Debunking 5 Myths: Exercise & Menstrual Cycle Impacts
The creators of the Femmi app have introduced a unique solution for women runners, offering personalised running programs that consider their menstrual cycles. Photo / Matty Harrington
Understanding Femmi: A Revolutionary Running App
In the vast world of running apps, there are many that allow you to track your progress. However, rare are the ones that factor in your menstrual cycle. The elite runner and co-founder of Femmi, Lydia O’Donnell, has developed an app specifically designed for women runners. This app not only understands the impact of your period on your running routine, but it also helps you use it to your advantage.
Using Your Menstrual Cycle To Your Advantage
When you’re feeling the discomfort of period cramps, going for a run is probably the last thing on your mind. But for female athletes like O’Donnell, running is an integral part of their everyday routine, despite the challenges their menstrual cycles may present.
The Birth of Femmi
Fast forward a few years, and O’Donnell has revolutionised the industry through her coaching platform, Femmi, developed in collaboration with fellow athlete Esther Keown. The Femmi app is designed to help women optimise their exercise routines based on their menstrual cycles, asserting that periods should not be an obstacle, but rather a secret weapon for better performance.
About Femmi
In her early years as an athlete, O’Donnell received training from male coaches who lacked understanding about female physiology. This resulted in a focus on weight loss at the expense of health, leading O’Donnell down an unhealthy path filled with body image issues, disordered eating, and overtraining. After experiencing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and losing her menstrual cycle, she became more determined to understand her cycle and hormone fluctuations.
How Femmi App Works
The Femmi app began as a coaching service, manually tracking menstrual cycles to create individual exercise programmes. The founders saw the need for a female-specific exercise app among the plethora of available apps. Through continuous development and tweaks, the Femmi app was finally launched. The app, dubbed a ‘menstrual cycle tracking and training tool,’ allows the user to input their menstrual cycle and create a running profile. The Femmi app is designed to cater to all kinds of cycles, be it natural, contraceptive-induced or other hormonal phases.
Addressing Misconceptions About Running
With the Femmi app, O’Donnell endeavours to debunk prevalent myths about running. She believes in the importance of a sustainable and consistent running routine, emphasising on balancing hard days with easy days and the importance of recovery in avoiding overtraining or injuries.
Taking Charge Of Your Menstrual Cycle
The Femmi app is created to empower women to take control of their cycles rather than let it control them. It provides insights on hormonal changes and offers guidance on nutrition based on the phase of the cycle. This helps users stay in the best possible state to train. O’Donnell believes that understanding one’s own body brings confidence and allows for informed health and wellness decisions.
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