Does lifting weights help with the dreaded week before your period?

[Advice5]

I get irritated easily and can feel the rage in the week before my period which i hate after and realise it was over the smallest of things.. I am new to lifting weights. Will this help me feel calmer during that week? Has it helped anyone with this? I am trying to find reasons to try and stick with it to motivate me.. any other reasons how lifting weights has helped you?

I don’t know about during my period (haven’t thought about that) but I feel calmer and more capable in general since I started.

Agree with this, I’m not sure about periods but I can’t emphasise enough that starting to work out and use weights in the last year has changed my body, confidence, outlook, health and life beyond recognition.

Thats brilliant! How long have you been doing it, how often and how have you kept consistent? I find consistency is what I most struggle with!

Wow thats brilliant! Do you do cardio aswell? How have you kept consistent?

Any tips from anyone about how to stay consistent would be much appreciated! X

Yes I do workouts that combine cardio, weights and floor work. I think what kept me consistent was seeing the changes pretty quickly! I felt fitter and could see muscles developing quickly. It quickly became addictive
One day not long after starting I tried on the next size down in clothes and it was perfect, I didn’t even realise my body had reduced that much but it was the composition changing, more defined muscle and less fat.
I do the 30 day shred if you’re interested!

Well done! What is a 30 day shed? Do you have days where you don't want to workout but make yourself? What do you tell yourself in those moments?

Started about 18months ago with one class a week, built up strength then started taking another class as well on a different day but a mix of cardio and weights. I tend to find that if I start building these things gradually into my life rather than all at once it’s easier to build in consistency.
Equally I started with buying a block of five sessions so I couldn’t give up too easy.
It’s also about knowing when to give yourself a session off too otherwise it turns into a chore because you feel like you ‘have’ to.

I agree with other posters, I feel better in general!
Staying consistent:
Planning it into your week. + 1.
So, if you want to work out three times, aim for 4 and then that gives you a margin of error.
When I first started, I worked out 2 days on, one say off, two days on, but 30 or 40 mins (I do an hour 4x a week now ideally) I need to do things daily to get the habit and then ease back into a routine, if I try and build up from once or twice a week I just wont do it at all. So worth thinking about what might work for you, and its worth trying out different approaches! A lot of people will say 'dont try and do loads at once" but for some of us, little and often is the perfect way to start!

I tell myself its only 27 mins out of my day and I’ll feel amazing after! If I’m really tired I’ll just do the easiest level or just stand in front of the TV doing some weights, at least some movement.

Google jillian michaels 30 day shred, there are 3 levels and you do 10 days of each. You just need some hand weights

Quite often my best weeks in the gym are when my period is due - I think a large part of it is that I eat plenty at that time!

I set myself a target of exercising 4x a week, but the what is flexible. Combo of Pilates classes, strength on my own in the gym, strength and conditioning class at the gym, run.

That way I pick something that suits my capabilities/weather that day/week/stage of my cycle.

Have a plan. You can pay for various women's weight lifting apps - Id recommend Stronger by the Day (SBTD), or the app Rachel Henley (Henley Fitness) runs.

Have a look at Rachel Henley's YouTube. She recommends finding a routine that suits you which has only about 4 exercises, but you go in good and as heavy as you can on, and run that programme for at least 6-8 weeks.

Here's a great basic explainer from Henley Fitness. She swears a LOT, but her advice and approach is very sound.

The SBTD 'macro-cycle' is usually around 12 weeks each time.

There's a science to this about how you stress and train the muscles to get what's known as 'progressive overload"

I do lots of strength training but I'm afraid to say my pms and rage seem to be getting worse recently. I'm not sure how much it helps really

Boxing gloves and a punchbag are great for feeling "raaaahhhhhh!"

Lol that sounds good! Can imagine you get a lot of rage out that way lol x