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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!
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’ll focus on pull-up development. Whether your goal is to continue building strict strength or you’re working to increase kipping capacity, we will cover progressions to help you advance your pull-up performance.
Thursday, we’ll work on handstand walks. Get ready to refine technique, build control, and develop confidence while moving upside down.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's hybrid session involves combining multiple elements from racing to understand the feel of transitioning between disciplines, followed by a lower-body endurance EMOM.
MOBILITY
Take your front squat mobility to the next level with this progression class focused on dynamic flow, stability, and control. Building on the foundations established in our previous session, we’ll reinforce improved mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders while introducing active movement patterns and stability drills that directly translate to enhanced squat performance. Expect to move through controlled flows, tempo holds, and mobility-activation sequences.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting this week is cleans. Working on speed under the bar and catch position, in the full squat. Spicy complex of clean pull, hang power clean, squat clean. Followed by some heavy clean pulls. Finishing with doubles on the back squats.
The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
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 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
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
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Session: LRC Tempo
This week we will be holding the tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 6 mins with a 1 min recovery. The sequence will be repeated 5x. Evening session only this week!
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. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
Today we will be running 800m intervals off a 2 min rest.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we will bridge repeats with IFE. Hill running is a great way to build some strength and power in your legs.
Monday:
Nothing like kicking off the week with some Back Squats! Before we get the engine fired up for some repeatable efforts! What will your times look like?
Strength:
A) Every 2 mins x 6 - 5/4/3/5/4/3 front squat
Conditioning:
Every 5 minutes x 6 Alt between
A: Park Run + 25 Wall Balls
B: 30/25/20 Cal Ass Bike + 25 Wall Balls
Tuesday:
Strength accessory to get the session started before we build to some heavy deadlifts! Then we hit a fast and furious workout.
Strength:
A) Every 75 sec x 12
1: 12 Incline DB bench press
2: 30-45 sec glute hamstring bridge
3: 20 sec straight arm side plank/arm
B) Deadlift Every 2:00 x 6 - 2/2/1/1/1/1 reps
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
30 Power clean
30 Burpees over the bar
Wednesday:
We're building to a tough single in the push press before we partner up for some working out!
Strength:
EMOMx10 - 1 Push press
Conditioning:
In pairs every 5 mins x 6 on a rolling clock
4 rounds
YGIG
6 STOH (60/40)
6 TTB
AMRAP - Cal Ski
Thursday:
Legs, legs, legs, then into a 12-minute workout where you rest during the run!!!
Strength:
A) Every 90 sec x 8 - 8 DB Box Step Up
B) Every 90 sec x 5 - 6 Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunges
C) EMOM x 8 Alt - 5 Goblet Spanish Squats & 3-5 strict knee to elbow
Conditioning:
12min AMRAP
3 Devils Press
6 DB Hang Cleans
9 DB Front Rack Squats
Car Park Run
Friday:
Long Weekend, so we're going to bring the fire this Friday to kick start the long weekend! See you on the floor!
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!
The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
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 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
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
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Session: LRC Tempo
This week we will be holding the tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 6 mins with a 1 min recovery. The sequence will be repeated 5x. Evening session only this week!
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. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
Today we will be running 800m intervals off a 2 min rest.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we will bridge repeats with IFE. Hill running is a great way to build some strength and power in your legs.
Monday:
Nothing like kicking off the week with some Back Squats! Before we get the engine fired up for some repeatable efforts! What will your times look like?
Strength:
A) Every 2 mins x 6 - 5/4/3/5/4/3 front squat
Conditioning:
Every 5 minutes x 6 Alt between
A: Park Run + 25 Wall Balls
B: 30/25/20 Cal Ass Bike + 25 Wall Balls
Tuesday:
Strength accessory to get the session started before we build to some heavy deadlifts! Then we hit a fast and furious workout.
Strength:
A) Every 75 sec x 12
1: 12 Incline DB bench press
2: 30-45 sec glute hamstring bridge
3: 20 sec straight arm side plank/arm
B) Deadlift Every 2:00 x 6 - 2/2/1/1/1/1 reps
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
30 Power clean
30 Burpees over the bar
Wednesday:
We're building to a tough single in the push press before we partner up for some working out!
Strength:
EMOMx10 - 1 Push press
Conditioning:
In pairs every 5 mins x 6 on a rolling clock
4 rounds
YGIG
6 STOH (60/40)
6 TTB
AMRAP - Cal Ski
Thursday:
Legs, legs, legs, then into a 12-minute workout where you rest during the run!!!
