Ladies, I have a question

LaComadreja14

I read that exercising regularly will help keep menstral cramps at bay, I have read this a million times, actually. I think it made mine worse, if anything. Has anyone else experienced this? I was hoping for some relief but ugh, so far no good. I have only been working out about a week though so maybe regular work outs will start to help later on down the line?

christinad95

Honestly because I have polycystic ovaries cramping for me is bad no matter what I do because of all the cysts I have. You may want to get checked out and see if that or endometriosis might be the cause.

PBmaria

My TOM got much more milder once I started working out. Also, I have noticed that it seems to be getting here a couple of days earlier than before, more so after an intense workout week.

igora_soma

I just had my TOM this past week. I was having really bad cramps, so I went for a few runs and wow did it make a difference! The relief seemed to only last for a few hours, but it's better than having to take medication and lay on the couch. The first 10 minutes were a bit tough to push through because I wanted to double over, but definitely try it!

megarooni

Exercising has really never done anything for mine either. The only thing I have found that makes them not as bad is always wearing socks and keeping my feet warm and dry. I can exercise everyday for a month and my cramps are the same as they have been the month before when I didn't do anything. But when I keep my feet warm and dry I have almost none. I cannot even wear sandels during those few days. I know this probably won't help, but you aren't alone. I have never had exercise really effect whether or not I have cramps.

CrisN99

Certain kinds of exercise make me feel worse. I like crunches(classic form) and I am not sure what its called but where you lay down with your knees up and feet flat on the floor and lift your pelvis up(I call it a pelvic thrust- but am not sure that is what it is traditionally called). Those help crampy feelings for me. Cardio makes me feel icky.

Maria_Goose

Your overall weight also has an effect on how bad they generally are. Since I've lost a bunch of weight, mine have been overall less severe. Just keep at the weight loss and they'll go down. Also, I wouldn't recommend excercising WHILE you're having the cramps, lol.

SkateboardFi

i think it's different for every situation. for me it always makes my bloating a bit easier and alleviates cramps

Unwrapping_Candy

Since I started exercising the only change I noticed is that my period has become heavier than it was before. Other than that I've not experienced any changes, and especially no changes to intensity or frequency of cramps or anything. No relief at all, but I am not saying that it's not possible it could help some people. Maybe you'll end up being one of the lucky ones. Cheers.

arw060310

My cramps got worse as I lost weight, and exercise makes the cramps excruciating! So during my period I usually lay on the couch until it's over lol.
Oh and that little rumor that says "getting it on" also helps cramps... Ya that's a lie too

brookelyn2030

Too early to tell, I did notice I was feeling alot tired, it's been hard to get up in the morningt the last two weeks (PMS), to the point I have to force myself to get up and go workout, but after I get into it I feel my energy pick up. Today though,,, my body told me to take a rest, I was exhausted and irritated from work yesterday. But I'll make up for it this evening or Sunday morning.

sarahi2009

Woman's menstrual cycle can change for many reasons, to include exercise. It has been my experience that when I exercise more, my cycle decreases as well as the days I have it. Also, when I was in boot camp, I didn't get my period at all due to exercise and losing body fat. I think every woman is different but if you have only worked out for a week or two, you probably won't be able to tell, I would keep notes and see how it changes in time.

cdngirl71

Midol works for me!! Keep my cramps away.

JeSuisPrest

Not only have noticed improvement in cramping, but I don't pms as badly now either!

SweetStrawberry

Ususally the first couple days are the worst cramping for me but i just pop some midol and work out.

bekihughes

Keep working out! Talk a walk while your cramps are bad. I know that sounds horrible but it will help. The more weight you lose the better they will feel. Mine have and I had the "Can't even get out of bed " kind of cramps.

sblair77

I always take my first day off from working out because for me it makes things worse. There is always tomorrow!

lynheff

It is a highly individual response. Extreme excise and ultra low levels of body fat can cause your periods to cease but that is a pretty extreme way to get rid of cramps. The only answer for me was menopause but that has its own problems. Good luck! Hope the exercise pays off in fewer cramps as well as good health and weight loss.

bugnbeansmom

I have gotten more regular and lighter. Cramps are different each month but I will say that it helps with the water retention that I used to get.

starracer23

LADIES - please please please give BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES a try. It is the most amazing stuff. It has to be unsulphured and organic. You can get it at health food stores or vitamin stores. 1 bottle last about 6mths or so and it costs (here in TX) around $4.

You will take 1 tbsp a day the week before you start and 1 tbsp a day during. If you have cramps, take another tbsp.

I seriously thought that I was going to have to go back on birth control just to deal with the cramps and the PMS - NOT now. I feel better, so much better. I have not had to take midol or pamprin or anything since I started using the molasses (3 cycles ago).

It's now lighter, shorter and no cramps to speak of. I go and work out on day 3 - - - there was no way in hell that would have happened before. I laid on the couch with a heating pad on my stomach, popping pills as often as I could and wanting to die.

My younger sister started using it a couple months back and she is just as amazed as I am.

It doesn't taste great, but the pros far outweigh the cons!! My husband is shocked too....he can definitely tell a difference when I take it compared to how b*tchy I was before.

