Exercise when you have your period

jamiesadler

Working out during mine always makes me feel better. Try it and see if it helps. That or sex. Can be gross but it always makes my cramps stop.

Rdahl2

I agree with a lot of people on her. As much as I don't want to go, I go ahead and just get it done and it does seem to help tremendously!! I say just try to push through it, even if its brisk paced walking.

2hungariangirls

I never had problems until I had kids. Now, I want to hit someone it hurts so bad. The pain of the actual period I can "suck it up and work through" but the migraine that comes along with it....

Very bad idea to put a heavy weight in my hand when my head is about to explode! Much less a noisy gym, or bright sunlight while running.

Yes, I've been diagnosed and monitored by my GYN and after the first 2 days, I can actually work out again. More tired, feel bad, and yes in pain.

Good Luck to you! I hate the way people are so condenscending and judgemental on all forums in general....just asked a simple question and then get attacked.

PrissyJayne

At the very least, take a Midol and go for a walk. Don't allow yourself to lay around for a week. I know it's hard and you're probably tired and cramping - but you're creating a pattern that you're obviously unhappy with. If your periods are affecting your life in SUCH a major way, maybe you should speak with your Dr.

Best of luck to you!

Elzecat

So I’ve been going to the gym quite religiously except when I have my period. During three weeks I build a rhythm and by the third week I feel great and then that one week it’s surprising that I can even get out of bed. The week after I find it really hard to restart exercising again, especially after a week of uncontrollable binge eating. I hurt all week and my only consolation is yummy treats.
Does anyone have ways to deal with it?

That kind of pain is not normal. If you are having serious pain and issues then talk to the doctor. I "sucked it up" for 10 years until I finally saw a doctor. After an ultrasound I was IMMEDIATELY sent to a specialist who couldn't believe I'd waited so long to get some help. Now that I am back to "normal" periods, I don't find that they interfere with my exercise at all, and movement definitely helps with the cramping and bloating

Priincess_Natalie

I didn't bother to read the pages of advice but thought I would chime in anyway ...

Even when you are cramping, PMSing, having your period...actually, ESPECIALLY when you're having those things, go to the gym. Jam out some cardio and lift some weights. Spend at least 30 minutes if not an hour or more. It WILL help.

Same goes for Migraines or headaches. Go to the gym. No matter how sucky it feels getting there you will feel better by the time you're done.

I speak from experience.

emmalene1984

talk to your doctor about this, when I was a teenager, I was instructed by my doctor not to exercise during my t.o.m a little light walking but nothing strenuous as my periods were so bad anything more would have aggravated my womb, i was on a special NSAID (like ibuprofen) think it was called ponstan, (brand name) which was mefanamic (sp) acid and this helped a lot with the pain, but it was still unbearable, we are talking laying in bed screaming with pain, crying so the only walking i got done that week was what was needed to get to class etc, however, since being put on the P.O.P (progoestrogen only pill, my periods have become much much more manageable and now i am able to workout most days of my t.o.m but if there is a day or two that week or even the week before or mid cycle, don't hate yourself for not being able to, just be careful with the calories, and if you realise its unavoidable every month, plan for it. have your relax days whilst youve got it (i give myself 2 'relax' days a week - where I can indulge a little but within reason - no all you can eat buffets or such like) find something that works for you and stick to it. good luck, and i really hope you find a way to deal with your periods, women that don't get them that bad really don't understand what its like for those of us who do / did even my mum didn't understand why I was crying so much (yet strangely or not, it turned out my maternal grandmother experienced similar issues)

Priincess_Natalie

Another thing to consider is substitue heavy workouts with Yoga on the days you feel the worst. The Yoga relaxes the mind and body. When I'm in really bad shape (lots of cramps, back pain, headaches) I do an hour of Yoga. It's hard to motivate when I feel so crappy but I force myself and I always feel better after. When you get done with the Yoga go take a nice hot bath and relax even more. Pamper yourself but don't let it ruin your hard work hun.

jigglypuff

I have PMDD and PCOS so I know what a horrible period is. I can't even get up some mornings while I have my period. It puts me out of whack and I cannot function at all for about 4-5 days. It's gotten so bad I'm now heading back to the GYN and getting some tests done.

And no, ibuprofens don't help. Nothing helps. I've tried so many things and nothing has helped. I even take vitamins and I still feel no improvement. Some women can deal with their periods, for others it's debilitating.

If you get it as bad as I do (I think I'm an extreme case) then take plenty of hot baths, vitamins, eat well, try stretching instead of working out and just relax. It also helps to see a doctor if you can't function at all like me.

HealthyHappy120

So I’ve been going to the gym quite religiously except when I have my period. During three weeks I build a rhythm and by the third week I feel great and then that one week it’s surprising that I can even get out of bed. The week after I find it really hard to restart exercising again, especially after a week of uncontrollable binge eating. I hurt all week and my only consolation is yummy treats.
Does anyone have ways to deal with it?

