No one talks about periods in relation to fitness so when professionals mention it the press seems to be shocked and it becomes front-page news. But what about the hundreds of thousands of women who take a local fitness class when they’re on their periods? This post is for me, you and all of the thoughts that fly through your head during a class, because it’s an amazing biological process and we should all talk about it more
- A tampon and a pad is enough isn’t it?
- Maybe I should have put 2 pads in
- I’m going to wear the black leggings because then if there is a leak no one will be able to tell
- But the Nike ones or the Gap ones? The Nike ones can sometimes go see-through and I don’t want anyone to see the wings through my leggings
- Ok, the Gap ones it is
- Time to warm up. Ugh, star jumps, I think everything is about to fall out
- Every time she tells me to brace my core it squeezes a bit more blood out
- Squats? Really?!
- Oh god, am I leaking? Or was that just sweat?
- Come on, focus. You’re 29, you’ve had a period pretty much every month since you were 14
- How many times have you actually leaked? Maybe twice when they first started but not for years!
- Ooooo is that a cramp in my uterus or is it just my core switching on?
- Uterus, definitely uterus
- Time to take a breather, pretend you’ve got a stitch and wait for the cramp to pass
- Hang on, why am I pretending it’s a stitch? My womb is shedding its lining. ITS LINING
- Actual flesh
- Right, back in. Burpees
- It doesn’t matter how much you clench or engage your pelvic floor, that blood is coming out
- Ugh, that felt like a lot
- Phew, time for the cool down
- Please don’t ask me to split my legs to stretch. I’m convinced I’ve leaked
- Just take a quick surreptitious look in the mirror. It’s ok, there’s nothing there, must have been sweat
- And breathe. You did it
- Don’t mind me legging it out of the class, I need to get home and shower
- But you know what, I feel a hell of a lot better
- In fact I feel on top of the world!
- Now get me home and get a hot water bottle on my womb
I’ve only just started having periods for the first time since I was a teenager, so it’s all a bit knew to me! I came on my period during swimming, I kinda knew it was happening as I could feel cramps, but luckily nothing leaked out until I got into the changing room! I’ve had terrible chaffing from using a tampon whilst cycling as well.
oh god, that’s dredging up schoolgirl panic about swimming lessons at school! I tend to stay away from too much cycling while I’m on my period as it’s just too uncomfortable to cycle.