Grrrrr... P.M.S.

The alarm is blaring too loudly. The sun is too bright. My daughter’s whining is more annoying than ever. The argument over who had the toy fighter jet first has suddenly escalated too far. Why do paper airplanes have to constantly be hitting me in the face?!? The dog tracking mud on my newly mopped floor is exasperating. The Doc is trying to make everyone laugh (as usual), but it only aggravates me further. All I can think of is getting back into bed and sleeping – but it is only 7:15 AM. My mouth stays clamped shut because if it opens, I swear it would do some serious heart breaking.

JUST. LEAVE. ME. ALONE.

From Personal Training pics

I have been a bear lately. We’re talking big, momma, fuming, hungry, angry bear. Yep, you guessed it: P.M.S. It drives me nuts because even though I am perfectly aware that it is that time of month – I still let the inner grizzly come out. I hate it.

And the hunger. Oh, the cravings are driving me into a frenzy. I have to get a hold of myself before I do some serious damage – both to my familial relationships and to my hips.

Let me tell you how I pulled myself out of the black hole of PMS I’ve been floundering in for the past two days:

1. Satisfied the craving. CHOCOLATE. That is all I wanted. Before I dove head first into the jar of Nutella, I quickly made myself a protein shake:

1 cup skim milk
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
5 ice cubes,
2 Tbs of sugar free chocolate syrup
1 Tb of indulgent Almond Butter (this is pure bliss).

Aaaaaahhhhh. Disaster averted.
Chocolate heaven.

From November 2009

2. Worked out like a maniac. Up early, lifted biceps, back, and ABS today for an hour. Then taught a class later in the morning with some serious calorie blasting plyometric moves just to blast the irrational stress and frustration out of my day. Condolences to those who came to the class and endured my crazy Trainer Momma antics. I had to do it. It felt soooo good!

3. Ate a killer lunch. I was starved, but held off grabbing the nearest thing. I cleaned out the fridge and made a classic Mandi concoction. It is not pretty but it was loaded with veggies, protein, and FLAVOR! I threw it all in a pan and cooked it up:

1 whole zuchinni
½ cup red and green pepper diced
some red onion
¾-1 cup Egg Scramblers
seasoning blend
1 Tbs reduced-fat Feta cheese
a few slices of avocado

I waited until the toddler was down for a nap, then ate in silence next to the the flowers the Doc gave me yesterday (see, I told you it's been bad). All that fiber and protein helped me control further crazy food cravings.

From November 2009

4. Drank a gallon of water.

5. Went to bed early.

6. Did things I love. Train clients. Laugh with a girlfriend. Call my sister. Read a good book. Write this post. I tried some retail therapy at Marshalls (where else?!?), but all nine -- read it, 9! - dresses I tried on looked horrific on me in my state. I thought I learned that lesson a long time ago: never, ever under any circumstances stand in front of a mirror partially naked while P.M.S.-ing. What was I thinking?!?

6. Apologized to the Doc and three children for being Oscar the Grouch.

I’m finally back from my dark abyss -- and it feels good.

Fit Mommas -- what works for you? How do you muddle through these cruel P.M.S. days?