How does our cycle impact our strength?
Aunt Flow
Surfing the crimson wave
Time of the month
On the rag
YOUR PERIOD…
Whatever you call it, our menstrual cycle is an important thing to understand for so many reasons as a woman, but you might not realise the importance of understanding it’s affect on your training & strength.
Sometimes you might feel like someone’s playing a trick on you with the weights, and the smaller weights all of a sudden feel like they weigh a tonne! This can be from a multitude of things, sleep, nutrition, hydration, and soreness from previous training.
BUT it could also be because of your period.
Let’s break it down using a regulated 28 day menstrual cycle
Scenario 1: Wow… I am strong AF, it’s as if I am the woman Hulk? I am killing this, someone give me a car so I can hold it above my head! This is the Follicular Phase.
The Follicular Phase is the first two weeks of our cycle (starting from the first day of your period), we will be estrogen dominant, and have elevated testosterone levels. Estrogen is also known as the “growing hormone” as it’s role is to prepare the uterus for possible pregnancy each month (seriously… Women are Superhuman).
Scenario 2: I just woke up but I’m already ready for a nap, if my trainer keeps shouting at me to do one more I will cry, lifting my water bottle to hydrate feels like doing a bicep curl with a 25kg dumbbell. This is the Luteal Phase.
The Luteal Phase is the second half of our cycle (ovulation to the day prior to your period), it produces Progesterone A.K.A “relaxing hormone”. This can cause our energy & strength to be lower.
Understanding your cycle is hugely empowering, and allows us to understand why we may be stronger at some points in the month than others, and we can choose weights accordingly. During the Follicular Phase you might expect to have your stronger gym days, so have at it!! And during your Luteal Phase you might need extra days off or lower the weights depending on how you’re feeling.
I’d recommend downloading a Period Tracker app, e.g Eve, Clue, MyFlo, Period Tracker Period Calendar, Cycles (there is actually a lot to choose from) to know exactly what phase you are in in your cycle.
It’s important to remember that every woman is different and will have different symptoms & intensity when it comes to their period. If you ever feel like something is not quite right go to your doctor to check in.
If you have any more questions or queries DM or write a post in my Facebook Group Lifted Ladies, probably if you are questioning it someone else is, so posting your question could help another woman out!
Kate xx