Welcome to Understanding Your Cycle & Your Health Journey

Your menstrual cycle tells a lot about your overall health. A normal and regular period means your body is working perfectly fine, but if you have any period issues, it can also be a sign of other health problems.

Your cycle has a great impact on your emotions, actions, feelings, and thoughts. That's why it is important for you to know everything about your cycle and how to make it healthy.

Well, we are here to help you in this journey. Learn some practical tools and habits with us to reduce your menstrual cycle and health issues. We will tell you everything you need to become healthier, have a feel-good cycle, and achieve your weight loss goals.

A couple of good things to know is that your body retains water to compensate for the blood loss. This leads to bloating and increased water weight.

Everything You Need to Know About Your Menstrual Cycle

There is a certain time of the month when you suddenly start to feel exhausted and tired; you are all bloated and water weight, stressed, and have low energy for no reason. Well, you must guess what we are talking about, and yes, it is the "Menstrual Cycle."

From duration to symptoms, every woman has her own unique cycle. Before getting to the symptoms and what you need to do during your cycle, you first need to know everything about your menstrual cycle and how it works.

The menstrual cycle is a natural process of physical and hormonal changes that women experience more or less monthly. It usually starts during puberty and ends when they reach menopause. A normal cycle lasts 28 days, but it can range from 24 to 38 days.

There are two key phases of the cycle:

• Follicular

• Luteal

The two most important events, Menstruation & Ovulation, happen within these phases. The hormones like progesterone and estrogen also fluctuate throughout these two phases, which regulate the events and progression of your cycle.

Let's take a closer look at both of these phases:

Phase 1: Follicular Phase:

This phase is the first phase of your cycle where eggs become mature. During the follicular phase, almost 10 to 20 eggs start developing, but only one of them becomes mature completely. This phase is the longest phase of your menstrual cycle.

Begins

It starts on the first day of your menstrual bleeding

Ends

It ends right after the ovulation

How long does it last?

The duration of this phase varies from person to person, but it usually takes up to 10 to 24 days in a normal cycle.

What happens during this phase?

At the early stage, the wall of the uterus starts to build up, and the hormone levels are very low. However, at the end of this phase, the level of estrogen hormone increases due to the formation of the egg. The egg reaches maturity, and the estrogen level reaches its peak. That's where the egg is released, and ovulation begins.

Phase 2: Luteal Phase:

This phase refers to the second half of your menstrual cycle. This phase begins right after the evolution, where the follicular phase ends. The main purpose of this phase is to get your uterus ready for the pregnancy.

Begins

It starts right after ovulation when the egg is released from the ovary.

Ends

This phase ends when the menstrual bleeding starts.

How long does it last?

Unlike the follicular phase, the luteal phase is much more consistent in duration, lasting around 14 days for most women.

What happens during this phase?

During this phase, the eggs released from ovulation start to change the structure that holds them into the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum begins to produce progesterone, which thickens the lining of the uterus. But when the egg is not fertilized. The progesterone level drops, which releases the uterus lining and starts menstruation.

That's when the menstruation begins, and the luteal phase ends. As you finish the menstruation, you move further toward the follicular phase again, and that's how this cycle works.

Final Words

The two main phases of the menstrual cycle, the follicular and luteal phases, result in hormone fluctuation throughout your cycle, which impacts your mood, emotions, and habits. You can think of this cycle as similar to your health and weight loss journey. Which has both ebbs and flows.

So, it is not always going to be linear. Sometimes, you have to face challenges. But keep in mind that if there is an ebb, there will definitely be a flow after it. And if you go through those challenges, you will be on your track soon.