Strength:
A) Every 90 sec x 8 - 8 DB Box Step Up
B) Every 90 sec x 5 - 6 Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunges
C) EMOM x 8 Alt - 5 Goblet Spanish Squats & 3-5 strict knee to elbow
Conditioning:
12min AMRAP
3 Devils Press
6 DB Hang Cleans
9 DB Front Rack Squats
Car Park Run
Friday:
Long Weekend, so we're going to bring the fire this Friday to kick start the long weekend! See you on the floor!
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’ll focus on pull-up development. Whether your goal is to continue building strict strength or you’re working to increase kipping capacity, we will cover progressions to help you advance your pull-up performance.
Thursday, we’ll work on handstand walks. Get ready to refine technique, build control, and develop confidence while moving upside down.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's hybrid session involves combining multiple elements from racing to understand the feel of transitioning between disciplines, followed by a lower-body endurance EMOM.
MOBILITY
Take your front squat mobility to the next level with this progression class focused on dynamic flow, stability, and control. Building on the foundations established in our previous session, we’ll reinforce improved mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders while introducing active movement patterns and stability drills that directly translate to enhanced squat performance. Expect to move through controlled flows, tempo holds, and mobility-activation sequences.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting this week is cleans. Working on speed under the bar and catch position, in the full squat. Spicy complex of clean pull, hang power clean, squat clean. Followed by some heavy clean pulls. Finishing with doubles on the back squats.
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
Time: 5:59pm
Session: LRC Tempo
This week we will be holding the tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 6 mins with a 1 min recovery. The sequence will be repeated 5x. Evening session only this week!
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. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
Today we will be running 800m intervals off a 2 min rest.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we will bridge repeats with IFE. Hill running is a great way to build some strength and power in your legs.
Monday:
Nothing like kicking off the week with some Back Squats! Before we get the engine fired up for some repeatable efforts! What will your times look like?
Strength:
A) Every 2 mins x 6 - 5/4/3/5/4/3 front squat
Conditioning:
Every 5 minutes x 6 Alt between
A: Park Run + 25 Wall Balls
B: 30/25/20 Cal Ass Bike + 25 Wall Balls
Tuesday:
Strength accessory to get the session started before we build to some heavy deadlifts! Then we hit a fast and furious workout.
Strength:
A) Every 75 sec x 12
1: 12 Incline DB bench press
2: 30-45 sec glute hamstring bridge
3: 20 sec straight arm side plank/arm
B) Deadlift Every 2:00 x 6 - 2/2/1/1/1/1 reps
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
30 Power clean
30 Burpees over the bar
Wednesday:
We're building to a tough single in the push press before we partner up for some working out!
Strength:
EMOMx10 - 1 Push press
Conditioning:
In pairs every 5 mins x 6 on a rolling clock
4 rounds
YGIG
6 STOH (60/40)
6 TTB
AMRAP - Cal Ski
Thursday:
Legs, legs, legs, then into a 12-minute workout where you rest during the run!!!
Strength:
A) Every 90 sec x 8 - 8 DB Box Step Up
B) Every 90 sec x 5 - 6 Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunges
C) EMOM x 8 Alt - 5 Goblet Spanish Squats & 3-5 strict knee to elbow
Conditioning:
12min AMRAP
3 Devils Press
6 DB Hang Cleans
9 DB Front Rack Squats
Car Park Run
Friday:
Long Weekend, so we're going to bring the fire this Friday to kick start the long weekend! See you on the floor!
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’ll focus on pull-up development. Whether your goal is to continue building strict strength or you’re working to increase kipping capacity, we will cover progressions to help you advance your pull-up performance.
Thursday, we’ll work on handstand walks. Get ready to refine technique, build control, and develop confidence while moving upside down.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's hybrid session involves combining multiple elements from racing to understand the feel of transitioning between disciplines, followed by a lower-body endurance EMOM.
MOBILITY
Take your front squat mobility to the next level with this progression class focused on dynamic flow, stability, and control. Building on the foundations established in our previous session, we’ll reinforce improved mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders while introducing active movement patterns and stability drills that directly translate to enhanced squat performance. Expect to move through controlled flows, tempo holds, and mobility-activation sequences.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting this week is cleans. Working on speed under the bar and catch position, in the full squat. Spicy complex of clean pull, hang power clean, squat clean. Followed by some heavy clean pulls. Finishing with doubles on the back squats.
The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
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 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
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
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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