A Cheerful Misanthrope

Training
201

For those who read the Woodstock Strongman thread and my comments about pms I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.

I tend to be phyically (and mentally and emotionally) weaker when I have pms or just starting my period. Sometimes the effect is negligible and sometimes, like this month, I feel it much more. Since the London open is in 4 weeks, I’m afraid of having the same experience. Of course it wouldn’t be as bad because I’m actually training more intensely for the event.

Had anyone experienced this with regard to competing? Is there anything I can do to make it not as bad or delay it?

Why can’t they schedule these things when I’m ovulating.

202

I think it’s possible to delay a period, or bring it on early using either the pill or the morning after pill but I really don’t know what kind of impact the hormones would have on your performance.

I’ve heard of women taking a few high dose birth control pills close together to affect the timing of a period for a wedding or something like that.

Apparently (I have no source for this so it could very well be BS) for a lot of women, threshold for pain goes down and I can see how that can have a negative impact on the performance. More sleep around the time might help too because apparently (again, no source) women need more sleep during the period.

I just got back from a difficult 6 day backpacking trip and my period came right in the middle. I noticed a lot more DOMS and fatigue after it showed up and I also had trouble with water retention and electrolytes which I’m not sure how much it contributed.

Anyways, it might just be my impression but I sure as hell felt my performance impacted and I think I had a harder time pushing myself on the difficult scrambles that I normally enjoy. And I was whiny :open_mouth: BUT—it was only for the first day or two. After that it was just fine.

In retrospect, if I thought of it, I would have investigated the delaying with the pill.

Good luck! I definitely think it can be overcome if you’re mentally prepared for it, which I wasn’t. Had I mentally prepared, I think I could have told myself to suck it up and push harder.

203

I just googled “delaying period with the pill” and came across a few links like this one:

But this sounds troubling for affecting your performance:

"Norethisterone tablets can be prescribed. The dose is 5mg three times a day starting 3-4 days before a period is due. It can be continued for up to 2 weeks or so until you want to have a period.

The period will normally begin 2-3 days after stopping it. Norethisterone is normally safe to take. Some women have side effects such as bloating, stomach upset, breast discomfort and reduced libido (sex drive)."

204

[quote]debraD wrote:
I think it’s possible to delay a period, or bring it on early using either the pill or the morning after pill but I really don’t know what kind of impact the hormones would have on your performance.

I’ve heard of women taking a few high dose birth control pills close together to affect the timing of a period for a wedding or something like that.

Apparently (I have no source for this so it could very well be BS) for a lot of women, threshold for pain goes down and I can see how that can have a negative impact on the performance. More sleep around the time might help too because apparently (again, no source) women need more sleep during the period.

I just got back from a difficult 6 day backpacking trip and my period came right in the middle. I noticed a lot more DOMS and fatigue after it showed up and I also had trouble with water retention and electrolytes which I’m not sure how much it contributed.

Anyways, it might just be my impression but I sure as hell felt my performance impacted and I think I had a harder time pushing myself on the difficult scrambles that I normally enjoy. And I was whiny :open_mouth: BUT—it was only for the first day or two. After that it was just fine.

In retrospect, if I thought of it, I would have investigated the delaying with the pill.

Good luck! I definitely think it can be overcome if you’re mentally prepared for it, which I wasn’t. Had I mentally prepared, I think I could have told myself to suck it up and push harder. [/quote]

Thanks for all the information. I think I will likely have to go the suck it up route and get lots of sleep. I’m normally good about sleep anyway with 7-8 hours a night.

Hopefully next month won’t be as bad as this one. I rarely have two bad months back to back.

It is just really frustrating when you feel your physical capabilities fail you. For example, a couple of weeks ago I did 52 reps of push press with 95lbs over 15 minutes. It was in sets of 2s, 3s and 4s.

Last MOnday I could only do 13 in 5 minutes. Physically I just wasn’t firing as well as I know I can. Normally it wouldn’t phase me because I know it is only temporary. It’s just that with the London open coming up, it could really kick my ass :frowning:

205

Saturday August 16th

Woodstock Stongman Competition

Sunday August 17th, SC Barn

Bench
45x1x10
65x1x5
90x1x5
102.5x1x3
110x1x1 (this is my previous max)
110x1x0
90x1x5
80x1x10

DB Press
30x3x8

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
145x1x5
155x1x3
165x1x1
165x1x1 (This one I did with knee wraps for the first time ever. It definately gave me a lift out of the hole. However, they will take getting used to. They were so tight I felt wobbly at first because my feet were going numb. I’m going to continue training with them until the meet.)

