You Hate Your Period, But Don't Want To

So, you hate your period, but you wish you didn’t? 

I used to be in the same boat. Well, I just hated my period. It never crossed my mind that I could change my perspective on the situation. Disliking your period was just the norm, everyone did it. 

But more and more I hear from gals out there who want to mend that relationship. 

They want to (*gasp*) get along with their cycle. 

Well, if this is you, here’s a few things you can do:

Start learning about your menstrual cycle: 

+ Look into the power of your four phases, the strengths and weaknesses in each and how to use all of it to your advantage

+ It’s amazing how your perspective changes on something when you finally understand the purpose of it (i.e. cramps)

+ Start charting your cycle (tracking your fluid and temperature). You’d be amazed how many cringe at the idea of checking their fluid. If you can’t touch your own vagina, we need to talk. 

Change the conversation:

+ Notice the tone and attitude of conversations surrounding periods with your friends. Do you only complain to each other? 

+ Start saying positive things, little tidbits you’ve learned and things you’ve started to notice in your own cycle

+ Don’t worry. You’re still allowed to say things like “oh my god these cramps!” or “I just bled through everything!"

Upgrade Your Period:

+ Do you hate the period products you use? 

+ I really didn’t like pads when I first got my period. They just made me feel frumpy. And I distinctly remember when I was finally able to successfully use a tampon. I felt like a new woman. 

+ Maybe you feel itchy, irritated and uncomfortable. And you’ve been associating this nonsense with why you dislike your period so much. Well, it’s time to try out a reusable pad, period underwear and maybe even a menstrual cup

+ Take time to pamper yourself around your period, whether that’s sleeping more, eating better food or taking a bubble bath. Treat yourself like a million bucks, and don’t apologize for it. 

These are three easy things that we can all start doing. And this is kind of my formula for everything in life. (Food, money, etc.) Educate yourself, change how you talk about it, and find a way to improve it. 

Where do you struggle or excel in the realm of menstrual magic?

Not Losing Your Cycle While Training

When deciding whether to train for a marathon I knew I didn’t want to screw up my cycle , and so I knew if I was going to do this I needed to do a bit of research.

According to a few different sites, at my current pace and weight I burn around 90 calories a mile, which means:

- 3 miles = 270 calories burned 

- 5 miles = 450 calories burned 

- 10 miles = 900 calories burned

While I’ve never really tracked calories, I have been more conscious of the need for me to consume more during this little adventure I’m on. 

Now, let’s talk about why it’s important to incorporate that information into your diet. 

Turns out that when you don’t have enough fuel, your body starts choosing to support functions that are vital to survival. And would you guess it? The menstrual cycle doesn’t make that list. So, your body can shut down your cycle if there’s not enough nutrition, which results in a hormonal stress response, lowering the levels of estrogen, messing up your healthy cycle. 

When you cycle starts not showing up it’s because you don’t have the necessary energy to ovulate. 

At first you might not notice anything, but that doesn’t mean it’s not affecting you. Low estrogen affects bone loss, which means stress fractures can be the first sign that something is wrong. 

If you keep training under these conditions it’s going to affect how your recover, your energy, and your running, which seems quite detrimental doesn't it?

I have found that my body (obviously) just naturally started needing more fuel as I started running more. I’ve gone from two meals and one snack a day to three meals and two snacks a day. 

I remember to eat breakfast, to fuel up before and after runs, and I eat when I’m hungry. And I’ve been keeping an eye on my menstrual cycle. 

Because I view the cycle as the canary in the coal mine. If things head south there then I know something is up. 

Loosing your period isn’t a good thing, it shouldn’t be a moment of success or relief, or a “I’m doing this right” moment. 

If your cycle disappears you need to reassess what you’re doing. Up the calories and lower the amount of exercise. And remember it took a few months or so for this to happen so it will take a few more for it to get back in order. 

While there are certainly other factors at play, time and time again it comes back to nutrition. So if you're having issues I alway suggest starting there. 

And it should be worth noting the quality of some calories over others. Make sure you are getting enough of your nutrients for good sources. Head to the produce aisle, through in some beans, rice is always easy and great, and happy eating. 

Not to mention, coming home from a long run and being able to replenish (stuff your face) with delicious, nutritious meals. 

Happy training!

The Power in Our Four Phases

First a quick refresher of the four phases of our menstrual cycle:

1.  menstrual phase 

2.  follicular phase 

3.  ovulatory phase

4.  luteal phase

Next, let's move into why I'm a fan of each phase. 

I love the menstrual phase because:

     + it’s a chance to slow down

     + rest, renew, reflect

     + it has taught me to listen to my body

     + i’ve learned to let myself sleep more and I'm loving the benefits

I love the follicular phase because:

     + starting around the end of my menstrual phase into my follicular phase I get this burst of energy (if I slow down during my period)

     + it’s kind of like coming out of hibernation. I’m ready to go each day

     + it also reminds me of my love for Mondays as a fresh start

I love the ovulatory phase because:

     + I’m most social and outgoing in this phase

     + I’m best at interacting during this phase

     + I love the process of the fluid getting more fertile, waiting for that spike in temperature

I love the luteal phase because: 

     + there’s not a bunch of spotting like there was at the beginning of this year

     + knowing how many days it’s going to be and when to expect my period 

     + the decline in energy reminding me to start slowing down

     + It's when I’m most in tune with my emotions

Knowing about the different phases has opened up this whole new world:

+ I’ve learned to love my cycle

          - learning about what’s going on inside your body, as well as your mind just makes it all click and make sense

+ How you feel makes sense

          - if you are feeling tired, or emotional you can point to why

+ I can use this knowledge to my advantage

          - can schedule around this, don’t load a bunch on your plate during your menstrual phase. schedule big meetings around ovulation. 

A book I love on this topic that taught me so much is “The Optimized Woman”. So, if you liked today’s post I recommend going and picking this book up. 

I'm On The Hunt For New Period Underwear

It was last year that I started my excursion into period underwear. It all began with a single pair of Thinx, which was quickly followed by five more. I was hooked.  

They replaced awful disposable panty liners for me, which irritated my poor lady bits and also created a lot of waste. 

I use them as backup for when I use a cup, as well as by themselves on days I have a light flow or  spotting, aka didn’t need a cup. 

But after a few months of use I started noticing some discoloration in the crotch, almost as if they were getting bleached at the center most point of period collection. (TMI? Sorry, not sorry)

I’m not quite sure what is causing this. Possibly it’s that I use a dryer and don’t hang them out to air dry.

I’ve also noticed that the ones with lace have started to fray, the elastic bindings popping out every which way. 

It’s because of all of this that I am in search of some new period underwear. Thinx has dominated the market (good for them) but I’m ready to expand my horizons when it comes to period underwear, spreading the love and support of my monthly flow. 

