Exercise during your monthly? (for us girls)

Do you exercise during menstruation? How hard?

Is it recommended not to do strenuous exercise during?

Do you find exercising during menstruation to be more painful?

Does it throw your cycle off?
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Replies

  • arl1286
    arl1286 Posts: 276 Member
    Studies have been done that show exercise is really really good on cramps! And there is no reason you should not be able to work out during it. :) Just watch your iron, as usual, or you might feel a little droopy.
  • simplyciera
    simplyciera Posts: 168 Member
    I always exercise during my cycle. Strangely, it's the time I feel most motivated. Perhaps because I'm so bloated I want to workout. I read that you can burn an extra 500 cals while perioding, hence the reason we want to eat so much. I try to take advantage of that extra caloric burn && workout hard. However, I'm the weird girl that gets happier and nicer on my period. I had cramps like 3 times & I never get bxtchy. The only thing that happens to me is I eat& bloat! But for girls that do cramp, sex and exercise are great ways to alleviate period symptoms. there's lots of research on it.
  • megedoug
    megedoug Posts: 31 Member
    There's absolutely no reason not to
  • Nikita839
    Nikita839 Posts: 10
    My Training doesn't change during my cycle.. I am a little tired, but push through it. I find that lifting keeps the bloats away..
  • Like everything else in my life....a day on my period is like just any other day....minus tampon changes.
  • footiechick82
    footiechick82 Posts: 1,203 Member
    I work my *kitten* off even harder because I hate the bloating so much!
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
    Do you exercise during menstruation? How hard?

    Same exact way I exercise during any other time of the month.
  • MsStang02
    MsStang02 Posts: 147 Member
    I second the no cramps thing. I normally have mind blowing, curl up in a corner and rock myself insane, kind of cramps.
    However, since I have started working out and eating better, I am pain free.
    But, it did delay Aunt Flo...by 20 days. (I just started working out, body adjusting still)

    Still ran during. No changes in my daily routine.

    Edited to actually answer the question.
  • sweebum
    sweebum Posts: 1,060 Member
    I don't do anything different. Why would I?
  • Lochlyn_D
    Lochlyn_D Posts: 492 Member
    If it weren't for the blood, I wouldn't even know it was that time of the month so I do everything the same. I have found that I'l lose about a pound a day when I'm on it though. Strange.
  • mommy8777
    mommy8777 Posts: 15
    I get really bad cramps and exercising helps with that actually. Finding the motivation to do so is difficult but in the end it has always been worth it. Try it at a lower intensity and just listen to your body. Everyone is different, do what works best for you. Best of luck :)
  • RivenV
    RivenV Posts: 1,667 Member
    I was just thinking of posing the same question this morning... Get out of my head!
  • Nishi2013
    Nishi2013 Posts: 210 Member
    I only miss workouts if its a scheduled rest day or if I am sick. Nothing else is excuse enough to miss sweating out.
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    Period or not I exercise. The only time I don't is if I get a migraine the night before..

    I exercise just as hard any time off the month and usually puts me in a better mood and it does help with the cramps. Most women it can help but I do know some women are in that much pain that exercise will make it worse - I was one of them before I had my kids.

    Upping the exercise can alter your cycle in general and it can take a few months to settle down but it does not bother me. I also use a menstrual cup which I found amazing and wished i started using years ago - especially as I can have quite heavy days and dont want it to stop me exercising.
  • dark_angel1554
    dark_angel1554 Posts: 65 Member
    I do about the same amount of exercise. Though if I was feeling particularly wretched, I would take it down to something like a light walk or yoga.
  • dkgoetz
    dkgoetz Posts: 65 Member
    Do you exercise during menstruation? How hard?

    Is it recommended not to do strenuous exercise during?

    Do you find exercising during menstruation to be more painful?

    Does it throw your cycle off?

    Yes I exercise during - it helps me with the cramps and generally makes me feel better! I usually start with a walk and then do more depending on how I feel.

    I've never heard of a recommendation not to do strenuous exercise, but I'd say do what you are used to.

    I don't find it more painful, maybe a little uncomfortable at first, but no less than just sitting around feeling sorry for myself :]

    I haven't noticed any exercise throwing off my cycle.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    I get migraines with mine sometimes so it all depends how I feel. I have to give up aqua and swimming for the first few days though.
  • WalkingMermaid_
    WalkingMermaid_ Posts: 205 Member
    I don't do any exercise on the first day, simply because I always feel like curling up and reading a book, and generally resting. But on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 I just continue as normal. I guess it's an individual thing, just go with what you feel like doing.
  • Tonnina
    Tonnina Posts: 979 Member
    Personally I have a light flow, thanks to BC Pills, so I have no issues working out at the same intensity as when I'm not having my monthly.

    I hear it's good to exercise for your cramps; again, thanks to the BC Pills, I don't have those as bad anymore.

    I've never had any pain because of exercising during my monthly. Maybe drinking more water will help loosen up the muscles used that might cause some extra pain... You do need more water during this time.

    I've never missed a monthly while exercising, but I've noticed if I'm not drinking enough water or eating not so nutritious foods the few days before I'll be a couple days late.

    I say exercise, but just like any other time of the month, don't hurt yourself!
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    I work out during my TOM. It has happened once where i was on a lifting day, and it made my cramps horrible. Other than that, no issues.
  • mariposa224
    mariposa224 Posts: 1,241 Member
    I'm with the others who've said "treat it like any other day." I've found that it really does help with cramps as well. I remember that on one of my yoga DVDs there was a warning about doing "inverted poses" while menstruating... So when I did yoga & it was TOM, I didn't do anything that had me completely upside down. Other than that, carry on as usual. :smile:
  • ATOLLIT
    ATOLLIT Posts: 149
    There is absolutely no reason not to exercise. Personally I don't go swimming when I get my period (because it makes me feel weird, not because there's any problem with it!), but I generally prefer running to swimming anyway, so that's not exactly a big deal.

    All the endorphins released in exercise make me feel more awake and less b*tchy, and I'm much less crampy while I'm moving, even if it's a walk to the kitchen to make tea, than when I'm sat on my butt.

    If it's more painful in terms of muscle stiffness etc then I put that down to the fact I workout more/harder than usual as it makes me feel better, so it makes sense that I ache more the next day. If it's too bad, I have a day off.

    But then, I don't have a strict workout schedule anyway, if I really don't feel like exercising due to illness, muscle stiffness, extreme tiredness, whatever, then I don't do it, and make up for it on another day instead.
  • sweetNsassy2584
    sweetNsassy2584 Posts: 515 Member
    No excuses.. I go all out.
  • elektradarling
    elektradarling Posts: 85 Member
    Do you exercise during menstruation? How hard?

    Is it recommended not to do strenuous exercise during?

    Do you find exercising during menstruation to be more painful?

    Does it throw your cycle off?

    I expect its different for every single girl, for example some months I get alot of pain, others I get really tired, get backaches etc.....I think it depends on how you are feeling each time.

    Some people get it worse than others, I have found as I've got older(32) and also stopped taking any contraception drugs I'm extremely regular but also they are getting worse as I get older so I feel like crap alot of the time!

    A nice walk is what I'd recommend if you are unsure about going too mad :)
  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    I do nothing different
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  • Loulady
    Loulady Posts: 511 Member
    I was trying to think of something silly and snarky to say, but for real, a day during that time of the month is like any other day + some extra toiletries.

    If your period is actually impacting your life and activities, talk to your doctor.
  • _chiaroscuro
    _chiaroscuro Posts: 1,340 Member
    My energy is much lower but I power through anyway. It helps.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    Do you exercise during menstruation? How hard?

    Is it recommended not to do strenuous exercise during?

    Do you find exercising during menstruation to be more painful?

    Does it throw your cycle off?

    I exercise those days just like any other - cardio and strength. I just refuse to let anything my body does to me keep me from my goals. There are no recommendations to stay away from any kind of exercise during your period. It isn't any more painful and doesn't cause any side effects. Some very athletic women do experience less frequent or much lower flow during their TOM but for those of us who are exercising moderately, there will be little or no change.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    yup, I don't use much as an excuse to skip working out. Right now I'm 36 weeks pregnant and on bedrest and you better believe I'm using bands to stay limber and doing upper body stuff while sitting.