Turns out this is a real magazine! My fave story from this edition: Diary of a Tampon Virgin (admit it – we’ve all been there.)
Red may be my favorite color but unless it’s on a pair of adorable Nikes, I prefer not to accessorize with it at the gym. And yet if you are female with functioning ovaries at least once a month you have to bend over in front of a mirror to make sure you can’t see your pad through your spandex pants. (Two words ladies: Diva Cup. Best invention ever.) Since the Gym Buddies are primarily of the ovary-possessing variety there is a lot of talk in the gym about when someone is on their period (cramps!), when someone misses their period (pregnancy!), what they’re doing about their period (birth control!) and – most importantly – what our periods mean for our workouts (Fatigue! Bloating! Weakness! General all around pissiness!). Oh the drama.
Thankfully science has our back(sides) with a slew of new research to help us lady folk deal with our lady bits in a ladylike manner while still getting our sweat on. (Keep your legs crossed on the weight bench?) Researchers in Australia discovered that thanks to reduced levels of estrogen during menstruation (How do you pronounce that? Men-stray-shun? Men-stroo-a-shun? 5th grade humiliation??) female athletes are more likely to get injured during Red Celebration Week than during other times of their cycle. In two three-year studies that followed 78 women, it was determined that low estrogen at the beginning of the menstrual cycle (i.e. when you’re actually bleeding) causes reduced muscle tone and impairs coordination which led to a great incidence of injury, especially in the knees, feet and ankles.
This research is slightly controversial as it comes on the heels of several studies that showed no change in “muscle contractile characteristics”, VO2 max, oxygen consumption, heart rate and even rating of perceived exertion during the Period Party. These studies have led scientists to conclude that women do not need to make any adjustments to their training routines to accommodate Aunt Flo’s visit. I would personally like to smack these scientists upside the head with a case of Midol because whether there is a physiologic change brought on by hormonal fluctuations or if it is all in my head, there is a difference in my workouts when Mother Nature plays Call of Duty: Endometrial Edition.
For myself, I find that I get whinier and don’t push as hard in my workouts. (Plus I go through a serious nobody-likes-me-everybody-hates-me-I-look-fat-in-these-track shorts phase.) Research has shown that women are more sensitive to pain during the Week of Cotton Absorbency Testing, although I think they meant physical pain and not Facebook-induced depression like I seem to get every month. Rachel Cosgrove, in her book The Female Body Breakthrough, adds that “More than one study has shown that exercise feels harder the week before and the week of women’s periods because of increased levels of progesterone and decreased levels of serotonin. I can tell you from subjective reports that most women don’t feel optimal at this point in their cycles. You may find that your workouts feel harder than usual and that you’re more tired.” She adds, “Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t set a personal best this week. Just get in and get it done.”
What all this does not mean however is that we women should skip exercising during our periods. Lots of research has shown that exercising helps elevate mood, lessen cramps, reduce bloating and alleviate headaches.
Do not worry your pretty little head though, the researchers have an answer and naturally it comes in pill form – specifically The Pill. In what may be the best argument I’ve heard for taking birth control pills (oh yeah besides that whole preventing pregnancy thing), the Aussie scientists say, “There’s now quite a global body of research saying that the pill actually is protective of injuries. It protects you from injuries, it improves performance, improves muscle function.” Birth control as a performance enhancer? That’s definitely interesting. Especially because I’m about to start taking Junel 21 – a birth control pill that you take continuously so you don’t get a period.
While I love experimenting on myself, I’m going to admit that I am not at all excited for this one. My last experience with birth control pills 15 years ago wasn’t good. I don’t care what the research says, it made me gain 10 pounds right before my wedding causing me to look like a tiara-clad chipmunk in all our photos which means I do not display them nor show them to anyone, ever. But since I got the Mirena IUD out about six months ago my hormones have been returning to their natural state for the first time in decades. And I had forgotten how horrible “natural” is for this girl. While some of my symptoms improved since getting the Mirena out (brain fog, irritability and hair loss: gone!) others have gotten worse. TMI alert (as if this post wasn’t bad enough!): I’ve always been a bleeder and a cramper and every month it’s just getting worse. My PMS is ridiculous, debilitating and takes up half the month. Finally my doctor recommended this whole continuous-pill thing. “Just TRY it,” she said. “You can always quit it if you feel worse!” And yet I’ve had the pill pack for three months now and have yet to start it. But events this past weekend convinced me that I need to try something. So – deep breath – here goes nothing.