Some would suggest giving reusable pads a go, which I have and need to (again), but at the moment I would much prefer period underwear. 

So, after a little bit of research, here are my contenders, feel free to weigh in with your thoughts: 

+ LunaPads - the MAIA Bikini + Hipster ($31.99-$34.99) 

Comparable in price, and I like that there's no lace to fray. Plus you can adjust your absorbency as needed. Plus I've heard good things about their reusable pads so I have high hopes for these. 

+ Modibodi - the Classic Bikini ($24.50-$27.50) 

I like the coverage of this one. They look simple, comfortable and effective. Not to mention they're $10 cheaper than some of the others. 

+ Knixwear - Leak-Proof Bikini ($25) 

Can you notice a theme here. I like simple, no frills, comfort when it comes to underwear for my period. I also appreciate these are more inexpensive as well. These would be good for cup back up. 

+ Dear Kate - Jackie Hipster Mini + Nellie Hipster Full ($36-$38)

A bit more on the pricy side. They look like fancier period underwear, but I've heard good things about them. They have different absorbencies depending on what you're using them for. 

+ Panty Prop - Propkini + Propster ($19.99)

The cheapest on this list. They are once again no frills. They come in various colors as well. 

What are your favorite reusable menstrual products? Because right now mine are the combo of period underwear and a menstrual cup. And I'm itching to try some of these on this list. 

Three Different Chickpea Sandwich Recipes

Chickpea sandwiches are one of my favorite things to make. They’re so simple, delicious and you can do so many different things with them. 

While I normally craft them from whatever leftovers I have sitting in my fridge or pantry I wanted to share three of my favorite combos with you today.  (AKA tweak these however you want).

Sweet and Spicy Chickpea Sandwich

+ 1/2 cup of chickpeas

+ 2 T dijon mustard

+ 2 T sriracha

+ salt and pepper to taste

+ 2 slices of toasted bread

+ jam/jelly

I got the inspiration for this one from a local vegetarian cafe here in Des Moines. The trick to this one is to put your favorite jam/jelly on both slices of your toasted bread. Then make your chickpea spread spicy by adding dijon mustard and sriracha (or something comparable), as well as a bit of salt and pepper to your chickpeas, heating them up and smashing them till they’re broken up but not complete mush. Put it all together and enjoy!

Spiced Chickpea Sandwich

+ 1/2 cup of chickpeas

+ 1 T dijon

+ 1 T sriracha

+ 1 T veggie broth

+ 1 T nutritional yeast

+ 1 tsp curry powder

+ 1 tsp chili powder

+ 2 T diced jalapeños 

+ 2 T diced onion

+ salt and pepper to taste

+ 2 slices of toasted bread

+ romaine, spinach or kale

+ 1 sliced tomato

I normally make my chickpea spread with quite a few spices and sauces, but you can use whatever you have in your cabinet that you like. I also use sriracha and dijon to give it flavor and help smooth it out. 

Add your spices and sauces to chickpeas, heat them, smash them, and then add onions. Top with some sort of greens (romaine, spinach or kale) and tomatoes. I like the crunch that romaine or kale gives the sandwich. 

Chickpea and Red Cabbage/Pickled Beet Sandwich

+ 1/2 cup of chickpeas

+ 1 T dijon

+ 1 T sriracha 

+ few tsps of favorite spices

+ 2 slices of toasted bread

+ 1/4 cup of pickled red cabbage and/or pickled beets

Make the spiced chickpea spread the same as the previous recipe, but the key here is topping it with pickled red cabbage or pickled beets. Trust me. 

And there you have it. As you can see I’m not one for structured recipes, but I wanted to give you an idea of some of the ways I like to play around with chickpeas in my sandwiches. 

And while I made all these recipes to make one sandwich, I usually double it and make two sandwiches. 

Some chickpea nutritional facts for you (per 1 cup):

+ 268 calories

+ 14.5 grams of protein (1/4 of my daily protein need)

+ 12.5 grams of fiber (almost 1/2 my daily need)

+ minerals — calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium

+ vitamins — K, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid) B6, B9 (folate).

I wanted to share a bit of this nutritional stuff to show you how easy it is to get a variety of those different things you need day to day as a vegan/vegetarian. People always wonder, "What do you eat?" and "Where do you get your protein and calcium??" Well, one place is chickpeas. Yum!

All the Period Products I've Used + My Thoughts

While there are MANY period products I have yet to try out, I’ve still had my fair share of variety and use over the past few years. Today I wanted to take you through the progression of my period products, and share my thoughts on them now. 

Disposable pads (various sizes)

This is where it all began — stealing pads from my older sister’s stash because I didn’t want to tell anyone I had gotten my period. I used these for a few months before working up the courage to try out tampons. 

Pads are a good place to start, but they’re pretty limiting when it comes to activities like swimming. Not to mention I found them bulky and uncomfortable, much like wearing a diaper. 

Needless to say I was more than ready to use tampons when the time came. 

Cardboard applicator tampon

Yup. I’m including my one failed attempt at using one of these monstrosities. This was in high school at a wrestling tournament, and of course I was never prepared for my period when it showed up. I had asked around for a pad and this all I could find.

Let’s just say it didn’t help that I didn’t know where my vagina was at this point, or how to put a tampon in, so as you can imagine how well that went — I ended up tossing the tampon and wadding up some toilet paper in my underwear. 

Plastic applicator tampon

These were my product of choice for many years. I used various brands, my favorite being the Platex Sports. 

I went a number of months not understanding how tampons “worked”, and recall listening to a friend explain through a bathroom door to another friend how to put one in. And with that information I gave them a whirl the next time my period came...

The first time I tried to put one in I only put it in about half way before pulling the trigger and pushing it in, which meant that the tampon was literally only halfway into my vagina. Uncomfortable and I knew I had done it wrong. 

Problem was, I couldn’t get it out. You’ll understand this if you’ve ever tried to pull out a dry tampon. 

I had to fill up my bathtub with a few inches of water, squat down low enough for the tampon to make contact with the water, and was able to pull out the saturated tampon. 

Finally got one in correctly a few days later, but then couldn’t get it out, no matter how hard I pulled. I brought a friend into the bathroom to reassure me that it wasn’t stuck. 

Once again, I hadn’t waited long enough before trying to pull it out and it was still too dry. 

Problem with these were that I never had them when I started my period. Bad planning on my part. So I had half used boxes all over the place. 

When I studied abroad in Thailand I had to pack five months worth of tampons because I didn’t know if they would have my brand there. 

I was constantly worried of TSS, I had heard horror stories of moldy tampons and such over the years. And on two separate occasions I unknowingly put in two tampons. (Long story). 

