Do you burn more calories on your period?

fitness

Ever wondered if going to the gym on your period is effective or staying in bed eating chocolate is better?

Stephanie Bruce, 35 year old professional runner and marathoner recently made headlines by winning the USATF Half Marathon Championship in Pittsburgh earning a new personal best after getting her period the night before.

Stephanie Bruce is a real advocate for women’s health and is not afraid to publicly speak about women’s issues. Steph explains “Much to the contrary of what some doctors and coaches may say it is not normal to miss your period because you’re training a lot, or you have low body fat”. An active promoter for listening to your body and understanding it, Steph is a role model for her followers.

So, do you really burn calories on your period (if you’re not a pro athlete)? Alisa Vitti, functional nutritionist and founder and CEO of FloLiving, explains our increase in metabolism causes a natural need for more calories to keep our body functioning at peak performance. The increase in metabolism is due to the appetite that increases on the period and additionally the two weeks leading up to mensuration is when the metabolism is at its highest.

”And while it’s always good to be active and not overly sedentary, it might be counterintuitive to overdo your workout during the increase in calorie burn—aka the second half of your cycle.”

Effectively, the study suggests that the excessive nature of some professional athlete’s fitness regimes may be the reason for active tolerance. What is active tolerance? It is about acknowledging different viewpoints and life experiences, ultimately individuals are in charge of what they can and can’t achieve.

Woman runner having stomach cramps
In the second half of a periods cycle cycle, a woman’s resting blood sugar levels are lower, which means you need more calories to maintain stable blood sugar.

Vitti says “In the second half of the cycle, a woman’s resting blood sugar levels are lower, which means you need more calories to maintain stable blood sugar. You don’t burn more calories while you’re bleeding, but you do right before in the luteal phase”

The four phases of the period described by Better health Vic are:

Menstruation: Menstruation is the elimination of the thickened lining of the uterus (endometrium) from the body through the vagina

The follicular phase: The follicular phase starts on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation.

Ovulation: Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the surface of the ovary. This usually occurs mid-cycle, around two weeks or so before menstruation starts.

The Luteal phase: During ovulation, the egg bursts from its follicle, but the ruptured follicle stays on the surface of the ovary. For the next two weeks or so, the follicle transforms into a structure known as the corpus luteum.

Some body types will burn calories quicker than others and it is the same on the menstrual cycle, as some women just have faster metabolisms generally. Every woman is different, it is a process of listening to your body and doing what’s best for you.

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Understanding your bodies limits and cycles will make you happier

With today’s society still being quiet sensitive to the topic of periods and women’s health. Stephanie Bruce has prevailed as a positive advocate for understanding that the female body is a magnificent thing and boasts about her post baby body and period issues regularly #girlpower.

Brunette in exercise gear
Stephanie Bruce has prevailed as a positive advocate for understanding that the female body is a magnificent thing post-baby body.

Maddison Langshaw

MADDIE IS A FITNESS AND FASHION LOVER. MOST DAYS YOU CAN CATCH HER OFF TO THE GYM FOLLOWED BY SITTING AT HER FAVOURITE COFFEE SHOP WITH FRIENDS. HER WARDROBE IS FULL TO THE MAX AND IS FOREVER GROWING WITH HER FASHION LOVE (AND ONLINE SHOPPING ADDICTION). MADDIE IS OFTEN KNOWN TO BE HANGING WITH FRIENDS AT HAPPY HOUR OR JETTING OFF ON ANOTHER HOLIDAY ( WHICH IS ALWAYS BOOKED A WEEK IN ADVANCE).

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