“You bike like a girl…” 

A couple years ago, I might have tried to deny that I biked like a girl.

Because I biked like a human.

I biked like anyone else on the trails would. 

My female identity had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Maybe I felt that I needed to prove something. That I was strong enough to keep up. I had to do the most with the body that I had. Because biking like a girl, in my mind, was perceived as a weakness.

However, since tossing out birth control and starting to actively track my menstrual cycle, my mindset has shifted around participating in action sports as a woman. Maybe it also has something to do with getting older, but I’ve been more inclined to sit back and listen to my body and my mind. 

And be proud of the fact that I do bike like a girl.

I am pulled towards a lifestyle where my daily actions are fueled by my monthly cycle. Those 29.5 (ish) days where my body conducts a sacred ritual. A ritual that may lead to a new life one day.

But for now, it’s helping me learn more about my own.

I want to be honest…

This blog series isn’t meant to be a step-by-step instruction guide for anyone out there who is looking to be more synchronized with their hormones. It’s not a fool-proof process that leads to a balanced lifestyle. And I’m not any kind of specialist, professional, or doctor. While I have done research on cycle syncing, the majority of my words in this post are inspired by the one thing I’m starting to become an expert in: my own body and my own mind. 

If anything, let my words on this screen be a driving force to begin your own personal journey of understanding. Your body and mind can dish out cues, symptoms, complaints, and praise. And all you have to do is listen and learn. 

Before I get into my month-long account, I want to familiarize you, as the objective viewer, with the biggest things that I am aware of while tracking my cycle: activity, fuel, and rest. 

As an athlete, these three key factors are very important when it comes to my relationship with sports. But coincidentally, they are also important to align with the phases of my menstrual cycle. My daily activities, types of meals, and amount of rest are the three biggest changes that fluctuate as I navigate through the 29.5(ish) days. 

Activity

My definition of “activity” involves any way that I am using physical or mental energy. It includes sports, movement, stretching, housework, errands, and even my job. Anything that I am spending my energy on is under this umbrella. 

Fuel

When it comes to fuel, this consists of whatever I am putting in my body in order for me to turn it into energy. Immediately, I think of any food or drinks I am consuming, but I also want to extend my definition to any topicals that I may put on my body, as it is all absorbed and used by my cells and, therefore, me.

Rest

Perhaps the most important factor that I have become aware of is REST. This includes downtime, mindfulness practices like meditation and journaling, and most of all, good, quality, sleep. 

Lastly, I want to reiterate the phases of the menstrual cycle. While the exact days vary for different individuals, they are typically scientifically categorized as the following:   

Menstruation Phase

Days 1 – 6 

The menstrual cycle typically starts with the first day of the period. Because the egg was not fertilized, the uterus sheds the endometrium layer that the body prepared in order to nurture a zygote (the scientific term for a fertilized egg). This results in the blood and discharge that flows out of the vagina. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)*  and estrogen slowly rise during this time, while progesterone and the luteinizing hormone (LH)*  stay fairly constant throughout. 

* FSH and LH are reproductive-regulating hormones

Follicular Phase

Day 1 – 12 

The follicular phase includes the menstruation phase, as well as the time leading up to ovulation. The body is preparing for the egg to be fertilized. Once menstruation is complete, estrogen climbs significantly until a day before ovulation. FSH slightly dips, as LH slighting increases. Progesterone stays constant. 

Ovulation Phase

Day 13- 15 

The ovulation phase is when the egg releases from the ovary in order to be fertilized. At this time, LH and FSH spike, while estrogen starts to decline. Testosterone will also increase during this window. 

Luteal Phase

Day 16- 28

The luteal phase is the longest phase in the menstrual cycle. The body recognizes that the egg was not fertilized and begins the process of shedding the endometrium layer to start the cycle over again. Progesterone and estrogen have a bell shaped curve, both peaking about a week before menstruation. FSH stays constant while LH is slowly decreasing after the spike at ovulation. 

The hormones that stimulate and run my cycle are very interesting,  but I don’t want to see this operation purely from a scientific point of view. This ritual is so much more than hormone levels and days of the week. It’s a way for me to spiritually connect with my human body. It’s an experience that can share a wealth of knowledge if I am just willing to be aware and grateful for the entirety of the journey. 

While it is not my intention to maximize efficiency and output, it has been a welcome result. Yet, it only comes from complete presence and awareness during each part of the cycle.

I reflect back on each phase. I invite you to listen to my story, and also take the time to listen to your own.

The Journey of My Cycle

Menstrual Phase

Follicular Phase

Ovulation

Luteal Phase + Conclusion

Sources: 

My body

“Your Menstrual Cycle-The Basics”; Women’s Health Network ; Reviewed by Dr. Amber Hayden

https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/pms-and-menstruation/your-menstrual-cycle-the-basics/

“The Menstrual Cycle”; Stanley George Clayton; Britannica Science 

https://www.britannica.com/science/menstruation

“Why You Should Take Iron With Vitamin C”; Cleveland Clinic ; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/iron-and-vitamin-c 

“Menstruation and nutrition” ; University of Edinburgh; https://www.ed.ac.uk/centre-reproductive-health/hope/menstruation-and-nutrition#:~:text=Iron%20is%20an%20important%20mineral,of%20iron%20through%20menstrual%20blood.

“Magnesium and the menstrual cycle” ; Samantha Redgrave-Hogg; Nutritionist Resource 

https://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/blog/2023/06/28/magnesium-the-menstrual-cycle-and-pms-mood-swings 
https://www.yourfertility.org.au/energy-levels-metabolism-understanding-your-menstrual-cycle-can-be-key-achieving-exercise-goals#:~:text=Around%20day%2012%2C%20levels%20of,more%20effort%20into%20your%20workouts.