So I need advice: am I moron to be considering hormonal birth control again, especially when synthetic hormones have not been my friend in the past? What other options do I have?? If I may ask (please?) – what do you do for birth control?? And if you’re a woman, do you notice a difference in your workouts during the month and do you make changes in your training because of it? If you’re a man and you clicked through because you saw “performance enhancer” in the title, do you wish you could scrub your brain now?
I’ve actually been thinking about this on and off for two days now. I have read that the last week and first days of the cycle may not be optimal for gym performance, but I usually feel pretty terrible for a few days right around ovulation too. Which, if you have super short cycles (hallo!) and are figuring that math out in your head, leaves, like, THREE DAYS of decent athletic performance. Well, a few more than that, maybe. Lame-o.
Also, I was acutely aware of all your euphemisms in this post but you didn’t use my favorite, which I only heard for the first time today: Shark Week.
SHARK WEEK!! I love it! I will have to use that one next time as I am sure I’ll end up writing about this again at some point;)
I thought the last research was that hormonal bc weakened you due to hormones. So confused! Argh!
Yeppers! I blogged about that study too. Scientists seem to enjoy making my head spin.
I LOVE all of your euphemisms! And it’s nice to hear that its not just in my head that even the easiest of runs are so hard that week!
Also, this post was very timely…. Now wheres the cookie dough! 🙂
Hahah – I enjoyed coming up with them. I heart the cookie dough…
1. BEST PICTURE EVER
2. I totally get clutzy (well even more clutzy) around my period. My mom says she was the same way– there has to be something to this
3. I couldn’t take the pill either. I tried lots of different ones and they all had yucky side effects.
Very interesting about getting clutzy! I never noticed it but this next time around I’m going to be paying more attention.
I feel weaker, crankier and more prone to just want to curl up on the couch with a book or dvd than work out. I do try to force myself but my performance is not as good.. The strange thing is that even though it takes huge amounts of willpower to get it done, afterwards I feel much better, and peppier than before.
Didn’t you recently have a post about how the pill makes it harder to gain muscle? I just stopped taking the pill for a variety of reasons, but…I’m sort of thinking that I might end up back on it in a few months, again, for a variety of reasons. I’m just waiting to see what life is like w/o hormonal interference, because I’ve been on the pill since I was 17, so I’m not entirely sure what things are like sans extra estrogen.
I’m so sick of conflicting research (not about this specifically, just in general)- it makes me think “well, yeah, science is good, but I wish they’d just keep their mouths shut until they reach a real conclusion so I don’t keep altering my behaviour”. I do appreciate all your reporting of interesting results though! I’m just sick of the conflicting results from the scientists.
Oh yes I did! Scientists seem to enjoy making my head spin. And yes: ““well, yeah, science is good, but I wish they’d just keep their mouths shut until they reach a real conclusion so I don’t keep altering my behaviour”. EXACTLY.
Love the euphemisms! I’m quite incapacitated at that time – very heavy bleeding – so for about three days I just stick to dancing around the house and walking.
For me it’s the couple of days before my period that knock me flat. Once I get started on it, I usually feel completely ass-kicky at the gym, until it peaks on day 2-3. Even then though, exercise makes me feel better, whereas in those few days before it starts, I feel like a slow-moving pile of sludge.
Ooh good point. It’s def. the worst for me right before and during days 1 & 2. After that I feel pretty good.
GOOD LORD YOUR WRITING ROCKS!!
and on a same but different note I have a good friend who planned a trip to SURF this week.
her ladyfriend came early.
she caint surf!!
it’s a sharky area and she said they can smell the blood.
WHO KNEW?
That sounds like the thing that would be an urban legend and yet… who would take chances with sharks?? And thank you:)
It’s the week before that I find the most difficult. Once I’m about a day in I feel absolutely fine again.
I hope I’m not tempting fate here but I’ve not had a single injury since being on the pill. Before, I was forever nursing something. It may well be that I’m a little older, a little wiser and listen to and understand my body a little better……………ie. stop when it hurts………….or perhaps it’s a complete coincidence.
But generally, a day or so into the B Class Knickers Week, my body just seems to go with the flow……….literally!
