Our Girl Athletes ...

Mick2150

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Jul 11, 2011
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I have always tried to be sensitive to what my female friends may be experiencing, depending on where they are in their monthly cycle. And, depending very much on the girl, I am well aware that hormonal swings can effect them both physically & mentally, at least that has been my experience picked up over 2 marriages & many years.

How do those wonderful athletes that I have been watching these past 2 weeks manage? Are they just so 'tough' and disciplined that they can drive on as if nothing was happening? Or, have they found a way to 'by-pass' their special time of the month?
 
Norethisterone

It's allowed though the IOC drug testing rules

Can I say what an awesome team you guys had? :)
 
Thanks for naming this 'solution'.

Years ago, a partner of mine had used her regular BC pills in a similar manner - can't remember brand or type - to achieve the same effect, but as I recall, it wasn't expected to be 100% reliable.

.... And, yup, the Canadian girls certainly punched above their weight!
 
Other than maybe the first day, a lot of times your period doesn't have to interfere with anything. With those female athletes, a lot of it is training and determination.
 
If they have a very low body fat percentage (which appears to be the case with some of them), they may not be menstruating.
 
Prof Emma .... Even at my age I learn something new, sometimes on a daily basis - Thanks, never realised that. So, just thinking .... if what your saying is pretty universal, what if we were to project that to the under-developed, the 3rd world - wouldn't that suggest that conception was more difficult, as in, less likely? - That doesn't seem to fit with my knowledge of 3rd world over population.
 
Apparently women need to have around 16% body fat or more to have regular periods. Top female athletes often have body fat percentages of 14-20%. Prolonged famine would certainly bring body fat percentages way down and lead to a loss of menses, but many poor people are actually overweight. From eating foods that are cheap and calorie dense but not nutritionally dense (like bread, rice and potatoes). Obesity rates in the US, for example, are considerably higher for poor women and men than for the general population. And obesity rates have been increasing rapidly in the third world.
 
Apparently women need to have around 16% body fat or more to have regular periods. Top female athletes often have body fat percentages of 14-20%. Prolonged famine would certainly bring body fat percentages way down and lead to a loss of menses, but many poor people are actually overweight. From eating foods that are cheap and calorie dense but not nutritionally dense (like bread, rice and potatoes). Obesity rates in the US, for example, are considerably higher for poor women and men than for the general population. And obesity rates have been increasing rapidly in the third world.

In 20+ years of training female bodybuilders, fitness competitors and various athletes, 10% bf seems to be the real world threshold.

Some women can drop below 10% bf and not experience any issues with menstruation. Most however experience some disruption or complete cessation under 10%.

I have seen a few women get to 6% bf and not experience menstruation upset, but they were usually naturally very lean to begin with.
 
I've also noticed and seen research that suggests women are strongest during ovulation, when testosterone is highest, and weakest during their period.

A good trainer/coach will design a program that works on a 28 day cycle and has women doing their most challenging workouts during ovulation and their "back off" week during menstruation.
 
Fascinating, Tonka. Thanks for the information! I wonder if the bf threshold is different for well-nourished women (presumably like the athletes you're training) versus ones that are malnourished as well as really lean?
 
Fascinating, Tonka. Thanks for the information! I wonder if the bf threshold is different for well-nourished women (presumably like the athletes you're training) versus ones that are malnourished as well as really lean?

Hard to say.

The truth of the matter is that just as many, if not more women bodybuilders, fitness competitors and athletes have eating disorders and body image issues than women who don't "work out" or train for sports.

One of the big illusions of women in the fitness industry is many of them might look like the picture of health and fitness, but are very unhealthy and on the verge of serious health issues.
 
Low body fat ratio and being very athletic in and of itself can cease menses for a while.
 
I was nationally ranked as a junior. I had a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 17. My SKATES weighed more than I did. (Just kidding) I didn't HAVE periods, except now and then. When I did, it was pretty horrible, but I had some pills that made the pain stop to where I could still skate. I never missed a major competition from that.

Kristie
 
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