For Females: Full stop Period (.) Pain

I'm sure when the dreaded Magic Day is to come, many girls already feel nauseous and scared about the prospect of period cramp.

I definitely was one of those girls. When I was younger, I could not understand what it meant by period cramp because I had never experienced one. However, starting from one day, I don't know why and how, the idea of pain came true.

The first day was always the worst. Especially when I had to get up early in the morning and rush myself, it would be painful to the point that sometimes I would just come home and cancel all the schedule for the day.


Fortunately enough, that has become the story of the past.
Of course, I still get the cramp, but it has become so much more manageable and tolerable that I don't have much trouble going about my day.

So these are my three tips that really worked marvelously:



1. Take the pill one day before.
So this may sound a little odd. Why should we take a pill even before the period starts, and hence, when there is no pain? However, proved by many people, this works wonders. If your cycle is regular, take the pill before the cramp starts. The next day when the period starts, it won't hurt so much. For those people, whose cycle is irregular, take the pill once it starts, even though there may not be any pain yet. This preventive method is so effective in reducing, say, half the pain.



2. Spread out the dose.
Last time, I used to take two pills at one go, right after the period started. However, despite having taken the pills, sometimes, in the evening, the pain will come back, and I will have to take another pill and wait until it goes away.
So after researching into the topic, I changed it to the system of spreading 3 pills over one day: one pill every 6 hours. This has reduced the pain the whole day.



3. Use heat pack products (hokkairo)!
I'm sure you have already heard how heating up your belly during period can reduce pain as well as enhance better blood let-out. I also used to use conventional heat packs whenever I'm lying down, since it was impossible to use it while you are standing up or walking. However, the breakthrough happened when my bf got me this amazing product from Japan.

So what's special about this heat pack is that you can actually attach it on the clothes (not directly on skin, but on top of underwear or shirt), and it will remain hot for more than 12 hours, without any intervention!
In fact, I just attach it on the morning, and until I sleep, it works fairly well. Using one pack per day is fairly enough.
I asked my bf about them, and he said most hokkairo  products in market are pretty the same. So I think you can get just them from any brand.



So these are the ways I overcame my monthly difficulty. Good luck to you guys as well! :)

Tip to Homemade Yogurt

Homemade yogurt with cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds and blueberries.

I have been eating home made yogurt for about a year now and it was only really recently, last month, that I found out you shouldn't use metal spoon when eating yogurt! They were saying metal spoon kills yogurt bacteria or something like that (though I don't know the full story). So if you want the full effect of yogurt, make sure you eat it with either wooden or plastic spoon.


Having said that, I don't know, honestly, even before I was using metal spoon, I felt like yogurt had certain effect on me alright especially when it came to toilet business. (Was all that mere placebo? really?!) 


Anyways, if you are interested in making homemade yogurt at home, I recommend this product: 

Contains: 2 packets of yogurt enzymes + 4 packets of powdered Collagen

My bf got it from Japan. The collagen powder tastes so so yum when you eat it with yogurt. Sadly, it's run out now so I'm trying to get a powdered collagen somewhere in Singapore to sustain my daily eatery, but so far it turned out to be a failure. 

* How to make it

You put one packet of yogurt enzymes and 500cc milk (whether full cream or low fat) in an air-passable container for 24 hours around 20-30 degree Celsius. After that, you can eat your first batch of yogurt. For the subsequent makes, just take 1/10 of the made yogurt and pour 9/10 of milk. Leave it for about 10-12 hours. And your next batch is up for eating!

It's a really good snack that can substitute fatty chocolates and biscuits. Also it's better to eat it after meal so that it can also help with digestion. (I think.. feels about right.)

Happy yogurting everyone :)

Fabulous Compression Stockings: Medi Qtto

After hearing about Mediqtto from my friend, me being a person with unnecessary fat in my thighs and hips, I couldn't help but ask my bf to please get it for me from Japan. I felt like there was hope in this lonely battle with diet general and fat soldiers.