(At the rate I seem to be ageing at the moment, I reckon I’ll be posting about running and the menopause very, very soon!!)
“B Class Knickers Week”!!! Oh I love it! I will have to remember that one for next time… And hey, whatever the reason I’m just glad you’re not getting any injuries!
I think I might be weird (for a lot of different reasons)–I feel weaker in the days leading up to the Big Event, and generally grumpy, whiny and ill-tempered–but the thing I have to watch most is doing intense cardio in the first day or so following the Cessation of Festivities–I can feel weakest then and am prone to dizziness–not sure it’s a hormonal thing though.
OH. And I will say–the day or two before I go crazy. Anxiety attacks, etc. So I’m clearly not normal . . . .
I do EXACTLY the same thing! I have even taken to marking it on my calendar because sometime in the 3-4 days before my period starts I always have a panic attack. Thankfully knowing they’re hormonally related helps ease them a bit. Too funny we both do that. Yay for anxiety disorders…
When I told a doc that I was going through menopause because I hadn’t had a period in several months, I was informed that it’s not “officially” menopause until you’ve gone an entire year. So I had almost reached safe shores when shark week (I love that! My new favorite.) came at 11 months and 3 weeks. Damn, now I have to start all over again.
Other than the worry of bleeding all over everything, my periods have never really affected me other than feeling draggy for a few days.
Oh man, I keep telling myself that menopause will be the happiest day of my life but apparently it’s less of a “day” and more of a “process.” Ugh.
I must be in the minority cause I have never had pms or noticed a declined performance around that time of the month. Though I do notice I tend to not sleep as well when I am on my period.
That is interesting info htough, cause I am starting the pill soon. I have previously tried yaz and a head’s up to active women- it made me very asthmatic. I couldn’t stop coughing and could barely breath for hours after taking it.
Oh wow – I hadn’t heard of that side effect from Yaz before. Thanks for the heads up!
I don’t see how it can be mental, since I usually know I feel like crap before I realize the reason. I suppose it’s one of those things that can be different for each individual, but for me it definitely makes a difference.
Workouts feel so hard when I’m on my period! I’m also with you on birth control-just say no to extra hormones! I tried it out for a few months and I would fluctuate an entire cup size in the middle of my cycle. While adding a cup size sounds awesome–it felt like going through puberty all over again—EVERY month!
Anyway, I change my workouts a bit–usually I attempt to do what I would normally do in a workout and realize that I need to ease up because my body is screaming “I have no energy—too hard!” Good post. And if you’re on your period this week—we’re period sisters! 🙂
That sounds like a nightmare – I like my small boobs! And no, we’re not period sisters – I finished last week. Although that would have been fun! When I lived with roommates, all 6 of us would sync up with cycles. We pretty much just had to put the quarantine sign on the door.
I definitely still work out when I have my period. A friend of mine refuses to go! I think that’s silly. Just shove a tampon up there, bring extras for back-up and go for it! I can’t recall a significant change in my stamina during that time of month.
I really wish I could take the pill. I used to and the physical benefits were amazing. 3 day super light periods. NO PMS!! But rather than pms I just turned into a raging b*tch 24/7! I don’t know what it is but it makes me into such an angry person! Plus my libido basically died. I’m a much happier person off it.
This was probably an excessive amount of personal info. Sorry to all!
No such thing as TMI with me, girl! The pill killed my libido too.
Only if by “Tampon Virgin” you mean going to the store to buy them for your woman for the first time. Even then it didn’t bother me.
You are one heck of a man!
I absolutely SWEAR by he T-Tapp Ladybug workout when I’m on my period. It’s a workout designed for Aunt Flo’s visit and those who are peri- or full fledged menopausal. I LOVE it! I used to take shark week off from working out, but now I kinda (ok, not really) look forward to it. I do T-Tapp nearly every day, but Ladybug is my special “treat” for that week.
And 1+ the diva cup. Best. invention. EVER!
Okay I have to check out T-Tapp again. I did it briefly a couple of years ago but I keep hearing good things about it… Never heard of the Ladybug though!
