HELP! Only on Day 2 and my period is here w/ a vengeance!

[whitetiger438]

Help please!  I am only on Day 2 of my first Whole30 and my period swung right in with a vengeance! Day 1 I had major cramps but suffered through without taking pain meds.  Hubby was a doll and cooked for me and let me lay in bed.  But now Day 2 is here and the cramps are ramping up and the "river" has started flowing.  I have endometriosis so my cramps can get crazy bad, sometimes pain meds don't even touch it.  What can I do?  I always relied on sugar and caffeine for this time of the month in addition to the pain meds.  I don't want to whimp out on my Whole 30 but is putting it off for a few days while this runs its course so bad?  Would it happen again when I restart?

[ShannonM816]

Only you can decide if you really want to restart for this. Eventually, after eating W30 style for an extended period of time, most women report that their cramps are less bad and they have fewer PMS symptoms, but it does take some time, so whether you keep going with your Whole30 now or start it after this period is over, you're still going to have to figure out how to deal with these symptoms with your next period.

 

If you need meds, take meds. For foods, focus on getting in starchy vegetables, lots of healthy fats, plus your protein and other vegetables.

[whitetiger438]

Thank you Shannon! My hubby is encouraging me to stick with it and not give up - what a guy! So other than potatoes, what would "starchy" vegetables include?

[ShannonM816]

Thank you Shannon! My hubby is encouraging me to stick with it and not give up - what a guy! So other than potatoes, what would "starchy" vegetables include?

Starchy vegetables are any root vegetables like carrots, turnips, beets, parsnips, rutabaga; any of the winter squashes like butternut or acorn squash; sweet potatoes; pumpkin; jicama; or plantain.

[CaseyD]

My two cents - you're on Day 2 and you're craving. I think your brain is trying to fool you into caving. You have a choice to make - do you want to cave and just let your brain tell you this excuse is ok (and how many other excuses are lurking right behind) or do you want to tough it out and have a victory? I sincerely doubt sugar and caffeine are helping you. Sure, they may make you momentarily feel good, but it is unlikely they are aiding your health condition in a positive way. 

If it was me, and I have certainly been here - I would tough it out and win that victory over your cravings. Take your pain meds, sure, but don't medicate with food. You can do this!

[whitetiger438]

Starchy vegetables are any root vegetables like carrots, turnips, beets, parsnips, rutabaga; any of the winter squashes like butternut or acorn squash; sweet potatoes; pumpkin; jicama; or plantain.

The root vegetable worked!  We made a yellow potato, sweet potato, zucchini, orange bell pepper, onion, garlic, fresh basil hash topped with some compliant bacon and it was so satisfying and filling.  I think it gave me the "comfort" I was looking for.  It was also great leftovers with some scrambled egg the next morning.  I have made it to Day 4!

THANK YOU!

[skeslack]

Shannon, if you have the means, acupuncture can work wonders for menstrual problems! I've been doing that this past month and just started my first Whole30 this week with my period starting two days ago. I've seen an enormous difference and I was really afraid it would mess up my Whole30 but so far so good.

[skeslack]

Oops, that was for white tiger, not Shannon!

[PhysicsHippie]

Only you can decide if you really want to restart for this. Eventually, after eating W30 style for an extended period of time, most women report that their cramps are less bad and they have fewer PMS symptoms, but it does take some time, so whether you keep going with your Whole30 now or start it after this period is over, you're still going to have to figure out how to deal with these symptoms with your next period.

 

If you need meds, take meds. For foods, focus on getting in starchy vegetables, lots of healthy fats, plus your protein and other vegetables.

This is actually my third round (one day between round 2 and 3) of Whole30 (day 13) and my period symptoms are absolutely terrible today... focus at work has been an all-time low and cramps have been constant.

 

I'm hoping a strength training workout with some cardio will help (it has in the past), but is there a reason for starchy vegetable focus?  Or is that just your typical routine?  I found myself craving sweet potatoes more than usual yesterday... so had that with a few eggs and guac.

[PhysicsHippie]

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has some food that kind of helps with the hormones that's actually healthy/Whole30 approved?  I'm really not into taking pain meds, but I'm sure people have some food they swear by that helps cramping/fuzziness (other than chocolate lol).

[Karen]

There's a big reason for starchy veg - quick energy. Before our periods, our bodies have to assume it is pregnant. That's the source of PMS... We get tired (to conserve energy and direct it to creating a baby), retain water (to stay hydrated so a fetus can be sustained even during drought), get constipated (digestion slows to absorb more nutrients, and less water is in the intestines), and we crave sugar and carbs (quick energy needed for all the hormones that need to be made, among other things). All this was hard wired in our bodies before modern conveniences. Think famine, drought, etc. that existed in caveman days. It's necessary for survival of the species. That's why extra carbs and sometimes fat are suggested during PMS. It'll help feed the hard-wired craving in a compliant way.

I have endometriosis, too, so I sympathize with the pain. I have to eat pristine, make sure my thyroid meds are optimal, and take it easy around my period for me to get by with minimal pain. But I can say they are substantially better eating this way than years ago. It took a while of eating this way, though, to see lasting results. If I veer off path, a heating pad works wonders. I also spray magnesuim oil directly on my abdomen. We're often deficient and it gets absorbed by the skin quickly (I can't swallow pills but know that pill or powder forms exist). Not sure how true this is but I've heard chocolate cravings point to a magnesuim deficiency.

Good luck, and hang in there. It's worth it to treat your body and understand why it's asking for what it wants!

[PhysicsHippie]

There's a big reason for starchy veg - quick energy. Before our periods, our bodies have to assume it is pregnant. That's the source of PMS... We get tired (to conserve energy and direct it to creating a baby), retain water (to stay hydrated so a fetus can be sustained even during drought), get constipated (digestion slows to absorb more nutrients, and less water is in the intestines), and we crave sugar and carbs (quick energy needed for all the hormones that need to be made, among other things). All this was hard wired in our bodies before modern conveniences. Think famine, drought, etc. that existed in caveman days. It's necessary for survival of the species. That's why extra carbs and sometimes fat are suggested during PMS. It'll help feed the hard-wired craving in a compliant way.

Thanks Karen! You rock!