For the Ladies - Training with Fatigue During "That Time"?

I feel for you. I really do. I suffer from endometriosis so I know all about the pain and discomfort and tiredness.  What I normally do is lay low for the 1st day which is always the worse for me pain and tiredness wise. Come the 2nd day I feel a little better and I'll do somer biking or running.

I've found now however that the more I excercise in the up coming weeks the pain doesn't seem to last as long.

As for food I try not  to eat anything really greasy, in fact I really don't eat a lot during that time because I'm so bloated. Just something light if anything.  

I do drink a lot of tea anyway being Scottish so I don't know if that helps really. I just rest  over that time. Otherwise I feel like poop.  

I feel for anyone who has issues with this.  I feel pretty lucky (knock on wood) since I'm the only female in my family who doesn't suffer from extreme pain, cramps, bloating, cravings, etc... during that time.  I always thought it was because I was extremely active, but after reading all of your posts it must be another reason.

 I do get cravings though...CHOCOLATE!!!!!!  I just give in, a little.  I'm pretty good most of the time, so I don't get to down on myself for a little caving.

 I'm sorry I can't give you any advice, but someone mentioned getting out there even if it's just for a walk.  I read somewhere that is pretty good for cramps.  Also, I read drinking more water is good when your bloated. 

Me either. It doesn't matter. If you're on it, you don't have all the cramping and fatigue, etc. to deal with. Plus, most races are on Sunday, the others on Saturday. If you do the Sunday start, your period should be over by the weekend anyway. And, if not, it's usually so light that you don't even have to worry. So, if you're doing an IM and it happens to fall on that weekend...you don't need to be worrying about having any products on hand, etc. I've been on the pill for a long time now (started it to control ovarian cysts) and can't even imagine going back to life before it. The only time it ever interfers with my training is if I forget to take it one day and have to double up the next day. Without fail, I wake up the following morning with "morning sickness." Fortunately, that only happens once or twice a year. And, I don't think everyone reacts that way. There's so many studies out there about how it's bad for you, and so many others about how it's good for you. I just ignore them. I don't mind the hormones (and I am one of those people who avoids medications at all cost).

x2

Yes. Yes. Yes. My period is hardly noticeable anymore. A mere blip on the radar. If that.  

It really depends on how I feel--if I feel particularly crappy, I just lie low and trust that I'll feel well enough to work out the next day. I've had success with yoga making me feel more at ease, but if I remember correctly, certain (inverted) poses are discouraged for menstruating women.

To second at least one other commenter, I've noticed that when I'm training hard in the week or two prior to my period, it's shorter, lighter, and less unpleasant overall. 

As for drugs, there are alternatives to the pill, if you'd rather not go back on it. (I've never tried it, simply because I don't want to have to take a pill at the same time every day--kudos to all you ladies who are diligent about it!) Nuva Ring is pretty good. The shot (Depo Provera) is fantastic, but they recommend that you only stay on it for two years at a time. There's also Mirena, which is an IUD with a low hormone dose. Okay, I'll stop before I start sounding even more like a walking pharmacy.

Many states (over half, according to NARAL) require that contraceptives be covered by insurance. It's definitely worth checking to see if your plan covers it.

I am a complete semi-cranky slug for the few days leading up to my period, and then I get severe cramping for the first 2-3 days or so. With the slugginess, I just try to get more sleep and suck it up to do my workouts (I'm about to go for a run in 115 degree weather, we'll see how far I make it), convincing myself it'll make me tougher and it'll make the not-crappy days better-feeling. I try to up my iron intake by eating more red meat, which seems to help, though I might just get some iron pills because they're just easier to manage than eating 2/3 lb burgers.

When I get super crampy, I'll take some ibuprofen or motrin or whatever is lying around and if it's really bad I'll cut out my usual workouts and just do yoga or take a rest day.

I do have a very, very regular period and I will try to schedule races and things around it, though I'm going on a mountaineering trip in Sept and I'm apparently supposed to get my period on a summit day, which I'm really not happy about but I guess I'll just have to deal with. 

The more I work out in general, the less cramping and bloating my period is.  however, they are super heavy - I use the word projectile.  And mine come every 22 days.   I can really rant on this, check my logs during that time.....   and after nearly 25 years on and off the pill, I say no more.

But I agree, if you can get yourself OUT there, even if it is lighter work out than normal, it isn't so bad.  I do plan my rest day for the worst of it......  I can't make it though a work out without needing supplies.

I get fatigue and all sorts of other symptoms.... generally I try to do some light workouts (walking, swimming, easy ride) or 'fun' ones (spin class) as it does help with the discomfort and energy levels... its talking myself into doing it thats reall hard!

I will allow myself a day off if I really dont want to... because right now Im not able to go on the pill.. although having read the above that sounds great!!!

I guess I'm lucky...makes no difference for me..

I just know when I don't workout I'm cranky. 

Hey Chrissy--shout out and sympathy to a fellow Barloworlder. I have horrifying periods, which are much better when I go on hormonal birth control, but then I get horrifying and unpredictable migraines. So I choose (as in tri) the path of blood.

+1 to SauseEnte's note about women actually being stronger during periods (not PMS). Good medical literature to support it. I too, though, have that yucky first ten minutes when I am made of lead.

FWIW Joan Benoit Samuelson won Boston (both times) and the Olympics during her period.

If no caffeine, Tylenol + aspirin (Aleve not shown to have as good effect as this combo for menstrual cramps).  800mg of ibuprofen will kill just about anything ... including your stomach. Green tea is soothing, but has caffeine (and the decaf varieties strip some of the phytochemicals.  Try chamomile, with honey if you like it sweet. Caffeine as a diuretic (rids excess water/rids bloating) is hard to beat, but our fave electrolyte beverages have been shown to have some diuretic effect, too.

I guess I am also one of the very lucky ones as I usually only got some headaches the day before and then I am fine once it starts.

I am one of those that has been performing some of her best races on her first day of the period and now I am no longer dreading the fact that it might arrive on race day, I welcome it

I think you should go with how you feel. Probably try to go out the door and if it is still really bad after 10 minute then call it a day and go home.