GIVE IT A TRY!!! Also google it and check it out for yourself.

BlessedandBeautifulBrown

i really do have cramps.. i am more of a heavy flow.. good lord it takes all out of me.. but since i changed my diet.. it has really gotten better..

annetteslackmoehrle

I have PCOS and my cramps are terrible! If I can muster up the strength to go out for a quick walk - 20 mins or so - I notice that helps with the cramping. When all else fails I take some Advil!

LaComadreja14

Thank you everyone for you're replies!!

I think I may have PCOS, I have had 3 sonograms done (by 2 diff docs) to figure out whats going on, the first doc said she saw lots of cysts- the kind that spring up and essentially "pop" in sync with menstruation- she actually offically diagnosed me with it and all. I had to change Docs because of work location and schedule and the second doc saw nothing on the first sono she ordered so she did another and saw some but she didn't say "a lot" as the first Doc did. First doc said no endometriosis, second Doc said (when reviewing the second sonogram she ordered for me) that there may be a little. Both recommend birth control pills which I refuse to take. My mom is a breast cancer survivor (diagnosed mid 40s) and her Doc suspects that years of BC could be to blame. Since my mom was so young when diagnosed, I already have a 50-80% higher chance of getting it so I don't want to fool around with BC pills. Even the low dose ones scare the bee-gee-geez outta me.

Even when I was at my thinnest (110lbs) I never had any cramp relief. A lot of time the pain goes into my back and legs and sometimes I can't get outta bed so I totally will never try to work out through that, lol. But its usually only the first 2-3 days and by day four I'm good- however, I am worried that if I do try to work out on day four, the cramps of death will resume- what do you guys think? I am so new to all of this, lol.

Midol doesn't work for my cramps, at all, lol- neither does advil. Sometimes if I take advil migraine (i get migraines on the first day) + aleve I get some relief. Midol does help with the bloating though, but that's about all it does. I can get prescribed pain killers but I don't like the idea so I usually pass. A few times it has gotten to the point that I've had to get them, but usually I'd rather suffer through it. I take adderall for ADHD and don't need another potentially addictive med in my system. I like the idea of keeping notes on it and tracking it, I will attempt to remember to do that- lol. I should put an alarm in my phone for it. At the Latino market we get these pills called Novalgina (sp??) that help some, they used to help a lot more but I think I am too used to them so not so much anymore. The best I can do is hot baths, Epsom-salts and the types of wine that have little to no added sugar.

The Blackstrap Molasses sounds like it would be worth a try, except my periods are extremely irregular and they always have been no matter what my weight or what I do. It's a family curse, all women on both sides of my family have really irregular periods, yay me- noot Will it work if I just take it all the time, lol. I'm getting desperate here.

nicehormones

Keep exercising regularly. I usually can't move that time of the month because I'm in so much pain. Since I've started exercising regularly, my menstrual pain is almost nonexistent

starracer23

Then maybe try taking a teaspoon of the Blackstrap Molasses every day. It won't hurt you, and then when you do start, jump up to a tbsp.

I really thought that I was suffering from endometriosis. I was in such agony, it was pure hell. I was thinking that I would have to live with it (we don't have insurance so there was no way that I could go to the doctor or have my uterus removed) until I was reading on another forum and someone suggested it....I am so HAPPY that I tried it. I will never not take it

emmalene1984

it depends, not only from woman to woman but even for the same woman depending on certain circumstances. like for me, when i was a teenager, my doctor actually told me NOT to exercise (other than gentle walking etc) at my T.O.M because it would aggrevate my womb, i was prescribed mefanamic acid ( a type of anti inflammatory drug) and that helped quite a bit, but back then my cramps were so painful i would lay in bed and cry. these days ( in fact since i went on birth control) they are much lighter and exercise does usually help with the cramps, if only temporarily. so i would suggest, if its not making it worse whilst u r exercising, give it a go and give it a few cycles to really take effect but if you are doubled up in pain, forget it.

good luck :-)

jenny95662

i was on birth control pills before then they took me off of them because i have high bp so now i am waiting everytime i gaine weight i dont get my period for like months at a time i am still waiting now. But it helps me with cramps when i workout but it seems tp feel heavier while i am working otu

LiberatedHealth

My cramps are so bad that I really can not move without being in agonizing pain, so I don't exercise when I'm cramping. I know it;s bad but I dont want to be in more pain. I think my PCOS makes it worse.

LaComadreja14

Keep exercising regularly. I usually can't move that time of the month because I'm in so much pain. Since I've started exercising regularly, my menstrual pain is almost nonexistent

Sweet! I am excited to try it now!! XD Thank you!

joybedford

I find after i run i often get severe stomach cramps which are like period type pain often doubling me up. I am hoping it is the muscle tightening up (I can dream). i also think it is wind pain from gasping while running. Hope this helps.

redraidergirl2009

Heavy work made my period come earlier with worse cramps actually.
I do not. Miss the days I wasnt on bc. If that much be an option for you I suggest you look into it. I had paralyzing cramps and nausea. Now I don't really get cramps or anything much more than a heachace