Any advice please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tricia Haley]

Cathe or Educated crowd.

I am so discouraged!;( When i am on my period and the week after, i get so tired! My hormones seem to fluctuate from lots of energy to Zip. I have been to a doctor and had the gammet of blood tests, thyroid, blood sugar, etc. and other than the blood sugar (hypoglycemic)(sp?) i am ok. I take lots of vits and drink lots of water. My diet is ok.

My question is if any of you experience this tiredness around that time of month what do you do about working out? I can maybe get my body to co-operate for about 20min max. and then its like my body just checks out. For example i tried to do circuit max this morning and i timed myself to see how far i would get before i felt i couldn't go on. It was around 20 min. Iusually can finish circuit max, not easily, but i can get through it when i push my self. But when around my period my body pushes back. So my questions are:

1) If any of you experience this tiredness around that time of month what do you do about working out?


2) Do you work out? and what workouts do you do? Cathe or something else?

3) Is there a tiredness rotation someone could recommend? hee hee

I really just don't want to not workout at this time. and i also want to get the most out of my workout even if i can only do 20min.

I would greaaaaaaaaaaaaaatly appreciate any advice, information, and encouragement. I am just feeling alittle defeated. Tricia Haley:7

 

[boydjess]

I am not sure if this will help you much but I just recently did a little research on the PMS subject, mainly b/c I get so irritable but also b/c of all the other symptoms. I really wanted to avoid getting on any medication. What I found out was that supplementing with Evening Primrose Oil, Calcium, Magnesum, vitamin E and B6 can help with all of the sypmtoms. I can not tell you if this will in fact work for you but I have heard from several others that some or all of these have made a difference for them. I just started taking the above last week so we shall see....

Good luck,
Jessica

 

[clareMc]

Tricia:

Hello! I understand you totally! First, please don't use the word "defeated". It is not appropriate really, is it? I mean, your body is naturally going through a monthly cycle of energy highs and lows, it's doing what it does, the defeatism only enters because your mind and drive have not adjusted to fit this physical reality.

Are you in your twenties or thirties? I am going to guess in your twenties, because this happened to me in my thirties, I suddenly relized that my energy levels were not the same all month long, and that the highs and lows were more pronounced, were noticeable. Things happen to your cycle in your thirties. Changes.

I don't think this is a question of bad diet or lack of water. You simply need to recognize your body's signals, the changing energy levels due to dropping rates of progesterone probably, and accomodate your workouts to suit your body's rhythms.

What I now do is this: unlike you, my real energy lows, i.e. where Imax 2 is out of the question and even Rythmic Step seems a challenge, are during the days leading up to my period and first two days of my period. During this stage, if I insist on a cardio routine at all, I focus on a shorter cardio routine like one from the CTX series, which at 22 - 28 mins long, are ideal. Or I will do Rythmic Step which for me is an easier, dancier routine. I do not attempt Circuit Max during these times, this would set me up for feeling a failure when I conk out half way through! Sometimes I put a tape into the walkman and head out for a powerwalk, and return invigorated, not pooped. Plus the fresh air and sunlight do great things to boost good chemical levels in the brain to help me feel good or at least better about my bloating body!

But usually, I go real easy on the cardio front and instead pump any energy I have into weight training. For some reason I find this stage of my menstrual cycle to be one where I can throw my all into weight training and I usually lift heavier at this time. God knows why. Maybe it's just the change of focus?

I also treat myself to a few early nights in bed with a good book and a cup of warm milk or cocoa. If I'm in a crabby mood, this is especially welcome for me and my family who are bearing the brunt of my sharp tongue and screaming PMS anger!!!! So, you know, you should just take the rest when your body tells you it needs it. Don't wait until you find yourself yawning through the workout or you fall asleep after dinner with your head on the table as has happened to me in the past!!

Also, Tricia, if you are 35+, your body may be entering perimenopause in which fluctuating and dropping hormone levels are the culprits of many symptoms ranging from incredible fatigue, faintness, dizziness, palpitations, etc. I just entered this last Sep, Oct and Nov and it screwed my body up big time with INCREDIBLE FATIGUE that struck every time I worked out. I was completely pooped 24/7 and fell asleep on the couch after working out constantly. I took a few months off exercise to work things out and learn how to best look after myself at this stage (age 38) and am now easing back into my workouts nice and gently. So, if your experience with these energy lows is sudden and recent, this may be the cause. Just something to think about. Depending on your age then, you may wish to have the doctor test your female sex hormone levels in your blood. If in your twenties, don't worry about it.


So, a "tiredness rotation" might look something like this (change the days to suit):

Mon: Powerwalk, hot bath, good book and bed
Tues: CTX upper body or PUB, hot bath, cocoa and fave TV program
Weds: Rythmic Step, hot bath, comfort food dinner, book and bed
Thurs: Early to bed with good book feeling really crabby! Take kids with you and read them some stories, Mum and kids togetherness evening (I do this, feel miles better afterwards and we all fall asleep together in my bed, no room for my husband....)
Fri: PLB or Leaner Legs, bath, comfort dinner, good movie
Sat: Powerwalk, lounge on couch all am, browse fave book store a few hours in pm, lazy dinner with family or friends or hit night club, few glasses of wine
Sun: CTX All Step and CTX Upper or PUB, hot bath, get mind ready for working week with chocolate to assist.

Variations of this would also work!

Enjoy!

Clare

 

[lesliemarie]

I am so glad you brought this up, I also have been feeling this also, I have been falling asleep on the couch as soon as I am done with my workouts also. It is real noticable around a week before and a week after, the worst symptom I have noticed is that I am more emotional then I have ever been, Just on the news was a story of a little girl being dragged to her death and I didn't know the family but I cried for days!!! and can't let my kids out of my sight! and I know it is more hormonal! and driving me nuts!! and I think I am driving my family nuts also LOL. I am 37 years old and what you said explains it all to me thank you!

 

[rita]

You've had some good advice so far. Yes, workout. Pick something you like and that's fun for you. Go light, and be extra good to yourself.
This time won't last long, so be patient.

 

[Tricia Haley]

RE: Any advice please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Thanks Clare you have given me some food for thought!!
I just turned 35 this year to answer the age question? I do have a treadmill so maybe if i do any cardio i will just walk on it instead of the more intense cardio workouts. I have never tried to do weight training at these times but i will have to to see how my body reacts to weight training at that time of the month. Usually if my body is saying no i just back off all training. Thanks again for your time i am copying this as we speak!:7 :7 :7 Tricia Haley

 

[clareMc]

RE: Any advice please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Tricia:

35 may be a little too early for premenopause symptoms, but certainly your cycle is changing and telling you that your body's needs at this stage in your life are different. The "tiredness rotation" would seem to be just the ticket!!!!


I wish you well,

Clare