I was so beat after yesterday that when I did my set of 5 at 145 all Bill said was “That was ugly”. The all went below parallel but I struggled like crazy with them.

I hope the guys from my club that spot me hang out during the meet when I’m doing my lifts because they always remember to yes “hips!!” at me. I keep forgetting to get my hips under coming up.

DL
135x1x5
155x1x3
185x1x5
210x1x1

I’m wondering whether I should mention the pms thing to Bill. He’s pretty old school but has trained a number of women. I don’t want to completely embarrass him, but at the same time, he may have good information.

206

Are there any females that you train with that might have some insight?

Are you taking any sort of supplements? I know HOT-ROX is for fat burning, but maybe you could use it to give you a little boost…

207

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
Are there any females that you train with that might have some insight?

Are you taking any sort of supplements? I know HOT-ROX is for fat burning, but maybe you could use it to give you a little boost…[/quote]

Everyone I’m training with right now is male although it might be fun to bring it up just to see how red everyone gets. Just sort of throw the period conversation out there and get the ball rolling :slight_smile:

As far as supplements go I have protein isolate/dextrose every morning. On days I train I have the same mixed with creatine pre/post and 2 hours post training. I used to take HOT-ROX and Se7en but stopped when they ran out. The HOT-ROX just made me hungry and buzzed.

Having said that, I had some left and took one on the way to the competition on Saturday. I think it may have made me feel worse; sort of shaky and light headed. If you watch my tire flipping video, at the end I’m bent over with my head on the tire. Even though it looks like I’m barfing into the middle, I’m actually light headed and my vision was closing in. Good times :slight_smile:

I may work up the nerve tomorrow night to discuss this with our coach. If he were younger, it wouldn’t phase me at all.

208

HOT-ROX is the worst thing to take right before training, IMO. I did it once, what a mistake, had the same thing happen, shaky, light headed the whole bit.

I think unless you start the patch or the pill, there is probably not a lot you can do. I can usually train through it and come out feeling better, but then again, I don’t suffer much from the whole ordeal.
Discuss it with your coach, I’m sure he’s heard worse topics.

209

ok, sorry for the sucky idea…but you already tried it so I don’t feel so bad!

210

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
ok, sorry for the sucky idea…but you already tried it so I don’t feel so bad! [/quote]

Yeah, I guess a few of us thought it was a good idea until we tried it. I’m not sure why it had such a negative effect. I guess based on that I wouldn’t use any type of stimulant products when training/competing. My body doesn’t react well.

211

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
mom-in-MD wrote:
ok, sorry for the sucky idea…but you already tried it so I don’t feel so bad!

Yeah, I guess a few of us thought it was a good idea until we tried it. I’m not sure why it had such a negative effect. I guess based on that I wouldn’t use any type of stimulant products when training/competing. My body doesn’t react well.[/quote]

Have you tried spike?

212

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
mom-in-MD wrote:
Are there any females that you train with that might have some insight?

Are you taking any sort of supplements? I know HOT-ROX is for fat burning, but maybe you could use it to give you a little boost…

Everyone I’m training with right now is male although it might be fun to bring it up just to see how red everyone gets. Just sort of throw the period conversation out there and get the ball rolling :slight_smile:

As far as supplements go I have protein isolate/dextrose every morning. On days I train I have the same mixed with creatine pre/post and 2 hours post training. I used to take HOT-ROX and Se7en but stopped when they ran out. The HOT-ROX just made me hungry and buzzed.

Having said that, I had some left and took one on the way to the competition on Saturday. I think it may have made me feel worse; sort of shaky and light headed. If you watch my tire flipping video, at the end I’m bent over with my head on the tire. Even though it looks like I’m barfing into the middle, I’m actually light headed and my vision was closing in. Good times :slight_smile:

I may work up the nerve tomorrow night to discuss this with our coach. If he were younger, it wouldn’t phase me at all.[/quote]

Good luck asking your coach. The answer should be interesting. My first meet was when I am my strongest in my cycle. Felt great. Hit PRs.

I have the same problem as you. My Oct meet will be when I am weak and tired. I will take two spikes 45 minutes before my first squat and will take another at the beginning of my bench (this will kick in for my deadlifts).

213

[quote]pch2 wrote:
ouroboro_s wrote:
mom-in-MD wrote:
ok, sorry for the sucky idea…but you already tried it so I don’t feel so bad!

