PMS Survival kit

I've been taking the agnus castus tincture in water most mornings since I got it, maybe two weeks ago. It tastes kind of odd, but not nasty. Anyway, cramps kicked in yesterday afternoon, although they were weaker than usual, so I booked the next day off work and started drinking the raspberry leaf tea, which is really nice. I was craving sweetie, fatty crap all day, but I resisted, except for a little bit of raw dark chocolate in the evening. So today I'm off, I had a good night sleep, I have some mild cramping, but not enough to stop me enjoying my day off. I wasn't expecting to go pain free straight away, but the dietary changes, the agnus castus and raspberry leaf tea are all working well enough to keep me away from artificial hormones and painkillers. Yay!

Last night I cooked a big pot of barley to last a few meals (it's now in a big box in the fridge). I had it after choir last night with some wilted kale. Kale is so tasty, I love that cruciferous taste, it's super charged in kale!

PMS/Dysmenorrhea Survival kit:

Vegan diet based on fruit, vegetables, whole grains and some nuts/seeds

Agnus castus tincture (10 drops twice a day in water)

Raspberry leaf tea

Hot water bottle/hot cherry stone bag

Big fleecy blanket and/or big sloppy jumper (sweater)

A day off work

Hugs

A sneaky bit of chocolate or raspberry beer...mmmm

Vegan for two weeks

It is going so well. The background is I'm food-mad, vegetarian, philosophy makes me think a lot (duh) and dairy was making me sick. No brainer really.

Cooking tasty food hasn't been an issue at all. We've had delicious salads, stew, hummus, oat milk smoothies, peanut butter toast, chocolate wacky cake and marmalade flapjack.

I still haven't worked out good alternative to wool that's dressy ( I don't mind wearing fleece at the weekends and around the house). I sit most of the day in work and my circulation isn't great so I like to dress in warm clothes but that look dressy. I think I'll email my Vegan Pledge mentor to see what she thinks.

My boyfriend has been veganising with me and also feels so much healthier and alert. It's great!

In tandem with going vegan I've given up the pill as I don't want to be on it forever and I've already been taking it on and off for 7 years. I'm hoping going vegan and taking chasteberry tincture and a B vitamin complex will help with the cramps.

Aside from the vegan thing, my weight had been creeping up a bit recently and I had been trying to eat less fat and smaller portions. Nothing really happened until I went vegan, I've lost 3.5kg in two weeks. I think it's more to do with eating food that kept me fuller longer, my chronic dairy-induced constipation clearing up and having more energy so doing more exercise. Another 2.5kg and I'll be at my ideal. Once that happens the plan is to make sure I don't lose any more but also do more exercise to keep my muscles busy.