Insanity/working out on your period.

abbesser
abbesser Posts: 1
in Fitness and Exercise
This is my first week of Insanity.

I also started my period this week.

Ladies, what do you do? I just feel so fatigued all the time and tonight I was nauseous. Do you push through?

Half my workout tonight was spent starring at the screen being like "Nope, not doin that right now."

But I'm scarred that making excuses will harm my results in the end.

Replies

  • KarenisPaleo
    KarenisPaleo Posts: 169 Member
    We will have to get back to you, we are all busy pushing through...

    ;))
  • jessicahill530
    jessicahill530 Posts: 65 Member
    Your last sentence answered your question...if you really want this, don't make excuses. I am a lucky girl in that my period doesn't affect me in anyway other than the obvious, so I don't get run down or extra tired. If you are truly too tired to do insanity, maybe try something less strenous like a long walk or another dvd that isn't as intense.
  • cuinboston2014
    cuinboston2014 Posts: 848 Member
    Hmmm...that's tough. I don't typically have terrible period symptoms but I never use it as an excuse.

    My best suggestion would be to keep pushing through and usually you will feel better when you are done. Unless you actually start vomiting or have an underlying health condition just go.

    It's extremely mental. Especially tough workouts like Insanity. Are you staring at the screen because you are intimidated or because you are not feeling good?

    Make sure you don't let your mind get in the way of your success
  • liftreadphilosophize
    liftreadphilosophize Posts: 180 Member
    Before b.c., my periods kicked my @$$. I was tired, bloated, cranky, sore, and not at all up for intense workouts. I honestly don't think I could have STARTED Insanity on a week I started my period - I would have needed to spend that time either lifting, doing steady state cardio, or laying on the couch with a hot pad on my tummy. But once I was "used" to Insanity (as much as you can be with that killer workout), I could power through.

    So I don't think waiting to start Insanity until after the worst of your period is over is at all going to affect your results. Give yourself the best chance for success, even if that means recognizing that your body is not ready - at this very temporary time - to jump into such an intense workout program.

    The other alternative is to do exactly what you did - not expect yourself to do everything on the DVD, but just go through it and allow yourself more breaks than usual. You can always "officially" start the program next week. :-) But I know awful periods and it's h3ll to try to do Insanity while your uterus is trying to kill you.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    No excuses.

    I never missed an Insanity workout because of my period when I did it.

    Get it done.
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    Fuel up and do it..Initially it might feel hard, but eventually you will get adjusted and find moves easier along the way..good luck!
  • FrauHaas2013
    FrauHaas2013 Posts: 615 Member
    I don't think there's a blanket response - it depends on your own body and how you handle your cycle. Some people are light and last only a few days with no symptoms...other folks are very heavy, last for a long time, and have cramps, headaches, nausea, etc. It's not fair to blanket with a statement "stop making excuses."

    That being said, if you are able to continue working out and feel fine, then you probably should. If you're on the verge of puking and passing out from a migraine, probably not...
  • Alex_is_Hawks
    Alex_is_Hawks Posts: 3,499 Member
    i work out 4 days a week.

    every week, every month, every year.

    TOM does not affect that.

    being sick has affected that. Being on vacation has affected that. Those were choices I made.

    But TOM does NOT interfere with my working out.

    if you are afraid of the fatigue/being sick, but you still want to make it a habit, why not still work out but dial it back.

    no one said you HAD to do insanity while on TOM if it makes it THAT miserable. But if you need consistency, then do something else.

    Take a walk, do some of the exercises in insanity with less reps, less strain and take it easy...

    do some yoga.


    but do NOT stop for TOM, it does not stop for you.
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    Your period in no way inhibits your ability to work out. You cannot use it as an excuse.

    Take a midol and get over it.
  • GettingMooreInShape
    GettingMooreInShape Posts: 80 Member
    Depends how bad your periods are. I know that for 1-2 days per month I'll be hunched over in bed, puking all day, and passing out regularly (due to fluctuations in hormones from birth control pills then switching to placebo pills) so exercise isn't quite my top priority then. I know these two worst days will happen every month, so I plan to exercise the days before and after.

    You can definitely plan your rest days to fall on the worst days of your period. The other days of the week, just get 'er done! Some people say exercise helps their cramps.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    I have never had a period in my life, and I don't ever expect to... lol But I wouldn't push a guy to exercise sick, and so if your periods make you sick, I would take a breather. Pushing through is excellent, but throwing up afterwards isn't good. Hell you know your body better than anyone. If you know you're making excuses, then push. If you're not and you are really getting sick, take it easy for a few days.

    You've got to remember that for all the pushing and hard work, the point is not to kick your own *kitten*, it's to make yourself better. If pushing runs you into the ground rather than challenging you and making you stronger... you're doing it wrong, follow?

    As for stunting your progress, you just started... it's not going to hurt your progress. And in the future, if you have to take a break for a bit every month no problem, just do some jogging or whatever you can to keep your body moving. In weight lifting we call it a deload week (a week where you do less than usual to give your body a chance to recoup), and you will usually come back stronger afterwards.
  • catfive1
    catfive1 Posts: 529 Member
    We will have to get back to you, we are all busy pushing through...

    ;))


    ditto
  • LeanButNotMean44
    LeanButNotMean44 Posts: 852 Member
    Your period in no way inhibits your ability to work out. You cannot use it as an excuse.

    Take a midol and get over it.

    This!
  • BurningAway
    BurningAway Posts: 279
    No excuses.

    I never missed an Insanity workout because of my period when I did it.

    Get it done.

    QfT it will help those cramps
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    If you have normal periods, just push through it. If you have extremely painful periods or get symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, then take it easy. Stick to walking until the worst is over, and get back into it. I used to have really severe periods when I was younger and I know there is no way I would tell someone to suck it up and work out vigorously through that. Then again, those were so bad I had to spend a couple days at home drugged up with vicodin every month. So seriously, only take the time off if they are truly so awful you can't do it. If you have normal periods, just do as much of the workout as you possibly can like any other day.

    Edit: Also, if your periods are that bad, go seen an OB/GYN, they can help.

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