So basically, mediqtto is tight bonding, compression stockings(by Dr. Scholl) that have different pressure strength in different parts of legs that allow increased blood circulation in legs, which will ultimately help prevent swallowing up of legs. 

http://sugarmizbunni.blogspot.sg/2010/12/review-scholl-medi-qtto-compression.html

 

There are many different types, as can be seen from its website(http://drscholls.jp/hosiery/mediqtto/products/index.html), but I got this one, because:

1. Since I'm in Singapore, it would be too hot for me to wear stockings outside

2. Since my body fat is concentrated in the areas on upper thighs and hips, it would work more effectively if it covered those parts.

It's only been two days wearing this, but at least for me, this is fabulous!

* Uncomfy?

One thing I was worried about it before I got it, (well, before my bf got it) was that wouldn't it be uncomfy and stuffy, wearing this while sleeping? It looks so tight, and it is supposed to be tight by right. 

However, surprisingly, that proved to be wrong. I don't know how it works in detail, but instead of stifling my legs, they somehow do enhance blood circulation in funny ways. I mean, of course, you feel like you are wearing something, but it feels somewhat… cooling! Totally bearable.

* Unexpected Benefit

On top of that, it feels great after waking up, and that matters a lot to me. For a few years I've been experiencing drowsy morning head. This had always been conveniently explained by my low blood pressure. Definitely it felt terrible to get up early in the morning, (and for me early was anything before 10 when I slept at 12, 1am) but I thought it was my fate. 

However, overturning all those myths about being low blood pressured person, after wearing Medi qtto overnight, somehow it feels so clear to get up. As in, I can think after I get up! I don't feel so tired any more as well. It just feels.. right to get up earlier.

Of course, it's only been a couple of days so I don't know how long this effect may last, but yesterday, I had a good 8 hour sleep and I woke up at 9 without any problem. In fact, I got up without any help, very naturally and also with my brain in a state as clear as Californian sunny day. This may sound so normal for people, but not for me! Getting up at 11am for 12pm lecture, even with alarm, used to be a chore.

This benefit definitely was not anticipated when I was getting mediqtto. Although I have heard of other people's improvement in sleep quality, I thought it wouldn't apply to me. But luckily, it's working for me as well, and if this goes on, it will even change my entire life.! 

* Effect on Leg Swallowing

Lastly, on leg swallowing, to me, I cannot tell much difference. I mean, I've only used it for two days, so I wouldn't go so far to say my legs became visibly thinner, etc. But one thing I feel is that at least I know for sure it does prevent swallowing. And according to my bf, they do look slightly thinner. He is thinking that probably it's because of better blood circulation that's getting rid of swelled up parts. Hopefully as I continue using it for an extended period of time, the effect will accumulate and my legs will get thinner gradually!

* Decide which type is the best for you

When I was about to buy this product, I read few reviews on this in Korean website. For some reasons, all those reviews were on the one that were only mid-thigh length, and there were some people who said they didn't feel like it worked any bit on their legs. But now that I've experienced such difference in my leg as well as my life, maybe there is a possibility that maybe those people were better suited for the type I bought. I think they avoided this one thinking that it maybe uncomfy when sleeping, and that was why I really had to think hard, too. But for me, I'm glad I chose this.
I think for people who live in cooler parts of the world, and have a job that tend to make their legs swallow, the one for outdoor usage may also be well-suited.

Just don't limit your choice to certain type because it seems like the one most other people are using!

So that was my affection-dominated review on mediqtto and it will take few more days, weeks and months to see whether this really has effect, and if somehow my feelings were overturned, I will come back to this review to add the aftermath of 'happily ever after'. Hopefully, that won't happen.

And I definitely recommend this to people who have swallowing legs as well as those who have low blood pressure for better, much better sleep and wake-hour quality!

Thank you Medi qtto and bf!

* Specification for Potential Purchase

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Dr-Scholl-Japan-Medi-QttO-Overnight-Slimming-Leggings-Spats-Size-M-L-/110875319946

Me: L size
Height- 170cm 
*Measure when standing up for maximum accuracy!
Ankle(the most important measurement according to MediQtto)- 21
Calf- 34
Thigh(Not the thickest part, just mid-point like picture)- 46

The pink band allows it to stay on place while sleeping without making it too tight

The knee part has specially designed pressure to allow easy bending

Pink band allows it to stay on feet, making toes free. Heel also has special texture for flexibility