TRIGGER WARNING: In this video I talk about eating disorders and amenorrhoea. We should have included a trigger warning at the start of this video and I’m sorry for not doing so - please don’t watch if you think you may be triggered by these subjects ❤
As a man who knows way too little about period but who now has a young daughter who in the coming years will start having periods these videos are super educational! Thank you for doing this
It's amazing how much we men realise we don't know once we have kids (especially girls!) My young girls have curly/wavy hair...which could be a degree at university all to itself!
Cheat code for your daughter and your wife, and this is extremely old school: One 500mg Pantothenic Acid pill per day and two Yam Root pills per day, year round. It helps with the cramps, the emotional roller-coaster, and helps the cycle become regular (time between periods). It works incredibly well, takes about 4-6 weeks of use before the full benefit is seen, but after that it becomes very noticeable. I have a 24yr old daughter, and turned her on to this "black magic" prior to aunt flow arriving for the first visit. She is not on birth control, even though that was the first thing that was "thrown" at her, and us, I think back when she was 14ish. Ridiculous. Similarly, my wife was never on birth control, not before we were married, or during. We need to take care of the women in our lives!
The fact that you’re sitting through these videos as men is amazing. Thank you for educating yourselves to help women. The world needs more men like you 😊
I love that you and Allie are both getting into these topics. It is just a reminder though that things like female athletics is broken at the core. There really needs to be more in place at ground level preventing and protecting young athletes from eating disorders rather than being a silent breeding ground for them. It's not right in 2024 that this is still the case. Thanks for being open and sharing your journey Phily. People like you, Allie and other athletes are in a unique position to maybe try and influence some change, encouraging prioritising health especially for those youngsters looking up to you.
BTW: I was watching Anthony Walsh (roadman) interview, and men's athletics (in this case professional road cycling) aren't immune to this: ruclips.net/video/fuI8AVMgi_A/видео.html It makes me happy to have been a low category maybe perhaps slightly blubbery (63kg/175cm) racer and now 64kg fitness rider rather than an elite competitor. One's health over the years should never be considered a bargaining chip to be squandered for a result. Eat lots of high quality calories and burn them!
As a father, grandfather and an employer who employs about 60+ young ladies, this is very educational! We have been pushing the men to get into accepting the body truths of their colleagues, mothers, sisters and friends. We have also introduced ‘period leaves’. In India this is a topic that is pushed under the carpet! Thank you for sharing this🤗
Love the approach you're taking Philly, I feel like female athletes are almost taught to think of their period as an inconvenience rather than an indicator of health and super useful data on how our bodies operate best while training!
Making sure you fuel properly is so important and things like this are so common in female endurance athletes. People really need to know things like this
Absolutely, I think more information about how to fuel properly, and less people telling athletes there are “good” or “bad” foods (talking about the white bread police for example) is needed
This conversation is so undervalued. As a female athlete (swimming) during my teens / early twenties i can 100% relate to your story. Since getting my natural cycle back, I appreciate it so much more and am so more aware of my cycle influences me training and how to adapt to perform my best
Yyyeeesssss. This to me is what is needed. Being a Girl Dad I’m so underprepared in this regard. So thank you so much for shedding light on such things as well. And always… the edit is 🔥🔥🔥
Yaaaaaas Phily! In so happy you're using your platform to talk about this ❤ I was diagnosed with REDs after losing my period for 6 months last year. It led to a string of injuries that I'm still coming back from. REDs is no joke!!
I didn’t have a period for 4-5 years and now really value it and am so thankful for it each month. My amenorrhea was due to underfueling but I think especially around my runs - running fasted and not getting in enough food afterward. Changing those two things and reducing my running volume for a time seemed to be the keys to getting my period back. Now my volume and energy far exceed what I ever had without a period.
There’s a lot of advice in old running books about fasted runs being good for athletes to be able to metabolise fat as a fuel source better. This is a classic example of training practises being based on male athletes and this advice is still lingering around when for women it’s the opposite - we’re naturally really good at metabolising fat and training fasted for us is often a detriment to our hormone health - something I never knew until hearing it on a podcast from some experts!
@@PhilyBowden which podcast was this? As a coach (general fitness/PT) I would be really interested as this definitely is very much still the common approach for many to go for fasted cardio.
@@WanderFreeWithBarb I can’t remember exactly but I’m pretty sure it had Dr Georgie Bruinvels in it - the Five Miles Easy Podcast interviewed her recently!
@@PhilyBowden I just wonder, if you have to lower the training volume because of the cycle or whatnot, how does that effect your running improvement wise? Won't it make it harder to improve because you train less over all? Or does volume not effect it that much as long as it's in the right amount? Because to me it sounds really difficult to get fitter if you have to have a cycle every month. (Or something like that, I'm not familiar with how long the cycle is) I guess what I'm trying to say is what is the right amount of training during your cycle? Let's say for trying break 15 minutes in a 5k like your self, if you are training to break 15 in a 5k, what do you think is a balanced amount of mileage ran during your cycle. I'm still not sure if I phrased it correctly because my knowledge on this kind of stuff is very minimal at best XD
I've struggled with red-s/secondary amenorrhea in the past, and would often lose my period for months at a time. I was under-fuelling almost all of my runs and running all runs at way too high of an effort (even so-called easy days). I wouldn't have admitted it to any of my peers or for that matter - even myself. The truth is, I wasn't eating because I believed that to run fast/perform better, it would mean to be as lean as possible - which we in hindsight know not to be true. My harsh wake-up call was a stress fracture in my foot, whereby I had to take months off running. After a lot of self-reflection/secretly deep down knowing why I decided to never let that happen again. I think the only thing that could've convinced me to change my behaviour prior, was the harsh reality of injury and months off running. Thank you for sharing, I definitely would've loved to have seen this growing up.
Weirdly I have run some of my best PBs during my period 😂 one thing I absolutely reccomend is menstrual cups, very comfy and nothing bulky and external to get in the way in your race kit!
Hey! It’s actually NOT weird to run better on your period.😊 During that time, your hormones are actually optimal for performance (closer to male physiology). So if your other symptoms are manageable you should be able to perform at your best despite the bleeding. Cheers😁
This video is incredible timing! Currently experiencing period abnormalities. What I struggle with the most is pinpointing whether I’m over training OR under fueling. I’m too stubborn to accept that it’s probably a little bit of both. Also, im a person that is STUCK in a routine and have a hard time changing things. This is a very important topic to cover! This is 100% something that a lot of us struggle with, and the fact that this video popped up on my home page is a wake up call that I need to stop ignoring/excusing my irregular periods. Thanks Phily!
Good video Phily - I'm chairman of a running club, and it has shocked me how many of the ladies in my club have been through or are going through what you're talking about here.
Father of an elite female high school distance runner. The struggle is real, both RED-S and ED. Thank you Philly for adding your voice to this discussion and providing an example! As a plant-based ultra-distance runner, fueling enough is work. At least as important as mileage or workouts or sleep. Even with knowledge and resources it can be hard.
Thank you Phily. As a male, who coaches many female athletes, this is excellent information to know. The health of all of my athletes is the most important thing for me, so the more information I have, the better I can take care of them.
@@goodyeoman4534 First, I present my athletes with the most up to date information l can find. Then they make their own decisions. I respect my athletes and allow them to make their own choices. I am mostly just a guide and a resource. The only area that I do get a little pushy is with diet. Proper fueling is very important. However, even in this area the athletes have choices.
I hope this is a statement of support and not an indication that this is the first you are hearing of this. Sceening female athetes for ED and ensure proper fueling should be front and center
Really glad that you’re discussing this topic - RED-S can affect people at every level! Five years ago I went ~12months without a cycle and I am not an elite athlete - just a casual cyclist/parkrunner. I spoke to multiple well-meaning GPs who listened but just weren’t informed. In many ways it was RUclips videos of people discussing their experiences that allowed me to work it out for myself. The more more people aware of this the better! My takeaway from that experience is that your period is the canary in the coal mine. Every time I feel a bit shit, curled up with a hot water bottle I’m still glad I’ve got it!
I suffered from RED-S and disordered eating/ exercise and now I'm trying to come back and get things together again. I really want to thank you Philly for being inspiring and sharing this is important to take about. As a guy it affects reproductive systems as well, your body shuts those down first to save energy. To not get to explicit the flag can't rise and the sex drive diminishes. And that's a first sign for men that you are training too hard.
Thank you so much for your vulnerability and courage/strength in sharing this! I’ve been familiar with RED-S for years, but was ignorant to the fact that I, a male, am just as at risk. It’s great to keep raising awareness and exposing this so we all address it more. As the father of a young daughter just entering sport, I find this invaluable, along with much of the other stuff you’ve shared, and will certainly continue my research. Also, for what it’s worth, my wife noticed a tremendous difference when coming off contraceptives. She’s not a medical professional nor an athlete, but claims it was the best thing for her body and only wished she had done it sooner. Best wishes in your transition and continued training! (And I love my PBRC shirt! Just came in this week and already wore it on a session!)
