I’m not gonna lie. My journey to peace with my body was quite the long one. My relationship with food took time to heal. And the journey wasn’t without that recurring pitfall that we all know too well…

Of course, I’m talking about “that time of the month.”

I’d have times when I’d be feeling in my power with food. I was feeling free and and alive within my body. And I was beginning to believe that this food freedom thing might actually be happening for me…

Then that week would come along, and all hell would break loose.

I’d become negative, grumpy, and tired. I’d want to eat everything in sight. I’d have these powerful cravings for forbidden foods. Cravings which often won out at the end of the day.

What was worse is that I would push as hard as I could NOT to feel the way I felt.

I’d drink coffee and hunker down. I’d do anything I could push through the exhaustion and the sluggishness. And it always led me to the same place.

But then I decided to be a lot more gentle with myself. I decided to stop resisting the negative emotions and look at how I was feeling, and without judgment.

What I realized was that by pushing against how I felt, I was perpetuating the most painful parts of the monthly cycle. And making things so much worse than they needed to be!

From my own experiences and through the women I’ve worked with at Beating Binge Eating, I’ve seen every angle of this PMS-based struggle….your hormones change at this time of the month and there’s an impact.

The most common thing I see is women fighting, resisting, and trying to push through the feelings that go along with the monthly cycle.. And of course, that includes the pesky little cravings!

How do you stay in your power, feel as balanced as possible, and make nourishing food choices without shaming yourself for wanting all the chocolate you can eat?

There are ways to work with even those kind of cravings without resorting to force, control, or restriction. (Because you know that this isn’t how we roll around here…)

I show you three ways to work with monthly cravings in a way that will leave you feeling balanced, nourished, and empowered instead of exhausted, sluggish, and defeated in the video below!

–

–

Step #1: It Is What It Is: Accepting Where You Are. I’ve talked about the power of acceptance before, but when it comes to period-related stress, feeling into the struggle is truly the only way out.

And I’m not talking about waving the white flag and indulging in heavy emotions. All I’m saying is looking at the reality of being a woman with truth…and compassion.

Let’s be straight-up honest about it: during that week, your biology, physiology, and hormones are going through natural fluctuations. It’s only normal that you’re going feel a little bit off kilter…and it’s totally OK.

The more willing you are to be honest about how you feel (even if it’s not that great), the easier it will be to work with what you have. And find the solutions that will work for you.

I’m not saying that you have to indulge how miserable you might be feeling. After all, I’m all about upping your vibe, changing your inner state, and creating your reality.

It’s just that to make that internal shift possible, you need to accept where you are FIRST. Then take the steps toward where you want to BE.

And the only way to roll with the change is to support them rather than resist them.

So even though the monthly cycle might not be a picnic, don’t fight what’s happening. Honor yourself as a woman, a human being, and someone who deserves love, compassion, and support.

Which brings me to Step 2!

Step #2: Give yourself the support that you need during this time. Now is the time to stand up for yourself and give yourself a little bit of love. Maybe that means allowing yourself a little bit more rest, a little more downtime, or a little less stress at work and at home.

Now, I’m not saying shirk your responsibilities for five days every month. But it might be a good time to ask for a little extra support in your daily tasks. And perhaps plan ahead as best as you can to create space for a little less stress during this time.

Either way, at work and at home, take a little extra time to love, honor, and nourish yourself, however that might work within the constructs of your life.

Step #3: Know that cravings are going to happen (and work with them rather than fight them!) Here’s something that we all know well: PMS cravings are indeed a thing. That’s another reality to accept.

So what do you need to give your body so that you neither resist to these pangs nor do you let them run amok?

By listening to your body, asking it what it needs, and making present moment food choices.

This is a big deal every day, and it’s an even bigger one at this point on the calendar!

I tend to crave grounding meals during this time, which often translates into extra carbs (like potatoes!). I also feel the need for natural anti-inflammatory foods like greens and veggies. So I choose foods that are grounding, nourishing, as well as foods that detoxify and support my body.

I also know that I might have a pang for something (literally) a little bit sweeter, like chocolate. So that means having those foods on hand allowing myself to have them without judgment.

Sounds pretty crazy, I know…but stay with me on this one…

I’m not talking about “letting” yourself eat 20 candy bars just because it’s period time! But know that if you DO want a bite of something that you don’t normally, allowing yourself to enjoy it is going to support you in the long run!

It’s what you do the majority of the time that counts the most. And calling yourself out from craving a candy bar once in awhile will ultimately do more harm than good.

In fact, it’s what could potentially send you down a pathway of restriction, shaming, and maybe even trigger that urge to binge.

But if you allow yourself a little treat when you need it, not only will you satisfy that craving in the moment, but you’ll also cultivate that partnership with your body. The partnership that allows you to love, honor, and nourish yourself in EVERY moment.

Think of it. Making more allowances instead of enforcing more restrictions is ultimately the way to go. It might seem counterintuitive, but the more you allow yourself to have what you need, the more the pull toward those forbidden foods will diminish over time.

And when that happens, the survival mechanisms in your brain that respond to harshly enforced limits will be turned off. Which means less guilt, less shame, and fewer food-focused thoughts.

And think of it this way, too–a little bit of allowance will support you not only through PMS, but also every other day of the month!

Now, I know that the idea of allowance can be scary at first, especially if you’re used to the traditional diet rules. (It might even sound like opening Pandora’s box, especially if you’re feeling out of control with food…)

I remember when I first encountered the “allowance” concept. It was more than counterintuitive to me. It was terrifying. And I rejected it at every turn.

I was afraid to feel out of control. And you might be feeling that way right now, too. You want to be free of the guilt, blame, and forcing, but it just seems too scary.

That’s why today I’m sharing a special gift that will help take the fear out of allowance!

It’s going to help you break free of compulsive patterns with food, feel freer, and take your power back. With your food, your body, and your LIFE.

Click the image below where I’ve got a special gift for you! We call them, “Craving Cards”, and they’re one of our most popular tools!

If you ever feel night time cravings, sugar cravings, the urge to just say “screw it I’m going to start my diet over tomorrow”, or like you need a little body confidence pick me up… 

Just grab a card, go through the prompts, and shift it instantly!

Click the image above and let me know where to send them!

You’ll also get mini demo video training sessions for each card where I share how to use the cards and some of my best tips for food freedom forever!

With our Craving Cards and Demo Series… 

You’ll learn how to stop cravings in their tracks, feel confident, and get back your power, fast! 

Love,
Brittany

PS: Want the exact freedom and ease with our foods that myself and thousands of our clients get to experience?

In our Beating Binge Eating Blueprint (BBEB), I show you how to make this happen in just 8 weeks!

Many of our students have seen a DRASTIC difference in as little as a few days!

It’s our signature program, and up until recently, it was $3000 or more to join.

For now, you can get it as a part of our Food Freedom Collection for practically free by clicking the image below!

There is no catch…every resource I’ve created for food freedom and body confidence will land straight in your if you just click that image below and let me know where to send it!