
As the winter chill sets in and the days become shorter, maintaining an active lifestyle might seem like a daunting task. Yet, for those dedicated to their fitness goals, the colder months offer a unique opportunity to embrace the invigorating power of cold weather workouts.
Whether you're a seasoned athlete or someone looking to find success in a New Year’s resolution, one crucial factor can make or break your winter exercise regimen: nutrition.

When exercising in the cold weather, you need to take extra precautions to stay safe and comfortable while also maximizing your performance. However, many people don’t consider proper nutrition and hydration to be a necessary piece of that puzzle.
Nutrition Before a Winter Workout
Of course, proper nutrition is vital to your fitness success all year round, but it plays an important role during your winter workouts.
Proper nutrition before a wintery workout not only helps provide fuel for your body but it also helps your body regulate its core temperature (an effect known as thermogenesis) ensuring your body is warm and has enough fuel to keep your muscles working properly throughout your session.
Eating helps increase heat production in the body, with a 10% increase being generated 30-60 minutes after eating.
Focus on eating carbohydrate-rich foods pre-workout to top off muscle glycogen stores (to keep your energy up) and a small amount of protein which helps build and repair muscle tissue, and reduce post-exercise soreness. Warm foods are preferable before a cold-weather workout if possible.
Complex carbohydrates like soups, breads, bagels, pasta, baked potatoes, cereals, peanut butter, lean meat and low fat cheeses are best consumed several hours before a winter workout.
Winter Hydration
Dehydration is one of the biggest causes of reduced performance in cold weather workouts, in part, because getting adequate hydration in the winter feels less intuitive this time of year. You feel less thirsty in the winter than in the heat of the summer, but that doesn’t mean your body needs less water.
In fact, it might even need more.
When you breathe in cold air, your body must warm and humidify that air to regulate your body temperature. With each exhalation, you lose significant amounts of water as it is being humidified. Therefore, more fluids need to be consumed to replace the water that gets lost through respiration.
Four ounces of fluid for every 15 minutes of activity is recommended.
Unless you are hot, you do not need to drink icy water. Cold water can cool you off and give you the chills; warm, hydrating drinks are the most effective so grab your thermos!
Recovery Nutrition
You should eat a snack within 15-30 minutes post-workout. To chase away chills, replenish depleted energy stores, and rehydrate, enjoy warm carbohydrates with a protein, such as hot cocoa made with milk, oatmeal with nuts, chili or soup, pasta with meatballs, etc.
The warm food, added to the thermogenic effect of eating, aids in recovery.
Before you get outside this winter, make sure you are properly feeding and hydrating your body. It will keep your body happy and healthy, while making strides in your fitness goals.
Winter Fitness Fuel: Discover the Power of Proper Nutrition for Cold Weather Workouts
As the winter chill sets in and the days become shorter, maintaining an active lifestyle might seem like a daunting task.


It’s the start of a New Year and whether you love setting resolutions or not, you’re probably looking forward with wonder and anticipation for what the next year holds.
Whatever the Lord has in store for you, there is a patron saint for that.