I’ve had an eating disorder throughout all of high school so far and my training has been great and some points and horrible at others. Currently I’m really trying to eat more, but physically my body is volatile with food. Right now I am struggling to get through my training, even my long runs and easy reps. I really want to get faster and stronger so I can compete against the best in my field because I can’t even run a good race when it counts. Your channel really gives me hope and inspires me to keep trying even though recovery is super uncomfortable for me. Thank you for being a positive influence.
I’m so proud of you for being in recovery! Remind yourself that whilst recovery feels hard and uncomfortable now, it’s worth it to not feel this way in the future! ❤
Thank you so much for this Phily. Watched Allie Ostrander’s similar video on this topic, commented on that one as well, and I’m in the same boat as you more or less. I’ve been on the pill for nearly 4 years now, and I’ve been explaining to my teammates and my family that no it’s not the same thing as having a period, no it’s not a panacea for all sorts of things, and I think this video and Allie’s are the push I needed to finally come off of it. Thank you so so so so much for being so honest and vulnerable.
Thank you so so much for being open and vulnerable enough to talk about this. It changes things more than you know. -from a fellow runner who has struggled with amenorrhea and irregular periods
YESSSSS!!! I'm so happy you are addressing this. I started paying better attention to my natural cycle a couple of years ago - and feel so much happier, healthier, fitter and stronger since I've been eating and training in line with what my body needs. I've often wanted to comment on some of your videos (especially ones where you didn't perform as well as you felt you should have been able to) - wondering if you could find some explanations within your cycle - but resisted, as I didn't think it was my place (as a randomer on the internet!) But I am so happy for you that you are thinking about this, and look forward to hearing how you get on and what else you find out. 💪🤓
It took me some time but I've learned that the hormonal change during the cycle impacts my adhd symptoms massively. It's not specifically running related but impacts it as well i.e. in form of motivation. Understaning and accepting that was quite life changing for me. Wishing you the best for your little journey you are on right now.
This is brilliant. I’m nowhere near a professional runner but I’m a keen enthusiast. I haven’t used contraception for years since being married. Honestly the difference from being on the depo injection to now is massive. Since I started running again back in Feb23 I’ve noticed how the week of my period I struggle to move as well. It feels like I have heavy legs and am more prone to feeling like I’m going to injure myself if I push it. The following week I’m like a new person. It is so important to listen to your body and that’s what I have started to implement and see my period week as a recovery week. Pilates, stretches and general care of myself. This has taken a while to come to though , I have fought against myself…..a lot!! It’s so beneficial but I’m starting to see that to be the best version of yourself these are the things you need to honour. Hats off to you for being brave to share this. Even now the stigma of periods is huge and the more it can be normalised the better. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for being transparent and forthcoming on what many might see as a difficult topic, and I appreciate you encouraging male viewers to pay the same attention to it as well. I have struggled with hormonal imbalances that can be traced to RED-S in the past, and that’s something I’m always on the lookout and responding to. Also, I coach many athletes-male and female-and while some of my athletes are open and forthcoming about their menstrual health, others are not (understandable, and I’m not their doctor, of course). It can be tough to tell whether someone is making healthy energy choices. Your video is a great, shareable resource. 🙏
I think this is a super important topic! Just to clarify some things for people - losing a people by taking hormonal contraception DOES NOT put you at the same risks as losing it from relative energy deficiency. You don't necessarily need a bleed - with progesterone based contraception like IUDs, the progesterone is keeping your uterine lining thin, so there isn't much to shed. Your bones are still being protected. It's true though that it can make it mask relative energy deficiency, since it can create withdrawal bleeds (especially with birth control pills) that you wouldn't otherwise have. So contraception itself doesn't put you at risk, but it can make it hard to know where you're at, if you're worried or not sure
This topic needs more people talking about it. Just watched video from Allie Ostrander the other day. This is very educational even for a male. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. As an endometriosis sufferer my challenge is the fact that I have not had a period for over 25 years because of the regime I was put on to manage my symptoms. I have recently been put on complimentary HRT, but I have still not found my balance, not helped as an ultra runner and inability to keep fuelled on my longer runs. But I keep trying, and constantly learning about myself and proactively being aware of when I am feeling strong and when I am close or over my limits are key.
Thanks for bringing this topic up! Hormone health and periods are such an important topic. I love that you mention the different situations and how they can vary. Losing a period due to RED-S is always bad. I like that you explain that some people may be better off (endometriosis) without their period but that it's so important to be aware of what that may mean due to a lack of monitoring/visible monthly cycle and therefore potential difficulty monitoring hormonal and therefore whole health. It also slightly separately can be a huge change and have an impact on fertility if getting pregnant does become something a woman wants to do. I also love that you de-stigmatise the topic in general! Another interesting point we don't know much about (chronically under-researched women's health) is what our "natural" reproductive life would have looked like. It's likely that pre-modern age and birth control women would have had FAR fewer periods in their lives than we do now. Women would have spent much of their lives pregnant or breastfeeding. So while this is for a TOTALLY different reason hormonal birth control (hormone side effects aside as obviously it's a different mechanism of action) may in some ways replicate this. But we actually don't know yet what the implications are either way e.g. what are the consequences of having so many periods compared to "cave woman", is it better or worse to be on birth control compared to this? The more we talk about it, the more research is encouraged the better informed women can be, the more research can take place and the more choices and knowledge will be available to women, whatever turns out to be the result of research.
I enjoy listening to you, not just for the major, life impacting information you share, (as I send these to my daughter’s) to the slightest of language nuances. My brother in law is Manx, and regularly reminds us colonials that we are, in fact, one peoples, separated by a common language! Today’s word is “tumble-turn”! I share this to ensure you that even as a late 50’s gentleman, I listen to EVERY word you speak. Thank you.
Thank you for the courage it took to put this one out there. 36 male here, just getting into the longer stuff (first two marathons last season), but it's scary to me how obvious and pervasive disordered eating has become. It wasn't a "thing" when I was running track and cross country in middle and high school, and now it feels like everyone is unnaturally limiting their fuel intake, recovery, and overextending themselves even on the non-competitive super amateur levels. I have two young boys who are just getting into the running thing and my wife thinks I'm insane for enjoying the sport, but at least I know what to look for and how to help or direct people to help should such events strike closer to home. More over, thank you for doing your part to destigmatize what I see as a huge issue within the running community.
There is so much I don't know about women's health, and I'm so grateful to the women who take time to explain their experiences. Your willingness to include us men in these conversations is so appreciated by so many of us. Thank you so much.
As a recreational runner in my thirties who doesn't want children, not having a period because of my Mirena is perfectly fine. We all have our own journeys. I'm excited to hear how yours goes.
I had an eating disorder before my running career .Back in the 70s there was very little knowledge about eating disorders or amenorhea. I have no libido, before or after amenhorea which never bothered me.I was glad not to have periods and felt generally ok. But eventually after a spell of Achilles tendon injury I got the periods back. I ran my best races on track , road and fell after this and generally had better health and fewer injuries. I’m glad you have posted this video, as REDS is a very serious concern among distance athletes.😊
Loved the video and how you get the content across. Here's an additional thought. A lot of the symptoms of Red-S you mention (tiredness, loss of bone density and danger of osteoporosis, irregular or absent bleeding, mood swings and depression) are also entirely normal symptoms of the perimenopause - and clearly they are caused by the same thing, namely a hormonal imbalance, in the case of perimenopause the rollercoaster ride of variations in estrogen. Symptoms can first appear many years before the actual menopause, sometimes 10 years before menopause actually happens. So, once you're in, say, you're late 30s or mid-40s, the symptoms, should you be getting them, may not point straight to Red-S, but may just be perimenopause. Worth a thought.
As someone who recently learned that I have the bone density of an 80 year old in my 20's due to RED-S...I feel your struggle. I had the implant in, which masked my missed periods. This video hits home. And these comments are everything to me right now -- this is very much on my mind, and seeing other people's stories is massively uplifting. Thanks for posting this, Philly!
So important, thank you for sharing! I suffered with REDs and didn't have my period for years. If I could tell someone suffering with REDs one thing it would be you will be faster and stronger once you have recovered and will regret not recovering from REDs sooner.
YESSSS!!! I love seeing other athletes talking about periods especially an elite athlete like Phily!!! I have had similar experiences with my cycle and training and being in tune with your body is sooooo amazing! I am at the stage where I know where i need to fuel and recover more during my cycle which makes training so much more beneficial. Once you start having your period regularly you see so many patterns and how incredible a woman's body really is!!!
Thank you for shedding some light on this prevalent issue. I am a distance runner for a D1 college and have not had my period for almost five years. It is so frustrating but I am working hard to restore my body to its normal state of being.
Such a great video. Really appreciate you using your platform to share this information, @PhilyBowden. I have been a long distance runner for the past 12 years and a soccer player for 15 years before that (now running marathons and half marathons). I used to be vegan and train mostly fasted. For the first few years, I seemed to get faster and faster (what I'd later learn is just a 'honeymoon' period), but then my body started breaking itself down. I had bone injury after bone injury, for about four years, poor mental health, and all sorts of gut issues. It's only in the past year, after correcting my fueling (no more fasted training, no restricted eating, fueling with 50g carbs per hour for long runs, and getting in plenty of good macros post runs) that I have stopped getting injured and feel stronger than ever, plus have no more gut problems whatsoever. I also added high-load lifting to my routine, to correct the terrible bone density that accompanied the prolonged amenorrhea I experienced with my RED-S. For context - I had a spinal T score of minus 4 in my twenties (severe osteoporosis) and now have normal bone density (no more osteoporosis) thanks to eating properly, getting a regular cycle and high load lifting. Can't stress how important this topic is and how much RED-S can damage one's quality of life, not just for months but for years if allowed to persist.
