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Exercising during your menstrual cycle
Effectively manage symptoms and bring your a-game!
It’s the week before your period, and the struggle is real. Your oestrogen and progesterone hormones are ramping up, and suddenly... you no longer feel like yourself.
Mood swings, tiredness, bloating and hunger pangs are making everything difficult, including your training. It’s not just your motivation that’s lacking, you also feel physically depleted.
.webp)
In order to understand the best way to exercise effectively during your menstrual cycle, you need to get to know your cycle.
Understanding your menstrual cycle
Although there isn’t a ‘typical’ menstrual cycle, we can break it down into two broad phases:
- The follicular stage (when your period starts until ovulation)
- The luteal phase (from ovulation until your next period starts)
During the follicular stage, your body produces more estrogen which may boost your energy levels and increase your stamina for exercise. When your body enters the luteal phase, you produce more progesterone so you may feel more tired and also warmer than usual.
In order to know exactly what works for you and your body, try tracking your period and your experiences with exercise during your cycle.
How to exercise during the different stages of your cycle
Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say exactly what you should or shouldn’t do. There’s also very little research done into the menstrual cycle’s role in athletic performance. With that being said, here are some very loose guidelines:
Follicular stage
- Use the extra energy for more high-intensity exercise, such as HIIT training, circuit training and strength training / weightlifting
Luteal phase
- Focus on lighter activities like yoga, pilates, walking and cycling to help reduce PMS symptoms
4 ways to manage menstrual cycle symptoms to boost exercise performance
Increase your electrolytes
If you have a big workout or competition during the PMS phase of your cycle, preloading your system with electrolytes will help.
Adding sodium-rich fluids the evening before will raise your blood plasma volume and V02 levels, leading to less cardiac effort and more aerobic power. This, in turn, makes it easier to cool down. Great options include chicken broth, miso soup, or a sports drink with high sodium.
Manage inflammation
What we eat impacts our body and well-being. If your body is inflamed due to poor nutrition, then it's very likely you will experience painful stomach cramps. The fix? A diet low in processed foods (vegetable oil, sugar, cheese bread) and high in omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish such as salmon, eggs, flax seeds, walnuts, spinach).
.webp)
If you hone in on your nutrition, especially 7 to 10 days before your period begins, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in inflammation.
Supplements are another great option. Dr. Stacy Sims recommends taking 1 gram of Omega-3s, 45 milligrams of zinc, and 200 milligrams of magnesium in the evening. You can also add 80 milligrams of aspirin or white willow bark. These supplements will help decrease inflammation, bleeding and other PMS symptoms.
Increase your blood sugar levels
You burn more calories during your premenstrual phase, so it’s only natural your body keeps your hunger hormones working overtime. Instead of inhaling that XL pizza, increase your unprocessed carb intake during certain meals!
Use music to boost your mood
It's proven that music positively affects our performance. So, when you’re feeling lethargic, tell Alexa to play your favourite song to get you fired up and feeling happy! Get creative and make a go-to playlist. It really helps!
ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean
Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
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Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
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Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3
It’s the week before your period, and the struggle is real. Your oestrogen and progesterone hormones are ramping up, and suddenly... you no longer feel like yourself.
Mood swings, tiredness, bloating and hunger pangs are making everything difficult, including your training. It’s not just your motivation that’s lacking, you also feel physically depleted.
In order to understand the best way to exercise effectively during your menstrual cycle, you need to get to know your cycle.
Understanding your menstrual cycle
Although there isn’t a ‘typical’ menstrual cycle, we can break it down into two broad phases:
- The follicular stage (when your period starts until ovulation)
- The luteal phase (from ovulation until your next period starts)
During the follicular stage, your body produces more estrogen which may boost your energy levels and increase your stamina for exercise. When your body enters the luteal phase, you produce more progesterone so you may feel more tired and also warmer than usual.
In order to know exactly what works for you and your body, try tracking your period and your experiences with exercise during your cycle.
How to exercise during the different stages of your cycle
Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say exactly what you should or shouldn’t do. There’s also very little research done into the menstrual cycle’s role in athletic performance. With that being said, here are some very loose guidelines:
Follicular stage
- Use the extra energy for more high-intensity exercise, such as HIIT training, circuit training and strength training / weightlifting
Luteal phase
- Focus on lighter activities like yoga, pilates, walking and cycling to help reduce PMS symptoms
4 ways to manage menstrual cycle symptoms to boost exercise performance
Increase your electrolytes
If you have a big workout or competition during the PMS phase of your cycle, preloading your system with electrolytes will help.
Adding sodium-rich fluids the evening before will raise your blood plasma volume and V02 levels, leading to less cardiac effort and more aerobic power. This, in turn, makes it easier to cool down. Great options include chicken broth, miso soup, or a sports drink with high sodium.