Catholics are known for their love of the saints.
We understand that the Church on earth is only a part of the Body of Christ, and that through our baptism we are welcomed in the Communion of Saints.
We look to the holy men and women who have gone before us as examples, but as we believe Christ when He says that “...whoever believes in [the Son of God] shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), we also know that the Saints in Heaven are more alive than we are.
Therefore, we can approach them, ask for their prayers, and grow in friendship with them throughout our whole lives.
With the rise of social media, a new tradition has emerged among Catholics to choose a “Saint of the Year” as someone they can look to for inspiration and guidance, particularly during the upcoming year.
Picking a Saint for the New Year
There’s a few ways you can go about picking a patron saint for the year, but however you choose to do it, begin with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide the process. Trust the Lord to pick the right saint for you.
Check your Heart
The first method for choosing a Saint of the Year is picking a saint by considering what you’ve already been praying about.
Have any saints been on your heart and mind recently? Is there a particular area of your life for which you need prayers? Read up on the saints and pick the patron you think you need. Again, trust that God has (or will) make it clear to you.
If you need a place to start, check out these saint-related blog posts from our archive:
- Patron Saints for Your Workout
- Inspirational Quotes from Catholic Saints to Motivate Your Workout
- The Saints of Holy Week: Walking with Those Who Walked with Jesus
- Simple Liturgical Living Ideas to Honor Our Lady of Lourdes on Her Feast Day
- Celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph
Saint of the Year Generator
This seems to be the most popular method for choosing a Saint of the Year. The Saint’s Name Generator created by Jennifer Fulwiler randomly chooses one for you.
You can pick the first saint you get but there is no shame in generating more than one name! Use the generator to brainstorm saints, learn about new ones, and bring the idea to prayer.
Pick from a Hat
This method is good if you are hoping to help others choose their saint of the year. Put the names of several saints into a hat and pull one out. We’ve even created a free printable PDF with 150 names from which you can choose!
This is a great resource for you to use in your parish or Bible study.
Picking a “Saint of the Year” allows you to grow in friendship with our heavenly brothers and sisters, engage in the rich tradition of our faith, and grow in holiness.
May your New Year be filled with God’s light and blessings.
All you holy men and women pray for us!
Saint of the Year: How to Discover Your Patron Saint for the New Year
Whatever the Lord has in store for you, there is a patron saint for that.


- Good habits put first things first: In an age with so many distractions – cell phones, digital media, tv, entertainment, etc… it’s easy to forget what’s truly important. Good habits can draw you back in to what matters most.
- Good habits give you a direction: Things will inevitably go wrong in your life, in your day, in your family. Good habits get you back on the path.
- Good habits save you time: Habits get faster. It doesn’t take you as long to tie your shoes now as it did the first time, right? Why? Because you’ve gotten better at it with practice.
- Good habits save you energy: It takes energy to make conscious decisions which can lead to decision fatigue. Good habits make those decisions automatically. It’s the difference between driving down the highway with cruise control on and constantly checking your speed and adjusting your foot on the pedal.
- Good habits unleash creativity: When your life is on track and you have excess time and energy, you can be more creative, more spontaneous. What might you do if you had access to more of your creativity?
- Good habits make you stronger: Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. Good habits touch every part of your being.
- Good habits make time work for you: In the game of life, it’s not where you are now, it’s where you’re going. Good habits build momentum. Have you ever seen an avalanche? That awesome force of nature begins with a single stone or ball of snow. What might happen if you had momentum working for you rather than against you?
- Good habits make failure impossible: Wait, you’ve failed at keeping a good habit before, haven’t you? Perhaps you should listen to the words of St. Josemaria Escriva: “So you have failed? I tell you, you cannot fail. You have gained experience.”
- Good habits kill stress: Stress is often the price you pay for doing rather than being. You can’t give what you don’t have. Good habits allow you to possess yourself in joy… so you can give yourself away in joy.
- Good habits let you be you: God had a dream when He made you. You are precious to Him, priceless, irreplaceable. You are His son/daughter. You don’t have to conform to society’s pseudo-standards, but rather be transformed by Him through good habits.
- Good habits let you love others more: When you’re you, it’s so much easier to love. Because you’re more in touch with your heart, your love can flow more freely.
- Good habits make your dreams come true: “Discipline drives your dreams,” says January Donovan at The Woman’s School. Don’t focus on the habit at first. Focus on Your Dream. Take some time right now to grab your journal or a piece of paper and write down your dream. What do you want for your physical body? For your mind? For your heart? For your relationship with God? For your family? For your work and career? For your home and finances? Don’t be afraid of what’s in your heart. And don’t play small. Be like a kid at Christmas writing up her list for Santa: “I want a pony. No, wait, 2 ponies, 1 for me and 1 for my best friend. And a swimming pool… with a diving board… and a water slide…” Yes, some of these dreams may be superficial, but underneath those are the deepest desires of your heart, the place God calls you from, the place He’s leading you to… Now set this aside and write your dreams.
12 Reasons to Build Good Habits
12 reasons to build good habits


Whether you’ve remained steadfast in your observances for Advent or feel like you haven’t embraced the spirit of this liturgical season, you still have a few days left before Christmas to finish strong.
And, the Church in her wisdom, has set aside these final days for a unique meditation on the coming of Christ called the O Antiphons.