Hey Philly, I was going to watch this video anyway, but I can understand why guys wouldn’t. Very interesting, helpful to understand. Especially for men who currently or may in the future coach women.
PS I have a 6 month old girl, so I’m sure that’ll be helpful in the future. Her momma is ex-10,000m Champion, so hopefully she’ll take after her momma and not me in natural ability 😂
I still feel like cycle based training has worked with my IUD, I have been able to track ups and downs in performance that coincide with bleeds (not that I'm a professional athlete, just do a lot of sport). I haven't had a natural cycle in 12 years and there's no way I can face having one (too debilitating, at least when I was a teen). Interested to hear how you find the transition (emotionally and physically) in case I consider it down the line. Wanted to also add that depending on the person hormonal contraception can be a super helpful and freeing tool that also should not be perceived negatively (like periods themselves). We're veerrryy lucky to have it easily accessible in the UK!
I want to bump this comment up! Completely understand the sentiment on this video and the issues for young women around ED (me having previously been one of them) , exercise and menstruating. But contraception is not the baddy here and should not all be lumped into the same category. Combined oral contraceptive (COCs) and single hormone devices, e.g. IUDs, the implant, patches etc are different. I really believe IUDs are amazing, they are locally acting, single hormone and have little to no effect on actual ovarian hormone production (several longitudinal studies have shown sadly with small sample sizes). So you can track your cycle because you are having a cycle (follicular phase, ovulation etc.), but just your endometrium is not building up in the same way so you don't have much/ anything to shed each month. Caveat is I am a doctor but not a fertility nor sexual health specialist (internal medical trainee). We do need to discuss the lack of anaesthetic and analgesia use when putting them into nulliparous (a person who has not had a baby) and taking them out, but that is a whole different topic on the infuriating lack of analgesia used in women's health issues.
I have recovered from RED-s. I am apart of project RED-s and saw the doctor's at Boston Children's. This video hit the nail on the head, thank you for bringing awareness to this subject!
Thank you for speaking on such an important topic! I also use Mirena, and my cycle is extremely light with minor symptoms in general. For now, that's working for me, but it's so good to consider what's best for your body and be aware of the signs it is sharing ❤
It's very brave of you to be so open about these subjects. I'm sure this video will help a lot of people. Back in the days when I was your age these things were never discussed.
This is brilliant! I recently saw a video of Lucie Davis Fit talking about how when completing the speed project she started her period in the middle of the race (300 mile relay race) for the first time in a few years! The body is amazing and love that you’re talking about it. 🤘
This sort of video really is incredible and so important particularly for young women. It’s also encouraging to see these developments in understanding women’s health in sport. As someone who has been running since I was 13 I was actively encouraged to be as light as possible and to not have periods by my male coach. Roll on disordered eating and over training and then getting in to taking oral contraceptive this video made me realise I’ve probably only had a combined total of 2 years in the past 30 of having periods where they have been ‘normal’. I am still a keen runner and thankfully am over all the earlier issues but I wonder how my body would have performed if nurtured in the right way. Now I have a young daughter who I cannot stress enough to her, that having her period is a sign of health. This is wonderful to see and truly inspiring for girls and women. Thank you for being so honest and putting it out there.
I haven't had my period in a few years and your genuine positive outlook and advice has encouraged me to be brave and take the step to see a gynecologist. I'm young and still want to be healthy and running when I'm older! Thank you Philly. 😊
I paid for college on a cross country scholarship, and during that time i lost my period for two years. I was training hard and underfueling. My nervous system was in flight or fight mode constantly. Inevitably I got an injury which, 8 years later, i still deal with. It also wrecked my relationship to food for nearly a decade. Would never ever ever do it again. Fueling yourself properly is so important and is not stressed enough for female athletes. Thank you for talking about this.
Natacha Oceane did a video going into the science of whether menstrual cycle affects athletic performance and the results were super mixed so I think it comes down to individual experience. I've noticed I'm often a bit weaker while lifting right before my period and then feel stronger during/after. I also notice I'm much hungrier for a bit before my period (so I listen to my body and eat more!) and then my appetite decreases when I get it. Also wanted to say that menstrual cups have been a game changer for me comfortably training during my period! Takes a bit to get the hang of them but worth it.
Thank you for this. I'm an ultra-runner and I was diagnosed by my GP as having RED-S. I eat a ton but I guess I also run a ton as well (and maybe wasn't eating as much of a ton as I thought?) Anyway, came here to say three things: 1) I'm 34 so I'm living proof it can strike everyone 2) this us a such a sensitively presented fab video. Thanks SO much for making it and sharing your story. 3) My two-cents is the rise of running platforms and apps are great and they get people moving and running (big yay). But doing programmes without a real live coach can be a risk too. My (unnamed) app I'm using casually told me to go out and do a 60k run as my long run one week. There are SO many issues with this, mostly that it can make you overtrain and underfuel without really thinking too hard about it, which probably was part of the reason for my period loss. Thanks so much again
Loved this video. I have endometriosis and have been on the hormonal coil for more than 7 years. ( different coils in between ). Although the thought of having kids terrifies me and the coil acts as both contraception and endo treatment, I’m super glad that you spoke about red s as I am getting into running and although not an elite athlete the signs of red s are super important to know.
I love this, thanks so much for mentioning endometriosis because everyone seems to demonise the pill but without it I wouldn’t be able to run or cope in general! So it’s really nice that you emphasised that actually it is better in some instances but of course great if you can just have a normal cycle If that works for you. Thanks for talking about this!
Thank you for talking about this! I’ve been debating getting an IUD but i was a bit worried since it could stop my period, that i wouldn’t have that monthly reminder that i’m healthy. i’ve had a past with ED and red-s and i wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. I don’t know too many runners and their take on hormonal contraceptives. thank you!
This was actually more inspirational than I expected. My first thought on wanting your period back was "Why?" I'm nearly 52 and I have never found my period or cycle helpful in any way. But I have also never had the resources or taken training within your cycle's hormonal changes that seriously. I now feel a little more positive (or maybe less negative) about having my periods after watching this video. I will add - as you mentioned all woman are so different - I am also VERY different with each cycle which is absolute pain in the arse. Sometimes I feel unstoppable on my period.... sometimes I just want to curl up and sleep. BUT that may be due to not ever really allowing my body to get into a good rhythm due to disordered eating and inconsistent training. I am not an elite athlete but I do push myself hard and follow some great training plans but never really follow any fueling or recovery plans!!! It will be very interesting when I have gone through the menopause and no longer have a cycle! Thanks for a great vid. :)
I have endometriosis and the pain I used to experience during running, particularly during my cycle, was next level. If I tried to push through it I would end up crying on the ground in the foetal position. Even in public. The pill saved me and now I can run and train all I want with minimal pain. Tempted as I might be, I am going to stay on the pill. Thanks for talking about this though. It really is such an important topic.
I'm currently reading Lauren Fleshman's 'Good for a Girl', where she talks about how coaches and others in the community were aware than many athletes experienced EDs and REDs but no one really did anything about it and watched the athletes rise and fall dramatically because of it. Thanks so much for speaking out about this and being a role model for young athletes that might see restrictive behaviour and not be mature enough to see past it
Wow. I had just finished reading Lauren Fleshman’s “Good for a girl” this morning after Mark Hookway recommended it on his channel the other day, and this comes out. Keep talking about this, Phily.
Never really been a video commenter. Making a point to add my tiny vote to promote such high-quality, incredibly important content for women and girls in (and out) of sport. I have known and seen too many women living for splits and PBs at the expense of long-term health. Thank you for using your platform to promote good things like this. 💯
i am an ultra distance athlete who has probably experienced red-s. i also have a job that is physically demanding and i am almost always dead fucking tired towards the end of my shift. i know i eat a lot of calories everyday, almost always more than 3000 and try to keep feeding windows pretty close together 2-4 hours apart. i accept that my passion for running is not in line w/ what i do to earn income and pay the bills. currently on my 9th day of rest w/ no running/training and looking forward to some days off work this week when i start training again. Thanks for the insight, Philyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I’m 38 and not an athlete; I’m a beginner with running (started last summer). I like dancing, walking, hula hooping, shooting hoops, and kicking a ball around for exercise. Anyhoo, I’m watching this while on my period. I started mine when I was 4th grade and going through puberty so young gave me some of my body image issues. I also had a double whammy with ending up with large breasts. I finally got a reduction last summer and then started a couch to 5K program when I was cleared to be able to work out again. It’s been so helpful as I no longer need to double or triple bra to workout. I also had other symptoms such as back, neck, and shoulder pain, and rashes.
Thinks for being so open. I haven’t had a period for years due to an ED, overtraining and underfueling and now suffer from low bone mineral density. I started HRT a few months ago (estrogene and progesterone) and it’s horrible.
