Ladies - How do you exercise during that time of the month?

iLuvJohnny1

Whenever I get my period, I get the worst cramps and back pain, and just have no energy. Any suggestions for what to do? I also get extreme cravings and find myself eating all day. I don't want to gain! How should I control this?

phrendlynut

I force myself to walk. I start off at a super slow pace and then increase it as I go. I ***** to myself the entire time but I'm at least moving.

SashleyA

I find that exercising helps my cramps, particularly stretching and working my abs helps any back pain I get, and boosts my energy. I pop some advil to make the cramps less (and stop the inevitable period headache) first. Maybe go lighter on your intensity to match your energy levels, but just do it.

I'm not sure how to control the cravings, because I totally give into them to a degree, but find that drinking water or tea constantly keeps me from eating all day. Think about what you're craving and see if you can fit it into your macros or if there are alternatives to them. I was seriously craving sweet yesterday, so ate a bunch of oranges and then a little tiny bit of nutella to ease the chocolate craving.

Escape_Artist

I find that exercising helps me with the cramps.
I do nothing different when I'm in that TOM, I tend to eat chocolate but I fit it in my calories/macros

Joreanasaurous

I workout the same as when I'm not on my period. Just because I'm grumpy, bleeding and tired doesn't change the fact that I still owe myself a workout.

concordancia

I drink even more water than usual, and my workouts tend to be a little slower than usual, but I just keep on keeping on. Sometimes I add more stretching or yoga, but I do that whenever my back is bothering me.

kballard66

Yes, can't let that mess slow me down.

rexiecatmeow

I do the same thing I always do.

steffipaulina

I try to exercise more as I have a bigger appetite so it keeps me away from food,

FitCowgirl8

I work out exactly the same during my TOM as any other time. Exercising definitely helps me with the cramps

snowbunnyA

Same as most of the others. I do the same as always. Exercise helps the pains and the time you spend exercising is time you're not feeding your face!

As for the cravings, just weigh up whether or not it's worth it. If you can fit it into your macros, then great. If not, it's your choice whether you sabotage your diet or not.

Drinking more water will help with both the cramps and the cravings.

KristinaB83

Working out actually seems to help me with cramps. I just make myself get up and do it... Will power!!!

superfox12082

Harder! I read once that we feel less pain and recover faster during this time of the month!!

amastre

I lift like usual, but typically pop an aleve before hand to kill the cramps. I've hit some major personal record in my lifting during that time of the month, so I learned my lesson to never skip.

glovepuppet

even with the prescription pain meds, I feel like dung.
so I just have hot baths & early nights instead.
i'm perfectly happy with that.

don't fret about what everybody else is up to.
figure out what works for you.

horseswinelife

Harder! I read once that we feel less pain and recover faster during this time of the month!!

^^this I didn't know - but I like it! Next month I work harder!

jos05

I workout the same as when I'm not on my period. Just because I'm grumpy, bleeding and tired doesn't change the fact that I still owe myself a workout.

Exactly!!!
This is the only way to be...

bcattoes

Whenever I get my period, I get the worst cramps and back pain, and just have no energy. Any suggestions for what to do? I also get extreme cravings and find myself eating all day. I don't want to gain! How should I control this?

Walk. It's the most natural movement. If you feel like doing more, fine, do it. But walking is great exercise and may help with the cramps.

Holly_Roman_Empire

Exercise more, even if it is just walking. I find it helps with cramps, and if nothing else, it takes your mind off of it. Once you start doing regular exercise, your cramps are supposed to get easier. Mine did, once I got active.

just_Jennie1

I just do it.
I may be more tired and a bit weaker but I just lift lighter and go a little easier on my cardio (not much). Having your period is not an excuse to not do something.

kristarablue2

Work through it man!!! NO excuses! Seriously there should be no difference of how you work out. Unless there is a medical reason why you can not....just power through

glovepuppet

I workout the same as when I'm not on my period. Just because I'm grumpy, bleeding and tired doesn't change the fact that I still owe myself a workout.

