL be heavier but remember, it's mainly just water retention.

Surprisingly the cure for water retention is actually drinking more water. So drink your fluids and watch your salt! Don't drink too much too quickly though because you can get water poisoning. (Google it!)

2. For me, the first day of shark week is usually the most painful. For me the first day is a day of hot water bottles and advil. However... after that day, it's time to hit the gym. You need to sweat off some of that water you're retaining AND surprisingly exercise is a great pain reliever when Santa Claus is in town.

3. It's natural for us to stuff our coffers the week before code red. Our bodies naturally makes us crave the nutrients that it needs to do its 'thang. Just try try try to control yourself. Think of the progress that you've made and how horrible stuffing yourself with bad food actually feels. (Note to self: if you must stuff, stuff with healthy foods)

In fact, some research has shown that sometimes it's beneficial for the body to mix it up calorie-wise from time to time. Our metabolisms are extremely fickle and sometimes when you've hit a plateau, it's a good idea to boost up your calorie intake for a week or so before lowering it again to try to jump start your metabolism.

4. Do NOT lose hope. Yes, it sucks when the vampires visit and yes it may take a week or two to get back to where you were weight-wise but this is something that us women all have to go through at one point or another. You just need to keep it in mind that this is all part of a slow healthy weight loss. Sure it may seem like you derail yourself 1 week out of every month but even if you only lose 1-2 pounds a month in total, it's still weight that's coming off and those pounds do add up over time.

Unfortunately I don't have a cure or any advice regarding how to control your cravings. They will be there. It's almost a given. However, it is natural and what's most important is not to let it mess you up for the rest of the month. Always try to hop right back onto the healthy wagon as soon as you can. We as humans cannot be perfect all the time but as long as we're good most of the time, we will slowly get slimmer or healthier.

Despite the fact that I always put on a few pounds during my period, my weight has slowly but surely gone down. Why? Even though I mess up, I keep at it. Someone once said to me that time will pass by no matter what I do. However, if I exercise and eat right as best as I can, then months down the line, I'll be thinner instead of fatter or at the same weight. Think about it. It's very true. Do nothing and 1 year down the line, you'll be fatter or the same. Do something and 1 year down the line, you'll be thinner and if not thinner, you'll be in better shape.


So in regards to another update weight wise? I've scheduled a fitness assessment in about 2 weeks. Thankfully, my gym allows us free health and fitness assessments with a nurse and trainer every 3 months. I will let everyone know the official numbers then. However, as of December 17th...

I have officially lost 40 pounds in total since May of this year.


On December 17th, my weight was 153 pounds.


I don't have any new pictures currently or any measurements but that is what my scale told me. Which means that on the 17th, I was just 3 pounds from the goal that I had set when I first got back from my vacation.

However, St. Nick came to town, as did St. Menses... so I know that I may have gotten derailed a bit. But as per my own advice, today is the second day and today is when I will go to the gym. It will probably take a week or so to get back down to where I was but I have faith I'll get back down and lose a few pounds more.

I'll update some more regarding my fat, the holidays and other things soon. I've discovered a lot of really great activities and weight loss aids like Zumba and kickboxing in the past few months that I'd love to share with everyone. In the mean time, the best holiday wishes to you and your families and success in all your endeavors in the coming year. Lots of love from me to you!

;)