I 100% am having the same problem. I don't even get cramps! I just get bloated and crabby and wanna eat everything, not just chocolate. *le sighh* i'm trying to reverse this those and stick to my daily workouts

rubygarcia86

im on it this week and better believe i worked out. I heard it actually helps with cramps and pain. i tend to have lower back pain and i find that if i do work out a bit that its going to help me.

dad106

Perhaps you should speak with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you are having.

While I agree it's always worth getting things checked out, I don't think her symptoms are in any way out of the ordinary. Most people feel pretty grotty on their period, I know people who faint, throw up, all sorts of things. Period pains can be very severe if that's the way you are.

It may be "Just the way you are" but it doesn't have to be.

I found that out the hard way after starting B/C. I didn't have to suffer through debilitating cramps, nausea and extreme fatigue, when there was a pill I could pop and be fixed.

For the people saying push through:
Until you've been there, there is no way I was ever pushing through. When cramps are starting in my stomach, wrapping around to my lower back and down into my tailbone, the last thing I want to do is exercise... let alone move.

pixiexxgirl

Swim!
Swimming is great, burns calories and HELPS with the pain of cramps!

ajb108

This may have already been said, but for me it helps to exercise just before the cramps come, if you can anticipate their arrival. This was always hard for me, as my periods have always been irregular, but when I was lucky enough to have done some sort of physical activity before it started, the cramps weren't nearly as bad. This really only works if cramps are your problem though; it doesn't help with bloating or crabbiness.

pdworkman

See whether hot baths work for you or not. For me, heating pad or hot bath would cause the inflamed tissues to swell even more, making me very sore to the touch, with a huge belly and so much swelling that I could hardly breathe, and anything I ate caused reflux. I had to stay away from any heat. Cold pack worked better.

Pam

If you get it as bad as I do (I think I'm an extreme case) then take plenty of hot baths, vitamins, eat well, try stretching instead of working out and just relax. It also helps to see a doctor if you can't function at all like me.

jakki_brown

I am really not trying to be mean but suck it up and go to the gym. We are women in the 21st century and we aren't sent to the red tent. It's just a little annoyance once a month. It will actually help you feel better.

I don't think this in neccessary. I know the variance in discomfort during a woman's menstural cycle. I, myself, have experencied different levels of pain. Some months I can hardly stand to be awake, while others are nothing more than one day of cramping.

You shouldn't call people lazy if you have no clue what they are going through. Your experience might just be "a little annoyance", but some other women's are a lot more than that.

If you speak to a doctor, yes they will say that exercise has the potential to make you feel better because the extra blood flow can soothe the tightened muscles (as can hot water). But if you are in an excessive amount of pain it will only reduce (if that) the discomfort. Some women may find it impossible to get to moving due to how tense their musles are.

pdworkman

BTW, for folks with really bad depression during TOM, consider any over-the-counter meds you are using. The few times that I used Midol or that type of product, it made my depression ten times worse. It was awful. I absolutely cannot take Midol, it affects my mood too much. I can only take plain ibuprofen or naproxen. If you are someone with bad cramps, take a dose immediately at the first sign of your period, and keep taking it every 4-6 hours, whether you have cramps yet or not. If you wait until you are writhing in pain, the meds will not help a bit. Take them before. And of course not on an empty stomach.

Pam

jakki_brown

This may have already been said, but for me it helps to exercise just before the cramps come, if you can anticipate their arrival. This was always hard for me, as my periods have always been irregular, but when I was lucky enough to have done some sort of physical activity before it started, the cramps weren't nearly as bad. This really only works if cramps are your problem though; it doesn't help with bloating or crabbiness.

I'm going to have to try this! I, too, suffer from irregular periods from time to time due to the stress of a job and school.

sillygoose1977

I am really not trying to be mean but suck it up and go to the gym. We are women in the 21st century and we aren't sent to the red tent. It's just a little annoyance once a month. It will actually help you feel better.

I don't think this in neccessary. I know the variance in discomfort during a woman's menstural cycle. I, myself, have experencied different levels of pain. Some months I can hardly stand to be awake, while others are nothing more than one day of cramping.

You shouldn't call people lazy if you have no clue what they are going through. Your experience might just be "a little annoyance", but some other women's are a lot more than that.

If you speak to a doctor, yes they will say that exercise has the potential to make you feel better because the extra blood flow can soothe the tightened muscles (as can hot water). But if you are in an excessive amount of pain it will only reduce (if that) the discomfort. Some women may find it impossible to get to moving due to how tense their musles are.

I'm trying to find where I even implied that anyone was lazy...

I do apologize if my post came off as harsh but tough love works for me. Not so much for others. If I truly couldn't function in my daily life, I would be consulting my doctor, not a website forum. This is why I rarely ever post advice.

gtwin

I sooooooooooooooooo wish I could have an easy period like some of you ladies. When advil, pain killers, morphine, BC pills, and a heating pad don't help....I'm sure going to the gym and pounding out 20 squats and running 4 miles won't either.


I've been to the Dr. for my symptoms and they've all said I just have to deal with it, nothing is wrong and that it's normal. Yeah ok.....

And working out on my period only aggravates my symptoms, leaving me walking out of the gym in terrible pain that I can hardly walk. So no, never again.