5. [Q&A] SIGNS of OVULATION, cycle PHASES, BEST types of EXERCISE, how to identify an IRREGULAR period.

Sep 15, 2020

Today I'm answering 4 AMAZING questions straight from YOU in the community!

 

1. MARTHA: How do you naturally check for ovulation? What are the physical signs?

 

*Bleeding is not a sign of ovulation because your follicles (small sac of fluid) still make estrogen as they grow and try to ovulate and eventually that uterine lining will have to shed.

OVULATION is when one of your follicles will grow big enough, is stimulated by LH & finally ruptures & releases an egg.

SIGNS OF OVULATION:

1. Egg white consistency, stretchy, stays wet & happens BEFORE OVULATION but can occur anytime estrogen levels are high
2. Basal Body Temperature (waking temp) will SPIKE after ovulation (progesterone raises your temp) & stays high until you get your period about 10-14 days later. Before ovulation your average temperature is about 97-97.7 and will increase about .5 degrees after ovulation.
3. Mid luteal blood test to show higher levels of progesterone

2. SAM: What do you mean when you say cycle phases?

We have 4 CYCLE PHASES:

1. FOLLICULAR

• hormones are low but estrogen, testosterone and FSH (A pituitary hormone that stimulates ovarian follicles to grow)are slowly increasing & stimulating your follicles to make estrogen

2. OVULATION

• the rise in FSH stimulates the hormones to release an egg
• Estrogen continues to rise to thicken the lining

3. LUTEAL

• Progesterone rises. Progesterone counterbalances estrogen- yin to yang. Progesterone thins uterine lining & estrogen thickens it.
• BENEFITS: reduces inflammation, builds muscle, promotes sleep, protects against heart disease, calms nervous system, supports metabolism, thyroid, skin & hair health.

4. MENSTRUATION

• hormones decline quickly to their lowest levels 

1st half of cycle (follicular &  ovulation) you have more energy than 2nd half (Luteal and menstruation)

3. CASSIE: Are slow exercises beneficial or do you need to do intense workouts to make an impact?

• If you’re in the early stages of managing your PCOS or healing your hormonal imbalances, it’s important to keep your workouts to no more than 30 minutes. The time limitation will prevent excess cortisol production and adrenal fatigue.
• When you get your heart pumping your body burns glucose in your bloodstream for energy. The supply only lasts about 30 minutes. After that your body turns to your adrenal glands which start pumping out the stress hormone cortisol which converts stored fat into usable glucose so you have the energy to continue working out.
• If you have unresolved hormonal issues like excess estrogen, the estrogen overload programs your body to convert any circulating glucose back into fat. So instead of burning fat you start storing it. This is more likely to happen in the luteal phase when your body naturally pumps out more cortisol.
• Long, intense exercises pump SUGAR into the bloodstream to BURN for energy. BUT when you have INSULIN RESISTANCE (when cells in your muscles, fat, & liver don't respond well to insulin & CAN’T use glucose from your blood for ENERGY) the influx of sugar in the blood AND the INCREASE of CORTISOL (a stress hormone) released from a high intensity workout gets stored as FAT instead of burned off as ENERGY!! The result? FATIGUE, FAT STORAGE and WEIGHT GAIN.

4. TRACY: What qualifies as an irregular period?

• A regular period can range anywhere from 21-35 days.
• Consistent timing each month (within the 21-35 day range) is what signifies a regular period.
• Menstrual fluid should be mostly liquid without clots.
• Day 1 is first day of heavy flow.
• Follicular phase is anywhere from 7-21 days
• Luteal phase is between 10-16 days

SOURCES:

In the FLO by Alisa Vitti

Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden

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So happy to be here with you! XO Corinne