Period Cycle vs. Exercising

Often times your menstrual cycle can feel like a giant obstacle that keeps you from achieving your fitness goals. Just when you feel like you are on the path of healthy eating and consistent workouts, your monthly visitor comes along and brings with it decreased energy, food cravings and mood swings. It's not harmful to exercise on your period and can even be beneficial, but if you overdo it, your cycle could stop altogether.

  1. Bloating, Cravings and Cramps--Oh My!

    • Your period can cause everything from weight gain, cramps, tender breasts, food cravings, increased appetite, mood swings, depression, anxiety and fatigue. Some women also experience some pretty intense low back pain, and muscle spasms are not uncommon. In addition, your estrogen and progesterone levels plummet and later rise, placing you on a proverbial hormonal roller coaster. It's tough to make yourself work out during this time.

    Benefits of Exercise During Menstruation

    • The American College of Sports Medicine says that exercise can help decrease and alleviate menstrual symptoms and the American Council on Exercise says the best way to manage your period is to go to the gym. Your abilities are not diminished in any way to perform cardiovascular or strength training exercises. You're limited only by how you feel. Exercise increases your serotonin levels, which helps with mood swings and increases endorphins. Endorphins are your body's natural pain killers. Listen to your body, however. If the exercise you're doing causes excessive pain, cut yourself some slack and go a bit easy.

    Period Cessation

    • If you over-exercise, your period could stop altogether from a condition known as athletic amenorrhea. While this may seem like an alluring option, it can cause health problems. Athletic amenorrhea has been linked to premature osteoporosis and infertility. It's believed that there is a link between excessive exercise and loss of estrogen, which could be responsible for these issues. If you do exercise a lot, you can protect yourself. Make sure you eat enough calories to sustain your activity level and take a calcium supplement.

    The Yoga Option

    • Yoga is a terrific exercise option if your period feels unmanageable. Yoga reduces stress, improves your mood, builds your strength, relieves tightness and can feel nurturing and rejuvenating. Yoga Journal lists at least 16 different poses on its website as being beneficial and therapeutic during menstruation. Honor the way your body feels and don't force any poses that are painful or uncomfortable.