Green Phase 1

Increase your Cortisol levels!

🌿 Green Phase 1: Train Smart, increase your fitness. 🌿
(Your Estrogen-Rising Phase)

In the first phase of your cycle - what I have named the Green Phase I  - your body is primed for progress. Estrogen, especially estradiol, begins to rise naturally, boosting your energy, motivation, muscle recovery, and mood. This is the perfect time to lean into your workouts and train harder.

Why? During this phase, your body can better handle physical stress and higher-intensity workouts. A controlled rise in cortisol from training (your body's stress hormone) isn't harmful here - it stimulates strength, fat-burning, and estrogen production. Think of it as signalling your body that it’s safe, strong, and ready to go!

By training smarter in Green Phase I, you'll increase your fitness gains and support your hormone health in a way that aligns with your natural cycle. This will also help prevent burnout...

So go for it - push your limits, challenge yourself, and know that your body is built for it right now.

I have pulled up some studies that support my Green Phase I theory!

🧪 Scientific Support for Training in the Estrogen Phase:

1. Estrogen Enhances Muscle Recovery and Strength Gains
A study published in Frontiers in Physiology (2018) found that estradiol plays a role in muscle regeneration and reduces post-exercise inflammation. This supports the idea that training during the follicular (Green Phase I) can enhance strength and recovery.

2. Improved Exercise Tolerance in the Follicular Phase
Research in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness (2017) showed that women in the early-to-mid follicular phase (when estrogen rises) had better aerobic capacity and endurance than in other phases.

3. Cortisol Response and Adaptation 
According to the Journal of Applied Physiology, moderate cortisol increases from exercise during this phase can enhance adaptation, fat metabolism, and neuromuscular function, especially when estrogen rises to buffer stress.