Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

No joke!

Since I turned 40, a whopping decade ago, I've been forced, by my body, to try and figure out what it needs. Until then, I just went through life, eating as well as I could and running myself ragged, as most mothers with 2 careers do! And the bod just behaved, for the most part. Then 40 hit and the game changed.

Of course, what the bod needs changes. Especially through those 10 peri-menopausal years. I'm finally past that hump, (Insert happy dance.) but this last year, it was all exacerbated by the Cancer. Menopause and Cancer at the same time is no easy task. And completely confusing to the body and the owner of said body.

But I've learned. To Listen. VERY Closely. To My Body.

And I think I've discovered something new.

I hadn't been sleeping well for about 2 weeks. Change in magnesium formula and lackadaisical progesterone supplementation = toss and turn and wake up in the bleak hours unable to easily return to lala land. And my weight was up a few lbs. With the edema, I never know if it's *real* weight or water weight. It hardly matters, as the jeans don't discriminate by weight cause, they just won't fit, regardless.

I can't tell you how this is so not like me. Anyone that knows me knows I sleep like a rock. I like to do everything with passion, even sleep!

I recently switched to a liquid progesterone formula, instead of the creams I have been using for years. The liquid is super cheap as it lasts forever, and does the job. But I'd usually take it during the day, as that was easiest for me to remember.

So, a couple nights ago, I decided to try taking 1 drop (the usual dose) under my tongue or on the inside of my cheek 1/2 an hour before bed, and take a 1/2 pill of this new magnesium (I'm incrementally increasing the dose, trying to see if I can handle full doses).

(I had tried this with the progesterone cream, but it didn't work the same way. I have read that the cream on your neck or face before bed helps you sleep. Ha, not me it didn't!)
 
Now I'm back to sleeping like a rock. And, I've lost those extra lbs and an extra one on top of it. I haven't seen 137 in? can't remember when. Haven't exercised (the edema works overtime when I work up a sweat, and that's another gripe I have with this stupid edema - I'd like some muscle tone back.) I haven't dieted. In fact, yesterday, I had pasta with chunks of melted mozzarella for lunch AND dinner, and a small piece of marshmallow-iced chocolate cake.

So, I googled, Sleep and weight loss.

Looks like it's not my imagination! So, if anyone else struggles with weight (don't we all?), look at your sleep patterns and see if there isn't room for improving the quality of your sleep. Could be a simple fix out there, to not only get us the sleep we desperately need, but make those jeans fit a bit more comfortably. I love killing 2 birds with one stone!

I'll report back periodically, to let you know if it's still working.