In the seven days leading up to Christmas Eve (December 17-23), we sing the ancient and poetic “O Antiphons.”
These antiphons are short prayers said or chanted during the Magnificat prayer of Vespers, as well as the Alleluia verse at daily mass. (You may also recognize them from the start of each verse in the hymn “O Come Come Emmanuel”).
The O Antiphons highlight a different title of the Messiah. Drawing on scriptural imagery of the Old Testament, these antiphons emphasize humanity’s longing for the Messiah and to proclaim the coming of Christ as the fulfillment of this longing.
The O Antiphons are a symbol of hope to a weary people.
They are rooted in the Book of Isaiah and appeared in their current form between the 6th-8th Centuries. They have also been arranged in a specific and meaningful way.
Beginning with the last title and taking the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words “ERO CRAS” are formed which means “Tomorrow, I will come.”
After the waiting of Advent, He who we called upon by each of His titles appears to answer us with a final promise– “Tomorrow, I will come.”
Exploring the Titles:
O Sapientia (O Wisdom): December 17th
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge
O Adonai (O Lord): December 18th
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse): December 19th
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
O Clavis David (O Key of David): December 20th
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
O Oriens (O Rising Sun): December 21st
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and
in the shadow of death.
O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations): December 22nd
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
O Emmanuel (O God with Us): December 23rd
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
Praying with the O Antiphons:
Read and Meditate
Begin each morning with reading the O Antiphon of the day along with the accompanying scripture verses from the Book of Isaiah. Take some time to meditate on the words throughout the day.
O Sapientia (O Wisdom) Isaiah 11:2–3; 28:29
O Adonai (O Lord) Isaiah 11:4–5; 33:22
O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) Isaiah 1:1; 11:10
O Clavis David (O Key of David) Isaiah 9:6; 22:22
O Oriens (O Rising Sun) Isaiah 9:1
O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) Isaiah 9:5; 2:4
O Emmanuel (God with us) Isaiah 7:14
Sing O Come O Come Emmanuel
Sing the appropriate verse of the day of O Come O Come Emmanuel as you light the candles on your Advent wreath before dinner time.
Pray Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer of the Divine Office (also called the Liturgy of the Hours). And since the O Antiphons are prayed or chanted during Vespers, the O Days are perfect for taking up this treasured prayer. Many parishes also offer Vesper services during this week for you to attend.
Jesse Tree
The Jesse Tree is a traditional Advent activity and one that is particularly good to do with young children. It illustrates the Story of Salvation and shows how God prepared for Jesus to be born through many generations. Each day of Advent, you read Scripture about someone on Jesus’s family tree and hang an ornament symbolizing the story.
If you’ve already been doing a Jesse Tree during Advent, you’ll see the O Antiphons pop up during this time. If not, you can print or make ornaments for each of the O titles of Christ to display in your home.
Prayer Journal Prompts
Use the day’s antiphon as a writing prompt in your prayer journal. Write down your thoughts on the antiphon and the accompanying scripture verses or use them to write your own poem or prayers.
As we approach the culmination of Advent, the O Antiphons provide a profound opportunity for reflection and prayer. By incorporating the O Antiphons into our Advent practices, we not only connect with centuries of Christian tradition but also reorient our hearts toward God.
These ancient prayers invite us to truly embrace the heart of the Advent season and prepare us to at last receive Christ at Christmas.
May these days of prayer and reflection lead you to a joyous celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
O Antiphons: A Powerful Way to Pray in the Final Days of the Advent Season
In the seven days leading up to Christmas Eve (December 17-23), we sing the ancient and poetic “O Antiphons.”


Nothing chases away the winter chill like a mugful of a warm beverage.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite warm drink recipes (other than coffee and tea) perfect for cozying up on a cold night and that will help keep you healthy during the busy holiday season.

Hot water with Lemon and Ginger
This easy-to-make drink helps you stay hydrated while also giving your immune system a boost, improving digestion, and reducing inflammation. It’s also an excellent option to treat symptoms of the common cold or flu.
Combine 1 cup boiling water with 1⁄2 freshly squeezed lemon. Add some honey to taste. You can also finish it off with 1 cinnamon stick or piece of ginger for some added benefits.
Bone Broth Hot Chocolate
Bone Broth is a rich, flavorful stock that is packed with nutrients. It contains collagen which the body uses to make connective tissue; it also contains calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, which contribute to bone strength.
You could use it in a soup or stew or you can add it to a smoothie or, everybody’s winter favorite–hot chocolate!
Just add a ½ cup Bone Broth to this hot chocolate recipe:
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 ½ tbsp maple syrup
- 1-2 tbsp cacao powder
- vanilla
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 scoop collagen (optional)
Warm it on the stove and enjoy!
Golden Milk Latte
The ingredient that gives this drink its unique yellow color is turmeric. Turmeric contains many antioxidants to help boost your immune system and the additional spices of cinnamon and ginger can help protect against heart disease, lower blood sugar levels, and improve brain function.
Hot Toddy
A Hot Toddy with its combination of spirits, hot water, lemon, and honey offers some surprising health benefits, and has been known to alleviate symptoms of the common cold or flu, particularly a sore throat. Of course, with all alcoholic beverages, moderation is important.
Lemon provides a high dose of healing vitamin C which help keeps your immune system strong. and honey has antimicrobial benefits. Cinnamon, which is often used as a toddy garnish, contains anti-inflammatory properties and studies have shown that it has also helped pre-diabetic people control their blood sugar levels.
Here’s a recipe for this delicious drink:
- ¾ cup boiling water
- 1 ½ ounces liquor of choice like whiskey, brandy, or bourbon
- 2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
- 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
- Garnish with lemon round and/or 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)
Mulled Wine
If you’re looking for another alcoholic warm beverage for your next Christmas party, Mulled Wine is a perfect fit. It’s a warm, spiced wine that will fill your home with delightful scents and your body with some delicious and healthful flavors too.
Again, moderation is key to enjoying the health benefits of mulled wine.
Wine offers your body antioxidants which can help boost your immune system as well as reduce cardiovascular stress. Spices like cinnamon and ginger have also been linked to improved cardiovascular health.
Here's to a season of warmth, health, and happiness. Cheers to embracing the cozy moments and nurturing your body with these delightful drinks.
If you enjoyed these recipes, why not share the warmth? Spread the love by sharing this post with your friends and family.
Warm Beverages to Bring You Health and Comfort this Winter
Nothing chases away the winter chill like a mugful of a warm beverage.


Are you familiar with the Miraculous Medal? It’s a powerful sacramental that is worn by millions of Catholics around the world and has many miracles attributed to it.
St. Maximilian Kolbe called it “our weapon with which to strike hearts” and “a bullet with which a faithful soldier hits the enemy, that is evil, and thus rescues souls.”
This devotion might just change your life.

The Miraculous Medal began with a series of apparitions of Mary to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris, France.
Close to Midnight on July 18, 1830, a young French Daughter of Charity novice awoke to a beautiful child bathed in a heavenly light. Catherine followed the child to the chapel where all the candles were lit. She heard a rustling
Our Lady appeared again on November 27, 1830; this time, however, Mary stood on a globe with her feet crushing the head of a serpent. She wore rings on her fingers from which dazzling rays of light beamed.
The Blessed Mother told Catherine that these rays symbolize the graces that she gives to all who ask for them and the stones on her ring that do not shed light represent the graces that people forget to ask for.
An oval then appeared around the Blessed Mother, with the words “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
The image turned, revealing the design for the second side of the medal–the letter M, intersected at the top with a cross and a bar, along with the hearts of Jesus and Mary surrounded by twelve stars.
Mary instructed Catherine to have a medal made of this image and promised great graces to those who wear it. Indeed, there have been many stories of miraculous physical and spiritual healings through the intercession of the Blessed Mother by those who wear the medal.
This small medal is full of meaning and symbolism, and serves as a powerful reminder of the important role the Blessed Mother plays in the lives of the faithful:
The Immaculate Conception
The inscription on the medal affirms that Mary was as the Scripture says “Full of Grace” or conceived without the stain of original sin.
Pope Pius IX would declare this truth a dogma of the Church more than 20 years after Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure. This dogma emphasizes her ability to be a pure vessel for Christ and her ability to give a free and total yes when asked to be the Mother of God.
The Miraculous Medal helped pave the way for this dogma.
Mediatrix of Grace
The medal also illustrates Mary as the “Mediatrix of Grace.” Jesus, through the “Yes” of his Blessed Mother, became the mediator of our salvation so we recognize Mary as a conduit of grace for the Church on earth.
Through both the symbolic rays of light coming from her hands and the intertwined M and cross on the back, the medal reminds us of Mary’s role in our salvation and invites us to approach Jesus through Mary.
Queen of Heaven and Earth
The medal depicts Mary as standing on a globe and crushing the head of the serpent, making it clear that she reigns as Queen both in heaven and on earth.
The whole world falls under her mantle of protection. Through her Son, Mary has the power to vanquish the evil one and can protect us from spiritual harm. Her arms are open to embrace those who come to her.
Mary told St. Catherine Laboure that despite being a Mother who wants to help her children so many people never turn to her. Don’t make that mistake!
Invite the Blessed Mother into your life. Wear the Miraculous Medal as a reminder to pray its prayer: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
The Miraculous Medal: The Story Behind this Special Marian Devotion
The Miraculous Medal is a powerful sacramental that is worn by millions of Catholics around the world and has many miracles attributed to it.


In a culture that has cheapened the gifts of our bodies and our sexuality by promoting promiscuous and problematic behaviors, Catholic parents need a way to teach their children the truth about their bodies even from a young age.
The Theology of the Body (TOB) offers an integrated vision of the human person–a body and soul composite–that will serve as an unshakable foundation as your children grow up. And it’s never too early to introduce it to your kids.

What is Theology of the Body?
Theology of the Body is a series of 126 talks presented by Pope John Paul II during his Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square from 1979-1984. These lectures presented the Church’s teachings on the human person, sexuality, and marriage.
It offers a profound reflection on the nature and dignity of the human person based on biblical and theological principles, and explains how our bodies communicate these invisible realities.
Why Theology of the Body for Kids Matters
Theology of the Body is an invaluable tool for parents to teach their children about the gift of our bodies.
While your children might be too young for “the talk,” Theology of the Body helps you create a foundation on which you can build upon as they get older.
Here’s what it can offer your kids:
Understanding God's Plan for the Body:
Our bodies aren’t accidental or insignificant, they are purposeful and beautiful. They are not just physical entities but have a spiritual and theological dimension.
Theology of the Body reveals God's plan for our bodies and sexuality, and illuminates the ways in which human love can and should reflect God’s love in the Trinity.
Respect for Human Dignity:
Teaching your children about the Theology of the Body instills in them a profound respect for the dignity of every human being. It emphasizes that every person regardless of age, gender, or background, is a unique and precious creation of God.
Formation of Healthy Relationships:
The teachings of the Theology of the Body promote healthy and pure relationships. Kids who understand these principles are better equipped to build strong, loving, and lasting relationships based on mutual respect and self-giving love.
It helps children prepare for their future vocation as well.
Countering Cultural Messages:
In today's culture, young people are bombarded with messages that often distort the meaning and purpose of human sexuality.
Schools are introducing concepts about gender and sex earlier and earlier, normalizing behaviors not in line with biology or God’s plan for men and women. However, you can help your students go against the culture and stay true to the faith.
Having a foundation in the teachings of Theology of the Body can help your children stand strong in the truth against harmful influences.

Introducing Pietra Kids! TOB Series
Children need an accessible and age-appropriate way to learn about the Theology of the Body, which is why Pietra Fitness has created a new series for children focused on this vital topic.
Introducing the new Pietra Kids! TOB series.
We will offer two series one for grades K-5 and the other for 6-8 that introduce children to the important teachings of the Theology of the Body while also helping them to move and use their bodies for the glory of God.
As in all of our Pietra Fitness classes, these series will combine strengthening exercises, sacred music, and Christian mediation–in this case, age-appropriate meditations on the foundational teachings of Pope St. John Paull II’s Theology of the Body including:
- How each person is created out of love
- the uniqueness and sacramentality of each body
- the complementarity of male and female bodies
- unconditional love
- self-mastery,
- purity of heart and more!
Login to the Pietra Kids! Studio or sign up for a free trial of our new Family Plan to get started.
How to Introduce Your Catholic Kids to Theology of the Body + Why it Matters
Catholic parents need a way to teach their children the truth about their bodies even from a young age.


Fertility Awareness is tracking a woman’s menstrual cycle by recognizing and interpreting the physical signs of fertility that accompany the hormonal changes her body goes through during that cycle.
And it’s come a long way from the “Calendar Method” which perpetuates the myth that “every woman ovulates on Day 14 of her cycle.”
The Fertility Awareness Methods available today empowers women to know and take care of their unique body. It’s safe, it’s effective, and it can be used to improve a woman’s overall health.

What does the Church Teach of Fertility Awareness?
The Church promotes Fertility Awareness among married couples as an alternative to methods of contraceptives such as condoms and birth control.
Contraception has no place in a Catholic marriage because it eliminates a person’s ability to love fully and fruitfully within a marriage
Despite the language that is often used by secular sources, Fertility Awareness is not birth control. It doesn’t seek to control a woman’s body; rather it allows a husband and wife to discern their family size in cooperation with God–remaining open to His plan for their life and family.
Tracking a woman’s fertile time not only helps maintain the spiritual health of a marriage, it also benefits the physical health of the woman.
And the great news is that you don’t need to be engaged or married to use or benefit from Fertility Awareness; it can and should be used by women who want to better understand and take care of their bodies.
Dispelling the Myths about Hormonal Contraception
Hormonal Contraception wreaks havoc on a woman’s body and is completely contrary to women’s health.
Instead of offering wholeness to women, hormonal birth control suppresses a healthy body’s ability to function naturally, causing some dangerous side effects. Studies have shown that Hormonal Birth Control increases a person’s risk for heart attack, stroke, blood clots, liver tumors, HPV, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. ¹
Fertility is not a disease to be treated; it’s a valuable indicator of a woman's overall health.

Health Benefits of Fertility Awareness
Firstly, fertility awareness can help women and their healthcare providers identify potential gynecological issues, such as irregular periods, hormonal imbalances, or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Your cycle also impacts many other aspects of a woman’s health, including:
Bone health
For many years, researchers have believed that post-menopausal bone loss is caused by the lack of estrogen that occurs after menopause; however, new research has shown that progesterone plays an active role in maintaining women’s bone and in osteoporosis prevention. ²
Normal ovulatory cycles are necessary for developing bone mass that will last you past your reproductive years.
Brain health
Estrogen and Progesterone play a major role in brain development. Estrogen creates plasticity in the brain and improves cognitive function; progesterone regulates glial cells (also known as the “glue” of the central nervous system) and helps to stabilize mood.
Heart health
Estrogen and Progesterone levels in a healthy cycle also affect your heart health. Estrogen helps prevent heart disease caused by coronary artery calcification.³ Progesterone helps decrease blood pressure.
Other research suggests that “shorter total reproductive duration [defined as the time from menarche to menopause] was associated with a higher risk of incident total heart failure hospitalization in post menopausal women.”
Finally, fertility Awareness helps you work with your body, not against it. Reading your body’s fertility signs can help you make decisions that will enable you to make decisions more in line with your health and fitness goals.
As a woman’s body goes through several hormonal changes over the course of her cycle, the needs of the body–from nutrition to exercise–change too. Knowing where you are in your cycle can help you make decisions that maximize your health.
For instance, your follicular phase (or the weeks leading up to ovulation) when your hormones are at the lowest levels, is the perfect time for high intensity and strength training. During this phase, your body can better access stored carbs and more easily build/maintain muscle.
Then during your luteal phase after ovulation, your hormones are much more in-flux so lower-intensity workouts with more recovery time are ideal during this phase.
Adjusting your diet and fitness routine to your menstrual cycle can help you feel your best.
Resources to Get Started
If you want to begin tracking your cycles using Fertility Awareness Methods, Natural Womanhood and Managing Your Fertility offer a plethora of resources to help you feel informed and to direct you on the next steps.
Fertility Awareness and How it Benefits a Woman's Overall Health
The Fertility Awareness Methods available today empowers women to know and take care of their unique body.
