This page may contain affiliate links – they are marked with a *. Making a purchase via my affiliate means I receive a small share of the sale.
If there’s one thing in this world I am so grateful for right now, it’s the progress we’ve made when it comes to Women’s Health. I feel like being at home during the pandemic gave the world time to reflect.
For example, it brought issues like BLM to the forefront. It shone a light on the stark realisation that although there are 3.9 billion women on this planet (49.58% of the global population) women got left behind. Especially in health, fitness and wellbeing.
It’s mad to think that not so long ago, women couldn’t vote, or wear trousers, or ride bikes. Sports bras weren’t even invented until 1977! Then in 1967 when Kathrine Switzer tried to run the Boston Marathon, she was attacked by the race director who tried to physically pull her out of the race because she was a woman.
But I think the good news is, we’ve realised and we’re speaking out. We learn so much throughout our lives, but never about how the female body works. So I’ve enjoyed educating myself, learning about my menstrual cycle and adding to the conversations which make periods less taboo.
Menstrual Cycle Awareness is Power
I think it was the book Roar! by Dr Stacy Sims that actually changed everything for me, but I had heard lots of people talking about Invisible Women. However, Roar was a resource with practical information for physically active women which could be applied to my daily life.
Then more recently, I read Period Power, which was a surprisingly insightful read, before getting my hands on a copy of You Can Have A Better Period by Le’Nise Brothers. Le’Nise is a Registered Nutritionist specialising in women’s health, hormones and the menstrual cycle and the host of the Period Story podcast.
talking periods on the blog
Period Story is a podcast where Le’Nise sits down with various guests to talk about their period story, whilst getting behind some of the myths and misconceptions about periods, and so much more.
In Episode 59, I chat with Le’Nise about my experience of being on the pill from aged 13 and what I did to learn about my body and menstrual cycle after coming off the pill. We also dive into the effects that taking anti-inflammatories for period pain had on my stomach, how menstrual cycle awareness and being in tune with my body helped me to complete a half-marathon right before my period started and of course, the story of my first period.
Listen To Period Story Podcast Episode:
Get To Know Me – Elle Linton
And, incase we’ve not met before, I’m Elle – the creator behind ‘keep it simpElle’. I’m also a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Running Coach and Cycling Coach based in Essex.
I absolutely live for supporting women to choose and find their strong, be that through cycling, running or general fitness. Yet, in times gone by, the words STRONG and WOMAN wouldn’t even be put in the same sentence.
But now, with books like Next Level by Dr Stacy Sims sharing research on being physically active as a women in peri-menopause or menopause, age shouldn’t be a barrier, it’s just a new chapter.
Sitting down and having this chat with Le’Nise came at an interesting time for me. I’ve learnt that my period is a good indicator of my overall health so it’s been important to track and understand it.
I recently subscribed to Natural Cycles app to have some more data and insight into my cycle. NC helps to predict ovulation which will help navigate my Luteal and Follicular phases and sync with my workouts. I’m also considering switching from Whoop to the Oura ring as it integrates with Natural Cycles t
I’m also waiting on delivery of a DUTCH hormone test kit to help me get to the bottom of some health issues over the past few years. I learnt about these when reading Period Power. Once I’m clearer on what’s going, I’ll definitely share more on the blog.
In the meantime, once you’ve had a listen to the podcast, please leave a comment below or on my social channels to let me know what you think.
Happy listening,
Elle
Got time to listen to more? Here are some of my other recent podcast features:
