Do you track your menstrual cycle?
As you would expect, I’m a huge advocate of this. Our menstrual cycles have been called the fifth vital sign and when you keep track of it, you can get so much amazing information about:
- the length of your cycle (not every woman has a 30 day cycle!)
- the length and heaviness of your menstrual bleed
- when you start experiencing PMS symptoms such as low moods, bloating, acne, headaches and cramps
- when you ovulate
- any peaks and troughs in energy and mood during your cycle
- when to expect your period
All this information will help you start to become more in tune to your body. You start to understand why you might be feeling down, when you’re more energetic and how certain food and exercise affect you.
Even if your period arrives like clockwork every month, it’s still good to track your cycle so that you know if anything changes. You’ll also understand so many other things about your cycle, including what I’ve listed above.
There are so many women who like clockwork, feel full of self-doubt a few days each month. Tracking menstrual cycles helps understand exactly when this is happening (most likely in the luteal phase right before you start to menstruate) and once you are aware of this, you can then do something about it!
We don’t have to accept the narrative of pain and emotional upheaval being a normal part of having a period, because it doesn’t have to be this way! Yes, really!
Here are a few apps that many of my clients have found useful for tracking their cycles:
Do you track your cycle? What have you learned from tracking your cycle?
Are you feeling perplexed by your cycle? Do you want to finally get to grips with period pain, mood swings and sugar cravings? Book in for a free 30 minute Hormone Health Review!