I 100% agree with talking about periods is important for everyone. For a year I worked in a boarding house and talked totally openly with the boys and girls about them. Girls because they had them or were going to get them (we’re talking year 5-8 boarders) and it was important that they might be frightened if no one else had talked to them about it or needed to be confident that they could ask about what was normal/not normal (and yes, I got pulled to one side by two year 8 girls during the year because I was open about talking about it and it not being scary/dirty/whatever) and the boys because they were brothers and sons and one day boyfriends/husbands. They all needed to understand about it and why it was super important that women do have them.
Great for speaking out on this (and your past eating disorder. Not that it should be expected from anyone who has had one, but those who choose to can help others). Periods should not be such a taboo and I think it's good this is slowly changing. Non of the above directly applies to me, but always eager to learn. 👏👏
This video came at the right time. It’s been about a year after removing my hormonal IUD and also getting back into running. I was considering going back to an IUD, but I have been really happy to be in-tune with my body’s natural hormonal cycle.
An invaluable video for something which almost became a taboo subject ! I wouldn't mind a pound for every young endurance athlete who succumbed in some way to the conditions you mention ! Nice work on highlighting these issues...
I really struggle to be in a calorie defecit to lose the last few pounds of my weight loss journey while continuing to be a better stronger faster healthier runner, I think this video saved me an injury in the long run, thank you!
Go have a look at this messy happy. They’ve posted some good videos on supporting your running journey (in case you haven’t come across them yet) I’ve just come here from their latest video. It was really helpful
Heh, I have the exact same problem! Over the past couple of years I have gone from being obese to being at the high end of normal (BMI ~24) mostly by normal calorie restriction. More recently I've got back into running bigtime, doing 4 runs a week and setting 5k and 10k PBs regularly. I would like to lose just a couple more kgs but am finding it very hard to lose any sort of weight with the increased appetite from my increased training load.
@@asystole_ The one things I’ve learned through all this running and weight loss journey is ignore BMI, it will drive you crazy and it is really inaccurate for individuals but is a good measure for larger population
Thank you for talking about that, it is so hard to find information and people living the same experience with sport/food... As a runner with the same issue, I appreciate you share your experience, it is soooooooo precious !! Thank's to you I never skip breakfast anymore 🍳😍
Thank you for being brave enough to share this. I lost my period for over 7 years due to REDs back 40 years ago. Your brain and voices will lie to you and tell you this is the most important thing . But your life is more than sport - family, children and other events will come along as you grow older to help put this in better perspective. ( Don't forget that you will lose bone again naturally as you go through menopause !).
THANK YOU for the endometriosis disclaimer at the beginning ❤. There’s a lot of talk about hormone health on social media but no one thinks about us Endo girls. I have to rely on two types of hormonal therapies so I can live pain free!
Thank you for addressing this! We were always taught it was a horrible and shameful thing and competing was going to suffer. I’d much rather for your typical female athlete learn what works best for her cycle as well as not having shame around it. I’m starting to enter into perimenopause and have some other health issues on top of it. It’s strange, but really listening to my body and knowing my cycle is so beneficial to my running and I’m in the best shape of my life. I know what days might be an unplanned rest day or a hard day to burn through the hormone based frustration (Hulk out carefully, don’t risk injury).
I have very recently stopped taking the pill (it's been about three months). Before that, I have taken the pill for 10 years (from age 16 until 26) !! And I had started taking it because I had a hormonal imbalance and not getting my period regularly and have other symptoms (acne, etc). My experience so far has been great and very reassuring because I've almost right away got my period back with none of the symptoms I was experiencing before ! So hang in there, i'm sure you'll be very happy to get to know your body better 🥰🥰
thank you so much for this video! im personally a trans woman who trains and plays with other women and its something i often hear about but these problems from my friends and teammates and its good to hear a devoted video about it because knowledge about periods is sequestered away far too much and the RED-S resource is very important to get out there, for everyone
Thanks for the video Phily. I track my cycle and basal temperature using natural cycles. Highly recommend for tracking your cycle, knowing ovulation and times of fertility (helpful if avoiding pregnancy...) anyway, tracking my cycle and temp has basically changed my life . It's great you're putting videos out like this.
This topic is so important, and we should keep sharing, it's not only elite athletes that are susceptible. Thank you Phily for spreading the word. 🙌 As a very average runner and climber, I was diagnosed with RED-S when being seen by a sports physio. I had already had an ankle fracture and disc degeneration in my lower back and months without periods but this had never been considered by the many GP's I saw, in-fact I ended up sharing my resources with my GP and back specialist to educate them. Some of the damage i've done to my body is permanent and it was preventable, if you watched this and found similarities in your story definitely seek advice and please push if you're ignored!
Thank you for keeping it real, as always! Super appreciate you for helping people learn about this… especially men. Not trying to takeaway from the importance/usefulness of the video but that butter dish is brilliant as well 🤌
Thanks for talking about this. I'm a male, but this should be known by everyone, also it should not be a taboo. We still have so much to learn regarding women's health and women's health in sports. It's incredible to see how poorly covered those matters are in scientific research. This should change, and your video is adding a voice towards that. Happy Period Recovery ✌️👍
Thank you for mentioning endometriosis, even if briefly! I am learning to live with the condition and getting to understand my body with it and how to train with it. As more people talk about it, the more awareness there will be for it.
I had to take a step back from my group of athletics club friends as the negative body talk was so unhelpful for me. We are all masters runner and they all coach kids so i genuinely worry about the impact on kids and teens they could be having. As someone who took a lot of my 30s recovering from an ED I really appreciate you highlighting how negative this is from a performance and long term health perspective. Ive heard a very famous coach say the most harmful things on podcasts recently and quote that ridiculous, refuted minute/kg paper that should have gone out with the ark. Appear to be in full rant mode now...am on my period though 😂
Hello Phily, Thank you for your great video and sharing your expirience!!! As a medical professional I'd just love to add that the hormonal coil does not supress your menstrual cycle just your bleeding because it works locally in the uterus and not central in your brain like the pill which you ingest and it goes into your bloodstream and brain. You can still get cycle related symptomes etc. You just don't bleed or just very little but that bleeding ist not like with the pill it is an actual "tiny" period. But the coil does make tracking your cycle diffcult and you would not recognize missing periods due to overtraining, underfueling etc. I myself have thought of getting mine out to train sync with my cycle an getting to know my body better. Much love 💝
I'm currently experiencing this right now. After not having a period for 3 years, by under fueling and over exercising, I realized I can't live freely without it. When I started making the changes to get it back, I realized the huge difference eating more and exercising less made. Soon I'll be able to run again, and I'll be very happy for that day💜
Hey Phily, thank you for raising awareness/sharing resources about amenorrhea and RED-S and sharing your experience (as well as its importance for non female athletes)! I also wanted to highlight that people of all genders experience amenorrhea/menstruate.
I really appreciate your openness with sharing these personal details with all of us! I was on the pill for several years with an "artificially regular" cycle and when I stopped it took quite a while for my cycle to stabilize, so I guess my one piece of advice is to try and be patient as you wait for it to come back.
For me its the opposite, I had super heavy and painful periods and for the first one or two days i'd be in so much pain, painkillers did nothing and all I could do is lay down and wait for it to go away, which made training hard. I even got my period once in the middle of an Ironman, had no tampon with me so had to free bleed on the run and the cramps really slowed me down. Now I have an IUD and it is soooo much better to not have really heavy bleeding and cramps and doesn't affect my day to day life! But I do know some triathletes that build their training around their cycles, its really interesting to see how different our strength and energy levels can be depending on the time of the month
You will still be having your cycle with the IUD as your ovarian function is not really affected by the local progesterone release. I track mine! It does make it harder when the bleeds are so light you may not even notice them which is why it is so important for me to track them as I can get terrible PMS and it helps me put that into perspective.I will feel awful and then I can be reassured when I see that I am 1 week away from my 'period', ahah. I hope it gives you more freedom and confidence in your endurance events!
TRIGGER WARNING: In this video I talk about eating disorders and amenorrhoea. We should have included a trigger warning at the start of this video and I’m sorry for not doing so - please don’t watch if you think you may be triggered by these subjects ❤
To be fair the title feels like a trigger warning
As a man who knows way too little about period but who now has a young daughter who in the coming years will start having periods these videos are super educational! Thank you for doing this
It's amazing how much we men realise we don't know once we have kids (especially girls!) My young girls have curly/wavy hair...which could be a degree at university all to itself!
@@williegunn292 I can just about manage a pony tail - the rest is like some sort of black magic
@@pieter2236 Haha - I hear ya. The school teachers know straight away by the state of my daughter's hair which parent's been in charge in the morning.
Cheat code for your daughter and your wife, and this is extremely old school: One 500mg Pantothenic Acid pill per day and two Yam Root pills per day, year round. It helps with the cramps, the emotional roller-coaster, and helps the cycle become regular (time between periods). It works incredibly well, takes about 4-6 weeks of use before the full benefit is seen, but after that it becomes very noticeable.
I have a 24yr old daughter, and turned her on to this "black magic" prior to aunt flow arriving for the first visit. She is not on birth control, even though that was the first thing that was "thrown" at her, and us, I think back when she was 14ish. Ridiculous. Similarly, my wife was never on birth control, not before we were married, or during.
