Blame it on the hormones

I'm a feminists' nightmare... at least the western idea of one and probably dianggap kuno, archaic, old pesen tapi tak kisah la kan. i just dont believe in absolute equality between gender, not the 'everything you do i can do equally well' kind. no definitely not everything sbb in the first place, we were made different and to take on different roles. hakikatnya kita memang telah dijadikan untuk saling lengkap melengkapkan. half of a complete whole... like ying & yang kot. kalau lelaki sinonim dengan 'brute strength' perempuan pulak sinonim dengan 'endurance', that sorta thing.

Like running for example. lets not talk about the professionals since they've reached the level of 'lean mean running machines' lol tapi kita yang biasa2 ni. kalau nak di ikutkan, kaum hawa sikit sebanyak akan dipengaruhi oleh cycle bulanan yang dihadapi mereka maklum la menstruation brings about fluctuations in our hormone levels. so ada masa things are ok dan ada masa not so ok. nasib la kalau ada pulak important event lined up masa tengah dok senak2 tu kan?! tapi something i read previously made me feel i actually had an advantage and that the fluctuating hormones i'm stuck with aint so bad after all :)

Performance VS Menstrual Cycle (i've summarized it for my own convenience).

Day 1 to 13: Follicular Phase
- low estrogen level
- encourages breakdown of CARBS therefore quick energy bursts.
- will generally feel active & energetic
Phase more suitable for:
- activities related to speed & intensity
- tempo workouts
- interval training

Day 14: Ovulation

Day 15 to 28: Luteal Phase
- high/stable estrogen level
- encourages breakdown of FATS therefore slower, more sustained energy.
- will generally feel sluggish, tired, lethargic
Phase more suitable for:
- activities that are slow & consistent
- long distance workouts
- low intensity training

Hmmmm.. apa2 pun during the first few days of the period, i usually just do light exercises. at my age i dont really want to aggravate anything... but i find that running really helps reduce the uncomfortably bloated feeling that one usually gets a week prior to it. understanding ones body helps in lessening the burden we tend to put on it.

Workout Log.
4 small laps= 4km = 40 minutes.
i hate running in the late afternoons.... the heat just zaps at my energy tapi for now i cant seem to be able to squeeze in anything before punching in for work. its the late nites; its making me wake up all groggy in the mornings. gotta do something i guess.