Periods... Yuk!

[RawWedding]

Is it true that going raw stops periods?! Well at least stop the bleeding?
I think it's totally unnesarry for the bleeding! I hate mine and I will be glad to get rid of it, it gets in thw way of life, and life is for living. But I havent met anyone who thinks 'not having a period' is healthy

But Id love to know if anyone agrees with me? :-)
Angie xxx.

[tanishamarshall]

Mine have gotten much lighter and tolerable, before raw it was starting to get really heavy.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Mine dissappeared with raw for over a year, but 3 days ago it came back with a vengence. So ON thanksgiving ...yeah....it sucks.

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

Before raw, mine were AWFUL. Now they're light and tolerable!

[Green Life]

Mine dissappeared with raw for over a year, but 3 days ago it came back with a vengence. So ON thanksgiving ...yeah....it sucks.

Do you think it's detox from the past Cooked thanksgivings?

[mel_s12]

Mine have gone from coming every 40-50 days, to coming exactly every 28 days! It's great.

[Morn]

I still get mine every month! Not fun but part of being a woman.

[purdeychoo]

I don't get why people are anti-periods?

It's a *natural* part of a female's life whilst in reproductive years. The only time I spent without my period was when I was at about 100lbs or less at 5'6" and I was on the contraceptive pill then, which should have made it nigh on impossible to lose my period according to my team. Yet I did.

Even now I am still on the contraceptive pill and don't have PMS: cramps, aches or pains nor bad moods (other than my permanent PMS!). I know a lot of people may disagree with me about taking the pill but I have done since I was 14 and it has always agreed with me.

I've seen many friends try and 'free' themselves of their monthly bleed via the injection only to have bleeds that last 6-12 months.

When I lost my period, I felt less of a woman. I felt I was even more empty and hollow than I felt before. I know this is not how you feel about it from what you say...but why are you so against the natural rhythms of your body? I've personally never had an issue with my bleed, maybe because it is light and pain-free and for that I am very lucky and blessed but when I went without it something else triggered in my head saying that it wasn't all right at all and that wasn't specifically related to my eating issues, only my loss of menses.

It's certainly an inconvieniance but that's as far as I see it. How do you see it? It sounds as though you'd prefer to be free of bleeding altogether...

I thought raw meant in tune with nature, not circumventing it? :confused:

Hugs,

PC x

[Rwmomto5]

Being raw mine normalized as I didn't get any before. Like clockwork now, no PMS, cramping, bloating ec;

I will say I've been on a liquid diet for a few days now and the flow was quit heavy, not in voscosity but just a lot. I ate some food this afternoon for thanksgiving and the flow lightened. Odd. I've never hafd that happen before and have been on juice fasts before etc; I am sick with flu though...

[nadinew3]

I have to say I agree with you purdeychoo.
It is so sad that many women loathe their periods. Even when mine are at their worst I can't help feeling that it is just such an amazing process.

Reading books like Alexandra Pope's "Waking the Genie" really helped to change my views on menstruation. And raw definately makes my period lighter and more regulated - definitely more "in tune" with nature and when I am raw it means I am taking better care of myself.

My period is such a barometer for my overall health and state of mind that I have to say I look forward to it.

Much love -

nadine

[SmilingRawDancer]

I just don't see how it's natural to have a bloody massacre every month, that interfers with activities and normal life. Maybe I've NEVER had normal periods, but it's VERY heavy, and I hate the feeling of...yeah. It's gross.
It's great that some feel that it's natural and comfortable and "beautiful", I applaud you....but I don't feel that way.

[juliebove]

I don't get why people are anti-periods?

It's a *natural* part of a female's life whilst in reproductive years. The only time I spent without my period was when I was at about 100lbs or less at 5'6" and I was on the contraceptive pill then, which should have made it nigh on impossible to lose my period according to my team. Yet I did.

Even now I am still on the contraceptive pill and don't have PMS: cramps, aches or pains nor bad moods (other than my permanent PMS!). I know a lot of people may disagree with me about taking the pill but I have done since I was 14 and it has always agreed with me.

I've seen many friends try and 'free' themselves of their monthly bleed via the injection only to have bleeds that last 6-12 months.

When I lost my period, I felt less of a woman. I felt I was even more empty and hollow than I felt before. I know this is not how you feel about it from what you say...but why are you so against the natural rhythms of your body? I've personally never had an issue with my bleed, maybe because it is light and pain-free and for that I am very lucky and blessed but when I went without it something else triggered in my head saying that it wasn't all right at all and that wasn't specifically related to my eating issues, only my loss of menses.

It's certainly an inconvieniance but that's as far as I see it. How do you see it? It sounds as though you'd prefer to be free of bleeding altogether...

I thought raw meant in tune with nature, not circumventing it? :confused:

Hugs,

PC x

Some of us have really bad periods. I guess I'm lucky in that I don't get PMS and don't normally get really bad cramps.

Mine are unpredictable though and a few months ago, I had an 18 day long one. Some days were so heavy, no pad would contain it. It was horrible! I couldn't leave the house for days. The Dr. couldn't find anything wrong and just blamed it on my age. I'm 48. For me, the periods get worse as I get older. They were no biggie when I was younger.

I know of three women who get cramps so badly they have to take to bed for at least a day. They've missed work or school because things were so bad. I also know women who opted for hysterectomies because of heavy or non-stop bleeding. We're not all the same.

[raw_danceruk]

I am of the school of thought that loosing a lot of blood..isnt normal!!

I suffered for years from awful periods, but was a real junk food vegetarian!! .. since cleaning my act up havent had any for 18 months now, all hormones are normal- ovulate every month like clockwork... so no complaints here!!

Raw deffinately affects the cycle, wether it means lighter and painfree or totally gone. I know if I eat rubbish I will start bleeding a few days after and get bad pains for a day or two.

[RawWedding]

Its good to hear different responses.
If mine were light or even moderate with no or just little pain i wouldnt mine.

They become a problem, a nuisance, unnatural and make you crazy when

*It feel like theres some thing in you, pulling at your ovaries every second for 7 days

* You cant sit down or walk

* You have to miss school/work/special events

*No-one sympathysis with you because they just think 'come on its jsut period pain'

* Once had to go to ER crying because it was so bad

*You get migranes and severly soar boobies for two weeks

....And therefore you dread it!

It's just unnatural to bleed I think, that means that there has been a hemmorage of some sort, which there doesnt need to be.

While we are all different and I respect that, these are jsut my thoughts
Love Angie xxxx.

[shooting star]

I used to take ibruprofen every month - but now I don't need it - haven't had any cramps at all this month :)

I don't know if anyone has heard of mooncups - but they are much better than tampons. I used to get thrush from using tampons as they disrupt the balance of flora. Check out www.mooncup.co.uk I've been using it for over a year and it is so much better than tampons for you and the environment.

[Revvell]

But I havent met anyone who thinks 'not having a period' is healthy


It is for me! But then, I'm 58. Now, not having periods or hot flashes is VERY healthy! :D

[justinesmith]

I used to take ibruprofen every month - but now I don't need it - haven't had any cramps at all this month :)

I don't know if anyone has heard of mooncups - but they are much better than tampons. I used to get thrush from using tampons as they disrupt the balance of flora. Check out www.mooncup.co.uk I've been using it for over a year and it is so much better than tampons for you and the environment.

That sounds so cool! I checked out the site.... thanks for sharing :D

[callmebecca]

Another endorsement for the Keeper/Moon Cup here (the Moon Cup is a silicon version of the Keeper, for women with rubber/latex allergies). I've been using my Keeper for two years now, and I don't even know how many chemicals I've kept out of my body and how much money I've saved from not using tampons all that time. I definitely recommend it!

[GlimR]

My sister had a terrible time with her cycle every month and it was discovered that she had endometriosis...severe pain, nausea...heavy bleeding.

I'm 50 and still have a regular cycle. I have never wished my menstrual flow away. It is a hemmorage of sorts...your body sluffing off the lining of your uterus that was prepared to nurture life when not needed. To me there is an element of the sacred in it and I do not begrudge it at all but welcome it every month. But that is just my feeling about it~

I use the diva cup....some find it unpleasant but I would never go back to tampons.

[Hannah]

I love my keeper! Since going raw I've had 2 cycles and I notice that i've actually had a problem with pain when using tampons, but not when i use the keeper (in the past when I've known I might use a public bathroom I've used tampons). I've had the keeper 6 years and when I think of how much $$$ I've saved on sanitary supplies its amazing. Also the company rocks - if you order (I think) 6 or more you can get the wholesale price - that could be 6 more women who experience easier periods - or at the very least lighten the sanitation load. Wow, even I didn't realize I was this excited about the keeper :p

[callmebecca]

It is exciting indeed. :D

[RawHeaven]

I began menstruating when I was 11 and I suffered greatly for most of my teen years and twenties. My periods were often painful, debilitating, very heavy and lengthy, 8-9 days. Sometimes I had to miss school I would be in so much pain. My PMS would begin 2 weeks before so I was always cranky and in pain most of the month! I was also living in a highly dysfunctional household and eating junk every day.

When I turned 30 I was going through major upheavals in my life. I traveled to Bali, Indonesia to find myself. I initially was going to stay for 2 weeks and ended up staying for 6 months. I quit my job and lived off my savings. And my periods were still as painful as ever. I was walking around in Ubud one day and I came upon this female deity statue in a local craft store. It was one the most beautiful statues I'd ever seen. It clearly showed a beautiful goddess menstruating and holding her hands up to the heavens with a huge grin on her face, as if offering her blood to the Gods. In that instant I knew what this signified and to this day it still gives me chills.

It basically demonstrated life force energy and women's ability to create life. Which is a huge blessing and is life itself. During our cycles, and a few days before, we are at our highest creativity and sensitivity.

Having your period represents being alive and being blessed with the ability to create life. And even if you do not wish to create another human being in this lifetime, it still represents your power to create as a woman. If you can create life, you can create everything and this is what makes women scary at times to men. I love men, so this is not a man bashing statement. Simply, over the course of history, we've learned to hate this part of ourselves for obvious and not so obvious reasons in many cultures. And in some cases there was a deliberate attempt to keep women at bay by making them dislike something about their bodies, which as we know still goes on to this day.

When I began to study this more for myself, researching the history of why we feel this way about ourselves and healing my own body with the foods I was eating, I experienced a huge paradigm shift in my reality and physically in my body with my periods. It didn't take long.

Our moon cycles are in direct correlation to the cycles of the Moon (which is the embodiment of the feminine). It is said if you gaze into the full moon you can see a profile or the full face of a woman. I've seen both. This is another area I recommend most women get in tune with and research for themselves. When you do, you will be blown away and it will change your life. Most ancient cultures were aware of this fact and fortunately it has been retained in most indigenous cultures. Thus, the reason I discovered it when traveling abroad.

Our mothers and grandmothers and the women before them had a very different viewpoint of their menstrual cycles, more than likely born in shame. They were something to be hidden and despised. We mentally associated them with something "disgusting" and to this day we carry a lot of shame in our emotional bodies, which continues the self-destructive patterns. And this in turn causes many of the painful symptoms associated with having your period. It literally starts with you and yourself. The medical world doesn't help either in most cases, it further supports the insanity of loathing something that is a natural cycle of life. A lot of medical practices go against what is natural, even birthing. 90% of the world' women still squat when they give birth which makes sense as far as gravity is concerned. But this another subject.

In truth, our cycles are a great blessing and are to be celebrated. When we look at it in this light, we can embrace every aspect of bleeding, even the painful aspects which will eventually shift when you change how you view your period.

Now my cycle is extremely regular, every 28 days, like a clock. I have zero PMS symptoms and it's light and only lasts a short time, 3-4 days. I celebrate it when it arrives now and my body returns the favor. I often deliberately plan to create pieces of art or write during my cycle. My sixth sense is off the charts, my sense of smell and sight increase. And you may notice these things occuring also, even now, if you pay attention, right before your period starts your senses take off.

It is not a coincidence.

It is the beauty of being a woman.

We are very powerful and can create life.

None of us would be here if our mothers didn't bleed and our fathers weren't able to plant the seed.

Love your moon cycle. Love yourself.

http://betsydevine.com/blog/pictures/MoonFlip.gif

[Barbie2]

Periods are a natural part of a woman life. Even though, I do not miss mine. I love Post menopause. I feel free!

[GlimR]

Crystalzgoneraw~
What a deeply beautiful post...bright blessings to you Lady~

[SmilingRawDancer]

Again, it's VERY nice that others feel that way and love their periods, but for some they're a BIG nuisance due to the pain and mandatory withdrawal from normal life.
It's great you enjoy it.

[RawHeaven]

Crystalzgoneraw~
What a deeply beautiful post...bright blessings to you Lady~

Thank you so much GlimR...just speaking from my heart and sharing my journey healing my own period woes. :)

Many sparkling blessings right back to you!

http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/photos/SoftgoodThumb42320.jpg

[RawHeaven]

I don't know if anyone has heard of mooncups - but they are much better than tampons. I used to get thrush from using tampons as they disrupt the balance of flora. Check out www.mooncup.co.uk I've been using it for over a year and it is so much better than tampons for you and the environment.

thank you so much for this info shooting star.

i've been able to gradually switch all of my toiletries, cleaning products, makeup etc to natural, non toxic alternatives over the years with the exception of well, um...my bloody tampons. sorry, couldn't resist that little joke. :p

i'm going to definately try the mooncup. with everyone's endorsement it sounds divine.

[RawWedding]

Crystal ! That was very moving :-) Im glad you feel that way. I live in a highly dysfunctional family and its so annoying on many levels, espcially eating :-(

Angiexxxx.

[Cinnamon]

My periods began when I was 11 and have always been totally awful. I'd miss school and when I got older work each and every month being in bed in such pain. The extremely heavy flows left me anemic and the cramps kept me doubled over in pain and there were no meds that would even help. They lasted at least 8 days, minimum.

I'm now 49 and while a lot would not agree with this, but I was blessed with cervical cancer last year and had a hysterectomy. I so wish I'd done this at least 20 or more years ago so I could have lived a normal life like I can now. I'd have at least 2 weeks of terrible PMS and migraines each month that lasted at least 4 days. I even had to schedule vacations and other important events in my life around my cycle, getting only 2 good weeks a month!

I look forward to my 50's and beyond period free (and cancer free too).

Just my story and experience. To those who can live with their periods I am in envy of you, I wish my life with periods had been something to celebrate instead of something to dread.

[Mialsse]

I've been using instead (www.softcup.com) for YEARS because tampons just became too painful. I absolutely love instead, but lately I've been feeling the need to find something less wasteful. Even though instead doesn't have to be changed as often as a tampon, so there is less waste, it IS still disposable. I think the mooncup or keeper might be exactly what I'm looking for. Very similiar design/idea, plus it's reusable! How perfect. Thank You!!