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TMI: The one where I talk about my period

We've well established that I've been hanging out next to the wagon, talking about getting on but not quite able to bring myself to do it. This week, I had the best of intentions. I planned ahead and when I went to the store I stuck to my list, didn't splurge, and kept it clean. I even went to the farmer's market for fresh veggies.

I meal prepped. I have a fridge full of salads, hummus (homemade) and sliced veggies. Fruit, pealed and ready to eat. Fresh brewed Green Tea.

I've been eating pizza all week.

I started my period on Monday morning. Usually my period is a total non-issue for me. Make sure I have some tampons on hand and maybe a single dose of Midol at the start and I'm business as usual.

Not this week. My back cramped, my stomach cramped, I'm bloated, I'm craving meat (I've been a vegetarian for almost six years), I'm exhausted. It's so strange. I've been handling my period every month for over twenty years now and I've never had a month like this...

Even my dog is behaving differently around me this week. He's stuck to my side, literally. He's laying against me on the couch right now. He's been sleeping at my hip all week. He's between my feet as I go to the bathroom. We've had Scout for over a year and he's never given two dog biscuits about my cycle.

Something about this month is different and he can smell whatever it is.

I think for the first time in a long time I'm having an iron deficiency issue. I did lean towards anemia when I was a kid. I get it from my dad's side of the family. Weirdly, after going vegetarian it's been a non-issue for me. It took me a couple days to figure it out, to be honest.

Yesterday I was a lump of exhaustion. I slept until noon. I feel asleep again from 5-10 pm. Then somewhere around three am I got hungry and grabbed one of my salads and felt better within twenty minutes. Spinach, baby kale, and swiss chard can be a huge help when you're low on iron. I think the vitamin D from the mushrooms in my salad helped too.

I'm still sluggish today, but I made sure to have another salad today with lunch (yes, it was pizza, but I put broccoli, carrots, and cabbage on it!) and I'm hoping that keeps the lows of yesterday at bay.

Even with my period making my body go weirdly hay-wire this week, I have done enough that I feel like I'm sitting in the wagon. I meal prepped and recorded my food.

I've also stopped obsessing over getting a second job. I'm still looking and putting in applications, but am not letting it stress me like it has been. Plus, with the summer starting I'll be getting more hours at the store which will help as well.

I'm not pushing myself on the running thing. For now I'm going to get my miles in by walking. I've downloaded some podcasts to help entertain myself while walking and keep me going.

I may even build up the nerve to hit the gym and take a couple classes next week.

But for now, I need some Midol. If only I could get Scout to fetch it for me...

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