I'm not fasting today.
Actually, I won't fast for at least the next 8 days.
Today is Day 20 of my cycle.
That means I am now entering the nurturing luteal phase of my cycle.
Third quarter moon. 🌓
My body created the estrogen + testosterone it needed to release an egg from my ovaries and chemically encourage me to go find a partner to mate with (don't worry, I've chosen the same partner for the past 23 years - haha).
Women are designed for survival + reproduction, after all.
Isn't ovulation the best?! 😏
But, now that the egg is making its way down to my uterus, I need to change the focus of my lifestyle for the next week.
No longer will my body be able to handle fasting.
It's too stressful on the body.
The nurturing luteal phase is progesterone's time to shine!
But, we need to make space for her to show up because she's kinda an introvert.
She needs us to be present, softer, to rest and recover.
And - this is a beautiful time for us to enjoy food!
Progesterone needs our glucose to be higher, which is why we crave carbs during this week of our cycle!
But, not just any "carb" will do - be sure to make it nature's carbs to help stabilize blood sugar levels.
Examples of Nature's Carbs:
Sweet potatoes, quinoa, brown rice, oats, pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots, beets, apples, berries (blueberries, raspberries, etc.), pears, bananas, chickpeas, lentils, whole grain bread (or homemade sourdough)
Not all carbs are created equal + when you choose the right ones, during the right time of your cycle, your body will thrive!
It's time for us mamas to shatter the misconception that "all carbs are bad!"
By leaning into nourishing my body with righteous foods, making lifestyle changes to reduce my stress and lower my cortisol levels, I can control the types of PMS symptoms I will have when I start to bleed in a few days. 🤯
If you have "bad PMS + menstruation symptoms", then you probably didn't nurture yourself enough during the last week of your cycle.
You probably tried to keep up with the same energy you had during the previous phase, but during the last week of your cycle, that is inappropriate.
I love that I finally have the power to control the way my body feels everyday! 💪🏻
(PS - I have always had that power... I just didn't know how to leverage it until now.)
You have that power, too mama!
-- Ashley ✌🏻
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