Manage inflammation
What we eat impacts our body and well-being. If your body is inflamed due to poor nutrition, then it's very likely you will experience painful stomach cramps. The fix? A diet low in processed foods (vegetable oil, sugar, cheese bread) and high in omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish such as salmon, eggs, flax seeds, walnuts, spinach).
If you hone in on your nutrition, especially 7 to 10 days before your period begins, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in inflammation.
Supplements are another great option. Dr. Stacy Sims recommends taking 1 gram of Omega-3s, 45 milligrams of zinc, and 200 milligrams of magnesium in the evening. You can also add 80 milligrams of aspirin or white willow bark. These supplements will help decrease inflammation, bleeding and other PMS symptoms.
Increase your blood sugar levels
You burn more calories during your premenstrual phase, so it’s only natural your body keeps your hunger hormones working overtime. Instead of inhaling that XL pizza, increase your unprocessed carb intake during certain meals!
Use music to boost your mood
It's proven that music positively affects our performance. So, when you’re feeling lethargic, tell Alexa to play your favourite song to get you fired up and feeling happy! Get creative and make a go-to playlist. It really helps!
Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3
ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean
It’s the week before your period, and the struggle is real. Your oestrogen and progesterone hormones are ramping up, and suddenly... you no longer feel like yourself.
Mood swings, tiredness, bloating and hunger pangs are making everything difficult, including your training. It’s not just your motivation that’s lacking, you also feel physically depleted.
In order to understand the best way to exercise effectively during your menstrual cycle, you need to get to know your cycle.
Understanding your menstrual cycle
Although there isn’t a ‘typical’ menstrual cycle, we can break it down into two broad phases:
- The follicular stage (when your period starts until ovulation)
- The luteal phase (from ovulation until your next period starts)
During the follicular stage, your body produces more estrogen which may boost your energy levels and increase your stamina for exercise. When your body enters the luteal phase, you produce more progesterone so you may feel more tired and also warmer than usual.
In order to know exactly what works for you and your body, try tracking your period and your experiences with exercise during your cycle.
How to exercise during the different stages of your cycle
Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say exactly what you should or shouldn’t do. There’s also very little research done into the menstrual cycle’s role in athletic performance. With that being said, here are some very loose guidelines:
Follicular stage
- Use the extra energy for more high-intensity exercise, such as HIIT training, circuit training and strength training / weightlifting
Luteal phase
- Focus on lighter activities like yoga, pilates, walking and cycling to help reduce PMS symptoms
4 ways to manage menstrual cycle symptoms to boost exercise performance
Increase your electrolytes
If you have a big workout or competition during the PMS phase of your cycle, preloading your system with electrolytes will help.
Adding sodium-rich fluids the evening before will raise your blood plasma volume and V02 levels, leading to less cardiac effort and more aerobic power. This, in turn, makes it easier to cool down. Great options include chicken broth, miso soup, or a sports drink with high sodium.
Manage inflammation
What we eat impacts our body and well-being. If your body is inflamed due to poor nutrition, then it's very likely you will experience painful stomach cramps. The fix? A diet low in processed foods (vegetable oil, sugar, cheese bread) and high in omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish such as salmon, eggs, flax seeds, walnuts, spinach).
If you hone in on your nutrition, especially 7 to 10 days before your period begins, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in inflammation.
Supplements are another great option. Dr. Stacy Sims recommends taking 1 gram of Omega-3s, 45 milligrams of zinc, and 200 milligrams of magnesium in the evening. You can also add 80 milligrams of aspirin or white willow bark. These supplements will help decrease inflammation, bleeding and other PMS symptoms.
Increase your blood sugar levels
You burn more calories during your premenstrual phase, so it’s only natural your body keeps your hunger hormones working overtime. Instead of inhaling that XL pizza, increase your unprocessed carb intake during certain meals!
Use music to boost your mood
It's proven that music positively affects our performance. So, when you’re feeling lethargic, tell Alexa to play your favourite song to get you fired up and feeling happy! Get creative and make a go-to playlist. It really helps!
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3
ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean
Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
It’s the week before your period, and the struggle is real. Your oestrogen and progesterone hormones are ramping up, and suddenly... you no longer feel like yourself.
Mood swings, tiredness, bloating and hunger pangs are making everything difficult, including your training. It’s not just your motivation that’s lacking, you also feel physically depleted.
In order to understand the best way to exercise effectively during your menstrual cycle, you need to get to know your cycle.
Understanding your menstrual cycle
Although there isn’t a ‘typical’ menstrual cycle, we can break it down into two broad phases:
- The follicular stage (when your period starts until ovulation)
- The luteal phase (from ovulation until your next period starts)
During the follicular stage, your body produces more estrogen which may boost your energy levels and increase your stamina for exercise. When your body enters the luteal phase, you produce more progesterone so you may feel more tired and also warmer than usual.
In order to know exactly what works for you and your body, try tracking your period and your experiences with exercise during your cycle.
