To workout while on your period, or not?

That is the question.

When you’re married to a health and fitness guru, it's not uncommon to feel like you, too, should know what's best for you. Living in close quarters with my wife, the genius behind DUNNEBELLS, means that I get a good look into everything that goes on in her professional world. I hear her spit out truths at an alarming rate and I get to know who she is on a totally different level. It’s not very often that people get to follow their spouse to work and admire what they do, and for me (getting to live out that very thing) it has been anything but easy. 

Often, I WANT to start my day with potato chips. Like, I really really really WANT to, and I want to be told that I am doing the right thing. I also want to end my day with potato chips and somewhere in the middle of the day I also want permission to have potato chips as a snack. 

However, as I mentioned before - when you’re married to a health and fitness guru - sometimes you have to kinda start walking the walk just as much as you talk the talk. Are potato chips 3x a day, every day really the BEST thing for a person? Likely not. It doesn’t matter how badly I want them, or how badly I just want to do what FEELS good instead of what I know is best for me - when you know better, you do better. 

Do you get what I’m saying? Lucy spends all her time HELPING women gain the strength to believe in themselves, trust themselves, and love themselves. It's a beautiful thing, and I am inspired by her daily, as well as her clients (all of you). All the greatness floating around the Dunnebells world eventually started to rub off on me too. 

When you’re married to a health and fitness guru, it's not uncommon to feel like you, too, should know what's best for you (at all times).

The thing is, I do. I am very well aware of what's best for me. I've known for years now that, whenever in doubt if I am feeling less than, likely what I actually need is a bit of movement (not more chips).

And? You probably know that, too.

But, the question here is this - what if you’re bleeding? Like, bleeding at a rate that no male will ever bleed at on a regular basis?

What if you’re in the middle of shedding your endometrium? Should you really be trying to ‘sweat it out’?

When I got asked to write on the topic of working out while on my period - I had to pause, and think of which angle to take. 

Do I approach this with a Lucy brain with a side of Kelsi?

Or, do I approach this with a Kelsi brain with a side of Lucy?

What an unbelievably good question. 

Let’s get started, shall we?

TO WORKOUT WHILE ON YOUR PERIOD, OR NOT

That is the question.

Just like I’m aware that movement throughout my everyday life is a great idea, and chips three times a day is less than a great idea, I’m VERY well aware that there are a few benefits to working out when on your period. I’ve been there - (at least once a month, every month, for what…like, the last 18 years or so) and trust me, every month I have a day where I’m sure I’ve lost more blood than humanly possible (even though I fact-checked this and its a very small amount in comparison to what it feels like) and I still end up doing a thousand things and working up a sweat. By the end of the day, I often think to myself “wow, I was so busy and hardly sat down that I kinda forgot it was day two of my period”. 

There are, however, days where I *do* allow myself space and time to regroup in order to let my body do the one thing it wants to do during these times - REST.

So, for the benefit of making sure everyone is happy (I’ll use my own brain as well as Lucy’s), I’m going to pretend that there’s a pie (I almost love pie as much as I love chips) and that one half of the pie is TEAM WORKOUT WHILE BLEEDING and the other half is TEAM DO NOTHING WHILE BLEEDING and instead of there being ONE right answer, we can all be a little bit right. In the end, if you know yourself well enough, you should be able to decipher what is going to work best for you on any given day.


Below you’ll just find some supporting evidence from each TEAM, as to why working out, or why resting is a good idea.

What you do, is up to you, as always.

Speaking directly to TEAM WORKOUT WHILE BLEEDING here's what I’ve found to be true:

1) Working out while on your period SIGNIFICANTLY reduces menstrual cramps by increasing blood circulation.

Can I get an AMEN, sister? 

Literally, nothing sounds better than easing those intense cramps that seem utterly unbearable at the time. Although it may seem difficult to get yourself going, working out will release endorphins (reducing your perception of pain) and reduce the level of stress in your body.

2) Working out will give you more energy.

A seemingly contradicting statement, if I do say so myself. When you’re on your period, you likely are going to feel a little more tired than you usually do (unless you don’t, because menstruating humans like you exist, too) and when you’re exhausted, doesn’t it seem backward to go and exhaust yourself some more?

Science says though, that working out will actually GIVE you energy. Imagine that.

3) The sweat you will release during your workout will remove water from your body, including the water in your belly that you feel (aka: period bloat).

You’re welcome.

4) Working out helps release beta-endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer.

There is no shame in reaching for the pain relief tablets when you’re in pain, but research shows that you may need less if you continue to show up for your fitness even during these times.

5) Indulging in physical activity is scientifically proven to decrease the level of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body and boost the level of endorphins (happy hormones).

If you’re still wondering how the heck to understand your hormones after last week's BLOG, don’t worry. All you need to know in this instance is that *apparently* if you workout, you’ll be happier - and isn’t that what we need during that time of the month?

I know I sure do. It's not like I'm UNHAPPY, it's just that…you know, I'm not AS happy as I am when I'm not worried about leaking through my ‘non-period panties’ or eating everything in the fridge before bed.

6) Not working out won’t save any of your actual energy, or really make you feel any better.

Yes, you’re tired while on your period - it’s a hormonal thing - both estrogen and progesterone are at low points however, you do have energy, and you won’t collapse at the gym of exhaustion. Some studies indicate that you actually have lower levels of usual female hormones (estrogen & progesterone) in the first two weeks of your cycle (the first day of bleeding marking day 1 of the cycle). This drop allows you to perform greater feats of strength and power so, starting from day one of your period - try to make the most out of your exercise routine. You might surprise yourself. You’re tired, but you’re actually may be able to lift more.

7) The two or three days before you get your period is a GREAT time to do some lower intensity activities.

These days are basically like prime real estate for activities such as pilates, yoga, or some simple stretching sessions. Spending some time doing some lower intensity activities in the days leading up to your period proves to be great at relaxing your whole body - all while reducing symptoms like soreness, muscular fatigue, breast tenderness, and cramping.

Speaking directly to TEAM DO NOTHING WHILE BLEEDING, here's what I’ve found to be true:

1) When you’re tired, it seems impossible to use the energy you do have to get yourself into your tight gym clothes, to your weights, and into a sweat.

If you want to use your energy instead to clean up the house a bit and then read a book with a bowl of snacks, you do you. If you don’t want to do anything but feel sorry for yourself and watch sappy movies, you have that right. YOU get to choose what YOU do and now is as good a time as any to practice trusting yourself and your decisions.

I know how hard it is to get to the gym when simply thinking about going to the gym is enough to exhaust yourself.

2) When your boobs are feeling the size of bowling balls, the last thing anyone should want to do is put them in a position where they’re bouncing around at an alarming rate.

It’s painful, and not something to look forward to. If they’re not bouncing about, they’re sucked into a sports bra that’s so tight your head might pop off, and that is no fun either.

Stay home, let those puppies be free.

3) The idea of working out while wearing a tampon, a pad, or period panties is awful.

Like, in what world does that sound like a good idea? It’s hot, sweaty, and extremely uncomfortable.

Hint: it doesn’t make it totally better, but since switching from tampons to a menstrual cup - the discomfort has drastically disappeared. I highly recommend making the switch, for you, and for the environment.

I use the SAALT cup, but I’ve heard great things about many different brands. There is lots of discussion about menstrual discs lately (like the SAALT disc) and I am interested in giving those a try too. Of course, if you’re just chillin’ at home and don’t want to shove any unnecessary items up into the abyss of your lady-bits, then period panties are the obvious way.

4) Sweat smells, and when you’re bleeding - maybe you’re also concerned that you smell even worse.

I don’t know if this is actually true or not, but it’s something I’ve thought about many times. You’ve heard the saying “bears can smell the menstruation”, right? Well, ever since hearing that I’ve kinda figured that I SMELL horrid and that no one needs to bear witness to my scent. If that’s the case for you - STAY HOME if you want (grab the snacks, watch some Netflix, and look forward to the day that you want to work out).

If that’s not the case for you, sorry for the awful visual.

5) You’re emotional, and thats reason enough.

If you want to feel like you’re making decisions based on what you want (power move, really - proud of you) instead of what you know IS right, then now is your chance. There’s nothing better than the feeling of making a decision simply because you want to - AND feeling like you’re in control of your own life.

Whether it makes sense or not doesn’t matter, especially when you’re bleeding and emotional. If you want to be irrational, now is a good time.

6) Things that are HARD (deciding to workout, or actually working out) on a regular day are even HARDER when you’re on your period, right?

If you want to think things are harder when you’re bleeding, then go ahead. They are.

I often find myself thinking “IM SO TIRED OF BEING ABLE TO DO HARD THINGS - I JUST WANT TO DO EASY THINGS” while on my period and there’s no better time to convince yourself of these sorts of things, in my opinion.

#noshame

And, saving the best for last…here is what I know for sure:

7) If you don’t WANT to work out, you don’t have to.

It can be that easy. It doesn’t have to be because you’re emotional, hungry, sweaty, lazy, stinky, or hungry (again).

---

Obviously, science proves that you should continue on with your exercises even when you’re bleeding and I think that we all KNOW this to be true. You don’t have to be married to a fitness guru to know this… it IS pretty common knowledge, and it’s likely something you’ve heard over and over again.


However, we also have to acknowledge that women on their periods want to be heard, they want to be right, and they want to feel like they’re making their own decisions. So, if that means NOT working out because you just don’t want to or because your boobs are so huge that the last thing you would want to do is shove them in that ridiculous sports bra that you’ve had for twelve years -  then good.


The key thing is knowing what your limits are. We all know the benefits of working out - whether on your period or not. We are all aware of why we should incorporate exercise into our daily routines and what it can do for us hormonally, mentally, and physically.


However, we’re all also human and sometimes humaning can be hard - so don’t be afraid to give yourself a break if that’s what you need.

Not sure how to get in a healthy routine with exercise so that when your period comes, it doesn’t seem like the END OF THE WORLD? Dunnebells helps women do exactly that - build healthy and sustainable habits so that you can feel your best, throughout the month and well into your future. We have an incredible 8-Week Program that has proven to help women do just that!

Want to try it before you buy it? 


There is absolutely no shame there, we LOVE free things just as much as everyone else.

CLICK HERE to sign up for Dunnebells FREE 7-Day Trial and you’ll be granted access to our exclusive app so you can see if the shoe fits! We invite you to come and see what all the hype is about and learn why women all over the world are putting their trust in Lucy Dunne, CEO and head trainer at Dunnebells.


Dunnebells is more than just workouts - trust me. We’re all aspects of community, strength, wellness, belief, pushing limits, trusting yourself, hitting goals, and much much more.

And, if signing up for the FREE 7-Day Trial isn’t enough, head on over to Facebook to join the Dunnebells community, BE THE FIRE FITNESS FAM to surround yourself with women all over the world who are no longer making excuses, and instead, making improvements.