We get it, sometimes working out is not as fun and glamorous as some women on social media make it look. There’s sweat, sore muscles, exhaustion and a few other not so appealing things that come along with getting in the gym. Some of us can wake up at the crack of dawn and go for a run, while it make take a little bit more of an incentive for 6 AM workouts with a trainer! Now let’s add to that the fact that we get our cycles every month. It makes exercising even more of a trying task, right?
It’s much easier to just take a break from the gym during your period, but what if exercising can be a good thing for your body while you’re on your period? It might sound hard to believe, but if you didn’t know, exercising can help with PMS symptoms like headaches, fatigue, etc. According to the American Congress of Obstetrician Gynecologist, in order to effectively combat PMS symptoms with exercise, you should be exercising on the days when you’re not having PMS symptoms.
Another benefit of exercising is menstrual cramps! More specifically, exercise helps to relieve the pain from menstrual cramps. This relief is due to the endorphins that are released when you’re working out. Aerobic activities like walking, swimming, running or cycling can all be great ways to help relieve the pain that comes along with our periods every month. You can do these exercises at whatever level of intensity is most comfortable for you and helps with your level of pain.
Just as with a lot of things in life, there are pros and cons to exercising as it pertains to your menstrual cycle. There are some things that you should be aware of that can unfortunately negatively affect your body! For example, excessive and intense exercise over time can cause your period to “disappear”. This is known as amenorrhea. Not taking in enough calories to match the amount of daily activity that you’re doing can leave the body under fueled and make for a hormonal disruption.
Working out and being active is great for your body and it’s one of the best ways to stay on top of your health, but you want to be aware of how much energy you’re putting back into your body after you put a lot of it out by exercising. You know your body better than anyone else, so always be sure that you’re doing what’s best to stay fueled and stay healthy!
For some women, going to the gym and staying active is a daily part of their life, but if you can’t make it a daily regimen then try implementing into your schedule as regularly as possible. Statistics show that women who are sedentary and don’t exercise regularly usually have heavier and more painful periods!
Like we said, there are pros and cons to exercising and the effects it has on your period, but with proper knowledge and being aware of your body, exercise can be a positive for you when you’re on your period!
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