Ladies [ONLY]

BreatheAshley

I was wondering if it is okay to not work out during your period or until it at least lightens up?

janetkuu

YOu should work out during those days. You may not feel like it....but moving around actually helps to alleviate some of the cramp pains.

RobinAlexader

I don't generally workout if mine is bad..but lately i've been having trouble and it didn't go away for 26 days..So I had to force myself to workout. But i think you'll be ok with skipping a workout on heavy days, thats generally the way I do it.

knittnponder

It's hard to motivate myself to do it but I always feel so much better after I've worked out. The type of workout will depend on how crappy I'm feeling. Sometimes I'm pretty weak and shaky so I don't lift those days.

BreatheAshley

Thanks ladies. I normally try to continue to work out or at least skip the first day.

obsidianwings

Its ok to do whatever you want as long as you are happy with it.

But working out actually does help.

mammamaurer

depends on the "leak factor"

zyxst

YOu should work out during those days. You may not feel like it....but moving around actually helps to alleviate some of the cramp pains.

For some people, that works. For me, I'm usually in more pain exercising during my period.

OP, you're going to have to try it and see how you feel (cramps, pain, tiredness, leakage, etc.).

Tdacks

If it is a matter of discomfort, there are a few yoga routines that are specifically put together to ease cramping. It isn't a calorie burner, but it could make you feel more able to handle an actual workout.

mekkzy888

It's hard enough for me to be motivated to exercise on a normal day, let alone then but admittedly it distracts from pain if you're moving/working out and stretching definitely helps the cramps. Never understood why girls were allowed to skip PE in school if it was their time of the month, makes no sense really.

BreatheAshley

You make a good point there. I don't remember girls skipping PE in school.

BreatheAshley

I convinced myself to go today just so I could get a smoothie at the gym haha.

nikijh

I have PSO so when she visits I can be in agony and crying….But the gym helps!! I'm not sure how or why but it numbs some of the pain

Marcia315

If I have cramps I pop some Advil and carry on.

BreatheAshley

I just took two Ibuprofen because that is all I have but that stuff usually never works for me.

redfiona99

I think it's very much a listen to your body sort of deal. In the months where I'm throwing up or otherwise violently not functioning, I skip the gym. If it's not that bad then I give it a go and just do a light-ish work out.

CorlissaEats

I don't workout hard during that time of the month, but I do workout. I also find that things like walking and yoga help with the pain of cramps, and I have writhe on the floor cramps. I think it depends on how you feel. Don't force it. Look at the whole cycle- I eat like crazy the week before and I'm tired and lazy; and while it makes that week a wasted week in terms of loss the following week I have no appetite and that usually is my big loss week.

AllieBear88

My first day, every month, is awful. I have no energy, my cramps are terrible, and there are other TMI issues. But after that, it's fine. If you have a really bad day, it's okay to take one day off. But, work through it if you can on the other days. The movement really does make the pain subside a little.

AllieBear88

Also, Youtube yoga for menstruation. There are quite a few helpful poses out there!

astartig

I don't generally workout if mine is bad..but lately i've been having trouble and it didn't go away for 26 days..So I had to force myself to workout. But i think you'll be ok with skipping a workout on heavy days, thats generally the way I do it.

yup this is how I do it too. the first few days including a day or two before it starts I feel literally sick. It's like getting the flu before it starts.. It's natures way of telling me to pamper myself for a few days IMHO. nothing wrong with it in the grand scheme of things imho.

RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle

It is ok

BreatheAshley

My first day, every month, is awful. I have no energy, my cramps are terrible, and there are other TMI issues. But after that, it's fine. If you have a really bad day, it's okay to take one day off. But, work through it if you can on the other days. The movement really does make the pain subside a little.

Same here, the first day is awful and sometimes the second day is too then I usually start to feel better but sometimes I will get cramps the week before (during pms) and even after. I just pretty much suffer for a long time it seems like.

ThinkInOregon

Here is a blog entry from one of my MFP friends, I had NO idea about the metabolic effect of your cycle...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1194957-tip-of-the-day-aunt-who

I never allowed my TOM to interfere with my daily life, I can't even imagine...

BreatheAshley

Also, Youtube yoga for menstruation. There are quite a few helpful poses out there!

Alright, I think I will in a little bit.

BreatheAshley

Here is a blog entry from one of my MFP friends, I had NO idea about the metabolic effect of your cycle...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1194957-tip-of-the-day-aunt-who

I never allowed my TOM to interfere with my daily life, I can't even imagine...

I will check that out soon.

linsey0689

I'm not a ton of help in this area because I have pretty light periods but if they were heavy and I wasn't feeling the gym I would do something at home.

BreatheAshley

Thank you.

Marcia315

I just took two Ibuprofen because that is all I have but that stuff usually never works for me.

Take 3 or 4.

Quasita

Ah, this question, almost always the deal when you open a "ladies only" thread

Personally, I think that unless you have a specific condition that warrants extra care during this time, you're doing a disservice to yourself to lay around. Not only does it interrupt a workout routine, but you are more likely to eat more than you should. Women, in turn, tend to beat themselves up over being off on calories, which doesn't help the situation. So you have to ask yourself, can you make it a intake-only calorie management day?

Rest days are generally important for any successful workout plan, but this doesn't mean sitting around and staying in bed. If you're up and about, just do a little extra. Walk more at the store, get up from your desk at work more often, do something light but still active if it is really bothering you.

We like to give ourselves excuses so that we don't have to do what we know we should be doing. The *gasp* period is a classic and quite overly used excuse. If you bleed heavy, I'd put in a Soft Cup and go on with your bad self.
If your periods are so bad that they keep you from wanting to do anything, it's time to talk to your doctor.

Llamapants86

I find it really depends on the month, some months I get horrible hormone induced migraines, which are made much worse with physical activity, other months it isn't so bad and getting up and moving help my cramping a lot. I don't think that missing a day or 2 out of a month is going to set you back, but you know yourself better than anyone else.

LindseyAlyssa

It's easy to avoid working out while on your period, but it's actually great for alleviating cramps. Yoga and Pilates are my go to on period days, and even circuit training on lighter days.