With the beginning of our cycle, the follicular phase, so from the first day of the period through to ovulation, we do tend to be able to push ourselves harder, we recover better, we feel better with higher intensity training. So we can work out harder. We're in what would be termed a lower hormone phase. Estrogen comes into play in that phase and estrogen is an anabolic hormone which helps us build and helps us feel good, so I definitely do fuelling differently in the first half of that cycle. Your body copes with carbohydrates a bit better, especially if you've exercised harder. You've churned through more of your stored carbohydrates or what's called glycogen, so it's a great time to be fuelling slightly higher carb. I do a little bit less fat and protein at that time but it depends on how much training someone is doing. And then the second half of the cycle where you have higher progesterone, you're not recovering as well, you have a higher body temperature, it just doesn't feel as good, you might have more bloating... I definitely focus on less carb, and a little bit more fat and protein. But really focusing overall on blood sugar level stability in that second half of the cycle.

KIRA SUTHERLAND | NATUROPATH & SPORTS NUTRITIONIST Tweet This!