How to exercise during the different stages of your cycle
Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say exactly what you should or shouldn’t do. There’s also very little research done into the menstrual cycle’s role in athletic performance. With that being said, here are some very loose guidelines:
Follicular stage
- Use the extra energy for more high-intensity exercise, such as HIIT training, circuit training and strength training / weightlifting
Luteal phase
- Focus on lighter activities like yoga, pilates, walking and cycling to help reduce PMS symptoms
4 ways to manage menstrual cycle symptoms to boost exercise performance
Increase your electrolytes
If you have a big workout or competition during the PMS phase of your cycle, preloading your system with electrolytes will help.
Adding sodium-rich fluids the evening before will raise your blood plasma volume and V02 levels, leading to less cardiac effort and more aerobic power. This, in turn, makes it easier to cool down. Great options include chicken broth, miso soup, or a sports drink with high sodium.
Manage inflammation
What we eat impacts our body and well-being. If your body is inflamed due to poor nutrition, then it's very likely you will experience painful stomach cramps. The fix? A diet low in processed foods (vegetable oil, sugar, cheese bread) and high in omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish such as salmon, eggs, flax seeds, walnuts, spinach).
If you hone in on your nutrition, especially 7 to 10 days before your period begins, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in inflammation.
Supplements are another great option. Dr. Stacy Sims recommends taking 1 gram of Omega-3s, 45 milligrams of zinc, and 200 milligrams of magnesium in the evening. You can also add 80 milligrams of aspirin or white willow bark. These supplements will help decrease inflammation, bleeding and other PMS symptoms.
Increase your blood sugar levels
You burn more calories during your premenstrual phase, so it’s only natural your body keeps your hunger hormones working overtime. Instead of inhaling that XL pizza, increase your unprocessed carb intake during certain meals!
Use music to boost your mood
It's proven that music positively affects our performance. So, when you’re feeling lethargic, tell Alexa to play your favourite song to get you fired up and feeling happy! Get creative and make a go-to playlist. It really helps!
It’s the week before your period, and the struggle is real. Your oestrogen and progesterone hormones are ramping up, and suddenly... you no longer feel like yourself.
Mood swings, tiredness, bloating and hunger pangs are making everything difficult, including your training. It’s not just your motivation that’s lacking, you also feel physically depleted.
In order to understand the best way to exercise effectively during your menstrual cycle, you need to get to know your cycle.
Understanding your menstrual cycle
Although there isn’t a ‘typical’ menstrual cycle, we can break it down into two broad phases:
- The follicular stage (when your period starts until ovulation)
- The luteal phase (from ovulation until your next period starts)
During the follicular stage, your body produces more estrogen which may boost your energy levels and increase your stamina for exercise. When your body enters the luteal phase, you produce more progesterone so you may feel more tired and also warmer than usual.
In order to know exactly what works for you and your body, try tracking your period and your experiences with exercise during your cycle.
How to exercise during the different stages of your cycle
Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say exactly what you should or shouldn’t do. There’s also very little research done into the menstrual cycle’s role in athletic performance. With that being said, here are some very loose guidelines:
Follicular stage
- Use the extra energy for more high-intensity exercise, such as HIIT training, circuit training and strength training / weightlifting
Luteal phase
- Focus on lighter activities like yoga, pilates, walking and cycling to help reduce PMS symptoms
4 ways to manage menstrual cycle symptoms to boost exercise performance
Increase your electrolytes
If you have a big workout or competition during the PMS phase of your cycle, preloading your system with electrolytes will help.
Adding sodium-rich fluids the evening before will raise your blood plasma volume and V02 levels, leading to less cardiac effort and more aerobic power. This, in turn, makes it easier to cool down. Great options include chicken broth, miso soup, or a sports drink with high sodium.
Manage inflammation
What we eat impacts our body and well-being. If your body is inflamed due to poor nutrition, then it's very likely you will experience painful stomach cramps. The fix? A diet low in processed foods (vegetable oil, sugar, cheese bread) and high in omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish such as salmon, eggs, flax seeds, walnuts, spinach).
If you hone in on your nutrition, especially 7 to 10 days before your period begins, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in inflammation.
Supplements are another great option. Dr. Stacy Sims recommends taking 1 gram of Omega-3s, 45 milligrams of zinc, and 200 milligrams of magnesium in the evening. You can also add 80 milligrams of aspirin or white willow bark. These supplements will help decrease inflammation, bleeding and other PMS symptoms.
Increase your blood sugar levels
You burn more calories during your premenstrual phase, so it’s only natural your body keeps your hunger hormones working overtime. Instead of inhaling that XL pizza, increase your unprocessed carb intake during certain meals!
Use music to boost your mood
It's proven that music positively affects our performance. So, when you’re feeling lethargic, tell Alexa to play your favourite song to get you fired up and feeling happy! Get creative and make a go-to playlist. It really helps!
One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
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