Should you sync your workouts to your period?
Fitness influencers are promoting 'cycle-syncing,' a trend that suggests women should adjust their exercise routines based on their menstrual cycle phases. Experts warn that this advice lacks scientific evidence and ignores the high variability of individual biological cycles.
Why it matters
It highlights the gap between viral wellness trends on social media and evidence-based medical advice, potentially impacting women's health decisions.
Image source, Sarah Mackay Image caption, Sarah Mackay, known as @fitwsarah online, says her energy levels change through her cycle
A woman points to a colour-coded grid dividing the menstrual cycle into four phases, each paired with a different list of exercises.
"When you're bleeding, you want to be doing steady-pace jogging, Pilates, barre, walking, resting," she tells viewers.
This is one of thousands of videos on TikTok and Instagram suggesting that people change their workouts depending on where they are in their menstrual cycles - something known as 'cycle-syncing'.
So-called cycle-syncing workout plans have surged in popularity online, with Google searches for the term rising 740% since 2022 and more than 55,000 TikTok videos now using the #cyclesyncing hashtag.
Most of the advice is shared by fitness and wellness creators rather than medical or research experts.
They divide the menstrual cycle into phases, recommending:
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in