Exercise when you have your period

How funny, I was thinking about this last night.

I feel your pain. Growing up mine caused such insane pain - I felt like I was being knifed in the stomach if I even moved an inch and I constantly be physically ill and feverish for a couple days. I remember times where I'd been sitting in bed talking to some one (went to boarding school) and then I'd wake up a couple hours later totally confused what happened - I'd become ridiculously exhausted. SO, for those that say "suck it up," until you've experienced the kind of pain some of these ladies are talking about, don't make it sound so simple.

BUT like some others have said, I went on birth control for awhile and that REALLY helped out. I still felt pretty crummy, but I wasn't getting sick anymore and my pain was slightly decreased (just crammed, didn't feel like I was being gutted).

I'm off birth control now, but I think being on it really helped because I've either gotten over those bad symptoms or the pill really changed my system for the better. Consult your doctor on what options you have to make it more bearable and then do SOMETHING...whether it's just lifting light weights in front of the TV or even just going out walking for an hour...it doesn't have to be an insane workout spree, just something you're doing so your body gets used to the activity.

Good luck!!!

I feel uncomfortable going to yoga class with it so I think I'm just going to not go on those days and do some light cardio. I think you should be fine as long as you keep moving. And like another poster said it's not really the pain. It's the flow that bothers me.

I always feel better after I exercise. It decreases both my cramps and my back pain. My TOM used to be pretty bad but it's much better now so I'm able to do this. Fair warning, it hurts worse when I start lifting but gets better by the time I'm done.

I used to have the WORST cramps ever. FOR YEARS I'd suffer from them and it would be to the point where i'd be hot and cold at the same time, i'd throw up, i'd be crying from the pain and I couldn't even move without feeling intense pain and it would last for hours. Birth control, really does help! Also, not only exercise at least 5 days a week especially days before you start but cutting down on pop and salt really helps me.

I have not read all of the responses, but yes, I do work out and one thing that has helped me over the years is using a menstrual cup for my monthly. You can't feel it and it's like I'm noy even on my period. If you do a search, it will tell you about them.

do you mean something like the Diva cup? My sister uses something like that but I'm scared to stick something like that in me hehe so I stick with the more old way of TOM maintenance. -.- maybe someday I'll try it, it seems more economical and ecofriendly as well but hehe just scary to get in there ~_~

I have not read all of the responses, but yes, I do work out and one thing that has helped me over the years is using a menstrual cup for my monthly. You can't feel it and it's like I'm noy even on my period. If you do a search, it will tell you about them.

I found them very difficult to empty without getting it all over you, which I needed to do every two or three hours. I suppose if they really did last twelve hours as advertised...

I carry emergency doctor perscribed pain pills because I used to become completely incapacitated suddenly, even in public. In the space of tens minutes or so, I would be throwing up and in extreme pain, unable to walk or sit up without passing out. My herniated disk, the time I tore my ligaments, the time I dislocated my ankle, the time I had abdominal surgery.... None of these things have been as painful as my cramping is for me. I have had it checked out and do not tolerate birth control well.
To those who say suck it up, I wish you could understand that not all women experience the same intensity of cramping. Please believe us.
Once the first day is over, I am back to the gym, however. :-)

There are some cycles where this would happen to me as well, and it was only the first day. I would have this type of pain that is unexplainable and would begin to feel clammy, light headed and would violently vomit anything that I tried to take to feel better (even trying to drink water would cause me to throw up). Do you (or anyone) know why this happens to some women?

If I let my periods get in the way, I would have only been able to workout maybe 4 days in January alone (I got it for 3 weeks in 1 month, doing way better from the 2 month straight period I had). I use the hormonal changes to my advantage. I get super angry more than anything (3 periods in a month, who wouldn't?) and take that anger out in a workout. Everytime you pulse the arm with the weights, you're punching the universe in the face for the torture. D<

Absolutely exercise when you are on your period. When I am on mine there are tons of excuses as why I shouldn't/don't want to. I figured if I can work as a nurse and do the other daily activities than the gym shouldn't be given an exception either. I'm not saying that I work out as hard because I feel yucky, but something is better than nothing. Almost all the time though I end up being pain free afterwards.

As far as birth control, I was on it and then my body started getting very out of whack. The three options I had were to keep trying different pills, have endoscopy done to look for tumors, or take myself off (the third option was my idea, 2 docs frowned on it)....I didn't want tons of meds mixing in body and all the side effects that come along with trying different hormones....endoscopy seemed extreme and was only diagnostic not fixing the problem...I choose option 3! PRAISE GOD I FOLLOWED MY OWN BELIEFS....I have perfectly on time periods and hurt less than when I was on birth control. Just my story for whatever it's worth to someone.

strangely, despite horrid cramps and blow outs, I find myself looser jointed or something and more able to handle things. I have less muscular cramps and can do MORE in the way of exercise. After it though...then I feel like crap. Go figure.