Oh, It's TOM so You Can't Exercise? BS!

pamfm

I get some of the worst cramps, but it never stops me

These two phrases are mutually exclusive. If it never stops you, then be glad that you clearly have no idea what "some of the worst cramps" feel like. No idea. You feel like there are hooks and blades in your abdominal cavity, slowly being dragged downward. You feel like knives are being stabbed into you and twisted around. And that's while laying down, after taking 2-4 pain relievers. Standing up straight feels like you're being pulled in two. You become light headed, and your legs feel barely able to support your body. Every step is a feat. Holding down a meal is another feat. Crying out of pain and frustrated helplessness is not infrequent. That's what some of the worst cramps feel like. And if someone ever dared criticize me for curling up with a book and taking a sick day on a day like that, I would make them regret it for a long, long time.

Count your blessings, and don't take cheap shots at other women just to make yourself feel superior.

chrystee

Am I the only person who has had dibilitating cramps that made me want to die?? It seems to be every 3rd month or so.. but it is horrible. I envy women who have the perfect period and never have cramps..

Hannah645

I can't really judge them because I myself used to come up with some ridiculous excuses to not work out.

SkinnyBinnyBoo

Very open-minded post, clearly.

Well, the TOM excuse is sort of relevant when if you so much as shift yourself the wrong way you end up with a scarlet Niagara Falls in your pants through the duration of a week AND every half hour, and I'd much prefer to keep that situation at home considering it's gross and embarrassing and exhausting without the added task of exercise mixed with it.

But hey, whatever floats your boat. :huh:

VelociMama

supertracylynn

When I exercise hard, the cramping is less, and so is the "murder scene" side effects. Therefore, it benefits every one more if I DO exercise during my TOM.

Happy_Healthy_Babe

I get horrid pains, but guess what I make myself workout and I actually feel better afterwards :-)

zaithyr

If you have a condition like PCOS (which I do) or Endometriosis, periods can be down right incompacitating. I'm sure there are some women out there who use a regular TOM as an excuse, but you know what, it's their prerogative because lets face it, periods suck.

ElviraCross

sounds like you're on your TOM right now.

AliciaNorris81

You feel like there are hooks and blades in your abdominal cavity, slowly being dragged downward. You feel like knives are being stabbed into you and twisted around. And that's while laying down, after taking 2-4 pain relievers. Standing up straight feels like you're being pulled in two. You become light headed, and your legs feel barely able to support your body. Every step is a feat. Holding down a meal is another feat. Crying out of pain and frustrated helplessness is not infrequent.

Yeah...those kinds have landed me a stay in the hospital a night or two before. One time on Halloween. But the best part was I was still 17, so they had to put me in the pediatric unit, so I got all kinds of candy and stuff!

chrystee

I get some of the worst cramps, but it never stops me

These two phrases are mutually exclusive. If it never stops you, then be glad that you clearly have no idea what "some of the worst cramps" feel like. No idea. You feel like there are hooks and blades in your abdominal cavity, slowly being dragged downward. You feel like knives are being stabbed into you and twisted around. And that's while laying down, after taking 2-4 pain relievers. Standing up straight feels like you're being pulled in two. You become light headed, and your legs feel barely able to support your body. Every step is a feat. Holding down a meal is another feat. Crying out of pain and frustrated helplessness is not infrequent. That's what some of the worst cramps feel like. And if someone ever dared criticize me for curling up with a book and taking a sick day on a day like that, I would make them regret it for a long, long time.

Count your blessings, and don't take cheap shots at other women just to make yourself feel superior.

I guess I'm not the only one!

CynGoddess

without fail, if I get up and go to the gym I always feel better. reduces bloating and cramping. I always had the kind of cramps that I would take pain meds and knock myself out, but they have improved with exercise.

kimnsc

Wow, why do you care?

Wow, why do you care to even reply?

Sounds it's your TOM now or is this always your personality?

CoffeeNBooze

Ok, OP I get what you're saying. I do. I know some people really do take it to the extreme and use TOM as an excuse. Some people will go through baffling excuses not to do something and have the "oh poor me look how sick and hurt I am" act. I know there are a big handful of people who I would argue enjoy their diseases because it gives them attention. But most people don't.

My period has gotten so painful in the past year it's ridiculous. I actually stayed home from work from it on day 2 this past month! It sounds utterly ridiculous, but I thought I was going to puke from nausea and the cramps were SO bad I didn't get out of bed, along with the headache that felt like a knife through my head. I'm really not overexaggerating! It was excruciating. So I mean...it does happen. To echo what everyone has said, it's different depending on the woman and what her body feels like doing.

Though I do think people could have been a touch nicer to you on here...

jenilla1

TOM has never been a big deal to me - just a minor annoyance. I don't know anyone personally who has major TOM problems. (My sister gets migraines and one of my cousins bleeds heavily, but that's about it.) I never understood what all the big drama was about. For me, any cramping is usually alleviated by physical activity. I guess I'm just lucky though.

I never knew about all the diarhhea and vomiting and stuff that I just read about in this thread! That's horrible! I feel for all you ladies who go through this torture! If I was vomiting, bleeding buckets and curled up in a ball of intense pain, unable to even go to work, I wouldn't want to work out either!

marylovehellokitty

I still work out but exercise don't help my cramps!

shoobz

TOM is gross.

I guess being gay helps you to not have to deal with it?

sarah692

Some people get debilitating cramps and have trouble leaving their beds, for them exercise is absolutely out of the question and reasonably so. Either way, I don't see why it bothers you... how and when other people exercise doesn't affect you at all.

Also, birth control can most definitely make you gain weight and to say it can't is ignorant and a little catty. It can also make you lose weight, but that side effect isn't talked about as much.

chrystee

I get horrid pains, but guess what I make myself workout and I actually feel better afterwards :-)

Most of the time, I agree.. but once in awhile, its just horrible.
I only had minor contractions with my son, and my period cramps have been worse!

kimnsc

I get some of the worst cramps, but it never stops me

These two phrases are mutually exclusive. If it never stops you, then be glad that you clearly have no idea what "some of the worst cramps" feel like. No idea. You feel like there are hooks and blades in your abdominal cavity, slowly being dragged downward. You feel like knives are being stabbed into you and twisted around. And that's while laying down, after taking 2-4 pain relievers. Standing up straight feels like you're being pulled in two. You become light headed, and your legs feel barely able to support your body. Every step is a feat. Holding down a meal is another feat. Crying out of pain and frustrated helplessness is not infrequent. That's what some of the worst cramps feel like. And if someone ever dared criticize me for curling up with a book and taking a sick day on a day like that, I would make them regret it for a long, long time.

Count your blessings, and don't take cheap shots at other women just to make yourself feel superior.

^^ That. Especially the last sentence.

ashlye08

I REALLY hate when women use their period as an excuse to not do something. "I can't go biking today. I started." Really? I get some of the worst cramps, but it never stops me from doing something. SUCK IT UP and quit being such a baby. Seriously.

Rant over.

This is funny because exercise is one of the most recommended ways to combat the bloat and cramps! lol it annoys me too don't worry.

roachhaley

Um, I'm sorry, but some of us are absolutely wrecked by our TOM. Seriously, for the week before I can barely get out of bed because of the horrible cramps, and my stomach is so upset I dont trust myself to be more than five seconds away from a toilet. Some women like me DO have an excuse... you know, that whole CANT MOVE thing. yeah, it happens. Sorry youre a perfect little princess and can't seem to grasp that everyone's body is different.

TadaGanIarracht

As others have pointed out, flow is more of a factor than pain.

kwin91

I'm just throwing this out there. No one should be judging peoples pain level. Some people get it worse than others. I mean for me I push through and maybe not work out quite as hard but I still do. Usually I feel better at the end, but when your *****y and tired from it it is hard to get yourself going. But to the OP I don't think you should be judging.

mjcorbs228

Although exercise helps, you cannot hold anything against someone for wanting a day or two of doing absolutely nothing to be in pain, feel like a ball of poop, and be completely hormonal.

Its not even the cramps for me sometimes. Its just the "I do not want to move or do anything I hate the world and the world hates me" kind of days.

Contrarian

TOM is gross.

Yep. Being a woman is often a gigantic cosmic joke. It's no surprise at all that we were invented by a man.

Anyone notice that working out has made their flow heavier? OMG... Mine is much heavier... & a full day shorter!

We were invented by a man, were we?

Astroduckula

I sometimes get really painful TOM's and when I do I go for a run and it seems to get rid of any cramps and keeps them away and when those happy endorphins kick in I don't feel as crappy as I normally would if I didn't. But sometimes I lose the will to exercise when I feel like my insides are being shredded, it just varies from month to month.

I am more than happy to use it as an excuse and anyone can criticise me and they can also learn I don't give a crap about their opinion of me. :bigsmile:

lelstar

I think it depends on the person, some people get it easy, I get lots of pain, nausea, dizziness, hot and cold flushes and diarreah (i know that's spelt wrong) and others like my aunt can't even get out of bed.

spoonful

I REALLY hate when women use their period as an excuse to not do something. "I can't go biking today. I started." Really? I get some of the worst cramps, but it never stops me from doing something. SUCK IT UP and quit being such a baby. Seriously.

Rant over.

It sounds like someone is having her TOM.

0somuchbetter0

Orgasms. That is all.