Do you exercise differently during TTOM?

ncl · 01-24-19, 08:31 PM

Just curious. I have not done this in past but wondered if anyone else does. I have heard that it is best to take it easier during this time. I always have a hard time doing that. If you do take it easier, do you think it hinders your fitness or perhaps even helps?

bubbles76 · 01-24-19, 08:48 PM

It depends on how I feel. I rarely have cramps, so that is not an issue. However, sometimes I can be very tired so I'll either take it easy, or not do anything at all. Other times, like recently, I've been rocking it out with Cathe

. I think any movement can only help my fitness, but if I'm tired I need to rest. That can help my overall fitness too.

ETA: I used to take a week off during that time of the month, as it usually coincided with my planned rest weeks anyway. Now that my cycle has not been as predictable, I just go with how my body feels.

Mickey12 · 01-24-19, 09:14 PM

I’m postmenopausal now but I never took it easy during my period in the past. Exercise always made my cramps feel better. I tried to keep my routine the same no matter what time of the month.

Kim

wendug · 01-24-19, 09:28 PM

I usually take a rest day on the first day of my cycle when my cramps are the worst and I'm experiencing fatigue, then I'm right back to my regular workouts.

LizEMA · 01-24-19, 10:14 PM

Never. My symptoms seem to be atypical in that abdominal cramps are not a part of them, but, I get extreme ache and soreness in my low back. I, like, Mickey12, though, find that exercising alleviates my symptoms, whatever they may be. Because of that, I actually make it a point TO exercise during my period.

desie · 01-25-19, 06:47 AM

It took me a long time to realize that I often sustain little injuries just before my period starts. Now I make sure not to do extra challenging stuff in that window; instead I do a feel-good workout that is very familiar to me, rather than surprising my body with a workout I haven't tried before.

Sollamyn · 01-25-19, 10:12 AM

I'm post-meno now, but I don't recall easing up much during TToM. I did have pretty bad cramps for the first couple of days each month, but I just took some naproxen and I was good to go. I think I would sometimes do a little bit easier workout if I felt unusually tired or crampy (maybe doing some yoga stretches or something). But that wasn't every month. I just 'listened to my body,' as the saying goes.

Donna

kat999 · 01-25-19, 03:32 PM

I'm both perimenopausal and have a benign uterine fibroid, so my period is incredibly unpredictable in arrival date, duration, and flow. If I took it easy during "TTOM," I'd never exercise, basically. So I have stopped letting that dictate what/how I work out and instead listen to different cues. I find, too, that exercise helps my symptoms.

beyond.omega · 01-25-19, 05:55 PM

I have always had a very difficult cycle, and I have to take the first day off. Sometimes I have to take the second day off also. I have tried exercising through it, at times modifying or doing an easy day workout, but those have never helped and occasionally have made it worse.

CharM · 01-26-19, 02:02 PM

Yes, I pretty much take it easy since I wake up with headaches and my flow is heavier than it used to be thanks to fibroids.

I call it my "lazy week", so I do standing workouts and walking. I've tried a few times to do heavy weight or high impact, but it makes my flow worse.

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01-24-19, 08:31 PM
ncl Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Western North Carolina	Do you exercise differently during TTOM? Just curious. I have not done this in past but wondered if anyone else does. I have heard that it is best to take it easier during this time. I always have a hard time doing that. If you do take it easier, do you think it hinders your fitness or perhaps even helps?

01-24-19, 08:48 PM
bubbles76 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Jersey	It depends on how I feel. I rarely have cramps, so that is not an issue. However, sometimes I can be very tired so I'll either take it easy, or not do anything at all. Other times, like recently, I've been rocking it out with Cathe . I think any movement can only help my fitness, but if I'm tired I need to rest. That can help my overall fitness too. ETA: I used to take a week off during that time of the month, as it usually coincided with my planned rest weeks anyway. Now that my cycle has not been as predictable, I just go with how my body feels. __________________ "You humans have the potential to be the most wonderful beings there are - if you can get past all these enormous stupid spots you seem to have in your hearts. It's not your fault. You just don't know how to work your hearts right yet. That's why there are dogs." - Jim Butcher, Zoo Day

01-24-19, 09:14 PM
Mickey12 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NE Pennsylvania	I’m postmenopausal now but I never took it easy during my period in the past. Exercise always made my cramps feel better. I tried to keep my routine the same no matter what time of the month. Kim

01-24-19, 09:28 PM
wendug Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago burb	I usually take a rest day on the first day of my cycle when my cramps are the worst and I'm experiencing fatigue, then I'm right back to my regular workouts. __________________ Wendy

01-24-19, 10:14 PM
LizEMA Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Northeast	Never. My symptoms seem to be atypical in that abdominal cramps are not a part of them, but, I get extreme ache and soreness in my low back. I, like, Mickey12, though, find that exercising alleviates my symptoms, whatever they may be. Because of that, I actually make it a point TO exercise during my period. __________________ Liz

01-25-19, 06:47 AM
desie Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Canada	It took me a long time to realize that I often sustain little injuries just before my period starts. Now I make sure not to do extra challenging stuff in that window; instead I do a feel-good workout that is very familiar to me, rather than surprising my body with a workout I haven't tried before.

01-25-19, 10:12 AM
Sollamyn Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: S. Illinois	I'm post-meno now, but I don't recall easing up much during TToM. I did have pretty bad cramps for the first couple of days each month, but I just took some naproxen and I was good to go. I think I would sometimes do a little bit easier workout if I felt unusually tired or crampy (maybe doing some yoga stretches or something). But that wasn't every month. I just 'listened to my body,' as the saying goes. Donna __________________ Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world. unknown

01-25-19, 03:32 PM
kat999 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ohio	I'm both perimenopausal and have a benign uterine fibroid, so my period is incredibly unpredictable in arrival date, duration, and flow. If I took it easy during "TTOM," I'd never exercise, basically. So I have stopped letting that dictate what/how I work out and instead listen to different cues. I find, too, that exercise helps my symptoms. __________________ peace.tranquility.calmness.serenity

01-25-19, 05:55 PM
beyond.omega VF Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006	I have always had a very difficult cycle, and I have to take the first day off. Sometimes I have to take the second day off also. I have tried exercising through it, at times modifying or doing an easy day workout, but those have never helped and occasionally have made it worse.

01-26-19, 02:02 PM
CharM Join Date: Oct 2004	Yes, I pretty much take it easy since I wake up with headaches and my flow is heavier than it used to be thanks to fibroids. I call it my "lazy week", so I do standing workouts and walking. I've tried a few times to do heavy weight or high impact, but it makes my flow worse.