M cycle and training

[skydancer]

Does anyone have any info or can you point me in the direction of some articles that explain how the rise/fall of progestron/estrogen during the month effect training? I'm asking because it seems that right before my period (when I'm bloated) I'm stronger than a few days after I start..

Now realistically this could be related to a thousand things I know - food, water, sleep, stress, body is tired later in the week etc etc. I just thought that maybe if my muscles where full of water (pre period bloat) they worked on a different level then when not?

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Those who dare to fail miserably, can achieve greatly. - R.F. Kennedy

[retropump]

There is soooo much that changes premenstrually. Estrogen has fallen, progesterone has been high (remember progesterone is mildly anabolic, estrogen is mostly catabolic), water retention can increase strength, your body is holding more haemoglobin which leads to a better aerobic capacity, in many women serotonin levels drop, which allows for greater dopaminergic activity (ie CNS stimulation) and on and on and on. So okay, you may turn into a right bitch, but you should be a stronger and fitter bitch!

[skydancer]

Okay so its not just my imagination...hence I did pull ups on Monday and couldn't do them today. (Started period on Wed eve)

Thanks!!

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Those who dare to fail miserably, can achieve greatly. - R.F. Kennedy

[retropump]

Well done Skydancer. You've grasped 2 of the most important concepts of being a female bodybuilder.

First concept: your hormones are in control

Second concept: use this to your advantage!!!!

And for those guys that get a kick outta hanging out on the women's board I will restate that as it applies to you guys:

First concept: your hormones are in control

Second concept: use this to your advantage!!!!

[skydancer]

Stooopid frickin hormones...except when they make me stronger..he he he.

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Those who dare to fail miserably, can achieve greatly. - R.F. Kennedy

[W6]

The strength/performance and menstrual cycle issue is probably an individual one. Some notice an increase in strength, others not, some an impairment in performance probably due to cramps and discomfort, but nothing uniform or predictable from female to female.

Both progesterone and estrogen are low during menses. Estrogen peaks mid-cycle with a second lower surge during the luteal phase. Progesterone surges about 10 days after the LH surge but drops rapidly thereafter and is low at the time of menses.

RP, where did you read that the body holds hemoglobin? If anything, if menses is heavy, the conc might decrease.

W6

[skydancer]

I was talking about strength increase before onset of menses during luteal phase. Not during actual menses. Would the progesterone levels be higher just a few days before menses? I know there is a surge of FSH/LH at ovulation and then it rapidly drops but thats about the extend of my knowledge.

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Those who dare to fail miserably, can achieve greatly. - R.F. Kennedy

[retropump]

I was referring to the pre-menstual stage where progesterone is still high and the body is more efficient at recycling and absorption of iron in the form of haemoglobin. Most women experience an increase in aerobic capacity premenstrually. Of course, once menses begins then what W6 says is correct.

[W6]

RP:

For your interest.

Title

Effects of menstrual cycle phase on athletic performance.

Appears In

MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE. vol. 27, no. 3 (1995 Mar): 437-44.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of menstrual cycle phase on four selected indices of athletic performance: aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, isokinetic strength, and high intensity endurance. Sixteen eumenorrheic women (VO2max > or = 50 ml.kg-1.min-1) were tested during the early follicular (F) and midluteal (L) phases of the menstrual cycle. Cycle phases were confirmed by serum estradiol and progesterone assays. No significant differences were observed between F and L tests in weight, percent body fat, sum of skinfolds, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, maximum heart rate, maximum minute ventilation, maximum respiratory exchange ratio, anaerobic performance, endurance time to fatigue (at 90% of VO2max), or isokinetic strength of knee flexion and extension. Both absolute and relative VO2max, however, were slightly lower in L than in F (F = 3.19 +/- 0.09.min-1, L = 3.13 +/- 0.08.min-1, P = 0.04; and F = 53.7 +/- 0.9 ml.kg-1.min-1, L = 52.8 +/- 0.8 ml.kg-1.min-1, P = 0.06). These results suggest that the cyclic increases in endogenous female steroid hormones of an ovulatory menstrual cycle may have a slight, deleterious influence on aerobic capacity, with potential implications for individual athletes. Nevertheless, the cycle phase did not impact significantly on the majority of the other performance tests and cardiorespiratory variables measured in this study.

W6

[retropump]

Guess that'll teach me. My info came from US Army bulletin which was not (as far as I can tell) referenced or peer reviewed. It was all about special nutritional and training considerations for female soldiers. Must be from some very old and poorly controlled studies? And here I am usually such a stickler for peer review........