There’s no reason you can’t exercise on your period
For many, excuses for avoiding the gym aren’t hard to come by. Whether Mercury is in retrograde, a steamy new drama debuted overnight, or you “accidentally” left your sneakers in a dumpster, reasons to not hit the weight machine are aplenty and we’re not here to judge.
But one excuse we insist you leave in the dust is that working out on your period is a bad idea. That’s a common misconception, and we’re here to put it to bed by debunking five popular myths:
Myth #1: You’ll get tired easily
On the contrary, gym buddy. Here’s a fun fact to get you on the treadmill: according to a researcher in New Zealand, your hormones are at a low phase during your period. This means your pain tolerance is higher than normal and you may recover from hard workouts faster. Basically, your period is a time to set personal bests, if that’s your bag.
Myth #2: It’s better to skip certain yoga poses
It’s not uncommon to hear a yoga instructor announce that, before practicing inversions in class, anyone menstruating should abstain. Some say it’s for energy purposes, others for pelvic health. But guess what? There’s no scientific evidence that suggests one should abstain from inversion poses. So, let’s meet in downward dog, friends.
Myth #3: Your athletic performance will decline and there’s nothing you can do about it
Actually, by understanding how your menstrual cycle affects your body and offsetting hormonal shifts during the different phases of your menstrual cycle (aka fatigue vs. energy), you should be able to work in tandem with those shifts to optimize your performance. For example, during the luteal phase, when central nervous fatigue is high and progesterone levels contribute to sodium loss, increasing electrolytes will help combat that fatigue.
Myth #4: Working out with a heavy flow could make you pass out
Provided you’re not lifting 800 pounds for hours on end, working out on your period (even if you have a heavy flow) should be fine. In fact, experts suggest that you do so because your estrogen levels are lowest at this point in your cycle and might work to make you feel a bit more powerful and strong. If you’re really worried about it, chat with a doctor before hitting the weight machine to make sure you’re not anemic or have another preexisting condition.
Myth #5: Working out makes you more likely to leak
Leaks are leaks. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try to prevent them, they just happen – whether or not we’re moving around. But leaks are a little less likely with a product like Flex Disc™ or Flex Cup™, which we designed with movement in mind. Just make sure to change or empty your product of choice before your gym sesh and add backup with a panty liner on an especially heavy day.
So, there you have it. No more excuses for skipping the gym during your period. Of course, it’s always a good idea to listen to your body: If your cramps are unbearable, don’t force yourself into an intense workout. Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing periods that are more painful than usual or if you’re noticing any weird symptoms during exercise.
