So now we know what the first half of our cycle looks like and how to take care of our bodies along with reasonable expectation.
Lets now did into the second half where stuff really gets exciting!
During the follicular phase, you are experiencing an increase in your sex hormones. You may start to feel really good about yourself. More energy. All of it. This is because your body is preparing for ovulation, or a release of an egg (or two, it happens).
Ovulation or Phase 3
When your estrogen hits its peak or whatever you body deems fertile, it will suddenly release LH (luteinizing hormone) and within 36 hours, your egg will be released from the ovary.
Some women are SUPER sensitive to the drastic shifts in their hormones and may feel WORSE during Ovulation. This could be due to a histamine sensitivity OR too large of a gap between Estrogen and Progesterone.
If this is you, you will feel similar to PMS. Sluggish, headaches, maybe nausea, bloated, etc. In this case, working on balancing the estrogen to progesterone ratio is KEY as your body is having a hard time managing hormones, detoxing fat cells and growing muscle may not be within its capacity.
Here is what you would do differently:
- keep the pace down
- see your provider for blood work
- try taking dim or dim+cdg <–I am not a medical professional, this is simply what helped ME
- eat well (avoid inflammatory foods), rest well
For those of you without “negative” ovulation symptoms, you should be feeling like super woman!
Here is what YOU would do differently (if not trying to become pregnant):
- work on strength training, start upping the weight
- increase the intensity
- up your protein intake
- take amino acids if not eating red meat
- rest per usual
Now comes the absolute BEST portion of the cycle for a great percentage of women…
Luteal Phase
Here is where the progesterone grows stronger. Estrogen has already dipped out but the body is prepping the body for implantation of a fertilized egg so things are as revved up as they could possibly be.
Here is what those of you who had a great ovulation do differently:
- go big! aim for new PRs (personal records)
- continue to up the protein (you will be hungrier)
- get lots of rest
- take some epsom salt baths to assist with detox and muscle rehab
For those of you who had a crappy ovulation, you will mimic Phase 2.
- eat well, anti inflammatory
- support detox pathways with epsom salt baths & liver support
- ensure you are pooping well (digestive enzymes)
- rest
and…if this continues, schedule an appointment with your medical provider. Despite what they may say, this is not normal and should not be how you feel.
What’s one thing you learned from this or takeaway? Ready to crush some goals now? Great! Schedule a No Sweat Intro and lets get you set up for success!