Why am i so damn tired before my period? (and what to do about it)
If you feel like a functional adult for 3 weeks and then suddenly need two naps and a personality reset… congratulations, you’re normal. PMS fatigue isn’t weakness, laziness, or “falling off.” It’s a predictable hormonal shift — and your body is responding exactly the way it’s supposed to.
Let’s break down why this happens and what to do about it so you can stop fighting your physiology and start training smarter.
WTF IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!
Right before your period, progesterone spikes - and when that hormone rises, your energy drops. Hard.
Progesterone’s job is to keep your body calm, stable, and ready for a potential pregnancy. It slows digestion, slows recovery, and lowers your overall capacity.
And your body isn’t “confused” - it literally thinks you might be pregnant every single month.
So it shifts into protection mode.
> More fatigue
>More sensitivity
> Less patience
>Lower physical capacity
This isn’t in your head. This is your physiology doing its job.
WHY YOUR WORKOUTS FEEL SO DAMN HEAVY RIGHT NOW
Because they are.
In the late luteal phase (right before your period):
Progesterone reduces muscle contractility
Your core stability decreases
Your nervous system is more reactive
Your body temperature is higher (so you fatigue faster)
Your recovery slows down
Translation?
You’re basically lifting while half sedated.
And expecting yourself to perform like normal is the fastest way to feel discouraged, guilty, or broken - when nothing is actually wrong.
WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS FOR YOUR TRAINING
This is NOT the week for PRs, intense conditioning, or demanding high-output work from your body.
This IS the week to shift toward:
Slow, controlled strength
Glute + back work
Stability-focused movements
Breathing drills
Lower-intensity cardio (walking, incline walking)
Movements that support your nervous system, not stress it
Think support, not struggle. Co-regulate with your body instead of fighting it.
PMS FRIENDLY WORKOUT YOU CAN DO ANYWHERE
30 seconds work / 15 seconds rest x 2–3 rounds
Glute bridge hold
Squat to chair (slow)
Supported single-arm row
Dead bug
Standing 360° breathing
This session boosts circulation, reduces cramping, supports your pelvic floor, lowers stress hormones, and meets your body exactly where it is.
GET YOUR FREE 1-WEEK HORMONE GUIDE HERE
A FINAL MESSAGE BEFORE YOU BEAT YOURSELF UP AGAIN
You’re not lazy.
You’re not inconsistent.
You’re not “failing.”
You’re cycling.
Your hormones shift every month, and your energy follows - because it’s supposed to. When you understand the physiology, you can finally stop blaming yourself and start training in a way that works with your body, not against it.
If you want support, strategy, and training that actually honors your hormone cycle - I’ve built an entire coaching model around it.
