Three weeks of the month, you can be focused, rational and in control of your healthy eating plan while you try to lose pregnancy weight.
And then the week before your period arrives, and you become a hungry, emotional, fatigued, cranky mama who just wants to eat unhealthy food and lay on the couch.
This can feel like a major setback when you are trying to lose pregnancy weight, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Read our tips here to continue to lose weight during those tough few days each month.
Plan ahead
This is key to surviving PMT hell. If you don’t plan ahead, your emotions take hold and before you know it you could find yourself diving head first into a cream bun.
So clear the cupboards of junk food so that you don’t succumb, and stock up on healthy snacks like yoghurt, fresh fruit, berries, nuts and popcorn kernels.
The 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge will really help with this as all your food and snacks for each week are planned out so it will give you the structure to stay on track
If you would like to get a sample of some of the delicious dessert recipes on the menu click below:
Or you can join the 28 Day Challenge directly here
Make a move
While it can be hard to peel yourself off the couch, you will feel much better after some light exercise.
Simply taking a walk or doing a segment or two from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge will really help.
The 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge gives you daily exercises with videos and combines pilates and HIIT training.
If you would like a FREE exercise sampler from the 28 Day Challenge click below:
Or you can join the Challenge directly here
Try eating complex carbohydrates
The slow release energy in these foods will help to reduce your cravings for sweets. This could be a baked sweet potato, some brown rice cakes, or some home made porridge.
Reduce your sugar intake
Things like ice cream, sweets and chocolate might seem like the answer to your PMT prayers, but in fact they will do you no favours in the long run.
The simple reason for this is that the more you have, the more you want. They don’t satisfy your hunger, they just lead you into a sugar slump.
Prepare yourself if you know you have a sweet tooth by making some of our healthier options for satisfying a chocolate craving.
Keep salt to a minimum
Some of us crave chips or salty foods, but these will in fact contribute to the bloated stomach that we all seek to avoid.
If you do fancy something, make your own healthy air popped popcorn with just a smattering of salt.
Get some sleep
Don’t stay up late watching weepy movies. Instead, be sure to get yourself a good night’s sleep. Take a bath and drink some herbal bedtime tea to get you in the sleepy mood.
Increase your potassium
This will help to reduce bloating which is a common PMT symptom. Be sure to include banana in your Healthy Mummy Smoothie, and you could also try drinking coconut water.
Trytophan & foods
Nutritionally speaking there are foods that can help you get through this hormonal stage in your cycle.
The amino acid ‘tryptophan’ serves as a precursor for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps the body regulate appetite, sleep patterns, and mood. Because of its ability to raise serotonin levels, tryptophan has been used therapeutically in the treatment of a variety of conditions such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
Foods such as turkey, chicken, venison, tuna and soybeans are good lean sources of tryptophan. For a late night snack why not try Pumpkin seeds with natural yoghurt as they are both protein-rich tryptophan sources and will also positively impact on blood sugar levels to prevent mood disturbances associated with PMT/s and low blood sugar.
To tame those hormones also include plenty of brassica family vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts to help reduce excess oestrogen levels.
If you know you become ‘crabby’ during this time consider preventing mood swings by avoiding stimulant foods such as sugar, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, additives and artificial colours. Caffeine addicts are more prone to anxiety as caffeine causes a surge in a number of neurotransmitters that initiate an anxiety response.
As a supplement Vitex agnus-castus* is an inexpensive herb used for gynaecological complaints that can easily be found in the local chemist or health food store. It contains a number of active constituents, including flavonoids, iridoids, alkaloids and volatile oils. The mode of action of Vitex agnus-castus is not known but improvements have been seen with regard to irritability, mood alteration, anger, headache and breast fullness.
If you are someone affected by PMT/s why not try some of my interventions next time around and give the hubby a break once in a while 
Nutrition information provided by Elisha Danine ~ Nutritionist
*IMPORTANT: Vitex agnus-cactus has traditionally been used to help support breastfeeding, although please note that it does affect hormone levels.There is always the possibility that a developing baby could be adversely affected. No woman who is breastfeeding a baby should ever take any medication or herbal supplement without first clearing this with her doctor and pediatrician.
If you would like to get a sample of some of the delicious dessert recipes on the 28 Day Challenge menu click below:
Or you can join the 28 Day Challenge directly here
Results from mums on the 28 Day Challenge
Mums lose an average of 4-6kg (8-13 pounds) on our 28 Day Challenge and below are some of the amazing results from mums JUST LIKE YOU who are already using the 28 Day Challenge and losing tummy fat – make the change and join them today too!
You can see lots of more results and you can join here too
Eliza lost 22kg (48 pounds) on 4 Challenges
Eliza says “I started in September with my first 28 Day Weightloss Challenge. I lost 8 kg that month. So far I have lost 22 kg. But it is what I have gained which will make me a supporter for life!
Join here
You won’t regret it!