Eventually I wanted to try something else that would create less waste and was made out of less harmful materials. 

Disposable panty liners

I used these in combination with tampons and my menstrual cup at first because no matter what “internal” product I use I leak a little so I need back up. I got fed up with them because they created a lot of waste and they irritated my poor lady bits. 

Reusable Pads     

I got a few of these from a friend when I was at my facilitator training in 2014. While I love the concept of them I found that they were too bulky and didn’t stay in place for me. I’m also very impressed with the girls that can get the stains out of theirs. 

I want to give these another try in the future because I know they work so well for so many girls and women. 

I think these are a great alternative to disposable pads for those starting off with their periods. 

Menstrual Cups

When I first heard that such a thing existed I thought, how the hell is that supposed to go into your vagina!?

     — Lunette Cup was my first, and I think it’s a great starter cup. It was a nice size (comes in 2 sizes). I gave myself three cycles to get the hang of it, and then it became second nature. There was slight discoloration after use, but not bad, and I don’t care about that. 

     — RubyCup came next. I got far too excited to try different types of cups. This is my current favorite, with Lunette in a close second. Flexible, but structured enough to pop open. I love that for every cup you buy they send a cup to a girl in need. The most discoloration I’ve had, but I use it the most, and I don’t really mind it. Plus I was able to get rid of most of it with a good scrubbing. 

     — Mooncup/MCUK. I wanted to try this one because one of my best friends uses this cup. It’s one of the more affordable cups. But I was’t a huge fan of the rim of this cup. And it’s quite firm, which some people prefer, but I like a little more flex in my cup. 

    — OrganicCup is similar in firmness to the Lunette cup, folds up to a similar size to the RubyCup (small). I need to test this one out more, but I like it. 

Reusable Sponge

I first heard about this one when I was reading “Wild”. She uses one while hiking the PCT. I got two of these at the same time that I got my reusable pads. I joke that they are "nature’s tampon" because they work in much of the same way. It’s actually quite easy and comfortable to put in, you just have to wet it, squeeze out the water, and push it in like a tampon. You’ll just want to make sure you put a piece of string or something through it because I struggled quite a bit getting this out the first time (when I had no string in). Just imagine taking a tampon out without the string. There’s quite a bit of digging involved, which resulted in me having to get into the bathtub to pull it out because it was making a bit of a mess. I think these are a great option for those lighter days. 

Period Underwear

I got these to replace my need for panty liners, which was great since I didn’t enjoy those or the reusable pads. I’ve only used the Thinx brand, but I’m in search of new brands to try out (I’ll talk about this soon on the blog). I find period underwear incredibly secure and comfortable. I use them as back up for my cup, and on their own on light/spotting days. Mine are starting to get some discoloration in the crotch as well as some fraying of the elastics. But this could be because I throw them in the dryer instead of hang drying them. 

Phew, Ok, that’s what I’ve tried over the years. Any recommendations or products I’ve totally missed out on?

Searching for Nutrition + Supplements For Your Cycle

Three great books on this topic:

The two I reach for most often — 

+ The Period Repair Manual, for women with things like irregular cycles, PMS, etc. “Natural treatment for better hormones and better periods"

+ Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition “self-care for improved cycles and fertility, naturally"

Where I point women with more serious menstrual issues like PCOS and Endometriosis — 

+ WomanCode “Perfect your cycle, amplify your fertility, supercharge your sex drive and become a power source” 

It was through these books that I knew I needed to start better supporting my progesterone. And I knew I could do it through food and a few supplements. 

Whenever women reach out with some sort of menstrual issue I always point them towards one of these books. One day I hope it will be within my wheelhouse to offer dietary and medical advice, but for now I feel completely confident and comfortable with my ability to point women towards different resources that will give them the information they need. 

If you’re experiencing an issue with your menstrual cycle I always suggest first digging into your diet. What are you eating? You’d be surprised to realize that even when you think you’re eating what you should be, there are certain things that could be causing your woes. Things like dairy, sugar, processed and packaged foods. 

So before you go looking for some pill to swallow to rid you of all your problems, make sure you have a solid foundation full of nutritious vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds. 

And then maybe you realize you need a little extra assistance from a few, well thought out, supplements. This doesn’t mean you can let go of the focus on your diet. Nope, that needs to be and should be a lifestyle change. I went vegan almost exactly four years ago and I have been continuously learning about nutrition and improving my diet ever since. 

A book that I’m currently working my way through that I’m enjoying is The Kind Mama. It’s all about vegan nutrition, fertility, pregnancy, birth and having some cute kiddos. I think the information in this book surrounding vegan fertility is valuable to any female vegan looking to boost her menstrual cycle. And not in a “I’m ready to start popping out the babies!” sort of way. But you should reach for supercharged fertility even when you’re trying not to get pregnant because you want your body to be in its best shape possible. 

So, with a continued focus on diet and nutrition you can move into looking at possible supplements. And while there will be countless supplements that could help, you'll want to narrow it down to just a few. Which are going to have the biggest impact? Offer the most potential? 

You want to make sure you’re getting quality supplements, and in a form that your body can best absorb. This requires a bit of research but I enjoy that aspect of it. 

And if you don’t feel comfortable making these decisions yourself you can find a local naturopath near you to aid you along the way. Because sometimes there are issues we can’t figure out how to heal by ourselves. And that’s OK. 

How I Chart My Cycle | Natural Birth Control

One of the biggest misconceptions about charting your cycle is that there is only one way to do it.

And this is pretty limiting because if you believe this and think you don’t fall within that certain method that you can’t chart. 

But there are so many different, amazing methods, variations and not to mention all the new technological advances that have been made.

I really do believe that there is a method for everyone. 

I started with the sympto-thermal method, which combines temperature and fluid. In the beginning I also used paper charts before switching to charting apps. I then used a fluid-only method for awhile, then temperature-only with the Daysy. 

So, what have I currently settled on for my Goldilocks charting method? 

I use the sympto-thermal method combined with the Daysy fertility monitor. The reason I like this so much is because I get so much confidence and security from both the sympto-thermal method and Daysy separately. So, using them in conjunction with each other has been really reassuring. 

With the symptom-thermal method you take your basal body temperature every morning at the same time. Two rules to note beyond having to take it at the same time is that you have to do it first thing before getting out of bed, even before just hanging out in bed for 30 minutes before getting up. The other rule is that you have to take your temperature after at least four hours of sleep. 

I used to just take my BBT (basal body temperature) with a simple BBT thermometer from the drugstore. But since getting the Daysy, that has become my thermometer in every sense. 

Not only does it calculate your fertility on its own, it also provides you with a temperature (after syncing it to the app) that you can then use in a more traditional charting method. 