Yeah, I guess a few of us thought it was a good idea until we tried it. I’m not sure why it had such a negative effect. I guess based on that I wouldn’t use any type of stimulant products when training/competing. My body doesn’t react well.

Have you tried spike? [/quote]

I’ve never had it. Is it a stimulant?

214

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
I’ve never had it. Is it a stimulant?[/quote]

Yup, I feel like it really does pep me up. I did the sledgehammer workout on my weakest day hormone wise, and probably wouldn’t have gotten through it without a little help. I know they sell individual cans at our GNC, so maybe you can just try one to see how it affects you?

215

Your program (based on your log) looks really solid. I like that your doing only a few lifts per workout and focusing on almost all compound movements. As long as your diet is in check you will see good results.

216

Ouroboro, here’s an article I came across. Although it doesn’t have any cures it does offer some insight. It really is hard to find info on this! Most articles relating to menstruation and athletes are about amenorrhea.

thinkmuscle.com/articles/volk/planet-estrogen-03.htm

217

Wednesday August 20 SC Barn

Bench
45x1x10
65x1x5
90x1x5
100x1x3
110x1x1
110x1x0
90x1x5
80x1x10

I missed the second single on 110 twice now. However, 110 is my current max. The fact that I can hit it (once at any rate) without too much strain when I’m feeling my weakest makes me wonder what it is when I’m a bit stronger.

DB Bench
30x3x8

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
145x1x5
155x1x3
165x2x1
95x1x5

All reps from 145 and up were done with knee wraps. That isn’t exactly heavy weight to use with wraps but I’m still adjusting to them.

Despite the fact that my legs turn a rather attractive dusky shade when using them, I find them very effective for coming out of the hole. My previous squat max is 185 and I think I won’t have too much difficulty with it.

Of course I may feel much springier than last Sunday because I didn’t just compete the day before. Sunday, I felt as springy as roadkill.

Thursday August 21 Gym

Good mornings:
45x1x8
95x1x8
110x2x8

Rack pulls (mid knee height)
205x1x8
225x2x8

BB Curls (super set with front raises)
50x1x12
50x1x4
50x1x5
50x1x3
(lost gas fast on this)

Front raise
25x1x15
25x1x12
25x1x10

Tricep extension machine (thing)
25x1x8
37.5x2x15

Pull ups
1x8
1x6
1x4

T-bar row
45x3x6

I weighed myself on the gym scale and, incidentally, on Bill’s scale on Sunday and the both say 126.5lbs. Therefore I should have only 3.5lbs to lose. It may not be that much since it was at the end of the day. I’m forever optimistic.

218

So you are trying to get down to 123?(if my math is correct, LOL!!)

219

That reminds me…right before I went into bootcamp, I still had 3 pounds to lose to meet the requirements, and my recruiter took me to this place where they wrap you in what looks like plastic wrap and stick you in this machine…(sorry not very descriptive)
I think I lost 2 pounds, LOL!

Try weighing but nekkid in the morning…I bet you are already at your weight!

220

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
That reminds me…right before I went into bootcamp, I still had 3 pounds to lose to meet the requirements, and my recruiter took me to this place where they wrap you in what looks like plastic wrap and stick you in this machine…(sorry not very descriptive)
I think I lost 2 pounds, LOL!

Try weighing but nekkid in the morning…I bet you are already at your weight![/quote]

Yes, I need to get to 123.1 lbs. I am pretty close now. I weigh myself every morning and evening. This morning I was at 122.5. However, my scale is a bit heavy and I’m not sure by how much.

I’m training at the club tomorrow and Bill swears his scale is accurate so I’ll check myself there although it will be mid morning so I’ll have food and water in me. Last Sunday around noon I was 126.5. Put it this way, I’m shaving a couple more lbs to be certain. I’d be upset if I weighed in .3 lbs over or something stupid after all this effort.

Apparently you can weight naked for the comp and it’s at 7:30 in the morning. Good thing you don’t weigh in as a team. There are a few things I don’t need to see :slight_smile:

I may have posted this above somewhere but I don’t think I’ve ever been this focused or obsessed about my weight. When people hear I’m trying to lose, they say “Oh but you look great, you don’t need to lose weight. Don’t focus on the scale. It’s how you feel that’s important.”

Then I get to explain that the only focus is on the scale. How my ass looks is immaterial. I think I’m looking a bit too thin for my taste and will gain it again after Sept. 13 but hopefully all in muscle.