Feeling "Hormonal?" - This is Why You Should Be

Originally posted February 19. 2018

Many women go through a menstrual cycle each month thinking it only lasts for about one week - when they’re bleeding.  

But a menstrual cycle is much more complex and dynamic than simply bleeding each month.

Following up on my previous post about why you should track your period cycles, I knew it was necessary to dive deeper into how menstrual hormones affect our female bodies during the month.

Did you know a menstrual cycle actually consists of 4 phases?  These 4 phases together last approximately one month in total (or one menstrual cycle).  Research says that’s approximately 450 menstrual cycles in a woman’s lifetime!  

Menstrual cycles create complex and dynamic shifts in our bodies each month.  Many of my clients have initially state they are concerned, frustrated, and some even infuriated by feeling a lack of control during their menstrual cycle. They often express feeling “hormonal.”

While the term “hormonal” is technically accurate, in our society there is often a social stigma attached to it.  I’ve witnessed how this social stigma (or lack of understanding) can fuel concern and frustration in my client’s relationships, workplace, and daily life.

I support my clients to gain awareness and understanding of how their hormones are affecting their bodies throughout the full menstrual cycle.  Once they have an awareness and understanding, the phases and fluctuations make more sense.  

From here, we look at how to make healthy dietary and lifestyle choices to sync up with each phase, so they can feel their best all month long! 

Hormones are the drivers of each of the four phases within the menstrual cycle.  Hormones from each phase can affect a woman’s body, mood, energy and exercise levels, sex life, and the foods she should consume in order to support her health.

Awareness of the dynamic hormonal shifts throughout your menstrual cycle is fundamental to understanding what it means to feel “hormonal.”  Knowing how these hormone shifts effect each of our female bodies every month can truly help us women to maintain balance.

Just as I encourage my clients, I would encourage every woman to get to get to know each phase of her cycle intimately.  Knowing your body in this way can empower you to make healthy dietary and lifestyle choices for your body, and feel your best throughout the month.

Now, you're probably wondering what these phases are and how you can get this information to start having a better relationship with my period.  

Your next step is my on-demand course, ‘Flow.” Get all the details here.