With the exception of ab-work, I actually kind of look forward to working out when I’m on the rag. There is absolutely nothing like standing near the Hubster in a Turbo Kick class when Jennie yells “Look at your target!” Nothing makes me feel better than the mental image of kicking his ass when I’m PMSing and being a total bitch for no reason. (Hmm? Unhealthy? At least it’s all in my head. LOL)
I’m thisclose to trying the Diva cup, girl. You’ve almost got me talked into it. 😉
“There is absolutely nothing like standing near the Hubster in a Turbo Kick class when Jennie yells “Look at your target!”” Buwhahahah! You are awesome. And I love my Diva Cup! LOVE IT>
I HIGHLY recommend the Diva Cup!!!
I am a 7 day literally turn on like a faucet/hemorrhage your guts out bleeder (once I had the cup, I found out I bleed 3-5 ounces PER DAY for the 1st 3-4 days, then dwindle to 2oz for days 3-5 and 1oz for days 5-7) and then shuts off like a faucet. And the incredible disabling pain was so severe, my mom took me to the ER and morphine did NOT cut it!
I have been dealing with this since ’94! EVERY 28 days, every month! (talk about a downer & making for a very strong attitude)
The diva cup was a godsend, in less then 2 hrs I could bleed through a super-tampon WITH an overnight pad in place (I’d bleed through it all) During the DAY! Nighttime was nightmare, I had to stuff with so much toilet paper to get through (I am too deep of a sleeper, I couldn’t get up at night and would wake up in a blood bath when I was younger in the morning, till I figured out how to slightly contain it).
So when I found the Diva Cup in late ’09, I thought I’d been sent to heaven! No longer did I have to run to the bathroom every hr at work, worrying what I would find, I could go till lunch time!!!
Since then, In Jan ’11, I got the Mirena (after MUCH hard research). I had tried other birth control pills, but they made my period last for TWO weeks, um just say no!!!! The day I stopped taking them, my period stopped (you can’t tell me that was coincidence!!)
I will say it is prob not for everyone. So far I like it. It did cause hair loss at first (something I read/expected, but my hair was way super thick, so it was welcome)
It also caused daily light spotting/discharge/bleeding for the first five months. I just finished the first week I have not had any non-period timing spotting!
But the payoff was for the first time in my LIFE I ONLY needed a panty liner for that WEEK!! (well every day due to the constant thinning) I have actually temporarily retired my diva cup due to not having that much flow! My husband noticed the change almost immediately!!! I will say, it has not completely removed the pain of my period, but I can maintain control of it w/over-counter pain med & resting. (Before nothing gave me relief)
So I will put a LOUD *shout out* for the Diva Cup (I have NOTHING bad to say about it) and to talk to a trusted doctor about Mirena, my new OBGYN is great, she’s a little course (but so am I). And we worked it out together, she wanted to try me on a pill first (I haven’t had kids) but I told her no, been there done that, not an option, she listened and mirena was the result. (I went in knowing the good, bad, ugly and knowing exactly what I wanted, relief from heavy flow & severely disabling pain).
My apologies to anyone that I have scarred with the amount of information!! 🙁
Oh my God. Yes. My periods never used to be bad — I mean I’d be whiny and depressed and angry and fatigued but it was never *PHYSICAL* until I got an IUD. I swear to God I lose a gallon of blood a day on the rag now. Like really. We’re talking 8 tampon a day. And my training *does* suffer as a result, because it’s impossible to keep up with iron consumption and because I sweat right through my sweatshirt just sitting in an air-conditioned room. Take me to the gym and I can’t even grip a dumbbell without straps. Haha.
The Pill, though, you say? Hrrrm. Maybe I’ll get this [torture device] taken out and hop on that bandwagon.
I used to have that problem with the Paraguard IUD too! I practically hemmorhaged every month. I switched to the Mirena IUD and my periods are SOOOO much lighter now! Seriously, check into it!
I lov, love, my DivaCup! As god as my witness, I will never use tampons again!
hahah AMEN.
Call of Duty:Endometrial Edition? Week of Cotton Absorbency Testing? Awesome! Way to euphemize (not a real word)…
Thanks. I had quite a bit of fun thinking those up;)
I think I’m a freak of nature because I’ve never noticed any difference at any time of month in regards to working out. I also have never had cramps. The only side effect of my period was crying at EVERYTHING (happy, sad, mad) in the week before, when I was on the pill. Now that I have the Mirena IUD, my emotions have evened out.
Hmm…I’m whiny and sluggish during ALL my workouts, so I guess I don’t notice THAT much of a difference during Shark Week, lol! (BTW, LOVE “Shark Week!”)
I have a non-hormone IUD, and love it! Unfortunately it does mean I’m not able to use the Diva Cup.
Really? I used the Diva Cup with I had the Paraguard (copper) IUD. Interesting…
The Diva Cup website does say one needs to be careful when using it with an IUD so you don’t dislodge the IUD, but it wouldn’t be any different than the warning they give you regarding tampons with an IUD. Just have to be careful not to pull the teeny threads from the IUD during insertion and removal.
Hmm…I’m going to have to ask my OB-GYN again!
love, love, love your posts. I do see a decline in my strength and endurance the week before and a few days the week of my period. It really stinks because that leaves you with about 2 1/2 weeks of quality workouts. I do find I feel better just going to the gym and sweating.
Oh thank you! I love your comments:) And this: “It really stinks because that leaves you with about 2 1/2 weeks of quality workouts.” is my frustration too. It feels like I’m always either preparing to bleed, bleeding or recovering from bleeding.
Okay. True story. The first time I took birth control, I woke up screaming at Mr. Survival in the middle of the first night after I took the step up in hormones.
We both agreed from then ever afterwards to never do birth control again.
I do feel the fatigue and difficulty around my period, and I’m glad to have some outside validation. For me, the clincher was when I realized that even though my cramps hurt pretty bad when I woke up in the morning, they actually got better from my activity instead of worse. *ding* That did it. I’m hooked.
That is hilarious! (For me, not for Mr. Survival I’m sure.) Yeah hormones are a force to be reckoned with!
I definitely feel more tired during the week of, and I also go through the “I feel fat and everyone hates me” feelings as well. But I definitely do exercise that week because it does help elevate my mood.
I don’t think I could ever bring myself to use the Diva Cup — but it seems like it would a great idea for a stocking stuffer for my sisters this Christmas!
If you do that for Christmas you MUST tell me what happens!!! And yes, it does require getting very, um, comfortable with oneself.
Birth control as a performance enhancer? Wierd…I’ve been on it forever so I can’t say how it would affect me. II’ve lost weight on it, so it’s all I know as a healthy person. I know the first month I was on it I was a bit moody, but I levelled out after that and haven’t had a reason to stop it since then. I’ve got friends who say exercise during that time actually helps their cramps. I’m pretty lucky with what I get – find I tend to ache more after a workout and want to eat everythign I see for a few days, but usually, other than the odd mood swing, “that time” doesn’t interfere too much.
I just make sure to get in my workouts then and try to ignore it 🙂
Where do you find these pictures, Charlotte?
I vote that periods make workouts miserable, but if you can get through them, you will feel better than if you skipped it. And reading your post just makes me say “Thank you to whoever invented Mirena!”
I love your writing style! I won’t use any form of contraception for moral/health reasons, but luckily, I also don’t notice a big difference when I’m on my period. One thing I think helps though: I keep a pitcher of iced herbal tea (Red Raspberry Leaf, Alfalfa, Nettle and Stevia leaf) in the fridge and drink it daily. Red raspberry is supposed to be hormone balancing for women (even during and after pregnancy) and the alfalfa and nettle have lots of nutrients, including iron. Perhaps this is the reason I don’t see the PMS/cramps/fatigue?
From clients I’ve worked with, certain combination of herbs and supplements, in addition to healthy diet and exercise often clears up hormone related issues and makes Aunt Flo less bothersome.
Very cool herbal tea recipe – I’ll have to try that one out! I had a bad experience with nettles before but that was eating them. I hear the tea isn’t as “bite-y” 😉
I’m on the Pill (it didn’t make me gain any weight at all, despite increasing my bra size, I swear!), and on my placebo week I DEFINITELY notice that I’m dragging during workouts. My muscles are weaker and just don’t seem to rev the way I want them to. I get cramps so bad they wake me up in the middle of the night, but I usually don’t let them interfere with my exercise, it seems to actually help take my mind off of them.
My only complaint about the pill is that it hasn’t rid me of acne like some people claim it should, and sometimes I think that my complexion gets worse the first week back on the pill after a placebo week. I only do the placebo thing every six weeks instead of every three, by the way, because I hate the menstrual thing like nobody’s business. :/
Increased bra size and no weight gain?? I think I want whatever pill you’re on!
