If ever there was something females need to find a short cut or a hack for, it is our menstrual cycle.

In this blog I introduce you to one of the most fascinating health and self-care discoveries I have made.

Cycle Hacking

A few years ago, my morning beach walk friend and I were doing our usual pondering when we started discussing a recent discovery (well, at least to us ) called Cycle Hacking.

Being that we are two of the most curious google researchers I know… this brought about much conversation as we delved into what it means and what benefits we could achieve through it.

Here’s what we uncovered

Cycle Hacking or Cycle Syncing, is simply understanding the hormonal shifts that take place in the female reproductive system (and therefore whole body) each month and working with the hormones for the most effective and efficient use of energy and brain space at the same time as feeding and nurturing our bodies to support ourselves best.

After my friend and I both went away, researched and came back together again to discuss further, we concluded that the idea is quite simple, yet ESSENTIAL understanding for every female. In fact, we were pretty annoyed, to say the least, that we had never heard of it before.

How Cycle Hacking works

In delving deeper, I found that the science behind Cycle Hacking is extremely compelling. By understanding the three main reproductive hormones (estrogen, testosterone and progesterone) and the rise and fall of the hormones through our body, we can leverage (hack) changing hormones to make better lifestyle choices about food, exercise, social activities and work actions that are best suited to our hormonal changes. So, we work with the changes rather than fight against, or try to carry on.

Cycle Hacking works best when you track and understand your own menstrual cycle, which will be similar, but not the same, for everyone. It will follow an expected pattern, but not exact. It will be as unique as you are. Day 1 of the 28 cycle is the first day of your blood flow (period).

Cycle Hacking looks at the rise and fall of hormones from Day 1 to Day 28 and suggests the best activities you can take, or avoid, for that time. Cycle Hacking only works when you’re in natural cycles. Birth control, like the pill, or other hormonal replacements may give you a regular bleed that appears to be a period, however your natural cycle of estrogen and progesterone is suppressed, so you won’t experience the same emotional fluctuations and mood changes that most women do during in natural cycles.

For those who have completed their monthly menstrual cycle and have entered into menopause or peri-menopause, it is just as important to understand the effects of the absence of the hormones in your body. The hormones that once brought energy and clear thinking are no longer produced in your body. You must feel empowered to create a life that goes with that.

“A menstrual cycle is a roughly four-week span of time when three key hormones—estrogen, testosterone and progesterone—rise and fall in a specific pattern. Depending on how high or low these hormones go and the direction they’re headed, they impact you in a wide variety of ways, for instance your mood, energy, love life, spending habits, sleep quality, food cravings and health.” (https://www.myhormonology.com/learn/female-hormone-cycle/)

Cycle Hacking Cheatsheet

For me, the easiest way to understand how Cycle Hacking works is to see it in a chart or table. I put together the below basic table for you. You will need to do further research to find what is best for you, your circumstances and your health but hopefully it will help you understand how Cycle Hacking can make a positive impact on your life.

 Cycle Hacking in every day life

I recall sitting in a board meeting just over a year ago, in the most agonising pain due to very strong cramps. I recall sitting there, poised, listening to the others at the table, engaging in executive strategy sessions, appearing to solve complex corporate issues all while wondering if the men with me could possibly imagine what physical, emotional, and quite frankly, spiritual energy it took to sit there and take part in the meeting.

I reminded myself that this would have been the perfect occasion to listen to my body and to reschedule that meeting. I took the following day off and put myself on bed rest rather than fight through it like I usually would have. The shift in my physical, emotional and spiritual energy was astounding. It was the first time, in 25 years of full time work, that I had ever taken a day off work for this reason. It was the first time I ever recall listening to my own body and putting my health above work. It was the first time that I honoured myself enough to acknowledge I had a need that required attention.

If I hadn’t heard about Cycle Hacking, I wouldn’t have thought it was OK to alter my activities to care for myself. In the busyness of life, it had never crossed my mind that it was OK to take care of myself, I always thought it was something we just had to accept and power through. I felt OK to cancel some social catch ups and I also felt empowered to say 'no' to anything during low and painful times.

Conversely, I discovered the power of 'hacking' the right times, when I have energy and sharp brain function. That's the time to set aside for large or complex work projects and to go out and dance the night away. What a sense of relief and freedom. To me, Cycle Hacking just makes sense.

“So, we work with the changes rather than fight against

or try to carry on through it in a linear pattern as though nothing is affecting us”.

It’s been almost 3 years since this concept first made it’s way into my thinking and I have decided that this must be one of the deepest, yet simplest forms of self-awareness. When we are in tune with our own body to the extent that we plan our lives in accordance with our physical, emotional and biological capacity, we can only be better for it. Doesn’t it sound wonderful to listen to our body when it’s time to rest and we power on when it’s time to get moving?

Conclusion

Accepting that our hormones change throughout a cycle and not feeling bad, or in any way less, because our mood and energy levels change with it, is essential to leading a balanced life. This is biological, this is how the female body is designed. Whilst society hasn’t caught up with women joining the 9-5 work week, it doesn't mean we can't change that by taking back our own power and making adjustments that are suited to what our bodies are doing.

When we learn to understand our body, feel the hormonal shifts take place and create a life that is in sync with it, we will have new strengths, new energy, more peace, more rejuvenation.

This blog has been a brief introduction to Cycle Hacking - there is so much more fascinating research and more in-depth writings on how to Cycle Hack or Cycle Sync. Your Cycle can affect your digestion, your mental health, physical health, your spending habits, your relationships and so much more! This is such a great thing for every female to know.

To learn more about Cycle Hacking, here are just two websites, of many, you could start with:

https://naturalwomanhood.org/cycle-syncing-how-to-hack-the-natural-hormonal-shifts-of-your-cycle/

https://www.myhormonology.com/learn/female-hormone-cycle/

If you want to delve deeper into the foods and nutrition that go with your cycle, check out this helpful guide:

https://sofreshnsogreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SFNSG-CycleSyncingFoodsGuide-Blog.png

Please send me an email to [email protected] and let me know if Cycle Hacking has made a difference to your life.

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