question for the women of this site...

Sometimes I work out through the "ehh" feeling, other times I'm a bum and make up for it by doing a little extra later in the week. It won't kill your diet to have a day or two off, just make sure you don't give into every single craving!

It does make me feel better to work out those days, I come home with energy and motivation for other things in life, but there are times I just can't work my self up to get out of the house to the gym.

I had a roommate who said "you burn extra calories during your period, so it's ok to eat more" which is probably not true at all, but I always blindly accepted this for the chance to eat chocolates haha.

You know, the first couple months were like that for me. At the risk of a TMI - mine is a week long and super heavy the entire time. Like, when I used tampons, the only kind I bought were the super absorbant. Anything less wasn't worth the money or the time. (Side note and shameless plug: DIVAcup!)

Anyway, the first 3 months that I was doing this journey, I didn't want to do anything during that time. I'd be achey, sore, tired, lethargic, and in pain. But, I did my workouts. Yes, they were slower. Yes, there was a lot of whining and moaning and complaining to myself (but I workout in my living room, so the only one to hear and receive my verbal abuses was the Wii). But - and this is the thing - a) I want my goals more than I want to avoid the short term pain/soreness/tiredness and b) whenever I finished the workout, I'd feel better, simply because of the "I damn well did it" endorphins.

Bottom line: try. You don't have to go at it full bore, or with your normal gusto. But do something. Anything. Doing nothing is counterproductive to the behavior pattern you are trying to create. Changing behavior patterns and habits suck. It's annoying and no fun - but if you can stick it out, come hell or high water, for the first 30 days without fail - it will get easier. It'll never be *the most fun thing in the world, akin to a unicorn farting rainbows*... (dear lord, I need sleep... lol), but it'll get easier, and your body will thank you for the consistency, and you'll find that working through that time of the month does get easier.

Hope this helps a bit... I'm not sure how much sense I just made...

Agree with the above - I would find I would be more lethargic and yawn through the class but just trying to do it made me feel better - plus exercise is meant to help with the pain.......maybe it is the high of the endorphins that dull it for a while?

Worth a try either way!

ok, thanks for the kick up the behind, your info really does make a difference ... treadmill here i come lol

For me, I actually get the symptoms twice a month, two weeks apart (currently in the middle of it). Getting myself exercising is the biggest struggle. But once I get there, I find my endorphins tend to kick in faster. Stairclimber helps too because it's a great cardio without a lot of effort.

I know what you mean! Although I got told to take Iron, because of the blood you loose you can have slightly lower Iron in your body and this will effect energy levels.

I feel that way every month. yesterday was that day...I did still exercise the walking went well actually did more lol. The bellydancing well not so well. It was harder, I was less coordinated imagine that one lol, and it was just harder all the way around but I did it because I am determined to beat this shiznit. I always need am obscene amount of protein anyway during that time its worse and I seem to lose a lot of potassium. Try to eat more protein and potassium and increase your water for sure. This might help you as well.

yes I tatally get lazy & super hungery but I always feel better after workout

It depends on the month, some are worse than others. If it's a really bad one (I have endometriosis), I will skip a day at the gym. For two reasons, one, sometimes I don't have any energy and the cramps are really bad and the other is when I am having a bad month, it's because it's a heavier month and I am terrified that I might have a visible "issue".

I always feel better after I workout when I feel that way. I know what you mean about the sluggish feeling but just laying around will just make you feel worse in the long run. Exercising helps during that time.

Work outs help for sure. Especially with pains.

Exercise will actually help with that. If it gets really severe, though, see your OB/GYN. You could have PMDD.

I make myself go even when I don't want to. I usually end up feeling better after a workout.

that's a fact: some yoga positions you can't or should't do during your period, because a woman's energy is low during. my instructor always points that out. of course people are different, but i feel that it's not good for me to overdo my exercise during that days. just listen to your body!

P.S. Hope you feel better. :flowerforyou: