PMS and training <sigh>

[Stac3y]

I train about 6 days a week (only 2 in class; the rest on my own) and follow a pretty strict exercise regimen. In general, I look forward to going to the gym or class each day because I know I'll feel better after working out than I did before.

However...during my "PMS week" I have a hard time making myself do much of anything. It's not the cramps (though those can be pretty awful) so much as achy fatigue all over my body. Doing pushups or situps becomes much more difficult than usual; sometimes my balance goes out of whack; and I just hurt all over. Kind of like I'm coming down with a bug. I can still do all of my workout, it's just way harder than usual, and I don't get the after workout "high" that I usually do.

Anyone else have the same problem? Any suggestions for combating this? It's just a miserable feeling.

[Live True]

First, I have to admit I don't have REALLY bad PMS, which may make a difference...but I do get that "icky don't wanna do it" feeling from time to time.

I try the 15 minute rule, which I also use when I think I'm sick or getting sick. I go and give it my all for 15 minutes or so. If I still feel crappy and miserable after that, I go home. Roughly 9 times out of 10 (or higher), I feel better and stick with it. Even if I don't get the high I usually do, I still feel better afterwards. The one time I went home after 15 min...I was on the front end of a REALLY nasty flu bug that had me down for a week (VERY unusual).

You might also want to look at how you train on that week. Perhaps try something that is more conducive to your cylce, but still works your body. Something like yoga or swimming. Something that focuses on stretching as much as strength might help relieve some of the cramping, and something that focuses on breathing might help with the mental and phyiscal exhaustion.

Just some thoughts for consideration. Either way, hang in there, and this too shall pass!

[jeorf]

Somewhere pretty early along the road I realized that some days are different than others no matter what I want to have happen, right? Anyway, my motto became, "Do the best you can with what you have today."

Give yourself a break. No one is the same every day. Women are women and we change through the month as through our lives. You have something to learn every time you go to class or to the gym. You may learn on that day that you're better going home, eating dinner and sitting reading a trashy magazine than you are pushing your body that's busy doing other things. Listen to your body and respect what it tells you.

(I'll tell you, I learned all of that Big Time when going through chemotherapy, but was glad that I'd already had years of PMS to prepare me )

[Grendel308]

Originally Posted by jeorf

Somewhere pretty early along the road I realized that some days are different than others no matter what I want to have happen, right? Anyway, my motto became, "Do the best you can with what you have today."

Give yourself a break. No one is the same every day. Women are women and we change through the month as through our lives. You have something to learn every time you go to class or to the gym. You may learn on that day that you're better going home, eating dinner and sitting reading a trashy magazine than you are pushing your body that's busy doing other things. Listen to your body and respect what it tells you.

(I'll tell you, I learned all of that Big Time when going through chemotherapy, but was glad that I'd already had years of PMS to prepare me )

Now THAT is looking at the Sunny side of life.
lori

[Jenna]

Originally Posted by jeorf

(I'll tell you, I learned all of that Big Time when going through chemotherapy, but was glad that I'd already had years of PMS to prepare me )

Wow that is some hard-earned wisdom my friend. Please will you stay around and post some more? Jenna xo