We need to take care of the women in our lives!
The fact that you’re sitting through these videos as men is amazing. Thank you for educating yourselves to help women. The world needs more men like you 😊
I love that you and Allie are both getting into these topics. It is just a reminder though that things like female athletics is broken at the core. There really needs to be more in place at ground level preventing and protecting young athletes from eating disorders rather than being a silent breeding ground for them. It's not right in 2024 that this is still the case.
Thanks for being open and sharing your journey Phily. People like you, Allie and other athletes are in a unique position to maybe try and influence some change, encouraging prioritising health especially for those youngsters looking up to you.
BTW: I was watching Anthony Walsh (roadman) interview, and men's athletics (in this case professional road cycling) aren't immune to this: ruclips.net/video/fuI8AVMgi_A/видео.html
It makes me happy to have been a low category maybe perhaps slightly blubbery (63kg/175cm) racer and now 64kg fitness rider rather than an elite competitor. One's health over the years should never be considered a bargaining chip to be squandered for a result. Eat lots of high quality calories and burn them!
As a father, grandfather and an employer who employs about 60+ young ladies, this is very educational! We have been pushing the men to get into accepting the body truths of their colleagues, mothers, sisters and friends. We have also introduced ‘period leaves’. In India this is a topic that is pushed under the carpet! Thank you for sharing this🤗
This is amazing to read! Thank you for understanding and working with women. The world needs more men like you!
@@anna-louisepowell3489 🙏
Love the approach you're taking Philly, I feel like female athletes are almost taught to think of their period as an inconvenience rather than an indicator of health and super useful data on how our bodies operate best while training!
Making sure you fuel properly is so important and things like this are so common in female endurance athletes. People really need to know things like this
Absolutely, I think more information about how to fuel properly, and less people telling athletes there are “good” or “bad” foods (talking about the white bread police for example) is needed
@@PhilyBowden definitely
This conversation is so undervalued. As a female athlete (swimming) during my teens / early twenties i can 100% relate to your story. Since getting my natural cycle back, I appreciate it so much more and am so more aware of my cycle influences me training and how to adapt to perform my best
How did u got your cycle back ? Please I would do anything to have mine back
Yyyeeesssss. This to me is what is needed. Being a Girl Dad I’m so underprepared in this regard. So thank you so much for shedding light on such things as well. And always… the edit is 🔥🔥🔥
Yaaaaaas Phily! In so happy you're using your platform to talk about this ❤
I was diagnosed with REDs after losing my period for 6 months last year. It led to a string of injuries that I'm still coming back from. REDs is no joke!!
I didn’t have a period for 4-5 years and now really value it and am so thankful for it each month. My amenorrhea was due to underfueling but I think especially around my runs - running fasted and not getting in enough food afterward. Changing those two things and reducing my running volume for a time seemed to be the keys to getting my period back. Now my volume and energy far exceed what I ever had without a period.
There’s a lot of advice in old running books about fasted runs being good for athletes to be able to metabolise fat as a fuel source better. This is a classic example of training practises being based on male athletes and this advice is still lingering around when for women it’s the opposite - we’re naturally really good at metabolising fat and training fasted for us is often a detriment to our hormone health - something I never knew until hearing it on a podcast from some experts!
@@PhilyBowden which podcast was this?
As a coach (general fitness/PT) I would be really interested as this definitely is very much still the common approach for many to go for fasted cardio.
@@WanderFreeWithBarb I can’t remember exactly but I’m pretty sure it had Dr Georgie Bruinvels in it - the Five Miles Easy Podcast interviewed her recently!
@@PhilyBowden I just wonder, if you have to lower the training volume because of the cycle or whatnot, how does that effect your running improvement wise? Won't it make it harder to improve because you train less over all? Or does volume not effect it that much as long as it's in the right amount? Because to me it sounds really difficult to get fitter if you have to have a cycle every month. (Or something like that, I'm not familiar with how long the cycle is) I guess what I'm trying to say is what is the right amount of training during your cycle? Let's say for trying break 15 minutes in a 5k like your self, if you are training to break 15 in a 5k, what do you think is a balanced amount of mileage ran during your cycle. I'm still not sure if I phrased it correctly because my knowledge on this kind of stuff is very minimal at best XD
@@PhilyBowden 100%. "Women are not small men". Stacy Sims has some great talks/podcasts on this topic.
I've struggled with red-s/secondary amenorrhea in the past, and would often lose my period for months at a time. I was under-fuelling almost all of my runs and running all runs at way too high of an effort (even so-called easy days). I wouldn't have admitted it to any of my peers or for that matter - even myself. The truth is, I wasn't eating because I believed that to run fast/perform better, it would mean to be as lean as possible - which we in hindsight know not to be true. My harsh wake-up call was a stress fracture in my foot, whereby I had to take months off running. After a lot of self-reflection/secretly deep down knowing why I decided to never let that happen again. I think the only thing that could've convinced me to change my behaviour prior, was the harsh reality of injury and months off running. Thank you for sharing, I definitely would've loved to have seen this growing up.
Weirdly I have run some of my best PBs during my period 😂 one thing I absolutely reccomend is menstrual cups, very comfy and nothing bulky and external to get in the way in your race kit!
Same! And I can't lie; the feeling of knowing you did it while bleeding makes you feel quite empowered and strong. Well done you!
Same! And the cup is such a game changer. Couldnt live without it now 😅
I agree, the cups are great and work better than anything else
FINALLY other women who run better on their period!!! I'm not crazy!
Hey! It’s actually NOT weird to run better on your period.😊 During that time, your hormones are actually optimal for performance (closer to male physiology). So if your other symptoms are manageable you should be able to perform at your best despite the bleeding. Cheers😁
This video is incredible timing! Currently experiencing period abnormalities. What I struggle with the most is pinpointing whether I’m over training OR under fueling. I’m too stubborn to accept that it’s probably a little bit of both. Also, im a person that is STUCK in a routine and have a hard time changing things. This is a very important topic to cover! This is 100% something that a lot of us struggle with, and the fact that this video popped up on my home page is a wake up call that I need to stop ignoring/excusing my irregular periods. Thanks Phily!
Good video Phily - I'm chairman of a running club, and it has shocked me how many of the ladies in my club have been through or are going through what you're talking about here.
I Think you covered this topic very sensitively and in an informative manner. Well done both of you 😊, love the grind
Father of an elite female high school distance runner. The struggle is real, both RED-S and ED. Thank you Philly for adding your voice to this discussion and providing an example!
As a plant-based ultra-distance runner, fueling enough is work. At least as important as mileage or workouts or sleep. Even with knowledge and resources it can be hard.
Thank you Phily. As a male, who coaches many female athletes, this is excellent information to know. The health of all of my athletes is the most important thing for me, so the more information I have, the better I can take care of them.
How do you navigate the morality of balancing the pursuit of athletic performance with the side-effects of female reproductive health?
@@goodyeoman4534
First, I present my athletes with the most up to date information l can find. Then they make their own decisions. I respect my athletes and allow them to make their own choices. I am mostly just a guide and a resource. The only area that I do get a little pushy is with diet. Proper fueling is very important. However, even in this area the athletes have choices.
I'm really happy that you are taking an interest in this! Stacy Sims has some great talks on this if you're interested to learn more. :)
I hope this is a statement of support and not an indication that this is the first you are hearing of this. Sceening female athetes for ED and ensure proper fueling should be front and center
Really glad that you’re discussing this topic - RED-S can affect people at every level! Five years ago I went ~12months without a cycle and I am not an elite athlete - just a casual cyclist/parkrunner. I spoke to multiple well-meaning GPs who listened but just weren’t informed. In many ways it was RUclips videos of people discussing their experiences that allowed me to work it out for myself. The more more people aware of this the better!
My takeaway from that experience is that your period is the canary in the coal mine. Every time I feel a bit shit, curled up with a hot water bottle I’m still glad I’ve got it!
I suffered from RED-S and disordered eating/ exercise and now I'm trying to come back and get things together again. I really want to thank you Philly for being inspiring and sharing this is important to take about.
As a guy it affects reproductive systems as well, your body shuts those down first to save energy. To not get to explicit the flag can't rise and the sex drive diminishes. And that's a first sign for men that you are training too hard.
Thank you so much for your vulnerability and courage/strength in sharing this! I’ve been familiar with RED-S for years, but was ignorant to the fact that I, a male, am just as at risk. It’s great to keep raising awareness and exposing this so we all address it more.
As the father of a young daughter just entering sport, I find this invaluable, along with much of the other stuff you’ve shared, and will certainly continue my research.
Also, for what it’s worth, my wife noticed a tremendous difference when coming off contraceptives. She’s not a medical professional nor an athlete, but claims it was the best thing for her body and only wished she had done it sooner.
Best wishes in your transition and continued training! (And I love my PBRC shirt! Just came in this week and already wore it on a session!)