Interesting! I just started taking the pill a bit over a month ago (just started my second pack!). Previously I had a copper IUD, but then I got pregnant, and then I got another one and it came out. So I’m on hormonal birth control for the first time and so far so good! My first period on it lasted 4 days and I didn’t even have to consider taking pain medication, this after consistently having 12 day periods with the IUD, and definitely needing ibuprofen (which was actually an improvement from my pre-IUD periods, somehow!). Also I’m back with my Diva Cup after a sad parting because my doctor was worried it would suck my IUD out (happened anyway!) And I’m still able to lose weight!
I never thought I’d end up on the pill, but at this point it’s my best choice. Cool to hear about it actually having benefits (other than the whole not-getting-pregnant thing and, oh yeah, the 4 day painless periods?!?! pinch me.)!
Which pill are you on, out of curiousity? And the Diva Cup can suck out the IUD?? I’m in trouble then!! Eek.
I’m on Desogen. So far so good!
I’ve heard mixed things on the IUD/Diva Cup thing. The Diva Cup specifically says it isn’t compatible with IUDs, but other cups say they’re fine, so who knows. I used the combo for 2.5 years “without problem”…until I got pregnant (they said if it had been the Mirena it would have been fine since it was still in my uterus, just low). And in fact my doctor OKed the combo of the cup and the IUD when I first got it. It was just after it failed that they said don’t do it, just in case. So I used tampons for 9 hateful months and then the thing started expelling anyway. I think they’re just more likely to expel in women who haven’t had children, so if it’s been successful for you for a while, it’s probably fine. Just make sure you always release the suction before pulling it out!
Interesting. I’ve been using the Mirena/Diva combo for years now (used it between kids #4 & #5 too) and haven’t had any issues but I’ll keep the suction in mind. Thank you for the tip! I don’t remember reading that warning when I got my Diva but then that was a good 5 or 6 years ago so who knows what else I’ve forgotten!
I sometimes have a really weird thing happen the day before my period starts. My endurance and strength go through the roof and I can’t really feel pain. It’s the strangest thing but it’s awesome. One time I ran five miles with a 3/4 mile long STEEP hill in the middle that’s a real bugger. No problem, I hardly broke a sweat. This is from a girl that had trouble running three miles on a flat course at that time.
But the absolute best time was when I went to a one day Hapkido seminar taught by a badass Korean master. We went to eat breakfast before hand and I sucked down piles of french toast and bacon, and the dudes I was with were looking at me a bit funny. They said the Korean had a reputation for working out so hard people didn’t make it through the warmup. Well, I had the best day ever. I don’t know how to describe it other than it felt like I had super powers. I was paired with a male black belt all day and I blocked all his strikes with my forearms. I didn’t even feel it until someone pointed out to me that my arms were completely black and blue. One of my (male and extremely fit) friends told me later he thought it was so hard he almost puked during the warmup. I remember thinking “What? That was totally easy!”
Then the next day I just wanted someone to hit me over the head and put me out of my misery. LOL.
Also, the Diva Cup has totally changed my life. It’s one of the few things I’d never want to be without.
Okay, this is hilarious and totally awesome. I wish I could have seen you in hormone fueled action!
I need to get that comic book for my daughter. Her and her friends would discuss every aspect of it. Did you mention “moon flow,” the mystical yoga term for the worst week of the month?
Um, does anyone else stop doing inverted exercises during their period? I heard that backwards blood flow could start an infection. Is that right? Anyone?
I have heard that from different yoga teachers over the years – that doing inversions will back up the blood flow. I’m not a doctor but I think that’s bogus. First, I do inversion poses every single day, period or no and I’ve never had any problems. Second, it doesn’t make a lot sense scientifically.
I completely agree. I’ve done yoga for almost twenty years and I think it’s kind of chauvinistic to tell women we can’t do certain poses during that time. Maybe if you’re into the kind of practice during which you hold an inverted pose for thirty minutes or something, but honestly, for thirty seconds or a minute or so, I don’t think anything’s going to happen at all. Crazy men come up with these stupid ideas, I’m sure.
