Cramps during that time of the month can be debilitating — so much so that the last thing you want to do is hit the gym.
One thing you should know is that exercise can actually help relieve those painful cramps. Here's WebMD's explanation:
Exercise relieves cramps because it helps release beta-endorphins, which are internal opioids -- your own “human morphine,” according to Gustavo Rossi, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. “It produces analgesia [pain relief] and helps to burn the prostaglandins -- chemicals released during menstruation that cause muscle contractions -- much faster.”
Human morphine? Too bad they can't bottle that. Should you hit the weights or the treadmill? The best form of exercise for PMS relief is aerobic exercise or anything that gets your blood flowing and heart pumping.
Triumph
Taillissime
Milly
This is so so true.
1I don't entirely agree with this. Yoga definitely helps. But during "that time of month" for me when I do aerobics, which i normally do on an everyday basis, it relieves me of cramps only for the hour or so that I workout!
2It's a little hard to exercise when you have trouble even standing up. Before I went on the pill, I tried exercising when I had my period, but ugg. And I agree with mesweet, it seems to only help while you're exercising. Afterwards, I usually feel even worse. Owies and I'm tired.
I'm on seasonale, so the periods are lighter and fewer, and I will exercise now when I have my period, but it doesn't seem to help much.
3Well...while my periods really are the worse, I will definitely be trying this.
4I have definitely noticed that working out helps my PMS symptoms.
5Since my cramps are so bad that sometimes i can barely get out of bed theres no way i can make it to the gym.
6it's tough but once i get going. i'm usually okay!
7i aree cmill
8I hardly even have a period or cramps but the last two months I started while exercising and had to pause cuz the cramps were so bad and I was running.
9Exercise always helps my cramps...my cramps aren't that bad anyway, but when I do get them, I like to work out to make them go away.
10Exercise helps me. I also follow a low fat vegan diet diet heavy in produce. I drink really strong cinnamon, raspberry leaf, fennel, mint, chamomile tea too.I used to have severe cramps until I started eating healthy. What a change!
11Sorry I typed diet twice.
12well my cramps are usually horrible when my period comes around... what i do is plug in a heating pad and take a few motrin pills lay down relaxing my muscles while i put the heating pad on my belly.. the warmthness will losen the muscles and will relax you.. also drinking warm liquids NOTHING COLD
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