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Thursday, September 4, 2014

9 Easy Steps to get through that time of Month


Let's start out by doing a little pop quiz.
First question: How many days are there in a month? Most of you will say what we learned in school: 30/31 except for February.
Next question: Out of those days in a month, how many of them are good days? This question may initially puzzle you and make you think about this for a little bit. Don't think too hard though, it's not meant to make you stumble.
Last question: Why are some days better than others?
Again, a thought provoking one, but not meant to be challenging. Generalized answers may include how your time was spent, your mood, and how things were going in your work and personal life.
You see, for me, out of the 30/31 days of the month, I could say that I enjoy 25 of them. My husband would probably tell you the same thing. You see, because when I don't have a good couple of days, it seems as though no one in my family does either. It is kind of like a domino effect--when I fall, they all fall; when I'm up, they're up. Happy wife, happy mama, happy life. Isn't that how the saying goes?
I'd like to think so.
Look, I know no one wants to talk about. Not many people even want to read about it. But the truth of the matter is that around the same time every month, the majority of the women out there have to go through the same old symptoms of feeling bloated, moody, crampy, and uncomfortable. We all could sit around and agree on all those symptoms, but not many of us want to disclose any more than that. What makes them better. What makes them worse. What works, and what doesn't.
At the end of the day, we all just want to know the secret recipe to making the time and process faster and more enjoyable--- if we can even put the two in the same sentence.
For some it's a double dipped ice cream cone from DQ, for others it's sitting on the couch watching a Law and Order SVU marathon, and for many it means taking all the frustration out on others around us, especially our loved ones.
I'm a little mix of everything, but after having some pretty crappy months, I finally got a routine down that just helps me get my mind off things and speeds up those dreadful five days. I call it the five day cure.
1. Music. Have Pandora, have the radio, have the cd/bose or whatever else you may have playing some music that you can move too. Music always has a way of helping me forget the moodiness, cramps, and just overall uncomfortable-ness.
2. Heat Pad. If you don't own one, get it! It's been a lifesaver for the painful first couple of days when you want to just curl up in your bed. You get to lie there, but you just do so with something warm across your belly.
3. Lollipops. Instead of popping pain pills in, I pop in a lollipop. Sure, my dentist may not always approve, but I figured if it's just a few {or a bag} then it's well worth it.
4. Clary sage oil. Rub it on your belly and the cramps are literally almost gone. I never allow this stuff to run out. Ever.
5. Avoid salt. I'd tell you to also avoid sugar, but I won't even go there because that's not even something that I am capable of doing. Now, I love myself some salt as well, so it is challenging, but it only makes me feel worse when I have more than I should, so I just try to minimize it as much as possible.
6. Comfortable clothes. I'm talking yoga pants and my husband's shirts. The more comfortable I feel in my clothes, the more comfortable I am overall period.
7. Water, water, water! And lots of it. My rule is to fill up my water bottle at least 6 times a day, and I keep a little tally on my hand to help me remember. Also eating more water-based foods such as watermelon, cucumber, lettuce, and berries helps as well.
8. Cinnamon. My doctor told me about this, and it really does work!
9. Watch your diet. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and fatty foods. Eat more chicken, brown rice, fish, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.
So that's my list, have you ever thought what you do during that time of month?
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Leave a comment below letting me know what you do during that time of the month to make yourself comfortable for a chance to win a $100 Drugstore.com gift card!

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82 comments:

  1. Does curling up on the floor and crying count? In all seriousness I also use clary sage and heating pad and comfortable clothes. I do take pain killers though, really no choice in the matter...sucks!

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  2. Comfy clothes and water, definitely my go-to's!

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  3. Lots of warm drinks such as warm milk or tea and no sugar

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  4. The heating pad is definitely my best friend, makes things much easier!

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  5. I ask my husband for a massage.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  6. tweet:

    https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/507647355298910208

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  7. To make myself more comfortable during that time of the month, I use heating pads when I need to, enjoy time with friends, taking a dip in the hot tub, and just enjoying some chocolate.

    Nicole.ddziedzic (at) gmail (dot) com

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  8. tweet - https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/507680896283992064

    Nicole.ddziedzic (at) gmail (dot) com

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  9. I stay in bed and cuddle with my cats

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  10. https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/507696752346951680

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  11. I like to eat chocolate and then lay down to rest

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  12. https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/507699822158049280

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  13. I pamper myself by lighting candles and taking a bubble bath!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

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  14. tweet--https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/507720324981747712

    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

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  15. i take motrin and lay down when i can

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  16. https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/507919632900947968

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  17. I'm a guy so I'm lucky.. I don't have that time of the month :)

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  18. Try taking aspirin instead of pain pills! It slowly removes the "clot" making it alot less painful.

