Introduction to Cycle Syncing
/I love the human body! I think it is amazing in the ways that it heals itself and is constantly giving us clues to what it needs. Here’s the thing though….do we always listen?!
For the past few months I have really been paying attention to what my body is trying to tell me. For the most part, I feel great! But something that I cannot seem to figure out is why my eyebrows have been thinning and why nothing I do seems to make a difference. I have been digging into all of the science and also into healing modalities. And in doing so, I stumbled upon something called “Cycle Syncing.”
In short, Cycle Syncing is a way to exercise, eat, reflect, work, and rest in order to balance your hormones and to increase your energy. It is based on a woman's 28 day cycle (some may be longer or shorter) and is completely different from the way that a man’s body runs.
The thing that really drew me in was finding out that most nutrition and fitness studies (like intermittent fasting and strength training) are mostly done on men. So, the way that I have been taught to work out and train my female clients may have not been as efficient as it could have been and may have messed with our hormones?!
In addition, doing the wrong type of workout or working out too strenuously during certain times of our cycle may cause weight gain! What?! (Have you ever worked out extremely hard for a long period of time with perfect nutrition and wondered why you weren’t seeing results?). In addition, doing the wrong types of workout for a certain phase can lead to injury.
“A study published in a 2008 issue of Biological Rhythm Research concluded that too much intense exercise may lead to irregular or missed periods, which are a clear sign of hormonal imbalance. On the flip side, hormonal imbalances were found to have a negative impact on exercise endurance, muscular strength and metabolism. This vicious cycle can leave you feeling exhausted and prevent you from getting the results you want.” (In the Flo by Alisa Vitti).
Another key factor is that if you produce too much cortisol, by exercising too intensely during certain phases, you will hold onto body fat. Wow!
Let me go back to the basics here!
There are 4 different phases in a woman’s 28 day cycle. They can be called different things but here are my favorites:
Menstrual: The first day of your cycle, when you are actually bleeding (3-7 days)
Follicular: Preparing for ovulation (7-10 days)
Ovulatory: Releasing the egg (3-4 days)
Luteal: Preparation for menstruation (12-14 days)
As stated earlier, Cycle Syncing involves doing certain exercises, eating a certain way, reflecting, working and resting according to the different phases (there are so many other factors that can help balance your hormones but these are the basics. Give your body what it needs for the specific phase).
The other thing that I found so intriguing during my research is how women’s cycles haven’t always been seen as something embarrassing or taboo. They used to be celebrated! We get to literally let go of what isn’t serving us every month and detox our bodies and minds.
“This shouldn’t be something we have to discover; it’s our birthright as a woman. The menstrual cycle, if we work with it and not against it, is an incredibly potent experience,.” (Code Red by Lisa Lister).
I know that this is something that may be difficult to get on board with if you have horrendous periods like I used to. How can it possibly be something to celebrate when you are curled up in a ball with a heating pad (did you know that cramps are actually a sign of hormonal imbalance and aren’t required!)?
Oh my fiends, there is so much to dive into here and I am just at the beginning of this exploration. Let me tell you though. I have been doing this for a few months now and this last period was the easiest one of my life. Not one single cramp!!! I think there may be something to this…….
Anyway, there is just a quick introduction to Cycle Syncing. I will list the books that I have been reading below. In the meantime, please let me know if you are interested in learning more and continuing to hear about my journey with this (shall I do a 90 day experiment?).
Also, if you don’t have time to do the research but you want to know more, let’s jump on a quick coaching call.
In the meantime, check out the following books and keep listening to your body. It may be trying to tell you something.
Book Recommendations:
Happy Hormone Guide by Shannon Leparski
The Plant Based Cookbook for Women by Shannon Leparksi