Thanks Phily... Very much appreciated, I'm a dad trying to help his daughter navigate all sorts of stuff related to this.❤
I’ve had an eating disorder throughout all of high school so far and my training has been great and some points and horrible at others. Currently I’m really trying to eat more, but physically my body is volatile with food. Right now I am struggling to get through my training, even my long runs and easy reps. I really want to get faster and stronger so I can compete against the best in my field because I can’t even run a good race when it counts. Your channel really gives me hope and inspires me to keep trying even though recovery is super uncomfortable for me. Thank you for being a positive influence.
I’m so proud of you for being in recovery! Remind yourself that whilst recovery feels hard and uncomfortable now, it’s worth it to not feel this way in the future! ❤
Thank you so much for this Phily. Watched Allie Ostrander’s similar video on this topic, commented on that one as well, and I’m in the same boat as you more or less. I’ve been on the pill for nearly 4 years now, and I’ve been explaining to my teammates and my family that no it’s not the same thing as having a period, no it’s not a panacea for all sorts of things, and I think this video and Allie’s are the push I needed to finally come off of it. Thank you so so so so much for being so honest and vulnerable.
Thank you so so much for being open and vulnerable enough to talk about this. It changes things more than you know.
-from a fellow runner who has struggled with amenorrhea and irregular periods
YESSSSS!!! I'm so happy you are addressing this. I started paying better attention to my natural cycle a couple of years ago - and feel so much happier, healthier, fitter and stronger since I've been eating and training in line with what my body needs. I've often wanted to comment on some of your videos (especially ones where you didn't perform as well as you felt you should have been able to) - wondering if you could find some explanations within your cycle - but resisted, as I didn't think it was my place (as a randomer on the internet!) But I am so happy for you that you are thinking about this, and look forward to hearing how you get on and what else you find out. 💪🤓
It took me some time but I've learned that the hormonal change during the cycle impacts my adhd symptoms massively. It's not specifically running related but impacts it as well i.e. in form of motivation. Understaning and accepting that was quite life changing for me. Wishing you the best for your little journey you are on right now.
This is brilliant. I’m nowhere near a professional runner but I’m a keen enthusiast. I haven’t used contraception for years since being married. Honestly the difference from being on the depo injection to now is massive.
Since I started running again back in Feb23 I’ve noticed how the week of my period I struggle to move as well. It feels like I have heavy legs and am more prone to feeling like I’m going to injure myself if I push it. The following week I’m like a new person. It is so important to listen to your body and that’s what I have started to implement and see my period week as a recovery week. Pilates, stretches and general care of myself. This has taken a while to come to though , I have fought against myself…..a lot!! It’s so beneficial but I’m starting to see that to be the best version of yourself these are the things you need to honour. Hats off to you for being brave to share this. Even now the stigma of periods is huge and the more it can be normalised the better. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for being transparent and forthcoming on what many might see as a difficult topic, and I appreciate you encouraging male viewers to pay the same attention to it as well. I have struggled with hormonal imbalances that can be traced to RED-S in the past, and that’s something I’m always on the lookout and responding to.
Also, I coach many athletes-male and female-and while some of my athletes are open and forthcoming about their menstrual health, others are not (understandable, and I’m not their doctor, of course). It can be tough to tell whether someone is making healthy energy choices. Your video is a great, shareable resource. 🙏
I think this is a super important topic! Just to clarify some things for people - losing a people by taking hormonal contraception DOES NOT put you at the same risks as losing it from relative energy deficiency. You don't necessarily need a bleed - with progesterone based contraception like IUDs, the progesterone is keeping your uterine lining thin, so there isn't much to shed. Your bones are still being protected. It's true though that it can make it mask relative energy deficiency, since it can create withdrawal bleeds (especially with birth control pills) that you wouldn't otherwise have. So contraception itself doesn't put you at risk, but it can make it hard to know where you're at, if you're worried or not sure
This topic needs more people talking about it. Just watched video from Allie Ostrander the other day. This is very educational even for a male. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. As an endometriosis sufferer my challenge is the fact that I have not had a period for over 25 years because of the regime I was put on to manage my symptoms. I have recently been put on complimentary HRT, but I have still not found my balance, not helped as an ultra runner and inability to keep fuelled on my longer runs. But I keep trying, and constantly learning about myself and proactively being aware of when I am feeling strong and when I am close or over my limits are key.
Thanks for bringing this topic up!
Hormone health and periods are such an important topic.
I love that you mention the different situations and how they can vary. Losing a period due to RED-S is always bad. I like that you explain that some people may be better off (endometriosis) without their period but that it's so important to be aware of what that may mean due to a lack of monitoring/visible monthly cycle and therefore potential difficulty monitoring hormonal and therefore whole health. It also slightly separately can be a huge change and have an impact on fertility if getting pregnant does become something a woman wants to do.
I also love that you de-stigmatise the topic in general!
Another interesting point we don't know much about (chronically under-researched women's health) is what our "natural" reproductive life would have looked like. It's likely that pre-modern age and birth control women would have had FAR fewer periods in their lives than we do now. Women would have spent much of their lives pregnant or breastfeeding. So while this is for a TOTALLY different reason hormonal birth control (hormone side effects aside as obviously it's a different mechanism of action) may in some ways replicate this. But we actually don't know yet what the implications are either way e.g. what are the consequences of having so many periods compared to "cave woman", is it better or worse to be on birth control compared to this? The more we talk about it, the more research is encouraged the better informed women can be, the more research can take place and the more choices and knowledge will be available to women, whatever turns out to be the result of research.
I enjoy listening to you, not just for the major, life impacting information you share, (as I send these to my daughter’s) to the slightest of language nuances. My brother in law is Manx, and regularly reminds us colonials that we are, in fact, one peoples, separated by a common language! Today’s word is “tumble-turn”! I share this to ensure you that even as a late 50’s gentleman, I listen to EVERY word you speak. Thank you.
Thank you for the courage it took to put this one out there. 36 male here, just getting into the longer stuff (first two marathons last season), but it's scary to me how obvious and pervasive disordered eating has become. It wasn't a "thing" when I was running track and cross country in middle and high school, and now it feels like everyone is unnaturally limiting their fuel intake, recovery, and overextending themselves even on the non-competitive super amateur levels. I have two young boys who are just getting into the running thing and my wife thinks I'm insane for enjoying the sport, but at least I know what to look for and how to help or direct people to help should such events strike closer to home. More over, thank you for doing your part to destigmatize what I see as a huge issue within the running community.
There is so much I don't know about women's health, and I'm so grateful to the women who take time to explain their experiences. Your willingness to include us men in these conversations is so appreciated by so many of us. Thank you so much.
This video is super important for female athletes. Thanks for doing this. You are awesome Philly and I am sure you will get this sorted out.
I’ve been struggling with amenorrhea for 4+ years now and I’m so grateful for this video! Thank you Phily x
As a recreational runner in my thirties who doesn't want children, not having a period because of my Mirena is perfectly fine. We all have our own journeys. I'm excited to hear how yours goes.
I had an eating disorder before my running career .Back in the 70s there was very little knowledge about eating disorders or amenorhea.
I have no libido, before or after amenhorea which never bothered me.I was glad not to have periods and felt generally ok.
But eventually after a spell of Achilles tendon injury I got the periods back.
I ran my best races on track , road and fell after this and generally had better health and fewer injuries.
I’m glad you have posted this video, as REDS is a very serious concern among distance athletes.😊
Loved the video and how you get the content across. Here's an additional thought. A lot of the symptoms of Red-S you mention (tiredness, loss of bone density and danger of osteoporosis, irregular or absent bleeding, mood swings and depression) are also entirely normal symptoms of the perimenopause - and clearly they are caused by the same thing, namely a hormonal imbalance, in the case of perimenopause the rollercoaster ride of variations in estrogen. Symptoms can first appear many years before the actual menopause, sometimes 10 years before menopause actually happens. So, once you're in, say, you're late 30s or mid-40s, the symptoms, should you be getting them, may not point straight to Red-S, but may just be perimenopause. Worth a thought.
As someone who recently learned that I have the bone density of an 80 year old in my 20's due to RED-S...I feel your struggle. I had the implant in, which masked my missed periods. This video hits home. And these comments are everything to me right now -- this is very much on my mind, and seeing other people's stories is massively uplifting. Thanks for posting this, Philly!
So important, thank you for sharing! I suffered with REDs and didn't have my period for years. If I could tell someone suffering with REDs one thing it would be you will be faster and stronger once you have recovered and will regret not recovering from REDs sooner.
YESSSS!!! I love seeing other athletes talking about periods especially an elite athlete like Phily!!! I have had similar experiences with my cycle and training and being in tune with your body is sooooo amazing! I am at the stage where I know where i need to fuel and recover more during my cycle which makes training so much more beneficial. Once you start having your period regularly you see so many patterns and how incredible a woman's body really is!!!
Thank you for shedding some light on this prevalent issue. I am a distance runner for a D1 college and have not had my period for almost five years. It is so frustrating but I am working hard to restore my body to its normal state of being.
