Women's Fitness: It's That Time of the Month

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

28 Nov 2006 01:59 PM

Hey ladies, you know what time I'm talking about and you know how it can leave you feeling discombobulated and uncomfortable. Over the years, it's been my experience that when you have cramps, bloating and other discomfort - working out is not necessarily high on your list. So let's talk about that for a few minutes - first and foremost, if you are that uncomfortable - skipping your workout or reducing the intensity of it is not a bad plan.

Regular Exercise Can Help Though

If you exercise regularly, however, maintaining a regular exercise routine 3 to 5 times a week, you will discover that some of your premenstrual symptoms will become more manageable. Part of the discomfort of cramps comes from the bloating. Regular exercise and regular water in take can help your body cope with the bloating without letting it spin out of control.

Also, regular exercise strengthens the muscles in your abdominals and lower back - these are two areas where the cramping can be the most uncomfortable. While exercise cannot necessarily moderate the hormones released during the menstrual cycle, exercise can stimulate endorphins that help you feel better and may actually help balance some of the emotional mood swings associated with pre-menstrual syndrome.

That Being Said

There are a few days every month that you may need to take off from your regular exercise program and that's more than okay. You need to do what feels right for your body - whether it's lightening the intensity of the workout or just skipping it altogether. Those five days a month will not greatly impact your success rates, but taking it easier can help you out to feel better about yourself and your overall workout.

And personally speaking, midol is your friend during this time period as well. So how do you balance your workout against your menstrual cycle?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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