Cycle Syncing Update

It’s been a year since I started cycle syncing so I thought it’s a good time to give an update of my experience so far!

Let me start by talking about how I’ve actually implemented cycling syncing into my life.

Seed Cycling:

As I mentioned in my first blog post, this is the easiest way to begin cycle syncing and the one I started doing right away. A year into it, it’s the most consistent way I continue to cycle sync. Don’t get me wrong, there are days or even weeks where I am unable to follow it but since it’s just a tablespoon or so of eating some seeds, I can pick it up again quickly.

I highly recommend starting with seed cycling if you want to start your cycle syncing journey.

Workouts:

I definitely plan my workouts around my cycle as well. Since I don’t really know too much about different types of workouts and I only do it at home and not a gym, cycle syncing has helped provide me with a direction to plan them.

It turns out I don’t hate cardio as much as I thought I did as long as I do it at the right time of my cycle. It’s actually allowed me to go harder and do things I didn’t think I’d want to do because I’m following my cycle. There’s also no guilt when I take a break and slow down for my menstrual and late stage luteal moments and I end up feeling better about it in general.

Food:

I have been trying to eat the foods that will benefit me the most depending on my cycle but I’ll be honest it’s hit or miss with me. It’s hard to plan meals around that and while some weeks I’m good about it, other weeks I don’t even attempt.

Which is perfectly okay! Even in the book, Vitti says these things are a guide not a hard and fast rule.

I do use cycle syncing as guide if I’m ordering out and am unsure about what to get, I’ll try to get something that fits my current phase. So while following the food aspect gives me a direction, it’s not something I am able to follow that closely.

Again, I want to reiterate that it’s perfectly fine not to follow everything perfectly, I’ll go as far as to say it’s actually impossible to do so. So make sure you give yourself grace when it comes to cycle syncing. It’s mostly about doing what feels good for you and listening to your body.

Results:

The biggest, most obvious, result of doing all this is that my menstrual cramps have significantly lessened. I used to have really painful cramps and would dread my period. But my first period after starting cycle syncing, I didn’t have any cramps and though I did start getting them after that one, they are very minor.

There’s also been a mindset shift about my period. I don’t dread it anymore and really try to use it as a way to relax more and rest without feeling guilty about not doing much. As a result, I feel better since I’m resting more.

The other thing, which is hard to quantify, is the sense of presence and intention that comes with cycle syncing. Just being aware of your body and making decisions with intention depending on how you feel and your phase is, for me, a better way of living. Instead of things just happening to me and me not really keeping track of what’s going on, now I feel like I have more control over things.

Even if I don’t follow everything for a few days, I know I can always pick up where I left off because I’m tracking my phases and days.

Tracking:

A quick side note on cycle tracking before I end the post, it’s very important! If you plan on cycle syncing, you need to track your cycle, the phases and what day you’re on. There are apps to help you with this, or you can be like me and just write it down in a journal. But in some capacity, keep track of it.

Even just tracking can help you be more mindful of you body and what you’re doing even if you aren’t cycle syncing. It also, as I said, helps you pick up at any point if you do decide to start.

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Overall, it’s been a really positive experience for me and I am definitely going to continue. If anyone reading this has tried cycle syncing, I’d love to hear your experiences as well!

And once again, cycle syncing isn’t about following strict rules, it’s all about going with the flow!