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  19. i take a nice long hot bath with a face mask, lots of bubbles and a good book!!!

    vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com

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  20. tweet

    https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/507958520700870656

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  21. I take a nice long hot bath and take a Motrin.

    s2s2 at Comcast dot net

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  22. https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/508051404301152256

    s2s2 at Comcast dot net

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  23. I go for long walks or runs and by taking lots of hot showers. Listening to music also helps during that time of month. yarbr012 at gmail dot com

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  24. I tweeted about the giveaway with twitter id @yarbr012 : https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/508405975016296448. yarbr012 at gmail dot com..

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  25. I will take an wpsom salts bath and have some chai tea.
    msgb245 at gmail dot com

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  26. I pamper myself by taking a nice, hot bath with a good book.

    prettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com

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  27. https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/509063692495765504

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  28. I do an easy home spa to pamper myself.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

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  29. -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/509536307362951168

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  30. Lots of chocolate and a heating pad.

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  31. nothing like a hot bath and some chocolates pryfamily5@gmail.com

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  32. Have a nice dinner with friend.
    tina19820115@gmail.com

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  33. https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/510972947758989312
    tina19820115@gmail.com

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  34. I pamper myself by taking 15 minutes to myself to drink a cup of tea, eat some chocolate and catch up online.
    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

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  35. tweeted for a second entry
    https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/511333134458056704

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  36. Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/511626232740737025

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  37. I like to watch romantic comedies or anything funny really.

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  38. I grab the heating pad, make a cup of mint tea, and nestle into the recliner. Throw in a book or a good movie and I'm set.

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  39. I like to relax with a glass of wine and a box of Godiva chocolates!
    stoopidgerlart (at) gmail (dotcom)

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  40. The rare moments I get a chance to sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy some silence is great pampering!

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. Heating pad, comfy jammies, ibuprofen and tea.

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  42. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/512104597872058368

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  43. https://twitter.com/benz1171/status/512116356238434304

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  44. I sleep in on weekends. benz1171(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  45. I take a warm bath.
    MCantu1019 at aol dot com

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  46. I pamper myself with fancy chocolates and a cup of coffee.

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  47. TWITTERED FOR AN ENTRY! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/514596289153994753 afjackly@oakland.edu

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  48. I USUALLY TAKE MIDOL THAT TIME OF THE MONTH, THANKS FOR THE CHANCE! afjackly@oakland.edu

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  49. https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/514891340728246273

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  50. I pamper myself by taking care of my nails - I am usually taking on the phone or watching TV at the time, and I take off any polish that is on them, and then I groom my cuticles, file and shape my nails, and then if I want to put on a new color I do that (base coat, 2 coats of color, top coat, and drying drops). It's a necessary task, but also relaxing. :-)

    Thanks so much for having this giveaway! :-)

    missbonniebelle (at) gmail (dot) com

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  51. I tweeted here (yay for an extra entry!) :-) -
    https://twitter.com/missbonniebelle/status/514968455762964481

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  52. I love my heating part when I'm not feeling well.

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  53. A nice hot bath helps me a lot.
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  54. tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/515854013187633152
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  55. I pamper myself by taking a long bubble bath with a good book!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. tweet--https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/516291914719854593

    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

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  57. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  58. Fortunately, I'm past the age of monthy periods. But in all honesty, after the birth of my first child things got 1000% better. I went from the bed with a heating pad and pain killers to a fully functional mom and just being uncomfortable.

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  59. Tweet - https://twitter.com/willitara/status/516354245344243712

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  60. I just stopped breastfeeding a few months ago and let me just say there is not much to help me get comfortable other than being lazy as much as possible the first day or so! I don't deal with any pain, or many other symptoms so I am lucky but I am ready for things to get back to normal! sonyadmorris (at) gmail (dot) com

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  61. Link to tweet:
    https://twitter.com/catholicfanatic/status/516458663116947456
    sonyadmorris (at) gmail (dot) com
    Thank you!

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  62. By taking a bubble bath

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  63. tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/516593057441931264

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  64. For me...I love to take long hot great smelling bubble baths after everyones gone to bed! So relaxing!

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  65. I tweeted
    https://twitter.com/ilovemybeagle22/status/516615299299155969
    landfjacobson @ charter . net

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  66. I wear comfy stretchy pants and use a heating pad sticky thing.

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  67. https://mobile.twitter.com/Shiebs24/status/516773145756200960

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  68. I don't have that "time of the month" anymore, but I used to use a heating pad to battle the cramps.

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  69. tweet: https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/516832931289903107

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  70. I usually just take tylenol
    POKERGRL8 at gmail.com

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  71. I make myself more comfortable by wearing comfortable clothing and taking pain relievers for cramps.

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  72. I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/516987096087556096

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  73. i pamper myself by relaxing with a good book

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

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  74. Depending on the severity of my cramps, I will either take some tylenol or take some tylenol and lay in bed with heating pad on my tummy. It is the only thing that helps sometimes to make me comfy.
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

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  75. I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/517050853643931648
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

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  76. Well I am a guy but I know my GF likes to take tylenol and drink hot tea.

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  77. https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/517053950214680576

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  78. Eat my favorite snacks - chocolate. chips, etc
    tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  79. https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/517081093552345088
    tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  80. i posted a tweet here: https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/517089393597624320

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete