exercising with cramps (WOMEN)

I really didn't wan to go last week but forced myself and found it made the cramps better.

I didn't want to but I pushed through and did my regular 2 hour workout and I felt much better afterwards

It helps me! I'd say its half exercise-enduced endorphins and half distraction though. But I generally feel better physically and I feel mentally more capable of handling the symptoms. I'm sure it has to be different for everybody, though.

Exercise does not always help alleviate the pain. I know for me, 100% of the time it makes my pain a lot worse (to the point of violent vomiting from it) so I usually just take it easy. Everybody is different though obviously. I would suggest listening to your body to see just how far you can push it. But 1-2 days a month of curling up with a heating pad isn't a big deal.

My problem is if I take 2-3 days off like I really want to, I have a really hard time getting back into the rhythm of working out regularly again. So I make myself put on my work out clothes, and I tell myself to do at least 10 minutes of something. I give myself permission to quit after 10 minutes if I want to. Usually what happens is once I get moving, I can keep going for at least 30 minutes. Granted it is a much lighter workout. I don't do abs or high impact cardio moves. I might do some yoga or cardio boxing depending on my mood.

Also I make sure I am fully dosed with tylenol and ibuprofen well before I begin. For me personally, the cramps lesson during the workout, but come back even worse after, so I take a hot shower and cuddle up with the heating pad after.

Hope you feel better soooooon x

It's amazing what a walk in the great outdoors can do for you (well, for me).

I'm usually terrible with TOM stuff (stop reading now guys), bad cramps, super heavy flow, dizziness, and nausea. I've found that exercising consistently during the month (non-bloody days) has helped reduced flow, and the severity and duration of my cramping.

This past period, I had a pretty crappy second day -and spent a good part of it indoors (trying to sleep it away). I finally convinced myself to head on outside for a walk and *BAM* that fresh air hitting my face was AMAZING. And after 5-10mins of being outside, moving (just walking), I felt better.

So, if you're feeling like total sh!!!t during your TOM, try walking. It doesn't have to be intense exercise -but something is better than nothing!

I also hear that ab exercise can be a God-send. I always feel like I'll leak (yuck, I know) if I try and do them though!

Well, here's what I do when I feel tired, crampy, or sick. I take an ibuprofen, etc, wait for it to kick in, then, I tell myself one of 3 things: I will exercise today for 20 minutes at half my usual effort, if I feel good, I'll do more, if not, good for me; I will exercise today doing something that is an easier/ half-out effort, for the full time, such as walking, etc.; or, I will do something that feels good to a crampy body today, such as stretching, yoga, etc.

In other words, you give yourself a break, and still exercise, so you're not letting yourself out of your goal, but still listening to your body.

I've also just decided not to do anything, and that never feels as successful.

This week, when I was having a bad, bad, bad day with my period, I went out, and I went out for vengeance, pushing it HARD. And you know what? I actually found that it was a great day, I felt great, I felt strong, and, surprisingly, (with the help of ibuprofen), my cramps weren't as bad. Weird.

Good luck.

The cramps usually hurt so bad and make me so miserable that I may as well exercise. Lying down doing nothing just makes the time pass slower, and sleeping or peaceful resting are out of the question. The pain will take all enjoyment out of non-physical activities like reading, knitting, or watching TV.

It's not that I am strong-willed or persevere through it to exercise--it's just that it makes no difference in pain/comfort whether I do it or don't do it.

why dont you just take some neurofin? thats what its there for!

oh bummer!

If you have cramps, then only do a light to moderate exercise. Heavy exercise can worsen your cramps.
I usually do only 30 minutes (where normally I work out for an hour), and I keep it light. And if I am not feeling it, I skip a couple of workouts. One or two missed workouts a month will not make or break you new healthy lifestyle. Remember most of losing or maintaining weight is from a healthy diet anyway. As long as you are consistently making way more good choices (with food and exercise), than bad, you will be fine.

I find that cardio helps get rid of cramps. Pick a workout dvd with an uplifting instructor. Think of your workout time as "me" time (the same way you'd think of a bath or a bowl of ice cream and a movie).

I get really bad cramps some months, so bad that advil does nothing. But working out helps!

When I first was getting cramps this month, I decided to go for a run (like, my first run of the YEAR!). At the end of my run, I was cramping really bad, but half way through my cool down walk, the cramps disappeared. I will definitely try this again next month! So, yeah... I just went for it. Determination. And some pain-killers when necessary. Good luck!

I don't - my endometriosis gives me severe chronic pain and exercise-inflammation only makes it worse. I'll either wait until NSAIDs work or the pain has gone down.