And I take that temperature from my Daysy each day and put it into the Kindara app on my phone, where I also chart my cervical fluid each day, along with a slew of other things. 

So each time I go to the bathroom I will quickly check my fluid before going to the actual bathroom. It takes an extra like 5-10 seconds. Easy.

Some days I wish the Daysy had a digital screen that displayed your temperature, but usually I don’t mind spending the extra 30-60 seconds it takes to sync it to the app in my phone where you can get the temperature. 

All in all I’m very happy with my current method, and I love knowing there are a variety of methods and technologies for charting. 

Charting my cycle has taught me so much about my body, and I love that I can use the same exact method when the time comes that I am ready to try and get pregnant. Which is when a lot of women first start learning about their menstrual cycle. 

[Disclaimer: This post does not teach you FAM. I mention how to take your temperature and fluid, but don’t mention any of the rules.]

[Use the code “FEMME” at checkout to save some money on your Daysy]

Mornings, Mondays + Periods | All Amazing Fresh Starts

I remember the time I used to look at my period’s imminent arrival with a certain sense of dread, an “oh no, this again” sort of outlook.

So, it’s incredible to be in a place where I actually look forward to my period. And I’ll tell you why. 

You period is a fresh start. 

Now I know there are PUH-LEN-TEE of women who would disagree.

And I get it. Periods can suck. They can come at inconvenient times, cause of lot of pain and suffering, and make some god awful messes. 

I’m not here to tell you that changing your perspective can heal your horrible periods. That requires a bit more work. BUT changing your outlook is part of that journey. 

Let’s say you don’t have end of the world periods. Today is for you. 

I was having a great conversation with one of my “students" recently, and she mentioned how she looked forward to her period.

She explained it like hitting a restart button on everything. 

And I couldn’t agree more. 

There’s always this big sigh of relief when I start bleeding, almost as if my body is giving me permission to just take a much needed "slow out” (It’s like a time out, but with out actually stopping everything. Just moving at a more conscious pace.) 

And since the dawn of time there’s also a few, "Phew, I’m not pregnant” sighs of relief. 

It’s like a brand new year, or the start to a new week. 

Later this month I’m going to talk about my love for Mondays, and I think it’s very much the same thing. 

If you’re a morning person it’s quite similar to waking up to a brand new day ahead of you. 

It’s like, no matter what happened yesterday, last week, month or year this is a clean slate. 

Your period (along with the rest of these moments) is a great time to just let go of all that baggage you’ve been carrying around up to that point. 

Let it go. Shed a few layers. And enjoy that effortless lightness that follows. 

Now, you may think I’m a total loon. 

Someone who likes mornings, Monday and getting her periods? 

A few years ago I would have rolled my eyes and gagged a little if I heard some peppy young thing spouting all this. 

But these are the moments that all but beg for us to hit that reset button. 

And I realized as she said all this that I viewed it the same exact way. 

When my period is on its way I always slow down, step back from life and assess a few things. How’s it all going? What’s working? What can I let go of? What can I do to improve this next month? 

I take a deep breath and kind of re-up on all of my goals, redrafting them for the month ahead. 

And I promise if you take this perspective on your coming periods you’ll see nothing but positive results. When I first heard about some of these concepts, just being aware of them was enough for changes to start taking place without any real effort from myself. 

But now that I have put in a conscious effort I am pleasantly surprised month after month. 

A Fresh Juice Recipe For Each Phase of Your Menstrual Cycle

Now, I’m not promoting juice fasts, but I love making juices and thought it would be fun to look into creating a recipe to support each phase of your cycle. Obviously you can just choose to each any of these veggies and fruits fresh if you don’t feel like juicing them!

And remember fresh juice is best, not bottled juice or stuff that was juiced hours, or days ago. And if you don’t have a juicer feel free to whip up a smoothie based on these recipes as well!

Menstrual Phase Juice

My goals — nourish, rest + renew

Veggies: beet, kale

Fruits: blackberry, blueberry, grape, watermelon

I love beet, kale and watermelon, which I think would be a great combo for a juice. And I like to balance out my veggies and fruits so it’s not to sweet and not too “earthy”. 

+ 2 beets

+ 4 - 6 sticks of kale

+ 2 - 3 cups of watermelon (I find that the easiest way to juice watermelon is to just toss it in a blender and pour that through a strainer)

Follicular Phase Juice

My goals — reenergize + motivate

Veggies: carrot, parsley

Fruits: grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, pomegranate

Carrots are one of my favorite veggies to juice! I think a great combo would be carrot, orange and then lemon or lime (depending on if you have a preference). 

+ 4 - 6 carrots

+ 2 - 4 oranges

+ 1 lemon or lime

Ovulatory Phase Juice

My goals — outgoing, stamina + motivation

Veggies: chard, spinach, tomato

Fruits: cantaloupe, coconut, raspberry, strawberry

I’m not a fan of chard, but if you are throw it in there! I think a great combo would be spinach, tomato, cantaloupe and strawberry. 

+ 2 handfuls of spinach

+ 4 tomatoes 

+ 1/2 cantaloupe

+ 2 handfuls of strawberries

Luteal Phase Juice

My goals — slow down, let go, + calm down

Veggies: celery, cucumber, ginger

Fruits: apple, peach, pear

I love love love ginger, and apples in juices. But I’m not a fan of celery. A great combo would be cucumber, ginger, apple. 

+ 2 cucumbers

+ “thumb” sized portion of ginger

+ 4 apples

+ 4 stalks of celery (if you’re into that)

I don’t know about you, but I’m drooling just thinking of these. I’m going to go whip up a carrot, apple, ginger juice because that’s what I have sitting in my fridge right now. 

What are your favorite juice recipes? 

When You Don’t Have Time to Slow Down on Your Period

I’m a big advocate of letting yourself slow down leading up to your period and during your period. So much so that if you follow FemmeHead pretty closely you know I really never shut up about it. 

And that’s because I have seen the importance of it month after month in my own life, and in my own cycle. 

Every month I preach the same message “Just Slow Down”, and after each period I come back with a sigh of relief and say, “Gah, that felt good. I feel refreshed and renewed for the month ahead.” 

And I do. If I just take a step back during the few days leading up to, and the first few days of my period, I get a huge burst of energy, motivation and positivity at the end of my period. And this little burst of “I can do anything!” carries on through the rest of my cycle. Right up until the last few days before my next period. 

Just thinking about that type of energy gets me excited as I sit here writing this. 

And that’s because I wasn’t able to slow down during last month’s period. It was right when we were coming back from Bali, which meant around 30 hours of travel, hurtling myself across 14 time zones, and trying to play catch up in the two days I had at home before getting back on another plane to head to California for a few days. 

It was a lot, and that combined with trying to beat jet lag and get back on a normal sleep schedule threw me for a loop and kept me from being able to do my usual slow down, breathe, you’re on your period, routine. 

So, what do you do when this happens? Well, I’ll tell you from my current experience. 

Now if you’ve never been able to slow down on your period, I bet you have no idea what I’m even talking about. But I promise you, and challenge you to try it out. 

If you don’t, or can't take the much needed break during you period you’ll have to take this past month just a smidgen slower and accept that there’s not going to be that usual burst of renewed energy. 

Instead of finding time during your period to breath and relax. You’re going to have to find those moments when you can here and there throughout that following cycle. 

One example for my own cycle, right before ovulation I had been just absolutely pooped for a few days, but couldn’t slow down. 

Then I found myself almost nodding off I was so knackered, and I stepped back and thought, you know what if I just stop for an hour the world will keep spinning. 

So I took a nap, a glorious hour long nap at 2 o’ clock in the afternoon. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a napper. I feel guilty when I take naps. I lay down, close my eyes, and all I can think about is everything I should be doing instead. 

But that day I let myself have a nap, and I woke up. And how did I feel? 

It felt like coming too after a really delicious Shavasana after a difficult yoga practice. You feel refreshed, renewed and completely zenned out. 

It’s one of my favorite feelings in the world. 

And that’s what coming off of the end of your period kind of feels like when you let yourself slow down and rest. 

So, if you don’t do it already try, just try to find a few minutes here and there during your period to just take a deep breath and just stop moving for awhile. 

I know, I know. We think, “I can’t slow down. I don’t even have enough time to keep up with everything as it is.” But I promise you that you can find ten minutes a day, you’ll reap the rewards throughout the rest of your cycle. 

As I sit here putting the finishing touches on this I’m currently on day 3 of my cycle, and I don’t know if it’s because we’ve just gotten home (yesterday) from another trip, or because I didn’t get my rest last time ‘round, but I’m feeling completely out of sorts and exhausted today. 

But you better believe I learned my lesson last time around, and today my goal is to just finish what I have to get done. And you can find me doing all of that either curled up on the couch or from one of our big red comfy chairs, in a sweater and leggings, sipping on some hot lemon water. 

While I’m trying to enjoy this phase, I’m craving the energy I know will come. 

[If you want to learn more about your cycle, consider taking my Chart Your Cycle course to learn all the basics of the symptom-thermal method of FAM, and whether it’s a good fit for you — hint: it is.]

Dear Victoria | A Letter to My Teenage Self

Hey Victoria,

Ok, where to even start. I feel like I have so much to say, but don’t want to overwhelm you. So, I’ll try to stay concise. Keep to the important bits, right?

Learn about your body. Knowledge is power, and don’t hand that power over to a guy. Go figure out what’s happening in there, and why. Explore, question, don’t be ashamed. 

Your body is normal. The skin. The hair. All of it. Yes you’ll look back on photos and wonder what you were thinking when you plucked your eyebrows into near extinction, but you’ve got to try it out for yourself. Do it for you, and no one else. But maybe just leave your eyebrows alone, pretty pretty please. 

Remember when you couldn’t wait to get your period, but then quickly fell into the trap of negativity when it finally came? Yeah, having a period is not annoying or unfair. Your cycle is this amazing thing that you can use to connect to yourself, to other females, and the world in general. 

What you put into and onto your body matters. Learn about nutrition. And just know the more natural, the better when it comes to food and beauty products. 

Let go of the material things. It’s never going to be about what you own. What matters is how you treat other people, and what impact you leave in your wake. Collect memories, not things. 

There’s going to be so much beyond high school, college even. You’ll get a taste of your future self there, but you won’t really start to discover her until you’re out. 

Write. I know it seems like such a big task when you have to write a two-page paper, but writing is going to become like therapy to you. Get a journal and make a date with it each day. 

And finally, listen to that nagging voice in the back of your head. Let it guide you, it knows where it’s going. 

Oh, and don’t forget to smile, hug, laugh, cry, scream. Emotions are healthy. All of them. Don’t be afraid to feel them. 

Keep pushing girl, 

Victoria 

[If you found yourself thinking, "Geesh I really want to learn more about my body and my menstrual cycle" then go check out my Chart Your Cycle course. Take a chance to learn more about a part of your body you've been told to be ashamed of and annoyed by for so long.]

Free Bleeding | It's Whatever You Want it to Be

Simply put, free bleeding is viewed as one of a few things. From training your cervix to hold in your menstrual blood, much like your bladder, until you can go and empty it (Is this really possible!?) Others believe it means just not using anything to absorb/collect your menstrual flow. And some think it simply means not using a tampon, cup, sponge or anything else inserted into your vagina to collect your flow, but that using period underwear or cloth pads still falls within the realm of "free bleeding". 

I hadn’t really thought much about the term, nor heard much until I began looking into it myself. 

Not using any sort of menstrual product has been around longer than you or me has existed, and long before any sanitary products hit the shelves. And there are millions of women “free bleeding” today. Why?

Let’s think about it for a second. Something that some clown somewhere passed off as some hyper-feminist disgusting bullshit is something that millions of women deal with every single month because they don’t have access to feminine hygiene products. Girls stop going to school for that week every month because they don’t have anything to “manage” their periods and being that managing is a “must” in so many cultures they are left to fall behind in school and in life, one period at a time. 

Other women, with access to products, do it because it’s more comfortable for them. 

I like looking at “free-bleeding” as a mindset. You can use whatever products feel most comfortable for you, but do it in a way where you’re allowing your body to bleed. You don’t feel guilty or ashamed. If you leak it’s no big deal. Take blogger, Kelly Jo’s word on it:

"More of a mindset than it is an action, the idea is...letting ourselves bleed. No judgement, no worries about messiness or cleanliness. Just letting it happen...This might look different for different menstruators. We are always, technically, “letting” ourselves bleed...But how often do we take a second, or a few, or a whole menstrual cycle, to mentally let our body do it’s thing. And appreciate it for what it does"

By discovering period underwear I was able to free-bleed in a sense on my lighter days, and not worrying about having to go and empty my cup was a freeing thing. 

"The fact that I happened to be bleeding didn’t interfere with anything that I did; if anything, it felt great not having a foreign object inside my body to staunch the bleeding, plus my cramps were significantly lighter."

     — Kayla Goggin, blogger, XOJane article

There is quite an adjustment to sensation when using only reusable pads or period underwear, or nothing at all. So many of us have grown so accustomed to no sensation at all, other than that telling you it was time to change, before you leaked everywhere. 

