The luteal phase happens in the second part of your menstrual cycle. It begins around day 15 of a 28-day cycle and ends when you get your period. The luteal phase prepares your uterus for pregnancy by thickening your uterine lining.
You may start to feel a little sluggish and absent-minded, as well as irritable, sad, moody and even angry, as PMS well and truly kicks in- often triggered by hormone imbalance.
This is a phase about balance. Your body winds down in preparation for menstruation. Progesterone, the dominant hormone, peaks. This phase is all about medium intensity workouts such as low-impact pilates, yoga, and low-impact cardio.
With low motivation, our bodies are telling us to take a break. We spent the last 2 weeks with high energy and optimism, but now is the time to slow down and add that balance to our routines.
Take a hot bath or curl up with a heating pad and watch your favorite movie.
You should try eating magnesium rich foods including chicken, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, quinoa, dark chocolate and legumes. Higher protein foods help build the uterine lining for shedding and help facilitate a more satisfied appetite.
Fish, organ meats, legumes and starchy carbohydrates such as pumpkin, sweet potato, and apples are rich sources of vitamin B6 which is also necessary in this time.