Transcript: Working Out on Your Period: Does Exercise Actually Help Menstrual Cramps?
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Ashley records from her car while driving to class late, explaining she's in significant pain from menstrual cramps but couldn't bring herself to skip the gym entirely — partly because she read that exercise might help, and partly because she recalls it helping last time.
What's up you guys? Fame Massage Sugar here. Welcome to More Movement Please, the broadcast where I hope to inspire you to move your body more. Today I want to talk about menstrual cramps because holy crap you guys, I am in a lot of pain right now. But I was reading on the interwebs that apparently working out is really good for menstrual cramps because blah blah blah, insert science. So though I am running late because I literally could not stand up, I... got myself together and I got in the car and I'm on my way now to do the second half of Zumba and hopefully all of low impact cardio and toning. I will be giving myself permission to use lighter weights today for the low impact cardio and toning. And hopefully I won't get yelled at too badly by my instructor for this choice, but I'm feeling pretty weak, but I just couldn't let the whole morning go without moving my body, especially since. Allegedly, it's going to help me. I do
know that the last time that I had menstrual cramps and went to the gym anyway, it actually did help. I mean, it hurt a lot while I was there. And the joke was that I was acting like a disabled person because I was really struggling to do everything. And that may be the case again this morning. But I don't know. I feel like it's one of those things where if it's going to help me, it's worth it, even though it may be uncomfortable.
So that's what I'm doing. I'm heading to the gym, even though I'm uncomfortable. And basically, I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again. I used to use every single excuse that I could think of to try to avoid going to the gym. And I just find it fascinating how now that it's become such an addiction for me, such a love and a passion for me, that even on a day like this, whenever I normally would give myself permission to just stay under the covers and hide from the world. Instead, I am purposefully going to the gym anyway. And like I said, I am going to be late. I'm only going to make it to the second half of my class. But for me, honestly, that's still worth it for me because at least I'm still going and at least I'm still going to get a little bit of a workout. And that is my main goal is to just, well, like I've said a bajillion times, move my body more. So I hope this real talk. situation of telling you what
I'm going through and why I'm running late is helpful for you. I hope it inspires you to consider that even if things in your life are not feeling very comfortable, that you consider moving anyway, finding some some way that you can move onwards and upwards. I normally don't do a before and after episode, but it felt fitting to do that today because earlier when I was recording, I was on my way to the gym. And not really feeling very great. I was not feeling good at all. But I really wanted to get to the gym, especially since I was feeling like it would make me feel better. And I did complete the second half of Zumba. And I did do the low impact cardio and toning. And I do feel better. I did use a little bit lighter weights. I tried to still switch it up and use heavier weights in between. But I'm glad I went. I do feel... a little bit better.
Ashley reflects on how she used to find every excuse to skip the gym, and finds it notable that exercise has become something she pursues even on a day when she'd normally stay in bed.
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Back from the gym, Ashley reports she completed the second half of Zumba and the low-impact cardio class, used lighter weights, and does feel somewhat better — though not cured — and shares what she read about cardio and yoga improving blood circulation to ease cramp pain.
And I might even try to go tonight just because I feel like more movement is what my body's really needing right now, even though it hurts and I'm uncomfortable. It's just one of those things where I guess the interwebs was right. I, I do feel better. I don't feel great. Like I'm not going to sit here and tell you that, Oh, I'm completely cured because no, I'm not. It still hurts, but I do feel like it was the right decision to go. So if you are having your time of the month and feeling the same issues that I'm feeling, I hope that it will inspire you to move your body anyway. If you can grab your heating pads, sure. Take your ibuprofen and all that good stuff.
But yeah, try to move your body. One of the things I was reading was saying that, you know, the best thing you can do is yoga. And if you can handle it to do cardio and. Basically, something about the cardio and yoga helps the blood circulation, helps your blood flow better, and just can alleviate some of the pain. I know there are some very lucky women, and God bless y 'all. I know there are some very lucky women that never get menstrual cramps, but for those of us that do, and especially those of us that get those debilitating ones, I encourage you to try movement of some kind to alleviate your pain, and hopefully it'll help.
I hope this helps somebody who's listening. Onwards and upwards, my friends. Have you worked out today?