Ladies how do you exercise on your cycle?

rach3116

I know every period is different month to month, just wanted to see how do you deal? Any particular strategies?
I’m an avid exerciser but right before and during my cycle I’m so physically drained it’s hard to do any of my typical workouts. Not until CD3 do I feel back to my normal self.
Thanks in advance!

TavistockToad

A few rest days won't do any harm

sarabushby

Potentially not the answer you’re looking for but I have the depo injection so I no longer have regular cycles and periods which means I’m free to exercise all month long. It COULD be something you want to look into depending on the rest of your circumstances of course!

rach3116

sarabushby wrote: »

Potentially not the answer you’re looking for but I have the depo injection so I no longer have regular cycles and periods which means I’m free to exercise all month long. It COULD be something you want to look into depending on the rest of your circumstances of course!

Thanks Sara, but I’m actively TTC and also all the birth controls seem to just take away my sex drive. Something I really enjoy having...! I’m glad you found something that works for you though.

Purplebunnysarah

I just take I ibuprofen if needed, suck it up and go. Usually once I'm warmed up I'm good. I try to avoid long runs on heavy flow days for obvious reasons but if I must, I manage.

wizzybeth

Depends on how I feel while I have my cycle. If I feel crappy I take a day to rest. If I feel fine then I exercise.

callsitlikeiseeit

the same as i do any other time?

ZRunner5Lulaica

I judge where I am. Bare minimum, I go for a walk and keep it light and try to avoid any about workouts. But I do try to get out since exercise both minimizes symptoms that I really hate (cramping and moodiness) and seems to help shorten my tom.

bendyourkneekatie

I never feel like going but the pain relief from a good adrenaline pumping cardio session is always worth it so I force myself

Davidsdottir

I suck it up and wear Thinx.

rach3116

Davidsdottir wrote: »

I suck it up and wear Thinx.

I wear thinxx too! Love them.

Slasher09

I can't use BC and my 2nd day if my cycle is really bad. I keep it short those days and inside my house.

rheddmobile

I no longer have to worry about this, but when I did, my most helpful things were iron supplements and caffeine. Particularly if you feel tired after your cycle consider iron. I recommend bifera which is easier to absorb.

VintageFeline

As I have recently tracked and discovered, I have one week in 8 that I am absolutely floored with exhaustion because of the way my psych meds interact with my hormones and the pill. None of those things are optionals to stop so I just let myself not do anything if I can't. But I'm talking sleeping 14 hours a day and still feeling like death kind of exhaustion.

The other part of my cycle (I run 8 weeks because, as I joke, only one ovary hates me so symptoms are bi-monthly in variation) I just get a bit of cramping and feel a bit poop. That I'll just work through for the most part.

malibu927

Same as always. But I have very minor symptoms during it.

RoxieDawn

I have two weeks where I am affected by all the hormonal stuff, ovulation and my period. That said, I deload my weights and increase my reps for my lifting. For my running, I just run the best I can and most times just getting the running started I find that I perform a little better than the way I feel. Being 50 this year means all that middle age stuff is going on and I just modify/adjust and keep going.

mandyrene21

I prefer to lift during my period. It helps with the cramps and moodiness for me. Cardio is not my friend those few days so I keep that lighter.

I also let myself eat at maintenance if I'm feeling super hungry.

SCoil123

I usually have one day with terrible cramps and fatigue. If I’m scheduled to meet workout buddies when it hits I try to push through and just move a little slower. I don’t like flaking on my friends. If it’s a home workout day I usually let myself slide and take an extra rest day

LivingtheLeanDream

I workout regardless - it actually lessens any cramping.

jesspen91

I only really get cramping one day a month so I will schedule it as a rest day. Side note, my cramping has really improved since getting a menstrual cup and I don't even notice it when I'm working out.

30kgin2017

I too try to exercise as it shortens my cycle. But I can suffer from fatigue the first day particularly as I usually get a surge of energy the day before and sometimes over do it as often I'll use the surge to clean the house for hours on end. A walk on those days helps. Surprisingly my cycles have been a lot less painful and lighter since having kids, I now have short (25days) cycle with 3 days of flow usually. I understand its usually the other way around after kids.

estherdragonbat

I find that I deal with the cramping and bloating a lot better since I've started regular exercise (and I suspect the abs work is a large part of it). Mostly, I resign myself to more bathroom breaks and take a painkiller if I need it, but it's rare that I do.

canadianlbs

dk if was the only one who thought this was going to be a sore-bum-new-bicycle thread. or if that just highlights the fact that i'm past all of that

for what it's worth though, i used to play it pmuch by ear. i know it's not much of an answer, but i think personal experience (i.e. trial and error) is the only way to know which way of dealing with periods/cramps get the best results for your own body. you're the only one living in it, so you're pretty much your own boss

try not to compare yourself too much to others, or let how others deal with it become some kind of 'test' for yourself. and maybe sometimes, it's also helpful to remind yourself that any sporty amazing amazon women you see in commercials doing all of this stuff with their [whatever] in/on . . . are imaginary. the ads aren't a benchmark for you to aim for. they're more like they were designed to demonstrate the extremes of what's 'possible'. IF you should happen to want to do that.

they're also not about the way a woman's body feels. they're just about the base mechanics of 'does this thing leak?' did that make sense. they're about social/emotional confidence, nothing to do with your physical state.

ContraryMaryMary

As a runner, I find a week or so before my period my legs feel heavy and I simply can't run at my regular speed without some serious effort. Once I realised this was a thing (and a well researched and documented thing), I just run slower on those days and don't let it bother me. As soon as I move into the next phase of my cycle (from luteal to follicular), running becomes a breeze - effortless and thoroughly enjoyable - so this is when I push my speed. If I'm running an event, I can gauge whether I'm going to run well and get a PB or simply push through depending on which side of my period I'm on.

Lounmoun

I can always walk.

emele613

I think it really depends on which is your biggest hurdle. If it's cramps then it actually helps to work through the pain at first and ultimately you'll actually feel better. If it's fatigue, for me I usually either take a rest day (and only if I really really have to) or I do something light like 30 minutes of stretching/yoga, a light weight workout, or just walk for a little bit. But don't worry I feel your struggle girl when I want to workout but my energy is just nonexistent. We've all been there!

JoRocka

shove a tampon in there and go lift.

I don't consider this to be something to stop me unless I'm fully crippled with cramps- which doens't happen for me- so I consider it a none issue- I just go do what needs doing. If it's a lift day- I lift. If it's a dance day- I dance. If it's a day off- I take the day off.

kenyonhaff

When I ran competitively in high school, one of my best times when when I was all crampy and PMSing badly. Taught me a lesson: just because you feel icky doesn't mean you can't still run well. It might suck but that's not the same as "can't".

hesn92

I have only one day of my period that is really bad and I won’t work out that day but other than that, same as always. My bad day makes it hard to do much of anything.

Sp1tfire

I find that the cramps go away after a good workout. The hardest part is getting started so I just make sure to take ibuprophen and apply my muscle relaxant beforehand and get going!

DancingMoosie

If my cramps are really bad and causing back pain, I take Ibuprofen. I might wear different underwear/pants/shorts, but that's about it. My workout still gets done.