Charlotte, I don’t get one any more or at least for now…. BUT, I always had bad monthlys & LONG – 7 days my whole life!! I never used it as an excuse not to exercise. I felt like crap lots of times but if it was that bad, I took some Advil & got to it – the gym, I mean. If I had to modify due to super bad cramps, I did, but I never did NOT work out due to it. And contrary to all the crap that says exercise makes you feel better during that time – well, not with me… but I still exercised! I have to think about how many days I would not work out if I used it as an excuse not to.. a lot!
Glad to know I am not the only that does NOT get relief w/activity! But I am incapable of doing anything the first 2 days (literally incapacitated)
My period totally knocks me for a loop, every time. I get cramps so bad they wake me up at night, I bloat up like a whale, I lose motivation to move at all, let alone work out. (Case in point: Aunt Flo’s here right now and there is no possible way I could find the energy to work out. Just typing on my laptop is a bit of a chore!) So you’d think the pill would be a no-brainer, but when I tried it (actually, I tried both the pill and the depo shot) it was even WORSE! The doctor wanted me to keep trying different kinds until I found one that worked but after mood swings so severe I thought I was going crazy (on the shot) and a period that lasted ten days and was so heavy I couldn’t even go for a short walk without back-up supplies (on the pill) I said no thanks, I’ll stick with the devil I know. Now I am in my early forties and my mom was done with her change of life by age 45 so maybe, just maybe, the end is in sight. I am so looking forward to my next stage as a kick-ass wise woman in the second half of my life!
Glad to know I’m not the only woman who is looking forward to an early menopause!!
I totally love the Diva cup! Although I feel self conscious because now I’m almost thirty and have to switch to *whisper* size 2.
And I always feel terrible during my workouts the week before my period. Once it starts I’m functioning again, but the week before brings joint pain, muscle fatigue, and general awfulness. Added to my urge to eat ieverything in site, I just start to panic.
Hahahhah! I wear the *whisper* size 2, too!!
I’m on the pill, but I still get PMS symptoms — and they affect my training because I get reeeeeally tired right before my period. It usually only lasts a day or two, but if the choice comes down to taking a nap or getting in exercise, I have to choose the nap. Which is what I’d normally prefer to do anyway… lol.
Well, even with the Pill, I find that I am having more symptoms in the midst of late 40s perimenopause. Sometimes the period doesn’t come, sometimes it’s a flood, sometimes it’s doubled over time, sometimes it’s someone ran over the boobs with a mack truck time… and my doctor said it’s “normal”. On the other hand, he said with the way things are going I should officially be all finished by age 50. Woo hoo.
As for working out, sometimes I just feel too bad to work out during my period. But I don’t want to go off the pill (actually nowadays I use a ring…) My normal cycle has so much variance that I ruined loads of underwear. My period never comes earlier than six weeks apart or later than eight weeks apart when I’m off hormones (or at least pre-perimenopause!) but that two week variance just doesn’t work for not wanting accidents.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE
i bought a diva cup a couple of years ago and was SO excited about it… but it sits unused in my cupboard! (well i used it once actually)…
I freaked out about using it, after I read that it’s possible menstrual cups could increase the chances of Endometriosis. So I decided to not use it again until proper studies were carried out to ensure they are safe to use. I’m so surprised they can be sold without this research being done beforehand. I’m holding out hope that at some point this research will be done, because the cup seemed to work OK for me, and I’d love to stop using all the products I have been using…
Hey Amy! Not sure where you heard about an endometriosis-menstrual cup connection but while I’m no medical professional, I don’t see how that could be the case. Endometriosis is uterine lining that grows outside the uterus and since the cup stays in your vaginal canal I don’t see how it could affect endo. I do know that some hormonal birth controls can help arrest the progression of endo and so if you switched from the pill to a non-hormonal method then your endo could start growing again. But the cup isn’t birth control so ostensibly you could do both. Anyhow, the Diva Cup has a FAQ on their site about endometriosis and the cup: http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/ They say there isn’t any connection but definitely don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with!
