Tasty looking, right? It was a little creation I whipped up the other day with some left over veggies I had and one of my new spices. I know it's not a super complex, fancy recipe, but it sure does taste good. I used red peppers, baby bella mushrooms, spinach, extra virgin olive oil, and my new Sunny Paris Seasoning (see previous post). The flavors are light, but quite good. The meal itself--which I combined with quinoa, also seasoned with the Sunny Paris stuff-- is quite filling and satisfying. The best part for me is that it's chock full of iron from the quinoa and spinach. When you are eating a primarily vegetarian diet, that iron/protein thing is super important, especially for women.
Speaking of, I've noticed something these past few days. (WARNING: For those who don't like the discussion of bodily functions or women's things, do not read on) I am in the "PMS" stage of the month and really took note of how my body, and especially digestion, has changed just these last few days. Looking back, I realize that this is something that happens almost every single month without fail, and always has. Furthermore, these changes coincided last month with when I felt as though I was set back in my progress and was experiencing lots of nausea again. Interesting.
Anyway, the major change that happens for me during the week before my period is that my stomach stops sending signals to the rest of my body. I don't get hungry, I don't get full. Seriously, I know it sounds weird, but it has always been that way for me when I have PMS. As a result, I have a harder time gauging how much I should eat and even when I should eat. Since I don't get physically hungry in the sense of my stomach growling I have to listen for other cues from my body, such as feeling faint or light headed. Fun. Otherwise, I would just not eat, but I know that when I start to feel kind of "off" in that way I need to eat- despite not feeling hungry. The hardest part by far is figuring out when to stop eating. I literally have to go strictly off portion size and hope I got it right. Usually, I think I end up eating too much, which is not good for my gallbladder or stomach at all. But if I don't eat enough? Yeah, then I feel slightly hungry a few hours later, accompanied with the lightheadedness. Double fun.
I'm not sure why my body reacts in this way. I don't have any theories to explain it, but I guess it's just hormones, right? Then I look at the other side effect-- slowed digestion and constipation. Gross, yes, but I warned you! I have been so constipated feeling the last few days, even though my diet has not changed at all from what it was the week before when I was digesting quite well, thank you. Sure, I still go #2, but it isn't as easy and takes a heck of a lot more effort. And compared to the number of times I did go #2 the last few weeks, we are severely cut down. According to my acupuncturist and all of the natural medicine sources I have read so far, we should actually being going #2 more than once per day with normal digestion! That was mind blowing to me! Nonetheless, I would at least like it be easy to go again like it was last week. I wonder if I do a liquid diet this week if that will help move things along? Maybe I should try!
Figuring out all of the little nuances of my body is a very interesting process. I have never listened to it so much and really taken in all of the subtle changes that happen and thought about why they happen. I am learning more about myself than I ever thought I would!
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