LADIES: Skipping exercise for that time of the month?

It depends on how I feel. If I'm really crampy then I'd chill and just eat at a non-workout day deficit. But if I feel fine then I get it in.

have i been in this period thread yet?

i cant even remember, there are so many of them.

oh well, at least this thread reminded me to make my eggs.

brb.

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This is a personal preference thing, I find.

One of my friends is a personal trainer, and you cannot get her to the gym on three days of the month.

Personally, I find a long walk (jogging at times if I feel up to it) helps a lot. And I try to stay in my calories - even if my womb is putting out crazy chocolate craving hormones. But everyone is different, and so long as you don't eat superbly unhealthy and use this as a way to break your trend... it won't set you right back to the start.

If you feel up to it maybe just try some light walks or yoga (but don't do inversions during your period). If you feel like you need to rest then rest and eat well.

If you want to make or find an excuse not to exercise then you will find it!

That aside....... I had lots of excuses for not exercising even when not that time of the month!

During that time, I was on the couch for a day or 2 with a heating pad!

I saw my Dr (finally) and got my hormone levels checked! Holy Crap! What a difference, what a life changing experience the last year has been!

I am off the couch! I am doing it!

You still have to want it! But getting your body in line with your mind makes things a lot easier!

So bottom line for those with terrible and painful dealings with mother nature, go see your Dr or a bioidentical hormone specialist!

Then get off the couch and get back to life!

:flowerforyou:

I have news for you. Periods could be painful and exhausting. Life goes on. So does exercise and eating healthy. It's your equipment ladies, get to know it fer fook's sake.

^^This. My ovulation pain ("mittelschmerz") is ungodly painful. No medical problem (that they can find--I'm just a giant baby, I guess). But...I pop 2-3 OTC ibuprofen (should be vicodin per Dr.--but I refuse that stuff), get off the couch and werk it. No ab work, though on those days. Oh lawdy gawd, no ab work. But anything else I can and will power through. The world don't stop for our wimmin's problems, neither will I.

I do, on the two worst days. On the other days it just depends on how I feel.

We are all different, so it's difficult to say whether it's going to be good or bad for you. Personally I find my excruciating cramps get (a little) better with gentle exercise like walking. But other women find that it makes it worse. So go with what feels right to you.

I would say that if you have a full week of bad cramps to the point where you can't exercise each month, I would see a doctor and get it checked out. A full week of being unable to do anything due to pain is severely debillitating.

^^

Agreed; also with the other poster who mentioned that any movement will make you feel better than none. I used to be flat on my back for the first two days, then could walk on days 3 and 4, then more intense work after.

But if you really can't move for your entire 5-7 days without excruciating pain, I would second getting to the doctor. There are so many newer solutions out there for women (like us) who suffer through a week of life-impacting pain; and your doctor can guide you through finding the best help for yourself. There is no need to be in agony for so long!

Geez, how did women in centuries past do it? I can't imagine a 19th century farm wife taking the day off from mending clothes, feeding seven kids, hanging the laundry, scrubbing the floors, and shucking corn just because she got her period.

Do you skip out on life for that 3-7 days a month?

I too suffer from really bad cramps and I say listen to your body, if you tired and in pain and don't feel like it, then just stay in bed and relax and give your body a break. There is no way in hell I would exercise when they were at their worst. Also, do you tried taking an epsom salt bath? You need like 2 cups of the stuff in there and a good long soak - since I've started doing that my cramps have been a lot better.

Just do what you can. Sometimes I'll just take a walk around my neighborhood after downing a Midol because I don't feel good but I know I should at least get some sunshine.

Sometimes I don't exercise for like 3 days straight during my period! I don't push myself to do anything unrealistic that I won't be able to keep up, because just like food intake, if you over do it and it's not sustainable your weight loss won't be either.

I feel you. Again, to avoid TMI, I have a similar description of my monthly. I, too, get worse - to the point of sometimes vomiting - during exercise. Exercise increases my bleeding and makes me fully ill. Luckily, this lasts 3-4 days at most. I usually just skip. I don't skimp on food, though, because as a PP mentioned, the caloric intake is based on your baseline activity level so it is just right. I also find that bulking up on high-iron and high fiber foods helps alleviate some of my discomfort.
Work within your personal comfort, but don't pamper yourself too much. If you are truly out to make life changes for your weight & your health, then the system has to work for YOUR life.
Oh, and congrats on your walk. Maybe you found your period exercise!

I workout through mines and I feel great afterwards. I just walk on the treadmill