It didn’t take me long after getting my period for the first time to muster up the courage to learn how to use a tampon because I just really disliked disposable pads. They were bulky, uncomfortable and felt entirely untrustable. So, a few months into my menstrual journey I learned how to put in a tampon, and I continued to do that from the age of 15 to the age of 24. Then I discovered menstrual cups, which were a game changer, and my preferred method of product still to this day. But not too long into my cup journey I also discovered period underwear. I had tried reusable pads but they didn’t feel secure enough, but these underwear felt like they had my back. 

But then something awesome happened. I stopped using my cups as often. Don’t get me wrong, I love them oh so much more than tampons. But I discovered that I could just get by with the period underwear for my light days, and even my medium light days. There is really only a day or two that I need my cup. 

"But gushing blood into my underwear felt like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.” — Lane Moore, Cosmopolitan article

That quote puts it perfectly. What an odd, terrifying, “oh crap, oh crap, oh crap” moment it is when you feel a sizable amount release into whatever barrier lay in your underwear. 

I had to learn to trust my period underwear, and to relearn the sensation of when they were full rather than clenching anytime I felt blood flow out of me. 

I guess I had never really heard about women free bleeding before looking into it myself. Beyond women not having access to products of course. But the more I looked into it the more I discovered people’s outrage and disgust with it. Which I find bit funny, obviously. Every story I read about a personal account of free bleeding seemed to be contained to their own home, or where they would just use dark underwear on their light days. Or women using cloth pads and period underwear. And I can’t help but thinking, what’s the problem with that? 

“No Uterus, No Opinion”  

I Started Saying "I Love You" to My Acne

Crazy I know, but one day I just started doing it. 

As I would go through my skincare routine every morning, and evening, I began to say "I love you, and you, and I especially love you" (to the bigger pimples) as I rubbed my cleanser, serums, lotions and whatever other elixirs I felt like that day. 

I’m not quite sure why I started or what exactly made me do it. But doing it made me feel better about my breakouts. It honestly did. 

And it reminded me of something I used to do years ago, where I would name the really big pimples. I would then go around introducing him to my friends, and other weird stuff like that. By making it into a little bit of a joke, it was easier than trying to hide it and hate it every time I looked in a mirror. 

Now, I don’t believe that by me saying “I Love You” is healing my acne, but it did create a significant shift in my perspective towards my zits. I stopped picking at my skin when I started thinking more fondly of it. And I started taking better care of it, taking more time each day. 

And it made me want to do things nice things like drink more water and eat better food to nourish my body and my skin. 

Google “power of positive words experiment” and you’ll see science fair like set ups where someone takes the same food (an apple cut in half, or rice scooped from the same pot), keep them in two separate containers, and each day these people say sweet, nice things to one, and hateful, mean things to the other.

Guess which one started decaying and molding faster? Yup, the one that was spewed all the negativity, and hate. 

I believe in the power of energy because it changes how you act towards something. And what you put out into the world is what you receive (not always of course). 

It’s very similar to changing your perspective towards your menstrual cycle. If you can start looking at it in a positive, loving way, you’ll begin to learn how to coexist with your own unique cycle. 

So I challenge you to start looking into not only your mirror, but to you life in general with love and understanding. Say kind, loving words to yourself. Hell, set up your own apple experiment if you’d like. And I guarantee you’ll be surprisingly pleased with the results.  

My Period This Month Was Awesome

Another polite period in the books!

I have really been enjoying my periods these past few years. And that’s saying something considering how far I’m come. I used to have 9 day, heavy, painful, emotional periods. 

This month she came in without any mess or fuss. No spotting, minimal cramping, and no irritability. 

I made it through the week with almost no leaking, minus a little mishap with my pajama bottoms. I wore my cup and period underwear for about three days, and just the period underwear for the rest. All in all it probably lasted 5 days with one light-medium day, two days of light flow, and two days of very light flow/spotting. 

As usual, I allowed myself to sleep in while I was bleeding. My body always quietly begs me to let her sleep just a little longer. And I’ve gotten so much better over the past few years to listening, and allowing myself to, without the guilt. 

This month I had much more energy than normal on my period. And I felt so much more social than usual, which I took advantage of but didn’t abuse. 

I felt very reflective and creative. I made the most out of that and sat down and planned out my 2017 goals. I looked back at my 2016 goals and then I planned out my personal and professional goals for this year. 

One day I just had this burst of creativity so I grabbed some old magazines, a box our of the recycling bin, and I sat down and made a inspiration/mood/dream board. 

Overall, it was an awesome period. If you would have told me five years ago that I would one day love my periods, and be excited to get them, I would have told you that you were crazy. But here I am, loving every aspect of my cycle.  

My Body Wakes Me Up on My Period

It doesn’t always happen but it happens 99% of the time. 

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night because you had too much water, or whatever, to drink before bed? As toddlers we wet the bed every now and then as we were being potty trained, learning to recognize the signals our bodies were giving us to tell us that we needed to go to the bathroom. 

So, we wake up to go to the bathroom instead of wetting the bed, but have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and just knew that you were on the verge of leaking? (blood, I’m talking about period blood here)

Almost every month it happens, usually just one night, that heavy day of my period. 

I’ll just wake up on my own, and head on into the bathroom to empty out my cup, and it’s always super full, on the verge of leaking. And maybe it’s just me, but how freakin’ cool is that? 

And hey, there’s always that time every now and then when I don’t wake up, and leak out and all over my bed. It happens, but more often than not I wake up knowing I need to change. 

Another interesting occurrence is how I always start my period in the morning, first thing after I get out of bed and go to the bathroom. It’s always started like that. And even if I don’t look at the temperature on my thermometer before going I just “know” it’s going to come. I can feel it. 

I know I’m not alone in thinking these little quirks of having a period are absolutely fascinating. What is it about your period that interests you? I challenge you to take a moment to think about it, write it down or just say it out loud to no one in particular.  

Setting Yourself Up For Success

Today I want to talk about things I do that are part of the process of getting shit done and going places in my life. I look back to just a few years ago when I had no direction in life and how I started and spent my days then vs. how I do now, and it’s a pretty staggering difference.

So I wanted to share my top 10 tips for setting yourself up for success. 

Stay organized — this has been a game changer. I always kept a planner throughout school to keep track of my due dates, activities and work schedule, but just in the past year and really actually the past few months I’ve taken it to the next level. I am a visual person so I like writing it all down where I can have it laid out in front of me. I do that in a few ways. On my computer I use Evernote to house all of my notes for blog posts, videos etc. Everything you see online comes from Evernote. I have created different notebooks for my YouTube channel, my website and my different courses. From here it is all easily searchable and accessible in one place. The other powerhouse to my organization operation is my bullet journal, which is a recent upgrade from a standard planner. I have a simple monthly spread complete with my five goals for that month, my content calendar for FemmeHead, a financial page to make my five money goals for the month as well as track all of my money coming in and going out each day. I have a brain dump where I put all of my ideas, things that need to get done, etc. I have a gratitude page because I think finding your sparkly bits each day is important. And then from there I have weekly spreads were I have a little weekly overview calendar for work, events, etc. a place for my five goals of the week and then I go into Monday with my tasks, etc. Having this bullet journal has been a life changer. I have been so much more productive and focused, it’s incredible. 