Such a great video. Really appreciate you using your platform to share this information, @PhilyBowden. I have been a long distance runner for the past 12 years and a soccer player for 15 years before that (now running marathons and half marathons). I used to be vegan and train mostly fasted. For the first few years, I seemed to get faster and faster (what I'd later learn is just a 'honeymoon' period), but then my body started breaking itself down. I had bone injury after bone injury, for about four years, poor mental health, and all sorts of gut issues. It's only in the past year, after correcting my fueling (no more fasted training, no restricted eating, fueling with 50g carbs per hour for long runs, and getting in plenty of good macros post runs) that I have stopped getting injured and feel stronger than ever, plus have no more gut problems whatsoever. I also added high-load lifting to my routine, to correct the terrible bone density that accompanied the prolonged amenorrhea I experienced with my RED-S. For context - I had a spinal T score of minus 4 in my twenties (severe osteoporosis) and now have normal bone density (no more osteoporosis) thanks to eating properly, getting a regular cycle and high load lifting. Can't stress how important this topic is and how much RED-S can damage one's quality of life, not just for months but for years if allowed to persist.
Hey Philly, I was going to watch this video anyway, but I can understand why guys wouldn’t. Very interesting, helpful to understand. Especially for men who currently or may in the future coach women.
PS I have a 6 month old girl, so I’m sure that’ll be helpful in the future. Her momma is ex-10,000m Champion, so hopefully she’ll take after her momma and not me in natural ability 😂
This conversation is SO important. Well done Phily.
I still feel like cycle based training has worked with my IUD, I have been able to track ups and downs in performance that coincide with bleeds (not that I'm a professional athlete, just do a lot of sport). I haven't had a natural cycle in 12 years and there's no way I can face having one (too debilitating, at least when I was a teen). Interested to hear how you find the transition (emotionally and physically) in case I consider it down the line. Wanted to also add that depending on the person hormonal contraception can be a super helpful and freeing tool that also should not be perceived negatively (like periods themselves). We're veerrryy lucky to have it easily accessible in the UK!
I want to bump this comment up! Completely understand the sentiment on this video and the issues for young women around ED (me having previously been one of them) , exercise and menstruating. But contraception is not the baddy here and should not all be lumped into the same category. Combined oral contraceptive (COCs) and single hormone devices, e.g. IUDs, the implant, patches etc are different. I really believe IUDs are amazing, they are locally acting, single hormone and have little to no effect on actual ovarian hormone production (several longitudinal studies have shown sadly with small sample sizes). So you can track your cycle because you are having a cycle (follicular phase, ovulation etc.), but just your endometrium is not building up in the same way so you don't have much/ anything to shed each month. Caveat is I am a doctor but not a fertility nor sexual health specialist (internal medical trainee). We do need to discuss the lack of anaesthetic and analgesia use when putting them into nulliparous (a person who has not had a baby) and taking them out, but that is a whole different topic on the infuriating lack of analgesia used in women's health issues.
I have recovered from RED-s. I am apart of project RED-s and saw the doctor's at Boston Children's. This video hit the nail on the head, thank you for bringing awareness to this subject!
Thank you for speaking on such an important topic! I also use Mirena, and my cycle is extremely light with minor symptoms in general. For now, that's working for me, but it's so good to consider what's best for your body and be aware of the signs it is sharing ❤
It's very brave of you to be so open about these subjects. I'm sure this video will help a lot of people. Back in the days when I was your age these things were never discussed.
This is brilliant! I recently saw a video of Lucie Davis Fit talking about how when completing the speed project she started her period in the middle of the race (300 mile relay race) for the first time in a few years! The body is amazing and love that you’re talking about it. 🤘
This sort of video really is incredible and so important particularly for young women. It’s also encouraging to see these developments in understanding women’s health in sport. As someone who has been running since I was 13 I was actively encouraged to be as light as possible and to not have periods by my male coach. Roll on disordered eating and over training and then getting in to taking oral contraceptive this video made me realise I’ve probably only had a combined total of 2 years in the past 30 of having periods where they have been ‘normal’. I am still a keen runner and thankfully am over all the earlier issues but I wonder how my body would have performed if nurtured in the right way. Now I have a young daughter who I cannot stress enough to her, that having her period is a sign of health. This is wonderful to see and truly inspiring for girls and women. Thank you for being so honest and putting it out there.
I haven't had my period in a few years and your genuine positive outlook and advice has encouraged me to be brave and take the step to see a gynecologist. I'm young and still want to be healthy and running when I'm older! Thank you Philly. 😊
I paid for college on a cross country scholarship, and during that time i lost my period for two years. I was training hard and underfueling. My nervous system was in flight or fight mode constantly. Inevitably I got an injury which, 8 years later, i still deal with. It also wrecked my relationship to food for nearly a decade. Would never ever ever do it again. Fueling yourself properly is so important and is not stressed enough for female athletes. Thank you for talking about this.
We love you, Philly! You are a great person, a huge inspiration and very funny content creator. Love the grind!
Pippa Woolven is my goddamn hero! Her work bringing attention to red-s, for women AND men, is incredible.
Natacha Oceane did a video going into the science of whether menstrual cycle affects athletic performance and the results were super mixed so I think it comes down to individual experience. I've noticed I'm often a bit weaker while lifting right before my period and then feel stronger during/after. I also notice I'm much hungrier for a bit before my period (so I listen to my body and eat more!) and then my appetite decreases when I get it. Also wanted to say that menstrual cups have been a game changer for me comfortably training during my period! Takes a bit to get the hang of them but worth it.
As an athlete who never saw or knew about RED-S, thank you for making this. I wish I had seen someone do this a year ago x
Thanks for this
Thanks for keeping it real!!!! Always love your honesty.
Thank you for this. I'm an ultra-runner and I was diagnosed by my GP as having RED-S. I eat a ton but I guess I also run a ton as well (and maybe wasn't eating as much of a ton as I thought?) Anyway, came here to say three things: 1) I'm 34 so I'm living proof it can strike everyone 2) this us a such a sensitively presented fab video. Thanks SO much for making it and sharing your story. 3) My two-cents is the rise of running platforms and apps are great and they get people moving and running (big yay). But doing programmes without a real live coach can be a risk too. My (unnamed) app I'm using casually told me to go out and do a 60k run as my long run one week. There are SO many issues with this, mostly that it can make you overtrain and underfuel without really thinking too hard about it, which probably was part of the reason for my period loss. Thanks so much again
female athlete triad is SUCH a huge deal, thank you for bringing awareness to it and such (unfortunately) common struggle
Loved this video.
I have endometriosis and have been on the hormonal coil for more than 7 years. ( different coils in between ).
Although the thought of having kids terrifies me and the coil acts as both contraception and endo treatment, I’m super glad that you spoke about red s as I am getting into running and although not an elite athlete the signs of red s are super important to know.
I love this, thanks so much for mentioning endometriosis because everyone seems to demonise the pill but without it I wouldn’t be able to run or cope in general! So it’s really nice that you emphasised that actually it is better in some instances but of course great if you can just have a normal cycle If that works for you. Thanks for talking about this!
Thank you for talking about this!
I’ve been debating getting an IUD but i was a bit worried since it could stop my period, that i wouldn’t have that monthly reminder that i’m healthy. i’ve had a past with ED and red-s and i wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. I don’t know too many runners and their take on hormonal contraceptives.
thank you!
This was actually more inspirational than I expected. My first thought on wanting your period back was "Why?" I'm nearly 52 and I have never found my period or cycle helpful in any way. But I have also never had the resources or taken training within your cycle's hormonal changes that seriously. I now feel a little more positive (or maybe less negative) about having my periods after watching this video. I will add - as you mentioned all woman are so different - I am also VERY different with each cycle which is absolute pain in the arse. Sometimes I feel unstoppable on my period.... sometimes I just want to curl up and sleep. BUT that may be due to not ever really allowing my body to get into a good rhythm due to disordered eating and inconsistent training. I am not an elite athlete but I do push myself hard and follow some great training plans but never really follow any fueling or recovery plans!!! It will be very interesting when I have gone through the menopause and no longer have a cycle! Thanks for a great vid. :)
I have endometriosis and the pain I used to experience during running, particularly during my cycle, was next level. If I tried to push through it I would end up crying on the ground in the foetal position. Even in public. The pill saved me and now I can run and train all I want with minimal pain. Tempted as I might be, I am going to stay on the pill. Thanks for talking about this though. It really is such an important topic.
I'm currently reading Lauren Fleshman's 'Good for a Girl', where she talks about how coaches and others in the community were aware than many athletes experienced EDs and REDs but no one really did anything about it and watched the athletes rise and fall dramatically because of it. Thanks so much for speaking out about this and being a role model for young athletes that might see restrictive behaviour and not be mature enough to see past it
Wow. I had just finished reading Lauren Fleshman’s “Good for a girl” this morning after Mark Hookway recommended it on his channel the other day, and this comes out. Keep talking about this, Phily.
Never really been a video commenter. Making a point to add my tiny vote to promote such high-quality, incredibly important content for women and girls in (and out) of sport. I have known and seen too many women living for splits and PBs at the expense of long-term health. Thank you for using your platform to promote good things like this. 💯
i am an ultra distance athlete who has probably experienced red-s. i also have a job that is physically demanding and i am almost always dead fucking tired towards the end of my shift. i know i eat a lot of calories everyday, almost always more than 3000 and try to keep feeding windows pretty close together 2-4 hours apart. i accept that my passion for running is not in line w/ what i do to earn income and pay the bills. currently on my 9th day of rest w/ no running/training and looking forward to some days off work this week when i start training again. Thanks for the insight, Philyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I’m 38 and not an athlete; I’m a beginner with running (started last summer). I like dancing, walking, hula hooping, shooting hoops, and kicking a ball around for exercise.