i read about the risk in a few places-
here
http://www.assocpharmtox.org/pages/CupsIntro3.html
and
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/27320.php
i actually had to buy my diva cup from overseas (as it’s not approved for sale in the country i live in)- and after reading these articles (and a couple more i can’t find anymore) i understand why… the cups have not undergone enough official testing to be approved 🙁
i really do hope it happens though, because i love the idea of the menstrual cup!!! (obviously! i went to the effort to import one!) but i’m not comfortable being a guinea pig though…
I was on the pill for years and loved it. But, alas, I had to go off of it a little under a year ago as I had developed a clotting problem because of the pill. In the months since then all I can say is HOLY CRAP LIFE IS SO MUCH HARDER WHEN YOU’RE NOT ON THE PILL. Oh my Gd, it hurts. I get so cranky and weepy. I have cried in front of so many people right before my period, which is always the worst time. Cramps, headaches, other strange pains. Painful breasts. Intense moodiness. Seriously, I would give up a lot if I could go back on it.
Workouts on my period ae definitely not as pleasant. The biggest issue is that my chest really hurts when I run on my period now, no matter how great a sports bra I don….
SO glad you mentioned the Diva Cup! It really is the best invention ever. It’s way easier to work out with that than trying to maneuver around with pads and/or tampons.
Yes. Yes!
And you can go swimming!! =D (I had issues with swimming causing tampons to, um, fail. Yeah 🙁
Pingback:A tad hormonal. . . | thisbiggirlruns
First I’d like to say thank you for this hysterically funny article that made me laugh so many times. I ended up here because I searched for why I was so damn tired today during and after my workout. I’m sure I’ve worked out during Red Celebration Week before (although in my case it’s more like three days of the flooding of the Nile), but today during my stair run I had to literally drag myself up the last flight and then afterwards I barely made it home, thought I might have to call for a ride.
I hope it’s okay for me to add my two cents. I personally would avoid the pill due to the risks involved. Dr. Mercola has written some articles about it. Second, I would especially avoid anything that stopped me from menstruating, or from stopping anything that my body is intent on expelling. To my thinking, it’s kind of like taking something to stop normal pooping – something very, very bad’s gonna happen, you just know it. What to do instead I’m not sure, IUDs sound quite horrible from the descriptions I read above.
For everyone out there with irregular periods, you might want to try the herb vitex. I’ve been using Vitex Elixir (a blend of herbs including vitex) because I think my problem is caused by the change of life, and it seems to have lessened it a bit. I’m hoping it will lessen it quite a lot over time, and by that I mean to normal levels where I don’t have to worry about wearing a pad that would fit a horse and changing it every five minutes. I don’t seem to have bad accidents like I used to, though.
Please bear in mind that regular vitex is supposed to help women conceive, so if you’re trying not to get preggos, then you might have to try extra diligently on vitex. What really sold me was the comment on iherb that a 58 year old woman wrote – she is still menstruating. I figure that the reason we become wrinkly after menopause is because of the hormonal changes that come with losing our periods, so if I can stay young and still suffer with it, I’d choose staying young any day.
If anyone decides to try vitex and would like a coupon for iherb, PEY561 will give you $10 off your first order, and shipping is free to the US and Canada. If you’re not taking it for menopause – just to regulate your cycle, I’d recommend Nature’s Answer vitex tincture (just vitex) because their tinctures are always 1:1 (one part herb, one part alcohol or glycerin, whereas most other companies use much less herb – even Vitex Elixir is 1:2). They also have it in capsule form for about $3 a bottle, which is an unbelievable price, but I prefer tinctures myself.
I am definitely going to look into that Diva Cup myself because I spend a fortune on pads. Thanks for the tip and again for the laughs. You really made my day:o
Thank you so much for this article. I came on today and just got back from 30 minute blast. It was a nightmare it was so hard even though I went to 45 minute blast on Tuesday and it was tough but I felt awesome after! Now I know why I’m feeling crappy but luckily no crazy cravings have turned up!
As for the pill I’ve been on 3 different types and didn’t get on well with any of them. I don’t really need to take it at the moment cos I’m single :'( but we’ll see in the fullness of time!
I’m not sure exactly why but this site is loading very slow for
me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end?
I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
I’m fine doing things like cardio, but I cannot stretch properly or lift well. I’m a dancer, so this is absolutely miserable for me when my stretch range is severely smaller and doubly uncomfortable.
I would discourage use of any birth control pill. Even at the lowest dose they can cause blood clots and strokes (I speak from personal experience, not from pamphlet info mumbo-jumbo). I’ll take my gym disappointments and cramps over 11 days in Neuro ICU again!