Why Trust Us
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We’ve tracked just about everything from our steps, heart-rate, calories and sleep. But what about our moods? Nike Global Master Trainer, Joslyn Thompson-Rule, talks to DOSE about how she tailors her exercise to her hormones with a little help from this cycle tracking app…
Do your hormones affect the way you train?
That’s a really good question! Being mindful of your hormones and where you are in your cycle, should influence how you train. The more knowledge you have about where your body/hormones are at, the better decisions you can make about how you should train on any given day. If, however, you are unaware of how your hormones may influence your training, you would probably carry on as usual, putting lack of motivation or energy for example, down to you just having a bad day/session. It’s a little more complex than that!
For someone who’s never used the Moody app before, how does it work?
The Moody app is a space for you to log your cycle, mood, energy levels and other lifestyle factors throughout the month. The app is already filled with incredibly useful information about what you may be experiencing physiologically at any given stage throughout your cycle. As an intelligent app, the more you use it, the more attuned it becomes to the effects of your cycle from month to month.
How long have you been using it and what have you learned so far?
I have been lucky enough to have used it from before launch when it was still in beta. As a personal trainer and sports therapist I am always telling my clients how empowering it is to track all elements of their health and well-being; the more information you have about yourself, for yourself, the better able you are to make informed decisions about your health. I feel we have become disassociated from what our bodies are telling us, sometimes on a moment-to-moment basis. Tuning in and paying attention, is the best thing we can do for ourselves.
How have the insights affected your lifestyle?
You just have more of a sense of control. Instead of beating yourself up for not giving it your all in a workout, you recognise that you are at a stage in your cycle where you need to slow down a little to give your body what it needs.
Can you describe a recent “Moody” moment…
Haha, just one? I remember I spent one session in the gym, mostly having an argument with myself. I wanted to not train and go home, and I forced myself to stay and dragged myself through it. In hindsight instead of trying to pull willpower out of nowhere, I should have taken the rest and had an early night. My body would have thanked me for it!
What do you hope to achieve by using the app?
Greater clarity on how to manage my health on a daily basis. Knowledge is key! These things called hormones control our body and mind more than we think – it would be nice to get to know them a little more. The Moody app is a perfect place to start that relationship!