Anyhoo, I’m watching this while on my period. I started mine when I was 4th grade and going through puberty so young gave me some of my body image issues. I also had a double whammy with ending up with large breasts. I finally got a reduction last summer and then started a couch to 5K program when I was cleared to be able to work out again. It’s been so helpful as I no longer need to double or triple bra to workout. I also had other symptoms such as back, neck, and shoulder pain, and rashes.
Thinks for being so open. I haven’t had a period for years due to an ED, overtraining and underfueling and now suffer from low bone mineral density. I started HRT a few months ago (estrogene and progesterone) and it’s horrible.
I 100% agree with talking about periods is important for everyone. For a year I worked in a boarding house and talked totally openly with the boys and girls about them. Girls because they had them or were going to get them (we’re talking year 5-8 boarders) and it was important that they might be frightened if no one else had talked to them about it or needed to be confident that they could ask about what was normal/not normal (and yes, I got pulled to one side by two year 8 girls during the year because I was open about talking about it and it not being scary/dirty/whatever) and the boys because they were brothers and sons and one day boyfriends/husbands. They all needed to understand about it and why it was super important that women do have them.
Great for speaking out on this (and your past eating disorder. Not that it should be expected from anyone who has had one, but those who choose to can help others). Periods should not be such a taboo and I think it's good this is slowly changing.
Non of the above directly applies to me, but always eager to learn. 👏👏
This video came at the right time. It’s been about a year after removing my hormonal IUD and also getting back into running. I was considering going back to an IUD, but I have been really happy to be in-tune with my body’s natural hormonal cycle.
An invaluable video for something which almost became a taboo subject !
I wouldn't mind a pound for every young endurance athlete who succumbed in some way to the conditions you mention ! Nice work on highlighting these issues...
I was concerned when I saw your title based on what I learned from Allie Ostrander's channel. I'm glad you are working to set things right.
I really struggle to be in a calorie defecit to lose the last few pounds of my weight loss journey while continuing to be a better stronger faster healthier runner, I think this video saved me an injury in the long run, thank you!
Go have a look at this messy happy. They’ve posted some good videos on supporting your running journey (in case you haven’t come across them yet) I’ve just come here from their latest video. It was really helpful
Heh, I have the exact same problem! Over the past couple of years I have gone from being obese to being at the high end of normal (BMI ~24) mostly by normal calorie restriction. More recently I've got back into running bigtime, doing 4 runs a week and setting 5k and 10k PBs regularly. I would like to lose just a couple more kgs but am finding it very hard to lose any sort of weight with the increased appetite from my increased training load.
@@asystole_ The one things I’ve learned through all this running and weight loss journey is ignore BMI, it will drive you crazy and it is really inaccurate for individuals but is a good measure for larger population
Thank you for talking about that, it is so hard to find information and people living the same experience with sport/food... As a runner with the same issue, I appreciate you share your experience, it is soooooooo precious !! Thank's to you I never skip breakfast anymore 🍳😍
Thank you for being brave enough to share this. I lost my period for over 7 years due to REDs back 40 years ago. Your brain and voices will lie to you and tell you this is the most important thing . But your life is more than sport - family, children and other events will come along as you grow older to help put this in better perspective. ( Don't forget that you will lose bone again naturally as you go through menopause !).
THANK YOU for the endometriosis disclaimer at the beginning ❤. There’s a lot of talk about hormone health on social media but no one thinks about us Endo girls. I have to rely on two types of hormonal therapies so I can live pain free!
Maybe check out Jessica Murnane. She cooks for Endo, and it seems to help her.
Well done for being so matter of fact about this, and not using euphemisms. You are a superstar 🤩
Thank you for addressing this! We were always taught it was a horrible and shameful thing and competing was going to suffer. I’d much rather for your typical female athlete learn what works best for her cycle as well as not having shame around it. I’m starting to enter into perimenopause and have some other health issues on top of it. It’s strange, but really listening to my body and knowing my cycle is so beneficial to my running and I’m in the best shape of my life. I know what days might be an unplanned rest day or a hard day to burn through the hormone based frustration (Hulk out carefully, don’t risk injury).
I have very recently stopped taking the pill (it's been about three months). Before that, I have taken the pill for 10 years (from age 16 until 26) !! And I had started taking it because I had a hormonal imbalance and not getting my period regularly and have other symptoms (acne, etc). My experience so far has been great and very reassuring because I've almost right away got my period back with none of the symptoms I was experiencing before ! So hang in there, i'm sure you'll be very happy to get to know your body better 🥰🥰
thank you so much for this video! im personally a trans woman who trains and plays with other women and its something i often hear about but these problems from my friends and teammates and its good to hear a devoted video about it because knowledge about periods is sequestered away far too much and the RED-S resource is very important to get out there, for everyone
Thanks for the video Phily. I track my cycle and basal temperature using natural cycles. Highly recommend for tracking your cycle, knowing ovulation and times of fertility (helpful if avoiding pregnancy...) anyway, tracking my cycle and temp has basically changed my life .
It's great you're putting videos out like this.
This topic is so important, and we should keep sharing, it's not only elite athletes that are susceptible. Thank you Phily for spreading the word. 🙌
As a very average runner and climber, I was diagnosed with RED-S when being seen by a sports physio. I had already had an ankle fracture and disc degeneration in my lower back and months without periods but this had never been considered by the many GP's I saw, in-fact I ended up sharing my resources with my GP and back specialist to educate them.
Some of the damage i've done to my body is permanent and it was preventable, if you watched this and found similarities in your story definitely seek advice and please push if you're ignored!
Thank you for keeping it real, as always! Super appreciate you for helping people learn about this… especially men.
Not trying to takeaway from the importance/usefulness of the video but that butter dish is brilliant as well 🤌
Thanks for talking about this.
I'm a male, but this should be known by everyone, also it should not be a taboo.
We still have so much to learn regarding women's health and women's health in sports. It's incredible to see how poorly covered those matters are in scientific research. This should change, and your video is adding a voice towards that.
Happy Period Recovery ✌️👍
Hey Philly, could you talk us through how you recover from a pb effort. Things like cooldown/stretches afterwards and what you do the day after
Thank you for mentioning endometriosis, even if briefly! I am learning to live with the condition and getting to understand my body with it and how to train with it. As more people talk about it, the more awareness there will be for it.
All the merch sold out already, holy moly man!
I had to take a step back from my group of athletics club friends as the negative body talk was so unhelpful for me. We are all masters runner and they all coach kids so i genuinely worry about the impact on kids and teens they could be having. As someone who took a lot of my 30s recovering from an ED I really appreciate you highlighting how negative this is from a performance and long term health perspective. Ive heard a very famous coach say the most harmful things on podcasts recently and quote that ridiculous, refuted minute/kg paper that should have gone out with the ark. Appear to be in full rant mode now...am on my period though 😂
Hello Phily, Thank you for your great video and sharing your expirience!!!
As a medical professional I'd just love to add that the hormonal coil does not supress your menstrual cycle just your bleeding because it works locally in the uterus and not central in your brain like the pill which you ingest and it goes into your bloodstream and brain. You can still get cycle related symptomes etc. You just don't bleed or just very little but that bleeding ist not like with the pill it is an actual "tiny" period. But the coil does make tracking your cycle diffcult and you would not recognize missing periods due to overtraining, underfueling etc. I myself have thought of getting mine out to train sync with my cycle an getting to know my body better. Much love 💝
I'm currently experiencing this right now. After not having a period for 3 years, by under fueling and over exercising, I realized I can't live freely without it. When I started making the changes to get it back, I realized the huge difference eating more and exercising less made. Soon I'll be able to run again, and I'll be very happy for that day💜
Hey Phily, thank you for raising awareness/sharing resources about amenorrhea and RED-S and sharing your experience (as well as its importance for non female athletes)! I also wanted to highlight that people of all genders experience amenorrhea/menstruate.
I really appreciate your openness with sharing these personal details with all of us! I was on the pill for several years with an "artificially regular" cycle and when I stopped it took quite a while for my cycle to stabilize, so I guess my one piece of advice is to try and be patient as you wait for it to come back.
For me its the opposite, I had super heavy and painful periods and for the first one or two days i'd be in so much pain, painkillers did nothing and all I could do is lay down and wait for it to go away, which made training hard. I even got my period once in the middle of an Ironman, had no tampon with me so had to free bleed on the run and the cramps really slowed me down. Now I have an IUD and it is soooo much better to not have really heavy bleeding and cramps and doesn't affect my day to day life! But I do know some triathletes that build their training around their cycles, its really interesting to see how different our strength and energy levels can be depending on the time of the month
You will still be having your cycle with the IUD as your ovarian function is not really affected by the local progesterone release. I track mine! It does make it harder when the bleeds are so light you may not even notice them which is why it is so important for me to track them as I can get terrible PMS and it helps me put that into perspective.I will feel awful and then I can be reassured when I see that I am 1 week away from my 'period', ahah. I hope it gives you more freedom and confidence in your endurance events!