I’m going to start this post out by sharing that I have had a very irregular cycle since I was 12. It all began with me rooting my identity in exercise and the food I ate. I found exercise, and I created it into one of those idols. I did it for hours every day, but you might already know that if you’ve been a regular reader. Idols only drain the life out of you. I didn’t think about how much my cycle was important to my health as a woman. I only thought about how much I could be an impressive athlete, and the undue amount of stress I put on my body and mind is not something that I really like to recount. Yet, I want to talk about it again today, because I’m ENCOURAGED!!!!
I’m so encouraged and happy and thankful and joyful because God’s promise of help and redemption is so REAL.
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:13-14)
The Lord God has so graciously returned my cycle to me for 3 whole consecutive months since I first started the digestive healing journey with Victoria. I’m honestly still somewhat in disbelief, because there was always this doubt, lack of faith in my mind, that I probably wouldn’t get a regular period back. I’m cautiously hopeful and exuberantly joyful at this news, because it means that my body is regulating itself after so many years of me being mean to it.
God is enabling me to be kind to my body, to take care of it for His glory, to serve others without trying to be ‘the savior’ of everybody by running myself into the ground.
Why is regaining your cycle worth the pain?
#1) Because it means that you don’t have to be thinking about whether you’re eating enough all the time. You’re embracing more intuitive eating, intuitive exercise, intuitive living, and not being bound by obsessing over food and exercise all the time.
#2) It’s worth it because for me, my digestion has actually been better? It’s pretty cool to me that since my cycle has returned more regularly I’ve had less bloating, less pain, and less cramping after eating.
#3) It’s worth it because I feel like a woman again. I realize that if the Lord wills, I could possibly have a baby one day when I get married. If not, I still know that my body will operate well so I can go to other countries, do other things, and not worry about fragile bones.
I wanted to put all of my thoughts into an informal 15 minute podcast with the Beauty in Christ Podcast. I talked about:
My Journey With Exercise And Regaining My Cycle
My Dietitian Telling Me To Stop Running For A Week or Two and Why It was Hard but Good
and more….
Listen To It On the Blog:
Or you can find me on ‘Itunes’ under ‘Beauty in Christ, Freedom From the Idolatry of Body and Food.’
I also want to leave you with some really good posts about ‘Amenorrhea, Cycles, Hormones, Weight, Intuitive Eating and More.‘
Victoria’s Story with Post Pill Amenorrhea
Healing Disordered Eating and Digestion
How Healthy Is Your Relationship With Food
‘Why Am I Not Getting My Period?’
Healing Your Thyroid After Restrictive Eating
Finding Your Healthy Set Point
Linking up with Amanda today to share today!
Have you ever struggled with your cycle?
Did you go through regaining your cycle? What things helped you?
This is actually an interesting topic for me right now because although I find my diet to be relatively sound – my period has for some reason gone away. I’ve been experimenting with my time in the gym and think that may have something to do with it, but my periods have become so irregular as of late that it has me completely baffled. It’s definitely something I am looking into though!
I know what you mean by being baffled by it Kat, because for a long time I’ve been weight restored, but it wasn’t until this year that it started to become more regular. I would love to hear what you find out. I hope your cycle comes back soon! <3
I love all this. I had an irregular/nonexistent cycle for years due to restricting and/or underestimating the amount of food I need and over exercising. Now I’m happy and feel so blessed to say I’ve been having regular cycles for a few years. Every time I get one, even when it feels annoying or uncomfortable, I make it a habit to think, “This means I am taking care of myself.” I love the posts you linked to. Robyn is the bomb.com when it comes to periods. Also that coffee granola shirt is the cutest. Listening to the podcast later today!
Robyn has been such a helpful resource and such a wonderful teacher for so many of us. Naomi, that makes my heart so happy and joyful. I will sing of God’s mercies to both of us; it’s amazing that we are both healing in amazing ways.
So happy you got it back. It can seem annoying at times,but it does feel good to have your body work right! Congrats 🙂
Thank you so much Julie! You’re really sweet friend.
It’s so amazing to think how our bodies work & how God created these cycles that really give us a key on other things in our health.
So glad you are getting more regular. That does give such a sense of wellness, mentally & physically.
It is incredible. For so long I took it for granted, and when I started to learn how much we need it, it really humbled me to remind me how much I need to trust God and take care of the body He has given me for His glory!
I related to this SO much. I recently got my period back this summer. It’s been such a blessing and like you said I’m in awe of God’s power because I didn’t think it was possible. I’m still tempted every day to worship the idol o of what a perfect body should weigh and look like. But I’m so grateful that we are all in this together as we fight against the cultural standards and the pride of our own hearts.
Wow, that is so awesome Michal; our God is greatly greatly to be praised. I am tempted every day too, but I am so thankful that God provides a way of escape from every one of those temptations through the finished work of His Son Jesus Christ.