Exactly!!!
This is the only way to be...

i'm pretty sure it isn't.

Xiaolongbao

don't fret about what everybody else is up to.
figure out what works for you.

This. Some people find exercise makes them better. Some people worse. Some people find a certain type of exercise works better others can just stick with the same. There's no right answer.

For me I'm quite lucky. Nothing too severe just tiredness and general lethargy. So generally I keep it the same except I usually skip swimming (which I generally do daily) for a day or two, especially in winter. For some reason during those first couple of days of my period I seem much more sensitive to the cold and getting in a pool at 6:30am which isn't overly warm is really unappealing. Normally it takes me about 15 laps before I stop feeling unpleasantly cold - when I have my period I sometimes finish the whole 60 laps and still feel chilled.

But it depends on the month.

SillyC2

I lift like usual, but typically pop an aleve before hand to kill the cramps. I've hit some major personal record in my lifting during that time of the month, so I learned my lesson to never skip.

And most of my personal running records are from that time of the month!

Power through it - it makes the cramps go away!

glovepuppet

don't fret about what everybody else is up to.
figure out what works for you.

This. Some people find exercise makes them better. Some people worse. Some people find a certain type of exercise works better others can just stick with the same. There's no right answer.

For me I'm quite lucky. Nothing too severe just tiredness and general lethargy. So generally I keep it the same except I usually skip swimming (which I generally do daily) for a day or two, especially in winter. For some reason during those first couple of days of my period I seem much more sensitive to the cold and getting in a pool at 6:30am which isn't overly warm is really unappealing. Normally it takes me about 15 laps before I stop feeling unpleasantly cold - when I have my period I sometimes finish the whole 60 laps and still feel chilled.

But it depends on the month.

I find working out makes my flow heavier (i'm on meds for heavy flow too. we're talking tsunami), makes my back ache worse and exhausts me. plus I've found i'm far more likely to injure myself.

the world doesn't end if I skip it. I don't suddenly balloon 20 pounds and lose all my stamina. after my period i'm still the same relatively healthy person I was before my period.

I don't see why some people feel the need to make others feel like they're quitters or failures or letting themselves down just because they do things differently.

BlueBombers

I pop some Tylenol beforehand if needed. It's business as usual for me!

SwedishMel

I get it all. The mind numbing pain, the cravings, the crying...all of it. I do find that going to the gym & taking out my period pain/anger out on the elliptical helps, a LOT. I use the 5 days (that's how long it usually lasts for me) as a huge motivation for me to make an extra push to lose weight. It generally works too. I'll usually lose a pound or two on my period. It's the craving sweets right before that's the harder part. But that's where discipline comes in.

hilarymcm

It depends how I'm feeling - my only consistent symptom/complaint during my TOM is that it screws up my sleep (I either can't fall asleep, or I wake up every half hour, or I wake up 3 hours before my alarm and can't fall back asleep). Valerian tea helps, but sometimes it's just a lost cause. This usually occurs during the first day or two, which is also my heaviest - on these days, I'm exhausted and I allow my body to rest, and I try to add iron-rich foods. Other than that, I just work out depending on how my body feels, i.e. if I'm crampy I like to do gentle/restorative/yin yoga (I think the breathing and relaxation helps). If my boobs hurt, I stay away from anything that involves laying face down on the floor or jumping up and down and usually just lift weights. If I'm feeling emotional or b*tchy, I avoid the gym/yoga/ballet studio and do something at home.

Just listen to your body - it'll tell you what it needs and what it can/can't handle!

knra_grl

I think it helps to get a bit of exercise even if you can't do too much.

SnugglePuggles

I lay in my bed and cry and sleep on a heating pad. If I do well, I don't do chocolate truffle curls from morning till night. My periods are horrible and there's no way I could walk much less work out.

Amazonbella

Recumbent bike, if needed you can put heat on your bike while you ride for the back pain...but you aren't putting unnecessary pressure on anything that already hurts. I have permanent back pain due to 4 bulging disks in my back, when things are good, I'm on the treadmill, when I'm in pain, recumbent bike.