Keep your home tidy — Take time every single day to do a quick tidy. For me that is 15-30 minutes each morning where I make my bed, and then put any dishes, clothes, etc away from the day before. My mind functions so much better when I know there isn’t clutter sitting around my house. Right now we are going through some of Michael’s storage so there’s stuff out in the living room that can’t go back quite yet because we’re sorting through it and I’m really trying to not focus on it. I also like to take one day a week and do a deeper clean including vacuuming, wiping things down and doing laundry which can take like two or three hours, but it’s worth it. Just stay on top of it. 

Practice Minimalism — The above task is so much easier when you start with minimalism. Get rid of the crap you don’t want or need, and believe me there’s a lot of it when you’re first starting off. From there make sure every single item in your home has it’s dedicated spot, which makes cleaning easier. This isn’t about living in an empty white box with no belongings. I still have quite a bit of stuff, but it all has a purpose. I don’t keep things just to keep things. I only have stuff I love or need. And I’m not perfect at it, no one is. Don’t be hard on yourself because it’s process and often times it’s more about the journey. And minimalism has carried over into so many other aspects of my life — how I choose to spend my time, who I have kept in my life (friend wise), what I spend my money on, etc. Having less and doing less has allowed me to accomplish so much more in my life. 

Meditate — It’s something that I’ve wanted to add to my daily routine for years, but was unsuccessful for the longest time. It wasn’t until I discovered the guided meditation app, Headspace, that I was able to do it daily. [Not a sponsored post, I just really love the app]. It worked out so well in those first, free 10 days that I went ahead and got the yearly subscription. Doing this in my morning routine is one of those things that really sets me up for a productive, focused day. I feel much more level headed and open minded after I have done this in the morning. For others it may fit better into another time in their day but it works best for me in the morning. My routine is very important to me, and controls how the rest of my day goes. If I wait until bedtime to meditate it almost holds no power over anything, and I often fall asleep during it. 

Journal — I have been doing it for seven years, ever since I studied abroad in Thailand. It’s like therapy to me. And it’s a great way to document experiences, trips, and your life in general. I am able to read the thoughts and emotions of 19-year old Victoria and it’s such a weird, cool experience. And it helps remind me how far I have come if I’ve ever having a bad day. I journal in a few ways. I have a journal that is a bit more sacred than the rest which important thoughts, events and experiences go into. It’s not a daily thing. Something I do do every morning is write in my morning pages journal. It’s always just a random old notebook (I got a stack of them from my mom’s house) and it’s just three pages of streaming conscious thoughts. It’s a way for me to clear out all of the gunk from the day before, and it really allows me to be more clear and focused throughout the day when I don’t have those random thoughts floating around. And the final way I journal, is with my camera — filming trips, adventures and events that I want to remember or share. 

Lifestyle [diet, activities, sleep] — I used to eat cupcakes for meals, for days at a time. You can probably imagine the effect that had on me. Now, I keep a vegan diet and try and pack as many nutritious, unprocessed foods as possible into it. I’m not perfect and I do allow some wiggle room for the occasional junk food or dessert, but I focus on keeping it clean. I only partake in activities that will benefit and enrich my life. I have no issue with saying no. I don’t go out an party on the weekends, I don’t go out to eat frequently, those sort of things. And finally I keep a regular sleep schedule because I know how much sleep impacts my days. Some people can function off of four hours, I need eight. All of these things effect my energy, my body, my focus, motivation, everything. You have to respect your body and your mind, and make sure you are taking care of it through your lifestyle. 

Practice Gratitude — It was something that Michael introduced to me. I think even on our first date he was like, Ok let’s take a few moments to breathe and reflect on the day and then we’ll take turns sharing what moment we’re grateful for. And we still do this every now and then, but I do it on my own too. I have two pages every month in my bullet journal dedicated to my sparkly bits and every night I take a few moments to reflect on the day and find that moment I am thankful for. Doing this regularly just makes you a more optimistic, happy rainbows and unicorns sort of person. You start noticing moments throughout your days, and you’re like Oh, that could be my moment today. I don’t know it’s just a really cool process. 

Stay curious [never stop learning] — This may sound silly, but it’s something I live by. I think of everything I have taught myself and learned since leaving school and it’s astounding. If you have a question, find yourself the answer. If there’s something you’re interested in, go get a book from the library, research it online, watch videos, read blog posts and watch documentaries. I’m always searching to better myself. Not because I don’t like who I am or that I’m not proud of where I’m at in life, but just because I know there is so much that I still don’t know. And along these lines, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone. Even if you think there’s absolutely no way they would ever respond back, take the plunge and write them. I have connected to so many amazing people this way. 

Allow yourself to slow down during your period — Discovering the difference between the menstrual phases, emotionally and physically was a game changer. It all finally made so much more sense. When you listen to your body it’s amazing how much smoother it all goes. When I allow myself to slow down during my period and really just take it easy I am greeted with a happier period, less irritability, cramps, PMS, fatigue, etc. And when I take that time during my period to just kind of hermit myself off from the world I am rewarded throughout the rest of my cycle with more energy. You can only push yourself so far for so long before you’re going to crash and burn. Take the time to slow down, reflect on the past month, and think about what you want to accomplish in the coming month. 

Make time for friends + things outside of “work” — Especially when you start working for yourself, allowing yourself to stop working is a lesson that needs to be learned right away. I could waste away day after day tinkering around with “work” related tasks that really don’t need to be done and have no real impact on it all. Each day I pick out the top five things that I need to do that day to succeed and I tick those off first thing after my morning routine. Then depending where I am at in the day I will head to my brain dump page and see what else I can accomplish, but if I have to stop after those five tasks I will feel satisfied with my day. I allow my afternoons, and sometimes early mornings for friends and family. Whether that’s meeting up for a coffee or drinks and a movie, I try to meet up with people at least once a week. Because if not I would stay in my apartment and never leave. 

Phew, that was quite a bit wasn’t it, but these are some of the most important things in my life that I swear by. What are yours? 

Making Monthly Resolutions With Your Built-in Life Coach

There’s a Nike ad that says “Don’t Make a Resolution, Make Yourself”. 

And I have to let you in on a little secret, I have never made a New Years Resolution. 

I don’t believe in them. I don't think they work. They just seem destined to fail. Well, go really well for a month or two, and then fail. 

