A Look at the Best Workouts to Do on Your Period (They're Not What You'd Expect)

Ladies, listen up. If you’ve ever found yourself hiding under the covers during your period, with exercise being the last item on your to-do list, know that you’re not alone. But you might want to give exercising a try during your period – you could be missing out on an opportune moment to crush your next fitness goal. During your menstrual cycle, your body shifts through various hormones, and those fluctuations can affect how well your body does – or doesn’t – tolerate intensity and endurance.

Your cycle is actually broken down into three specific phases – follicular, ovulation, and luteal – which can help you to better expect and track the same patterns each month. By getting in touch with your inner female warrior and tailoring your workouts to your bodily needs, you can maximize your performance and reach your fullest potential.

Follicular

According to Dr. Michael Cackovic, an ob-gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, follicular phase begins with the start (day one) of your period and ends the day before ovulation. So you can assume this extends from day one to 13 of your cycle. “Since estrogen and even testosterone rise [at this time], you may have an energy boost, improved mood, and maybe even think clearer,” Cackovic said. “You may feel more assertive and more willing to take risks, as well as feeling extroverted and sexy,” he added. Win-win, right?

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The best workout? Of course, doing any workout at all during your period is fantastic, but if you really want to experiment in this phase, amp up the intensity and try to break a new record. “At day one of your cycle, your energy is high (though you might feel drained, technically), and this phase is a good time to focus on longer cardiovascular workouts,” said Laura Arndt, NSCA-CSCS and CEO of Matriarc. Going for a long run, bike riding, or taking an aerobic dance class are all great workouts, she said. And “with higher levels of estrogen, you can burn fat more easily, so it’s also a great time to focus on lifting if you’re into strength training to pair well with the cardio,” she said. Of course, with anything, listen to your body – if you feel dizzy, extremely fatigued, or in a lot of pain, it’s better to rest and take care of yourself in gentle ways.

Ovulation

During ovulation, you’re releasing an egg from the ovaries, and this occurs around day 14…

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