I was on the pill for a very long time, and basically, one day almost 3 years ago now, I decided I no longer wanted to be on the pill. So, after my last withdrawal bleed almost 3 years ago, I stopped taking the pill.
I was a tad nervous to go off the pill because I did have terrible periods prior to going on the pill. I remember when my family was moving me in to my college dorm room, my period started. We had to take a few trips during the move-in to Bed Bath and Target to find fans, since we discovered in the thick of summer that my dorm room didn’t have air conditioning. My period cramps were so bad during this time, I literally laid down on the floor at Target. If you know me at all, you know that I must have really been in a lot of pain, because my ocd would have otherwise never allowed me to lay on the disgusting filthy Target floor. The cramps were literally just that painful, and the pill really did lessen that pain.
However, if I knew what I knew back then, I would not have gone on the pill at all. It was really a band-aid and low-quality fix for an underlying hormonal problem or imbalance.
Instead, what I should have done was work to regulate my hormones. That would have better alleviated my cramps—maybe not to the point where I had no pain, but enough where I wouldn’t keel over in debilitating pain. And this is what I had to do when I decided on that day 3 years ago to go off the pill. I was adamant that I would regulate my hormones and get my period on a regular basis after being off the pill without debilitating cramps.
It wasn’t exactly easy to do this, but with the help of my sister (who went through the process before me), I was able to figure it out. And I cannot express enough that going off the pill was one of the best—if not the best—decisions I have ever made. I can say that I have never felt more like myself than when I was able regulate my hormones naturally, get my period back on a regular basis and be off the pill for good. For that reason, I will never go back on the pill ever ever ever again. The pill and I are never ever ever getting back together.
So, how did I regulate my hormones exactly? It was a combination of high-quality supplements and organic, healthy, and nutrient rich foods.
The supplements I take are as follows, with the caveat that I had to deviate a little bit from this list and give up a few of these supplements while being pregnant.
- Methyl Assist – contains essential B vitamins, including natural occurring folate—not the synthetic folic acid
- Whole Food Vitamin C – contains natural occurring Vitamin C—not the synthetic ascorbic acid
- Vitamin E – aids in the balancing of hormones
- NAC – helps to protect your immune system
- Grass Fed Beef Liver – includes choline and iron, which is essential
- A Very High-Quality Probiotic – regulates your gut
- Magnesium Glycinate – helpful for sleeping before bed
- Turmeric – helps to avoid inflammation
There are also certain foods I prioritize eating and other lifestyle changes I try my best to maintain to keep my hormones balanced. These include:
- Regularly Eating and Drinking:
- Fresh Raw and Peeled Organic Whole Carrots
- Organic Pasture Raised Eggs
- Avocados
- Organic Orange Juice
- Regularly Avoiding Eating and Drinking:
- Citric Acid
- Non-Organic Dairy
- Processed Foods
- Terrible Oils
- Non-Organic Produce
- Walking Regularly
- Absorbing Natural Vitamin D
- Eating Breakfast and Trying to Eat Everything 4 Hours or So
- Getting At least 7 Hours of Sleep Every Night
This may seem like a lot to maintain on a daily basis, but trust me, once you get on a routine, it’ll be pretty easy to maintain. Also, once you start feeling better, you’ll want to stay on this regimen. It’s what keeps me going, and I am convinced that when I decided that I wanted to have a baby, I was able to get pregnant pretty quickly because my hormones were in balance and regulated naturally.
Here’s to being well preserved.
Always, Taylor
