Since I’m on PMS today, I’d like to post an explanation on why we (women) sometimes have the urge to throw the rain boots on our men during PMS and how you (men) should understand, be patience and leave us be. lol.

According to experts, the definitive cause of PMS is not yet known, but the most likely explanation for PMS is that many women are sensitive to the hormonal shifts that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle.

(See…. we didn’t do it purposedly!!)

PMS most often occurs in women with normal menstrual cycles. During the normal menstrual cycle, the ovaries make two main hormones, called estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is made by the ovaries throughout the entire menstrual cycle. It reaches its highest levels during the second and third weeks and declines during the last week. During the last two weeks of the cycle the ovaries also make progesterone. The last two weeks of the menstrual cycle is called the luteal (secretory) phase.

Both estrogen and progesterone prepare the uterus (womb) to accept a fertilized egg. Both estrogen and progesterone also affect women’s moods.

The exact cause of PMS is still not known, but researchers believe that PMS symptoms occur because progesterone and estrogen cause changes in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. (Natural chemicals that nerve cells, especially in the brain, use to send messages to one another. These chemicals are involved in mood, thought, pain, and pleasure..) The most likely neurotransmitters affected are:

* Serotonin: Women with PMS have fluctuations in serotonin levels. These changes may cause depression and carbohydrate cravings. Serotonin is made by the body from the amino acid tryptophan.

* GABA: GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. This neurotransmitter is important in feeling calm.

* Endorphins: Endorphins are important in the experience of pain and pleasure. Estrogen and progesterone change endorphin levels.

* Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine and epinephrine are also neurotransmitters that influence mood. In addition, these substances play a role in blood pressure and heart rate.

(taken from EHealthMD)

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So there you go. This should somehow explain why PMS happen to most women. It’s probably why I’m so moody today too. Eww.

• If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.

• If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled out by the diet soda.

• When you eat with someone else, calories don’t count if you don’t eat more than they do.

• Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake.

• If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.

• If everything else fails, there’s always the phentermine.

I found a very interesting tip today:

HONEY is the BEST alternative to the drug laden cough syrups!

According to Health Hype:

Honey soothes throats and helps calm coughs. Honey is the best alternative to the drug laden cough syrups. Honey has been recommended for ages by grandparents in several cultures like Indian.

A recent study findings have been published in the “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine” on December 3, 2007. It says that the children who were given a spoonful of ‘buckwheat honey’ just before going to the bed had deep sleep and coughed less. On the other hand, children who received a dose of any generally prescribed ‘over-the-counter cough suppressant’ did not show equal results even any nearer to this level. The level of relief was no way observed in the children who did not receive any medication.

And here I am.. actively taking cough syrups for the past 4 days (all thanks to my VERY stubborn cough) and still coughing like hell when we actually have pure honey over our kitchen counter! I could have had saved a lot on those cough syrups for our movers (like the ones offered by the cross country moving companies) if only I knew about this earlier.

*sigh*

Au-naturel is always the best.

I’m no expert in weight lost program, but here are some ways I did in my pursuit of ..getting lighter for Christmas.

(warning: might not work for everyone)

1) Take your other half to the shopping mall. Point at a balancing ball and make him buy you one.

2) Make him buy a pair of cheap badminton racket as well. Lure him with, “Playing games together improves our relationship better.” (it normally works)

3) Buy 1 size smaller shorts. Put them on and laugh at yourself in the mirror.

4) Skip lunch. Opt for instant oat if you’re hungry.

5) Take jamu. Swallow with pride no matter how bitter it tastes.

6) Plan a 3 nights 2 days stay at the hotels gulf shores for your anniversary in January, despite not having $$ for it. It’ll stress you, making you fall into depression and you’ll eventually start to lose weight, if not your mind.

That’s it folks. I’ll add into the list when I could think of new ideas.

What’s yours?