I think you should be constantly striving to better yourself throughout the year, not just once a year. 

And this got me thinking. 

Most women have no idea that their menstrual cycle provides them with the perfect structure for monthly “resolutions”.

It’s true. 

I’ve talked about the four different phases before — menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal. 

But if you are able to listen to your body, you already have a built in system for monthly reflection, goal setting, and execution. 

The book that inspired this thought — “The Optimized Woman”. 

So, during your period you’re best at doing some internal thinking and reflection, letting go and rethinking your goals. 

Next comes the follicular phase when you should set your goals for the month after reflecting on the previous month during your period. Then once you set a goal, really look into HOW you are going to achieve that goal. What are the tangible steps each day that you can take to help you succeed? You will be focused and able to have clear, concentrated thinking as well as more energy. 

After that is the ovulatory phase. I view this as the social phase. You’re going to be great at getting out there and making the connections and building the relationships that are going to help you achieve those goals. You are also going to be more productive and relatable, not to mention this is the most confident time of your cycle. 

The final phase before the cycle begins again is your luteal phase. You will feel more inspired, creative and able to problem solve issues that arise. Use this phase to brainstorm new ideas and solutions for the future and upcoming month. What did you struggle with during the month, and how can you solve that or fix it in the future? 

I have heard the menstrual cycle described as having your own built in life-coach. And who doesn’t want one of those? Hell, people pay big bucks for them, and do you know why? Because they’re worth it.

So, give your own personal coach a go, why don’t you.  

The Wonderful World of Menstrual Activism

Today I’m going to share some examples of some of my favorite lady-hero menstrual activists. 

And then we’ll talk about how an everyday gal can find menstrual activism that works for them.

Jen Lewis — takes these incredible photographs of her menstrual blood being dumped into water. If this makes you cringe go check out “Beauty in Blood” 

Rupi Kaur — a poet and artist who posted that famous Instagram photo of a woman who is laying on her side, facing away from the camera, showing menstrual blood that had leaked through her pants and onto her sheets. 

Kiran Gandhi — ran the London marathon with no tampon, pad or cup, and just allowed herself to free bleed because why not! 

Ingrid Berton-Moine — artist who created “Red is the Colour” which is portraits of women wearing their own menstrual blood. http://www.ingridberthonmoine.com/work

Chella Quint — has created some pretty awesome vines called Adventures in Menstruating, which she now has made into a show I’d love to attend. 

Rachel Kauder Nalebuff — wrote "My Little Red Book", which compiles story after story of first periods around the world from current to years ago. 

The Moon Inside You — Diana Fabianova had unsatisfactory periods for a long time and struggled with feeling positive about them. So she went on a journey and brought us along with her with The Mood Inside You.

Miki Agrawal — While they create awesome period underwear I think another awesome thing they have done is to help break through period taboos, making periods more mainstream in a positive light. Their advertisements go beyond tampon and pad commercials which still tell us to be quiet and discreet with our period products. 

Now you don’t have to wear a new shade of red, write a book or run a marathon bleeding. If you want to, go do it then already! That’d be amazing. But here are a few ways that you can take part in the movement. 

+ Start talking positively about your period since we’ve been so conditioned to only complain about it. 

+ Have a conversation with a friend about your period (remember, be positive).

+ Try a menstrual cup or sponge, challenge the way you feel about interacting with your menstrual blood.

+ Ask your mother about her first period.

+ if you have a daughter teach her about her period in a empowering way, instead of the shame and secrecy most of us were taught. 

+ Start charting your cycle, educate yourself about it.

+ Go to a local showing of Vagina Monologues, or another show that talks about vaginas, being female, periods or something along those lines. 

There is a giant, amazing spectrum of menstrual activism to get involved in. Which do you want to try out? What other ideas do you have to share? Because what a life changing thing it is to be period positive.  

Period Products Aren't "Sexual"

Nor are they a "luxury" but that's another blog post waiting to be written.

Now, I’m not sure if this is still a thing that people believe, but I had a comment awhile ago about how a girl lived with her grandma, and because the grandma believed tampons would interfere with her granddaughter’s virginity she didn’t want to buy them for her. But thankfully, she was able to find a pamphlet to show her grandma. 

I remember before I got my period listening to a friend talk about tampons in a “sexual” way, and it really weirded me out and din’t make sense to me. I was still very naive, but I just had this feeling that she was making it up. 

And of course she was. I have never since heard someone describe a menstrual product as feeling "nice" in that way (if you catch my drift). 

And if you’ve ever used a tampon, cup or sponge, you know there’s nothing sexual about all of these things. Yeah, they can feel more "comfortable" if you go from pads to tampons or cups. But not sexually "nice" in that way. Quite the opposite I think. 

Back when tampons first went on the market, religious parents were concerned that they would cause their daughter to think sinful thoughts. Kind of makes you want to laugh and hit your head on the table at the same time doesn’t it? 

We know that’s not true, but let’s move on to this very confusing idea of virginity, and how it relates to menstrual products. I'm only going to dip my toes into the topic today.

I remember when I was in high school discussing this idea of virginity with my friends, and what we thought “counted” and didn’t. Which is pretty silly looking back. 

The “concern” with period products and virginity is that using a tampon or cup could “pop your cherry” or break/tear you hymen. Or I remember the myth that more sexually active girls had to use "super" or "super plus" tampons. Which if know how a vagina works, know that's false. 

Here's a funny video that explains the hymen. 

Now, there are different “types” of hymens.

A normal (which is the most common) hymen stretches around the outside of the vaginal opening in one way or another, leaving most of the opening clear. Then there are imperforate, microperforate, and septate hymens which all stretch across the vaginal opening in one way or another, which can get in the way of not only tampons and cups, but block the release of menstrual blood, which isn't good. 

Now, don’t let this freak you out when it comes to trying a cup or tampon. There is a learning curve when it comes to using these period products. 

But I’ve made a few videos about these. One about tampons tips, another about tampon tips, and one about cup tips (my menstrual product of choice). 

But if you don't want to take the time to go watch those videos (you should) my biggest pieces of advice are:

+ get a hand mirror and check out what’s going on down there because it’s impossible to put a tampon/cup in a place you have no idea where it is.

+ don’t try to put in or take out a dry tampon, which can be tricky, but swirl the tampon/cup around the opening of your vagina before inserting because it will pick up some fluid that will act as a glorious lubricant and relieve you of some awful feeling friction.

+ stay calm, nothing is going anywhere if you’re clenching your muscles.

+ and finally, no, your vagina is not a black hole that things can get lost in (your cervix stops that from happening).  

And, just remember this, tampons and cups have nothing to do with your sexuality or virginity. They are just part of life as a lady.